“So doctor, why did you decide to go into healthcare?”
“Oh, I don’t care about the health side. I love all the paperwork.”
This is a conversation that has probably never happened in the history of medicine. Because for doctors, providers, patients, and caregivers, the ‘unhealthy’ part is the worst part of healthcare.
Barriers to seeing a doctor, such as unexpected costs, confusion, difficult access, and long waiting times, are not just annoying, they are a hindrance to the care you actually need.
In Alaska, two bills have been introduced in Congress, poised to bring about major, fundamental changes to a broken healthcare system. This is a simple change known as Direct Health Care and was introduced in this session as follows: Senate Bill 45 and House Bill 47.
The idea is simple. These bills would allow healthcare providers to enter into service contracts directly with patients, rather than just through gatekeeper third parties such as health insurance companies and government healthcare programs.
This will allow patients to enroll in “memberships” of their choice of healthcare providers, including their primary care physician, primary and specialty healthcare providers. in exchange for a fixed monthly fee (usually $50 to $100), patients “have 24-hour access to doctors, guaranteed appointments, and significantly reduced wait times.
Best of all, because of the direct relationship between providers and patients, doctors can answer questions, focus on their health, and do more, instead of filling out paperwork and fighting insurance companies. A lot of time can be spent with the patient. One of the biggest frustrations her patients have is feeling unheard. This can occur when doctors have to shuffle patients in and out in order to spend more time with paperwork and insurance disputes than with medical care.
The current model narrows down the time for preventive check-ups that can catch problems early and improve overall health. Also, many people may avoid it together due to network confusion and long waiting times at first visits.
Instead, the direct care model offers countless benefits for both patients and providers. This includes same-day appointments (instead of long wait times), transparent pricing, and easier, more reliable preventive care.
This administrative change eliminates the need for insurance company or government intermediaries, so the actual cost of service rather than complex billing agreements, in-network and out-of-network puzzles, and confusion about who to call. transparency. actually talk to someone
This direct medical model is already working in 49 states. 26 states Pass laws codifying that it is not insurance and should not be regulated as insurance.
Alaska is a prime candidate to update its laws and follow in its footsteps. Alaska residents currently pay the highest medical bills in the nation. According to one study, Alaskans pay more for health care than any other state. $11,000 per personWe’ve all seen horror stories of unexpected medical costs ruining life savings—two-thirds of bankruptcies In America, it’s tied to medical problems.
Transparent up-front pricing also means fewer surprises when the bill arrives, and fewer hidden costs arising from disagreements about what your insurance has decided to cover.
Unfortunately, this type of direct model of care is currently hampered by state laws that treat provider-patient arrangements like health insurance. This requirement comes with prohibitive costs, regulations, and (you guessed it) a mountain of paperwork.
Alaskan legislators can change that and offer a better way by passing two bills currently under consideration, Senate Bill 45 and House Bill 47.
In 2021, Montana, another large regional state with similar health problems, willDirect Patient Care Act Signed into PassageIn just one year, 16 providers have decided to offer membership options, with an average membership cost of $.77/monthsignificantly below the cost of traditional employer-sponsored or personal insurance.
It’s time for Alaska to follow the lead of other states by offering options such as lower costs, faster service, more time with a doctor, and less headaches from dealing with insurance.
That way, you can spend less time on paperwork and more time on your health.
Adam Habig is president and co-founder of Freedom Healthworks.
