As many of you know, a year ago I went from being employed in a medical center with a staff to take care of all non-patient care minutia to opening my own practice solo, without any employees or help. By preference, I answer my own phone at all hours, do my own callbacks, do my own refills, and spend countless hours charting and preparing for visits. Patient interaction and care is my favorite part, of course, but the other aspects of owning my own practice must also be tended to.

I wrestled in the beginning with taking insurance and decided that I wanted to reach as many people as I could who may not have sought me out otherwise. Of course, everything has its pros and cons. Having a billing service was indeed convenient for my patients, but ended up a very poor choice for me for many reasons. The amount of time I had to spend to correct mistakes, follow up on payments and double check benefits threatened to swallow me whole.

Contracting with insurance, whether I provide a super bill or provide billing services, requires many non-patient hours of bookkeeping, debt collecting and phone conversations with insurance companies who refuse to cover a therapy or medication that I deem necessary. As a mom first and a physician second, I have to put my family and my patient care at the top of my list. So I am choosing to let go of insurance all together.

In a perfect world all of you would stay on board with me, but I completely understand that this is not feasible for some of you...maybe many. What I will continue doing is providing super bills for each patient visit. Most of you have out of network coverage that reimburses part of our visits. For those of you who can't continue with me because of this choice, I am happy to help you find providers that do take your insurance and work with them in continuing any journey that you have started with me.

I am also prepared to simplify my fees. On my website you will notice one fee for a first office call, return office call and preventive medicine visit rather than a range of fees based on coding. This is so you know exactly what to expect during your visits with me each time. Additionally, if any of you need a reduced fee, please talk to me. If you know me at all you know that excellent patient care is my first priority. I never want to turn any of you away for inability to afford care. I am more than happy to have an open conversation with any of you and try to be flexible and accommodating when I can.

There have been a lot of changes back and forth over billing throughout the 10 months that I have had my own practice. The changes are done and there is consistency from here on out; understanding the fee structure at your physicians office  is such an important consideration in picking out the right physician.