Page 3 - March 2017

Local Internist Selected for National

Physicians Council for Healthcare Policy

BY DANIEL CASCIATO new Medicare Access and Patient Contracting with physicians, not be accessible to you, especially for
CHIP Reauthorization Act Medical Homes, which have definite the lower and middle classes in our
In December, Dr. Robert (MACRA) implementa- merit,” adds Dr. Briskin, who founded country.”
Briskin, founder of VIP tion as well as private-sec- the first concierge-style medical practice One idea that Dr. Briskin sees as a
Primary Care Associates, tor modifications/alterna- in 2000, one year before the arrival of valuable addition to traditional health
P.A., across from the tives to the Affordable MDVIP insurance is the Healthcare Sharing
Jupiter Medical Center, Care Act (ACA). He adds, “I have yet to witness any Ministries Medishare program. Through
attended the National Phy - Dr. Briskin was invited meaningful, comprehensive reform pro- these plans, faith-based organizations
sicians Coun cil for Health - to join because of his posals coming out from major medical collect monthly dues and then distrib-
care Policy meeting spon- experience working be - organizations, including the FMA or the utes the money to subscribers who have
sored by Rep. Pete Sessions hind the scenes on health- AMA. The original ideas, in my opinion, medical bills to pay.
(R-TX). care reform over the past stem from the innovators in healthcare. Dr. Briskin and his wife and four chil-
Dr. Briskin was invited 25 years. Every idea I hear is centered on tax cred- dren recently enrolled in Liberty
by the Council’s leadership Dr. Robert Briskin “It was very inspira- its - giving credits so people can buy Healthshares, and saved about 75% over
to join the council due to tional to be sitting in a their own health insurance. But I have his prior BlueCross/BlueShield policy.
his life-long commitment congressional hall with 60 not seen any plan that would influence The only real problem, according to Dr.
to improving the lives of patient and doc- doctors and several members of the price of the health insurance. Briskin, is that these plans are not guar-
tors. He currently serves as the only Congress,” he says. “It was incredibly Nothing makes it more affordable. Our anteed issues and pre-existing condition-
internist from Florida on the Council. empowering to be a part of a group of mission is to try to come up with sugges- ing are grandfathered in over several
“There are certain things that make the healthcare leaders from all parts of the tions for Congress. It's a process.” years.
practice of medicine very difficult for United States. Most of the 50 states were While the Council believes that the “Still, for about 80% of the population,
physicians right now,” says Dr. Briskin. represented with people trying to find current healthcare system capably deliv- I feel this is a great alternative to taking
“A lot of that is due to government over- solutions for patients and physicians to ers the highest quality of care in the charge of your health at a reasonable
reach. They want to bring down the cost make the healthcare system better.” world, they also stress that the highest cost,” he says. “One of the answers to
of healthcare, but are imposing certain Dr. Briskin has not seen many new quality care is not accessible or afford- healthcare is to partner with the faith
things that eat up the physician’s time.” original ideas from Congress which able to all Americans. They believe that community.”
The National Physicians Council for would ultimately affect the total cost and any reforms must focus on patient-cen-
Healthcare Policy was founded in 2014 quality of healthcare. There are various tric care that is adequately funded, offers For more on this story, visit
under the leadership of Drs. Marcy financing mechanisms, he notes, such as individual choice and direction. https://www.southfloridahospitalnews.com.
Zwelling of California and John Gill of block grants to the states, high risk “Basically, if you’re rich, you can get
Washington, DC, under the auspices of pools, selling insurance across state lines. the best care in the world,” says Dr. For information on VIP Primary Care, visit
Congressman Pete Sessions. It consults “But the devil is in the details and there Briskin. “The problem is for 80% of the www.vipprimarycare.com. To learn more
with and advises members of Congress are problems with virtually everything population for whom the high cost of about the National Physicians Council for
on various healthcare issues, such as the I’ve heard, other than HSAs, Direct healthcare is an issue. The best care may Healthcare Policy, visit www.npchcp.org.

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