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Unfortunately, these less administratively burdensome arrangements could still require Gustafson to see a minimum number of patients each day or in the case of hospitals, force him to lose the long-term doctor-patient relationships he has spent decades fostering.

Mary’s employs more than 15 primary care doctors, many of whom sought employment for the same reasons as Gustafson, hospital administrators said. Mary’s Hospital directly employ primary care doctors. Large groups can happen in many ways, like when several individual practices merge into one mega-practice, as in the case of Primary Care Partners.įreedom from administrative burden also results when hospitals like St. In those settings, the cost of back office operations like record-keeping and billing can be spread across many physicians, which reduces the per-physician cost.

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To free himself of the worst administrative burdens, Gustafson said he could join a large group medical practice or seek employment at a hospital. The present business model for health care is contrary to its quality practice, he said. He’s tired of having to treat as many as 35 patients a day, racing through an average exam, sometimes in seven minutes or less, and letting paperwork - which may take up to 25 percent of his day - interfere with the doctor-patient relationships he wishes to nurture. He’s sick of seeing more than 30 percent of the claims he submits to health insurance companies denied for reimbursement because of alleged coding errors or bad faith insurance practices. Gustafson said he’s had it with the costly, redundant, adversarial battle that is the administration of health care through third parties, also known as health insurance companies. It will take the form of generous, personalized care, fewer unnecessary referrals to specialists, discounted lab tests, a convenient in-office pharmacy and, in some cases, significant savings in annual health care costs, they said. Gustafson and an associate, Alex Chaffetz, told an overflow crowd of about 250 patients in two lecture halls at Colorado Mesa University on Thursday that there will be a payoff. Gustafson regrets the inconvenience, but the change in business practice he proposes may force some patients to choose between their health insurance and a continuing doctor- patient relationship with the well-established Grand Junction physician. One doctor’s cutting-edge payment plan could cost himīy GREG RULAND Craig Gustafson loves his patients and wants to continue treating their health care needs, but he’s quitting health insurance.

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See the original article here or download a PDF version here. The following article was published in The Daily Sentinel on Tuesday, June 10, 201 4.