HealthAccessRI sets out to gain 10,000 members

SCITUATE – HealthAccessRI, the primary care, subscription program started two years ago by a group of local medical practices, has launched a campaign to grow its membership to 10,000 people by December of next year – up from about 600 today.
HealthAccess members pay a sign-up fee and then a monthly fee – usually $30 or less – to a participating primary care practice and in exchange are treated just like insured patients, with low copays for checkups and sick visits and after-hours phone access. Through special partnerships, they also get discounted rates on imaging, lab work and other services.
But to truly meet most patients’ needs, co-founder Dr. Michael Fine argues, HealthAccess should be paired with a low-premium, high-deductible health plan for catastrophic coverage. If the program enrolls 10,000 people, its leaders believe, it will have the leverage to make such coverage available in the state. &#8226