04/29/2024    

RESPONSES COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1A

RE: The Future of Podiatry (Allen M. Jacobs, DPM)

From: Robert Kornfeld, DPM

 

My esteemed colleague, Dr. Jacobs states, "For-profit first" thinking is the reason we are burdened with pre-authorizations, insurance payment reductions for services rendered, and denials for services. Money-first thinking denies access to healthcare, treats healthcare as a commodity rather than a right, and creates a conflict between doctor and patient.” He is actually not talking about doctors here. He is referring to the middlemen (insurance companies and private equity corporations) who suck off the knowledge and expertise of doctors. It is they who have created the mess we are in. Doctors clamber for ways to augment their insurance payments with non-covered services. This is not selfish “for profit only” motivation. This is survival.

 

I personally am not an advocate of putting money before patients. They are and have always been my priority. But to be honest, there is no way I would still be practicing podiatry if I did not move...

 

Editor's note: Dr. Kornfeld's extended-length letter can be read here.

Other messages in this thread:

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04/30/2024    

RESPONSES COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1A

RE: The Future of Podiatry (Robert Kornfeld, DPM)

From: Jack Sasiene, DPM

 

I agree in concept with Dr. Jacobs and respect Dr. Kornfeld’s choices, but you have to look no further than the 4-26 PM News post via Dr. Kesselman to support Dr. Kornfeld’s response as to who is to blame for the average decent doctor trying to make a living. $741 million net income in 3 months!  And they are pulling back in 2025 to protect profits! And others will cut benefits (i.e., care of patients or reimbursement to us). 

 

In response to Dr. Udell. It’s never too late to jump off the Titanic…you just need a life raft (a plan). I practiced prior to us becoming contract labor for insurance companies. It was genius in foresight by them ... like giving out free crack, and now we are hooked as well as our patients. I agree that it would take a high percentage of doctors to exit contract labor to turn this around.

 

Jack Sasiene, DPM, Texas City, TX