At the AAPS annual meeting, which I attended last week, I heard from a lot of doctors who have third-party free practices.  They've found a way to offer affordable medical care to people who really need it without playing games with third-party payers.  As you can imagine, this upsets the third-party payers quite a bit!

Dr. John Muney has been experiencing his share of regulatory difficulties as he tries to provide affordable care to people who need it most!  His practice model:  $79/month and $10 per visit!  Wow!  Of course, this flys in the face of the conventional wisdom that holds there the be no possible way for average people to afford health care without some insurance company paying for it.

The insurance department of New York State ordered Dr. Muney to drop his fixed rate plan.  They called it insurance, and since he isn't an insurance company, he can't offer such a plan.  Who loses here?  His patients!

Dr. Muney's lawyer has figured out a way to continue offering a fixed rate plan:  charge more when the patient comes to see you!  Yes, due to pressure from the State of New York, Dr. Munney will have to raise his fees.  Not because he wants to, not because it will benefit his patients, but because the New York State Government says so.

This points out what should be obvious to anyone looking at the health care debate.  Dr. Mark Kellen, past-President of the AAPS said it best:  "We don't need health care reform, we need government reform!"  Dr. Kellen is a wise man!

You can read the whole story from the New York Post here.