SHARE:
Medical Tourism is Thriving
Greetings from the O.R.: Florida's medical facilities are cultivating a thriving business among foreigners seeking healthcare. About 400,000 patients visited the U.S. in 2008.
Other Florida facilities without Mayo’s profile try to take advantage of the state’s identity as a vacation destination. On its website, NCH Healthcare in Naples promises patients a “unique combination of top-quality surgery with a luxurious Floridian paradise holiday-recovery.”
Some facilities, including Baptist Health South Florida, market well-patient services such as executive physical packages to executives overseas. But the bulk of the 12,000 foreigners the hospital treats each year are people seeking treatment from specialists in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics and gastroenterology.
“Many times it’s because services are not available in their home countries — particularly in the Caribbean,” says Larry Cole, assistant vice president of business development for international services for Baptist Health South Florida.
Healthy income
The biggest reason to woo foreign customers, of course, is that they provide a reliable revenue stream in an era of reduced Medicaid payments and hassles with insurance providers. “Many of the international patients who travel (to the U.S. for care) fall into the top 5% or so economically in their country, so they’re not as impacted by economic downturns or trends with the currency,” says Skaran.
Most of the affluent foreigners fall into the “self-pay” category, and many providers, such as Cleveland Clinic Florida, get their money upfront by requiring advance payment for services. Aventura Hospital consolidates its hospital charges for international self-payers so patients can make one payment for services at a “package” price. Maria Lawhorn, patient coordinator for international services at Florida Hospital, says that even after offering foreign patients a discount, Florida Hospital can get a better rate than it would receive from most HMOs and managed care plans. She says Florida Hospital took in about $3 million last year caring for international patients.
Story continued on the next page...
Alex’s mother made a special point of taking him to the beach, the park or the zoo after his treatments each day at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville.
