By Michelle Cherewatenko, CEO AAPP/SimpleCare
For centuries, physicians around the world have sworn to the oath of Primum Non Nocere or First Do No Harm in regard to their patient care. Thankfully, licensed healthcare providers of any kind are bound to providing ethical care by their licensing board, regardless of the Hippocratic oath.
Ultimately all healthcare providers have to ethically weigh the risks and benefits in the treatment of their patients and decide what actions will produce the best outcome for the patient’s individual circumstances. Some treatments or tests do cause harm that is carefully considered a cost worth the gain.
Unfortunately, insurance reimbursement has muddied the waters in how providers care for their patients by dictating what a provider or facility can do for a patient, dependent on what their insurance will pay for. Some patients are required to try and fail inexpensive measures before they can receive the quality treatment they really need. Understandable, but hard to swallow if you are the patient going through the trial and error.
Insurance is an essential measure to have in the event of a catastrophic lifesaving circumstance. But when It comes to insignificant non-life threatening illness’s or injuries, often it serves one better to just directly pay for healthcare and bypass paying towards a ridiculously high deductible. The patient will most likely be charged the coded insurance fees billed to insurance companies that are significantly higher than what one will pay directly.
Does this seem ethical? Seems like a form of financial harm if you ask me. Its not the providers doing this either, it’s the insurance companies they are contracted with.
There is a better way. SimpleCare providers charge a pre-established transparent fee schedule for their services that are reasonable and based on fair market value rates. No hidden costs, no deductible, no surprise billing. And, your provider can ethically recommend the best plan of action for you without the restraints of insurance company regulations.
Visit our website today for more information. www.simplecare.com