- I do not believe that health insurers benefit either patients or physicians.
- Patients' health insurance premiums continue to increase.
- Physicians' reimbursements from health insurers continue to decrease.
- This is why physicians need to see more patients every day (& therefore spend less time per patient) in order to stay in business.
- Health insurers' regulations (as opposed from evidence from medical literature) often dictate how physicians practice medicine, which is not necessarily in the best interest of the patient.
- By foregoing third-party payors & contracting directly with my patients, any influence from health insurers is removed from the equation.
- My only obligation is to my patients, not to the health insurance companies.
Back to the old-fashioned way of billing: the self-pay model
- This is how your grandparents (or great-grandparents) paid for their medical care.
- At the end of the office visit, you will receive a bill & make payment at that time.
- Pricing for my services is transparent.
Is this a concierge practice?
- No. There is no "membership fee" to be my patient.
- You pay only for services you receive directly from me.
What about other services Dr. Wachi orders?
- If you have health insurance that covers these things, it should continue to cover diagnostic tests, medications, or referrals, as per your insurer's & particular plan's usual policies.
How billing works
- This is a self-pay practice; patients are required to pay in full at the end of each visit.
- I am an out-of-network physician; I am not a provider for Medicare, Medicaid, or any of the private insurance plans.
- I do not bill insurance companies, but will supply you with the appropriate paperwork for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
- NOTE: you may NOT submit bills to Medicare for my services, as I am not a Medicare provider
