The doctor will see you now – for $2,000

Dr. Thomas Hwang, a Tustin internist, didn’t like the way his practice was evolving. Even as his patient load expanded, his take-home pay contracted, and he feared not having enough time to spend with his patients.

So a little over a year ago, he invited them to a big meeting at the Tustin Ranch Country Club, where he explained a new feature of his practice. Patients who agreed to pay a yearly fee of $1,600, beyond their insurance premiums, would enjoy better access to him.