From: Allen M. Jacobs, DPM
The "direct pay" or "concierge" practice models are certainly an option for a select number of podiatric healthcare providers whose patients have the capability of paying for healthcare directly. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans cannot afford the "direct pay" model of healthcare.
I would remind Dr. Roth and others who advocate the direct pay model that many of our patients struggle just to pay for their cardiac or diabetic or cancer or other needed medications or therapies. We have an increasingly large geriatric population (that is correct before you say it, people such as myself) who are on a fixed income and struggles to maintain a date to the existence for basic food and housing. Yes, there is a sub-population of well-heeled individuals who can afford to pay directly for medical care, and there is certainly nothing unethical or illegal to care for such patients and receive direct pay. However, what do we do for the majority of...
Editor's note: Dr. Jacobs' extended-length letter can be read here.
