When you visit a doctor, the last thing on your mind is how much they’re getting paid. However, as a patient, it’s essential to understand how your doctor’s exclusive remuneration affects your wallet.

In this article, we will explore what this term means and how it impacts your healthcare costs.

What is Exclusive Remuneration?

The term exclusive remuneration describes how doctors receive payment. Essentially, it means that doctors only receive payment for the services they perform, rather than being paid a salary.

This method of payment is used predominantly in the United States and means doctors get paid on a fee-for-service basis.

Fee-for-service payments are common in the healthcare industry, where doctors and other medical professionals only receive payment when they perform a service.

For example, if a doctor sees a patient for a consultation, they will receive payment for that specific consultation, and nothing else.

The Pros and Cons of Exclusive Remuneration

Exclusive remuneration has its pros and cons. On one hand, this payment method incentivizes doctors to see as many patients as possible, leading to shorter wait times and a greater level of access to healthcare for patients.

However, there are also potential downsides for patients. One is that doctors might feel pressure to order unnecessary tests and procedures to increase their fee earnings.

Additionally, exclusive remuneration can lead to a more fragmented care experience, with the patient seeing multiple doctors for different issues, each of whom may prescribe different tests and treatments.

How Does Exclusive Remuneration Affect Your Wallet?

When doctors are paid on a fee-for-service basis, it impacts how much you are charged for your healthcare services.

Without an established salary, doctors need to make enough money through performing services to maintain their practices and earn a living.

As a result, patients often end up paying a premium price, particularly for expensive procedures and tests, for example, MRI, CT-scan or PET scan.

These tests and procedures provide considerable reimbursement rates, which can incentivize doctors to order them, whether necessary or not.

If a physician has a hospital affiliation, some hospital systems also tack on facility fees, which can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to your bill.

Hospital fees aren’t related to your care; hospitals get away with charging them because they can.

What Can You Do to Mitigate the Impact?

As a patient, a few things can help mitigate the impact of exclusive remuneration on your wallet.

1. Be proactive: Ask your doctor to explain the reasons for ordering any test, procedure, or medication. Discuss possible alternatives and any potential risks or side effects to help you make informed decisions.

2. Compare prices: Before undergoing any significant procedure or diagnostic test, it’s best to shop around the medical center, clinic or hospital to compare prices across facilities.

3. Negotiate Bills: Request a billing advocate or negotiate the bills with the healthcare providers if the bills are unreasonable. This negotiation process can help determine what is negotiable and what is not.

Conclusion

Exclusive remuneration can impact healthcare costs, leading to patients paying more for expensive tests and procedures. Additionally, it can lead to fragmented care experiences, which can be confusing and frustrating for those seeking medical attention.

As a patient, understanding the effects of exclusive remuneration and being proactive in asking questions and shopping around can help you make informed decisions and mitigate the impact of this payment method on your wallet.