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	<title>#primarycare &#8211; East County Internal Medicine</title>
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	<link>https://eastcountyim.com</link>
	<description>11009 Gatewood Drive, Suite 104, Bradenton 34211</description>
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		<title>Keeping Practice</title>
		<link>https://eastcountyim.com/2025/07/08/the-reason-why/</link>
					<comments>https://eastcountyim.com/2025/07/08/the-reason-why/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shaan Kunwar DO]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:02:27 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Office Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#chronicconditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[#primarycare]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://eastcountyim.com/?p=2885</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Our Commitment to Transparent, Patient-Centered Care Since opening our practice in 2017, we’ve been dedicated to providing high-quality primary care.&#8230;]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="has-text-align-left"><strong>Our Commitment to Transparent, Patient-Centered Care</strong></p>



<p>Since opening our practice in 2017, we’ve been dedicated to providing high-quality primary care. Initially, our revenue came from self-paying patients, private insurance (primarily for patients under 65), and Medicare or Medicare Replacement plans for those over 65. Over time, we served hundreds of patients across 20-30 different insurance plans, each with its own reimbursement structure.</p>



<p><strong>The Challenges of Insurance-Based Care</strong></p>



<p>Navigating the insurance system proved challenging:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Low Reimbursements</strong>: For a standard outpatient visit, Medicare allows $125, within a fair range of $80-$150, adjusted annually. However, many private insurers reimburse well below this range.</li>



<li><strong>Delayed or Denied Payments:</strong> Payments for services already provided are often delayed by weeks or, in some cases, denied entirely, requiring time-consuming reviews.</li>



<li><strong>Administrative Burden</strong>: Managing claims for multiple insurance plans required a dedicated billing team, increasing our operational costs.</li>
</ul>



<p>These challenges contribute to why many primary care practices close or sell to larger corporations.</p>



<p><strong>Why We Chose a Direct-Pay Model</strong></p>



<p>To maintain our independence and focus on what matters most—our patients—we transitioned to a direct-pay model, eliminating insurance claims, including Medicare. This decision has been a success, allowing us to:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Reduce Costs</strong>: By eliminating the billing team, we’ve lowered overhead, enabling us to offer fair, transparent pricing.</li>



<li><strong>Enhance Patient Care</strong>: With a streamlined, minimalistic operation, we can focus on delivering personalized, high-quality care without the interference of third parties.</li>



<li><strong>Build Trust:</strong> Our patients appreciate the simplicity and transparency of direct pay, knowing exactly what they’re paying for without insurance surprises.</li>
</ul>



<p><strong>Our Gratitude and Commitment</strong></p>



<p>We are deeply grateful for our patients’ support, which allows us to remain independent while offering exceptional care at a fair rate. By cutting out the middleman, we strengthen the doctor-patient relationship, ensuring you receive the attention and care you deserve.</p>



<p><strong>Learn More</strong></p>



<p>Interested in experiencing healthcare that prioritizes you? Contact us to learn about our direct-pay model or schedule a visit today.</p>



<p></p>
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