Naturopathic doctor only charges his patients donations

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The Associated Press

 

 

TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- Dr. Richard Powell, a naturopathic physician with an

office in Old Towne Twin Falls, doesn't want to turn away patients because

they can't afford treatment.

So starting Jan. 1, all of Powell's patients are paying only what they can

afford. And if they can't afford to pay anything, they won't have to pay at

all.

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's

the right thing to do for his patients. He plans to display a collection box

in 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, " Powell

says. " It's not about money -- it's about patients. "

Powell was inspired to change the way he does business because of one of his

patients, Don Hill of Gooding.

After living with diabetes for nearly 20 years, Hill, 74, said he realized

traditional medical treatments weren't improving his quality of life. So he

thought he'd give natural medicine a try.

" I was willing to try about anything to avoid going to a regular doctor and

get my foot cut off, " said Hill, who has a diabetic ulcer on the bottom of

one foot.

Hill has been a patient of Powell's for about a month, visiting the office

about once a week while continuing to visit a traditional doctor in Gooding.

Powell put Hill on a new diet -- lots of whole grains, vegetables and

vitamins -- and began treating him with acupressure techniques to improve

his energy level and blood circulation.

Hill says he feels better since his diet changed, and Powell says Hill is

starting 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 twice

per week. Medicare picks up most of Hill's traditional medical costs for

doctor's visits and insulin shots, but the out-of-pocket expenses for the

natural care and fuel costs for the weekly trip to Twin Falls were becoming

prohibitive.

" 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 stop

receiving treatment for lack of money.

" He was going to sacrifice getting well because he can't afford it, " Powell

said. " I just don't think that's justifiable. I don't want anybody to

compromise getting well for a few extra bucks in my pocket. "

Powell expects he'll be able to keep his practice in operation because he

keeps his overhead low. His office is open only about 20 hours per week

because 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 profit

But 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 or

six patients per week now and expects his client list to grow in the coming

year.

" 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 admires

what Powell is doing and said he hopes Powell can succeed. Willhite has been

practicing 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 that

price 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't

entirely unusual in the industry, Willhite said, but it's not common to

offer those services for purely optional donations. Powell's full-time job

elsewhere will be the main factor in keeping the part-time practice in

business, Willhite said.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D6.

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