Episode 037: A Rheumatologist Says No to the Joint Commission. Leaving the Third Party Pay System with Dr. Ellen McKnight.

I have spent a lot of time discussing innovative ways of delivering medical care on this show and it has primarily been based around primary care. However, those who are specialists who traditionally practiced using third party payors (Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance) are also beginning to strike out on their own and switch to cash pay. The reason for this is that the cost of using insurance and the lack of access allows these specialists to find a market for the type of medicine they want to practice.

My guest today is Dr. Ellen McKnight who is a rheumatologist and just such a specialist who has almost completely removed herself from all third party payments. She operates on what she calls a "fair cash pricing" for patients which many consider a great value even if they hold traditional insurance or Medicare. Dr. McKnight also runs an infusion center where she can provide patients a more convenient place to get their medications than heading into the hospital. And, since she is not part of any health care system, she does not have to worry about national credentialing bodies like the Joint Commission which can bog you down with mountains of unnecessary regulations.

Dr. McKnight opted out of Medicare three years ago and has been slowly whittling down her exposure to insurance payers to the point where she is almost entirely free of the hassles of having to deal with the middlemen who she says get in the way between her relationship with the patient. Since she opted out of government payors she doesn't deal with the bureaucratic demographic data collection or the mandate to use electronic health record systems which are designed to maximize billing and not record keeping. She is enjoying practicing medicine the way she wants and advocating for physicians to reclaim their independence wherever she can.

Ellen McKnight, MD — Dr. Ellen McKnight is a rheumatologist and the owner of Summit Arthritis Infusion Center in Pensacola, FL. She is an outspoken advocate of physicians reclaiming their independence by opting out of the traditional third party payor system.

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show notes

Summit Arthritis Center - Dr. Ellen McKnight's rheumatology practice in Pensacola, FL.

@McknightmdEllen: Twittering for Dr. McKnight

The Activated Physician: A talk given by Dr. McKnight at the Direct Primary Care Conference in Orlando, FL in 2018.

Episode 034: Dr. Gross in whether Direct Primary Care is the Future of Medicine

Episode 023: How HIPAA Destroyed Patient Privacy with Twila Brase, RN

Episode 009: Doctors Getting Worked Over by the ABIM with Dr. Wes Fisher.

Episode 007: Why Americans Pick the Wrong Health Insurance with Dr. Kevin Wacasey

Memorial for Andy Larson: This is the donation link to honor Andy's death with the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys where he blossomed and served as a head chorister.

YouTube for Paradocs: Here you can watch the video of my late son singing his solo on the Paradocs YouTube page.

Patreon - Become a show supporter today and visit my Patreon page for extra bonus material. Every dollar raised goes towards the production and promotion of the show.

Episode 037: A Rheumatologist Says No to the Joint Commission. Leaving the Third Party Pay System with Dr. Ellen McKnight.

Episode 037