In the past year, I've talked to several people about the future of mental healthcare, specifically the future of private pay.

I've talked to providers who're trying to decide if leaving insurance panels is the right move for them, the ones who've already decided to move away from insurance, and the ones who decided to expand as an in-network practice. I've also just had this conversation with someone who helps therapists sell their practices.

And while therapists in conversations and online discussions are focusing primarily on the reimbursements rates and private-pay fees, many don't consider the full implication of this decision. What I mean by that is, deciding between insurance and private-pay is not only a revenue decision. It's a business model decision.

You need to be able to envision the future of your practice to know which choice makes sense for you. If that's been on your mind, you may want to read my recent article Should Therapists Accept Insurance or Go Private Pay?

In it, I explore the real differences between the insurance and the private-pay business models. What it means for your stability, business investments, and growth.

Many people I've talked to believe that the private-pay model is dying out. But I'm not so sure. I think that there is a strong case for private-pay that includes the benefits of exiting the healthcare system, privacy, and even cyber security.

I believe that the market prefers having a choice. For some the choice will be in-network mental health, and for others it will be the discretion that a private-pay provider can offer.

One thing I'm confident about: we can't predict the future. So if you believe in your practice, and need to make a decision about your next step, let me know. I'd love to hear from you.

See you next week,

Avivit