IN THE NEWS
Few physicians try pricing upfront for patients
01:06 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 - By: Jim Landers - Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/jlanders/stories/DN-landers_31bus.ART.State.Edition1.2932b02.html
GOOD PRESS + GOOD MEDICINE = POSITIVE DISRUPTION
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 10:17 AM by Christopher Gregory - Doconomics
http://www.doconomics.com/blog/?p=1421
A SMART GROUP OF PHYSICIANS WHO ARE DOING SOMETHING GOOD
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 11:27 am - Doconomics
http://www.doconomics.com/blog/?p=1120
Doctor group offers discounts
Jefferson's card program geared toward uninsured
Friday, August 21, 2009 - Dallas Business Journal - by Joyce Tsai Staff writer
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2009/08/24/story5.html
BUILDING BRIDGES - Entrepreneurs of the Month
Physician-owned Jefferson Physician Group (JPG) was founded in 1995 by primary care physicians in Dallas, Texas who believe that healthcare choices should not be dictated by insurance plans, but by the decisions made between a personal physician and their patient. The name "Jefferson" was chosen in honor of the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, whose insatiable curiosity and quest for knowledge in almost every discipline embodies the spirit of today's primary care physician. Being both a maverick and a leader, Jefferson fiercely defended independence and personal freedom, much as physicians defend patients and their ability to care for them. JPG's Board of Directors consists of eleven family practice and internal medicine physicians. Dr. Guy Culpepper is the group's CEO and president; Lisa Jackson is chief operating officer. JPG currently has 220 primary care member physicians and continues to grow.
In keeping with its dedication to both patients and physicians, JPG recently launched a free program called the Jefferson Independence Card that will assist uninsured patients. This program will provide little-known discount rates that many physicians often offer to patients dealing with financial crisis as well as for patients who pay out-of-pocket for their own medical care. The Jefferson program is not charity care (offered to needy patients for free or at a loss to the provider), but is a healthcare program for hard working, uninsured Texans - mechanics, plumbers, waitresses, students, entrepreneurs - who will pay for their healthcare but need a fair price and an understanding of what it will cost (prices are posted on Jefferson's website). Card holders go to member-physicians/facilities and are charged for medical care at rates which member-physicians/facilities are getting reimbursed by government payers or commercial insurance payers, the lowest at which the doctors can provide services and still stay in business. Dr. Culpepper hopes the program will help to build awareness for the discounts that are already available to patients, and will help the average person see that healthcare is more affordable than they realize, even if they are uninsured. Unlike traditional medical discount card programs that generally charge a monthly fee to participate, the Jefferson Independence Card is free to all. Dr. Culpepper sees the discount program as a "local grassroots healthcare reform initiative" that allows physicians to be involved in the solution to healthcare problems. "We don't perceive those answers come from the top," he said. "I think the most powerful answers come from the grassroots of America, and from those who are dealing with healthcare issues on a daily basis. . . . We believe that every American needs a primary care physician regardless of insurance." (This is not health insurance. It is a discount program created in the spirit of compassion. There is no cost to join, no membership fee, and no requirement to use any service.)
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