This article was originally published on wrcb-TV online.
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) – As doctors deal with more red tape from insurance companies, some are opting to abandon the insurance system entirely.
Cash-only outpatient clinics are starting to pop up across the country. A Medscape survey found 6-percent of physicians in the cash-only business in 20-13. That’s up from 4-percent in 20-12.
Doctor David Redd joined a new trend in healthcare last month by cutting out the middle man.
“There’s just a lot of things that are changing in medicine and I think it is an advantage sometimes just to be able to say, ‘I want this dealt with, where can I go to have it dealt with?’” Dr. Redd said.
The middleman being insurance companies.
Through his cash-based clinic ‘QuikSurg,’ Dr. Redd is able to perform minor surgeries without having to deal with co-pays, deductibles or insurance cards. The trend is something he believes will continue to catch on.
“The costs of medical care these days are just out of sight and I think they are just going to get worse as we go on, so I think things like this we’re going to see more of just for people who can afford good medical care,” Dr. Redd added.
Bill Taylor is the Executive Director at Physician Practice Resources. He says the cost for medical care can differ considerably depending on where you go.
“The consumer needs to be careful of where they go and find out for instance if it’s a hospital-based clinic or a free-standing facility because the cost can vary widely,” Taylor said.
Taylor says when it comes to medical care, it’s important to do your homework and know what experience and credentials a doctor has before making an appointment.
“Most surgery centers have to be licensed by the state of Tennessee and they go through an accreditation process,” he added.
And is just a small example of how the climate of medicine is changing.