How do retainer practices fit into the current health care structure (i.e., Medicare, insurance companies, etc.)?
A retainer practice focuses on patients in a proactive continuum of care. You get to know your patients well and help them to coordinate their healthcare. Instead of building your practice up to a panel with thousands of patients, you will have a panel between 300-500 patients. While you can still accept insurance, you will also assess a yearly membership fee from your patients. This retainer model typically requires fewer supporting personnel because of the lower patient load. Therefore, you will have fewer patients and fewer staff to manage. The retainer practice also offers a different service level that might include cell phone and/or e-mail access, same day appointments, longer physicals and routine appointments, coordination with fitness and nutrition providers and 24/7 access. However, any practice continuing to participate in insurance plans must take into consideration the view of retainer fees by those insurance providers. When the legality of retainer medicine comes into que
