healingways
mentary and alternative medicine (CAM) in full. As provider networks shrink, premiums rise and the future of healthcare reform remains uncertain, health-conscious consumers yearn for innovative ways to afford this kind of care.
Membership-Based Care When Dr. Chad Krisel worked at an urgent care center, he saw up to 55 patients a day. Since opening Integrative Family Medicine of Asheville (
IntegrativeAsheville.org), in North Carolina, with Dr. Brian Lewis, he averages 12 patients a day. His team provides a membership-based practice in a pay- ment model known as direct primary care (DPC). Endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physi- cians, DPC is broadly accessible. By applying simplicity, sustainability, quality and col- laboration, their integrative practice pro- vides comprehensive care for less than what many pay for phone service. “DPC removes
AFFORDABLE Complementary Care
Alternatives to Insurance Cost Less by Meredith Montgomery
T
he latest National Health Interview Survey available, from 2012, shows an annual expenditure of $30.2 bil- lion in out-of-pocket costs for complementary health
approaches, benefiting 33 percent of adults and 12 percent of children, and representing about 10 percent of out-of- pocket U.S. healthcare costs. Insurance rarely covers comple-
traditional financial incentives and conflicts of interest because membership fees fund us. Our only incentive is to help and heal patients,” Krisel explains. Paying for memberships out-of-
pocket (often electing high-deductible plans) or via a health-sharing plan, clients value coverage that includes an- nual wellness exams, phone or virtual appointments and educational classes, plus follow-ups and urgent care at minimal costs. The U.S. mainstream fee-for-service
approach, whether paid by insurance or cash, has been criticized for encouraging unnecessary tests and procedures because doctors are paid for services performed. To maintain income, they typically shorten appointments to increase the number of patients they see. Lewis emphasizes, “Time is the valuable factor in
36 Lehigh Valley
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