Photo: CBS This Morning
A surgeon in Nebraska is letting his patientspay off their medical billswith hours of volunteer work.
While the nerve specialist does take traditional lump-sum or installments of monetary payment, he’s employed a time-based system of billing that allows his clinic to set reasonable and predictable prices — and determine how much volunteering a patient would complete to pay for their medical expenses.
Aguilatold CBS Newsthat he founded the program six months ago to help eliminate debt for patients.
“We can’t ignore the people in our own backyard,” he said. “We want to be able to offer hope to patients who have lost hope medically.”
By partnering with charitable organizations, Aguilla believes the program allows people from all walks of life to receive medical care without the concern of cost.
“I don’t care if you’re a multi-billionaire or if you’re the guy on the street corner with a styrofoam cup. You get offered the same options. Why? Because it’s fair,” the physician said.
Putting his patients’ health into consideration, Aguila also allows those in the M25 Program to enlist others’ help with volunteering and earn hours on their behalf.
Jeff Jensen, who was the program’s first patient, needed to complete 560 hours of charity work as his payment, according to atestimonial videoshared Healing Hands of Nebraska’s website. Students at University of Nebraska Medical Center stepped in and volunteered atOrphan Grain Trainto help him complete some of the charity work needed for his surgery.
“The M25 Program is not about money,”he said. “If people come together to help other people, then your community thrives.”
According to the CBS News, about 10 percent of Aguila’s patients qualify for the program. There are currently eight people enrolled.
source: people.com
