In this episode, Dr. Gerard Gianoli of The Ear & Balance Institute (Covington, Louisiana), joins host Dr. Ashley Agan to discuss his experience with the third-party-free practice model.

First, Dr. Gianoli describes how his work treating vestibular disorders spurred his interest in the third-party-free practice model, where patients pay upfront for services, then submit insurance claims for reimbursement as appropriate. Dr. Gianoli walks listeners through his practice’s transition, focusing on referral patterns and patient concerns. Then, the surgeons speak to the model’s advantages, including reduced rates of physician burnout, higher-value patient care, and reduced administrative burden. Looking ahead, Dr. Gianoli assesses the role of third-party-free practices in the U.S. healthcare landscape. Finally, the episode wraps with a discussion of Dr. Gianoli’s recent book on Third Mobile Window Syndrome.

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SHOW NOTES

00:00 - Introduction

05:34 - Transitioning to a Third-Party-Free Practice

07:48 - The Financial Impact of Going Third-Party-Free

12:11 - Benefits of a Third-Party-Free Practice

27:28 - Navigating Surgery Costs in a Third-Party-Free Practice

32:01 - Determining Prices in a Cash-Based Practice

35:10 - The Importance of Patient Education in Medical Practice

38:15 - Drawbacks of the Third-Party-Free Model

52:32 - Trends in Physician Practice Models

56:38 - Dr. Gianoli’s Book on Third Mobile Window Syndrome

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RESOURCES

Dr. Gianoli’s physician profile at the Ear & Balance Institute:

https://earandbalance.net/dr-gianoli/

Dr. Gianoli’s Wall Street Journal Editorial from January 2015: “Saying Goodbye to Third-Party Medical Payments.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/gerard-j-gianoli-saying-goodbye-to-third-party-medical-payments-1421280968

“Third Mobile Window Syndrome of the Ear: Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence and Associated Disorders,” edited by Gerard Gianoli and Philippa Thomson:

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-16586-3

“The Private Practice Solution: Reclaiming Physician Autonomy and Restoring the Doctor-Patient Relationship,” by Grace Torres-Hodges:

https://www.amazon.com/Private-Practice-Solution-Doctor-Patient-Relationship/dp/B0CK3QR1XX