Holladay physician forgoing insurance plans

HOLLADAY — Dr. Michael Jennings has been wielding a hammer as much as a stethoscope in recent days, readying his new office for patients who will simply pay a flat fee for his services.

No more insurance forms, no more long hours at his desk. Jennings said he's had it with spending as much or more time on paperwork as he does with his patients. And that's going to change.

So lately, he's spent his weekends with building contractors in his new office, putting the finishing touches on what will be known as Personal Family Physicians in Holladay.

"It will be my own group practice that doesn't work with insurance companies. We'll work the financial arrangements out with our patients and we work for them." Those who sign up will receive all the services offered at the clinic for a flat fee of $1,800 per year for the first member of a household, $1,500 for the second, $1,200 for the third and $1,000 for any additional family members.

"Payments can be broken down however it's convenient for the patient. The reason we do that is we want the continuity of a long-term relationship with them." While many people use local urgent care facilities where they walk in and pay cash, those are usually one-time, acute-need situations that don't provide preventive care and maintenance.

"We don't place a limit or cap on number of office visits," he said, noting the clinic will offer basic primary care services but no X-rays. In-office lab work is covered as are many of the lab tests that must be sent out for testing.

Because most people's needs for medical attention revolve around the services he can offer in-house, Jennings said he's looking to serve patients "who feel they can't find or afford insurance."

Jennings said he's starting the practice on his own, but the office has been built to house three providers. "As we grow, I will bring in partners. Each person will have their private doctor and that's who they will primarily see."His desire to get back to patient-centered medical care is spreading among medical providers nationwide, to the point that a new organization has been created to help foster relationships between such doctors. The Society for Innovative Medical Practice Design (www.simpd.org) now provides a growing menu of services and benefits for those who are leaving traditional practice behind, including discounts on malpractice insurance, a listing service so patients can find participating doctors and an agreement that members will care for each others' patients when necessary.