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New Direct Fee System Being Tried by Physicians

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There’s a new trend in Delaware for physicians to charge a straight yearly membership fee to cover certain basic health care like physicals and between two and four office visits.

In essence for a cost of around $75 a month for adult patients skip the normal insurance co-pays and paperwork.

For children under 18 the cost is up to $360 a year.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that Dr. Christina Bovelsky in Middletown has opened such a unique practice.

The paper says that a survey by Physicians’ Foundation last year discovered that around 7 percent of doctors are now using the direct-pay system while another 13 percent are transitioning to some form of one.

Patients still have insurance for procedures and tests not covered by the direct fee practice.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.