As chiropractic care continues to evolve toward a more personalized and patient-focused model, concierge services are gaining traction. This shift has led to the emergence of a specialized role within the profession: the concierge chiropractor.
This approach to care prioritizes convenience, high-quality service and direct patient access for a set fee. It can present a financially rewarding opportunity; whether you’re enhancing an existing practice or launching a new one.
A concierge chiropractic practice typically focuses on fewer patients and provides more in-depth, personalized care. Services are typically offered via membership or pay-per-visit model.
Concierge chiropractic services may include:
- Exclusive member access: Patients receive priority communication through direct phone, text or email contact.
- Preventive and wellness support: Services may encompass lifestyle counseling, wellness plans and comprehensive functional assessments.
- Home care: Services can be provided at the patient’s home or workplace for added convenience.
- Flexible appointments: Visits may be offered outside of traditional office hours to accommodate individual needs.
Before transitioning to a concierge model, take time to reflect on the services you’re most passionate about and your preferred style of care delivery. For instance, some DCs choose to focus on specific populations, such as professional athletes, corporate professionals or pediatric patients. Will your primary emphasis be on rehabilitation, preventative care or overall wellness? Clearly identifying your niche will not only strengthen your brand and marketing strategy but also help you build a loyal, like-minded patient base.
Items to consider prior to starting a concierge practice:
- Membership agreements: Patients commit to paying an annual membership fee, which may range from $500 to $10,000. Some agreements may also include additional monthly fees, along with any applicable co-payments and deductibles. It’s important to note that some patients may prefer or need to rely solely on their insurance due to financial constraints. To ensure full understanding and avoid any contractual issues, patients should carefully review the terms of the agreement before enrollment.
- Insurance and legal compliance: It’s essential your membership agreement does not resemble an insurance contract or conflict with the anti-kickback statute. To ensure legal compliance and alignment with your scope of practice, consult an attorney experienced in concierge chiropractic care to draft your patient agreement. Some states permit concierge services without explicitly advertising it; something you may not be aware of.
- Medicare: Providers may offer concierge services to Medicare beneficiaries, provided they adhere strictly to federal guidelines. The key requirement is Medicare patients cannot be charged additional fees for services already covered under the program. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued an alert addressing concerns about physicians imposing extra charges for covered services.
- Abandonment considerations: When transitioning to a concierge model, it’s important to carefully manage how this change is communicated to your existing patient base. Not all patients may choose to enroll in your new membership structure. To avoid claims of patient abandonment, provide clear and timely notice of your practice transition, along with sufficient time for patients to seek alternative care if they choose. Be sure to review your state’s regulations regarding patient abandonment to ensure full compliance during this process.
Final thoughts
Transitioning to a concierge model can be a highly rewarding path, offering the potential for increased profitability, improved work-life balance and reduced administrative workload. It also allows for more meaningful, focused time with each patient, ultimately enhancing the quality of care you provide.
MARTY KOTLAR, DC, CPCO, CBCS, is the president of Target Coding. Over the last 15 years, Target Coding has helped hundreds of healthcare providers with compliance as it relates to billing, coding, documentation, Medicare and HIPAA. Kotlar is certified in compliance, a certified coding specialist, a contributing author to many coding and compliance publications and a guest speaker at many state association conventions. He can be reached at 800-270-7044, targetcoding.com or drkotlar@targetcoding.com.
