With 600,000 members in three states — Texas, Massachusetts and Arizona — and plans to enter up to 10 new markets a year, Austin-based WhiteGlove House Call Health is one of the most visible players in the growing field of mobile primary care.
In most cases, the company contracts with businesses and insurers to offer its services to employees or plan members. Companies pay an annual fee of $300 per member; the covered individuals pay up to $35 to have a WhiteGlove nurse practitioner make a house (or office) call. (The service is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year.) Individuals can also sign up with WhiteGlove, for $420 annually and the same $35 fee.
Full article on WhiteGlove House Call Health.
This is sort of like your very own concierge medical provider for simple ailments. I’ve met the people associated with White Glove and I think the concept is rather interesting.
This is a good idea.
Sounds a lot better than Romneycare.
This is the kind of service for which Dr. Jacques Chaoulli was punished by the government of Quebec in Canada. Although the lawsuit that went to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2005 was about orthopaedic surgery done for private, self-payment (http://tinyurl.com/3jsnkef), Dr. Chaoulli’s initial frustration with the government monopoly derived from its refusal to pay claims for house calls. Dr. Chaoulli used a van to make house calls, saw the patients in the van, and submitted claims. The government-monopoly health plan refused to pay even though he had the same equipment in his van as he did in the office, and did the same activities.
I can see where this would drastically reduce the costs of health care and improve care for all. Can this be added to a Medicare Advantage Plan?