Cash-only practice: could it work for you?

Although contracting with health plans can produce a wealth of patients for a medical practice, it can also increase practice overhead substantially and result in deeply discounted fees. As a result, many family physicians have had to see more patients in a day and work more hours just to maintain their income. Others have responded to these pressures by reinventing an old practice model – cash-only practice. The articles on the following pages describe how three family physicians have implemented this simpler model of practice and how it has affected their practice’s financial viability and their satisfaction with the care they deliver. A cash-only practice might not work in every market, but it merits consideration by family physicians who are prepared to take a risk and motivated to make fundamental changes in the way they practice.