Dr. Michael Ciampi from South Portland, Maine, is living your dream. He recently decided to stop accepting any insurance coverage, including private plans, Medicare and Medicaid, opting instead to
post a price sheet online and require patients to be responsible for payment, according to a report in the
Bangor Daily News.
Ciampi was able to cut his posted prices in half due to the move, though the report notes he lost several hundred of the 2,000 patients the practice served prior to the change. He notes on his web site that the practice will give patients a receipt if they wish to pursue payment through their insurance company on their own. They will still need to pay Ciampi for services out of pocket.
Prices charged at the practice range from $50 for a single-problem focused sick visit to $150 for a complete physical or child wellness exam to $200-$250 for minor surgery with sutures, including their removal. A phone consultation is $20.
Despite the loss of patients, Ciampi says he expects the practice to maintain the same level of profitability due to the reduced administrative costs from not dealing with insurance companies any more.