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I just got a letter today from MDVIP out of Boca Raton, and wondering if any users are part of this concierge type delivery system. If so, any thoughts pro or con would be helpful. Thanks.

My partner & I went through the entire evaluation process 2 years ago for MD-VIP. It involves providing some basic income and overhead data, and also telephone numbers for active patients. Over 100 of our patients were called by MD-VIP for a survey, asking basically if they would pay $1500 per year retainer to keep seeing us, with expanded access, longer appointments, doctor's cell phone number, etc. Despite preparing our staff for surveyed patient phone calls, there was an avalanche of calls over the survey, mostly expressing concern over the cost. The presentation from MD-VIP said that we would do fine, retain 800-1000 patients each, and more patients interested in this model would find us. After a lot of soul-searching, we didn't sign up. But I think about this option frequently. If things got bad ...

Correction on the above: I recall the estimate for our 2 doctor practice was 800-1000 patients paying the retainer for concierge model. Not per physician.

John,

Thanks. Someone from MDVIP is coming to town next week, so I thought I might go listen to what they have to say. Like you say it is good to keep all options open.

If you show some interest, you get a free weekend at an upscale resort. It's like one of those time-share offers, you have to watch a powerpoint presentation before hitting the pool.

Back in the good old days when I first started out, one of my partners, who has a fantastic memory for names and dates, would use this gift to his fullest extent. He was the best at smoozing the drug reps and would "steal" all the good educational jaunts to San Fran, Chicago, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix etc.
But it finally caught up to him when he corralled the trip to New Orleans, the meeting coincided when one of the hurricanes decided to attend the conference too. I remind him of that one from time to time. Ahh the good old days......

Those were the good old days. Can't even get a free pen anymore.

I have a concierge practice in Florida that I started from the ground up, and the demand has been very great. It took about 4 years to grow. In many ways, a concierge practice is much more demanding than my "traditional model" practice ever was. A big con for me right now is the perpetual call and inability to unplug. A pro is being outside of the insurance realm and contracting directly with your patients. Ideally, I would like to add a partner to help share hospital call and for vacation coverage. It's a difficult move though. It would be hard to convert an existing practice, inevitably dropping most of your patients. And to start from scratch is so slow that it is not often financially feasible. Other than that, I highly recommend!

MD-VIP does not remove you from the fee-for-service insurance realm. You still bill a patient's insurance and collect balances from them for services. The retainer (you get $1000 per patient annually, MD-VIP gets $500) gets the patient perks like same day appts, longer appts, direct calls to physicians, etc.

Conceivably, you could stay solvent with about 300-400 patients under this model, seeing 6-8 patients a day. But as GatorDoc says above, there's a price to be paid -- no doubt there's always a few patients who want their pound of flesh.

I read the letter wrong, it is not till March when someone from MD-VIP visits. One of my partners has a friend in Idaho, I think, who is doing this, and just echoed what you said John, but thank you too GatorDoc for the feedback.

Jimmie,

I do recommend conversion, however I likely would not utilize MDVIP. The conversion can be done without sacrificing a 1/3 of your retainer revenue. Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your decision!