Groups that help physicians establish “concierge medicine” practices say more and more doctors are making the move to this kind of practice in which a limited number of patients pay an annual fee for access to a physician.
A California Healthline Special Report by Mina Kim includes comments from:
- Thomas LaGrelius, board chair and former president of the Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design and a physician with a concierge practice;
- Mai-Phuong Nguyen, a Napa internist who is maintaining a traditional practice;
- Paul Sweigert, a Napa internist who is converting to a concierge practice; and
- Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California.
Physicians’ migration to concierge practices has raised concerns among health care advocates and other doctors about whether it will compromise lower-income patients’ access to care (Kim, California Healthline, 6/10).
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