Naturopathic doctor only charges his patients donations

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The Associated PressTWIN FALLS, Idaho -- Dr. Richard Powell, a naturopathic physician with anoffice in Old Towne Twin Falls, doesn't want to turn away patients becausethey can't afford treatment.So starting Jan. 1, all of Powell's patients are paying only what they canafford. And if they can't afford to pay anything, they won't have to pay atall.Powell says he's changing his fee structure from a per-visit charge,depending on the services rendered, to donation-only because he thinks it'sthe right thing to do for his patients. He plans to display a collection boxin his office to hold payments, and he won't keep track of who pays what."As a society, we have forgotten what we're supposed to be doing," Powellsays. "It's not about money -- it's about patients."Powell was inspired to change the way he does business because of one of hispatients, Don Hill of Gooding.After living with diabetes for nearly 20 years, Hill, 74, said he realizedtraditional medical treatments weren't improving his quality of life. So hethought he'd give natural medicine a try."I was willing to try about anything to avoid going to a regular doctor andget my foot cut off," said Hill, who has a diabetic ulcer on the bottom ofone foot.Hill has been a patient of Powell's for about a month, visiting the officeabout once a week while continuing to visit a traditional doctor in Gooding.Powell put Hill on a new diet -- lots of whole grains, vegetables andvitamins -- and began treating him with acupressure techniques to improvehis energy level and blood circulation.Hill says he feels better since his diet changed, and Powell says Hill isstarting to see "positive progress."But recently, Hill told Powell he could no longer afford to pay the doctor's$35 per-visit charge when Powell wanted Hill to increase his visits to twiceper week. Medicare picks up most of Hill's traditional medical costs fordoctor's visits and insulin shots, but the out-of-pocket expenses for thenatural care and fuel costs for the weekly trip to Twin Falls were becomingprohibitive."He doesn't charge much, but I don't have much money for his type of deal,"Hill said.Powell said he didn't want Hill -- or any of his other patients -- to stopreceiving treatment for lack of money."He was going to sacrifice getting well because he can't afford it," Powellsaid. "I just don't think that's justifiable. I don't want anybody tocompromise getting well for a few extra bucks in my pocket."Powell expects he'll be able to keep his practice in operation because hekeeps his overhead low. His office is open only about 20 hours per weekbecause he also works full-time for Jerome-based Giltner Inc.Powell has been in business for almost a year and hasn't yet turned a profitBut he expects he'll be able to cover his rent payment on his office --about $1,000 per month -- through his patients' donations. He sees five orsix patients per week now and expects his client list to grow in the comingyear."I don't really look to make any money for the next two years," Powell said.Bliss-based alternative medicine practitioner Bob Willhite says he admireswhat Powell is doing and said he hopes Powell can succeed. Willhite has beenpracticing alternative medicine for about 20 years on a suggested-fee basis-- he sets a price for his services, and his patients pay as much of thatprice as they can, he said."I have what I think is a reasonable amount to pay for treatment, and I say,'Do what you can," Willhite said. "What (Powell) is offering is tremendous."Offering natural medicine services on a suggested-donation basis isn'tentirely unusual in the industry, Willhite said, but it's not common tooffer those services for purely optional donations. Powell's full-time jobelsewhere will be the main factor in keeping the part-time practice inbusiness, Willhite said.This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D6.http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload & name=News & file=article & sid=44834 & mode=thread & order=0 & thold=0