My dear patients and prospective patients, I have made the difficult decision to stop being in network with insurance providers. There are so many reasons why and it was something I’ve been considering for quite some time, but COVID-19 has tipped the scales for me. Many of you were not meeting your deductibles prior to COVID-19 and since the pandemic, even fewer of you are able to access your insurance benefits because of unmet deductibles. Additionally, billing insurance was literally costing me often more than I was bringing in from many plans. I was having to focus so much time on trying navigate each individual plan and their unique and complex systems. I really want to give my time to patient care and community work. This will allow me to do so.
I am still able to accept HSA cards and can provide a “Superbill” for patients who would like to submit their out of pocket expenses to insurance. Just ask!
I am instituting a sliding scale in lieu of flat rates now. My normal cash rate still applies, $120 for new patients and $90 for returning patients. I am now able to easily accommodate changes in your financial situations though! Which I think is especially important right now. So my sliding scale is an honor system and you can pay what you are able, no questions asked. Most of may patients generally insist on the value of treatment and I have no doubt that 99% of folx will truly pay what they can. This is in alignment with how I believe healthcare should operate as well. I do not believe that your health should be for-profit.
All of this is possible because I am not a sole income earner in my household and I acknowledge that privilege. Many providers are unable to do this. Our education left most of us with very high student loans, often on a level with traditional medical school. While our operating costs are relatively low, COVID-19 has increased expenses for all healthcare providers. PPE, air filtration systems, higher volumes/inflated costs of cleaning supplies (often at higher, hospital grades) and lower patient volumes etc. have had a severe impact on the healthcare field, particularly independent family-style practices. I share this with you as I believe transparency in healthcare is key to increasing community-based, equity centered care. And with this new model for my practice, I will rely heavily on personal referrals and word of mouth to continue building my practice. Your referrals are greatly appreciated and the highest measure of my success.
If you have ANY questions about this, please do not hesitate to ask!
Maria