Empowering Doctors to Put Themselves and Patients First Again
Over the past two decades, independent private practice medicine has steadily declined under the combined pressures of increasing regulation and declining reimbursement. While approximately 250,000 physicians continue to practice independently, there is no unified national voice representing their role in delivering care, particularly for patients with chronic conditions.
The mission of Save Private Practice Medicine is to provide that voice. We seek to bring together independent physicians across specialties, along with the patients who depend on them, to advocate for policies that preserve access to community-based care, reduce unnecessary administrative burden, and ensure that physicians can continue to practice medicine with autonomy and accountability to their patients.
Who I Am
Dr. Scott Tzorfas is a board certified neurologist and has been serving the communities of Cape May and Atlantic County in NJ as a private practice physician since 1996.
Before becoming a physician, Dr. Tzorfas was a pharmacist. He received his MD degree at Rutgers Medical School and completed his residency in Neurology at Albany Medical Center. Afterward, he completed a fellowship in Neuromuscular Diseases at Thomas Jefferson University Medical Center.
As this community grows, Save Private Practice Medicine will expand its role in advocacy and policy engagement, including direct engagement with policymakers and legislative bodies. Our long-term vision is to become a strong and effective voice in shaping healthcare policy at the national level, grounded in the realities of frontline medical practice.
Why This Matters
Independent physicians play a critical role in managing chronic illness and providing continuity of care. Yet increasing administrative burden, reimbursement pressures, and system consolidation are making it increasingly difficult for these practices to survive.
As more physicians are forced out of independent practice, patients face:
(1) Reduced access to care
(2) Fragmentation of long-term treatment
(3) Increased barriers to necessary testing, medications, and specialist services
Preserving independent practice is not only about physicians. It is about maintaining a healthcare system that remains accessible, responsive, and centered on the patient-physician relationship.
Establish a unified national voice for independent physicians
Advocate for the reduction of unnecessary administrative barriers
Promote fair and sustainable reimbursement structures so that independent physicians can start a practice and remain in practice
Highlight the impact of healthcare policy on real-world patient care
Build a coalition of physicians and patients to influence meaningful reform
What We Aim To Do
The Policy Landscape We Face
We are fighting against systemic barriers that prevent independent practitioners from providing the personalized, long-term care our patients deserve.
Fragmented Care Models
Current policies prioritize short-term interventions over long-term chronic disease management, leaving patients without a consistent advocate.
Restrictive Access
Insurance mandates and administrative hurdles make it nearly impossible for independent practices to provide the specialized resources needed.
Consolidation of Healthcare
The pressures of governmental regulation often lead to a loss of clinical autonomy, a significant reduction in private practice physicians, and a decline in patient-centered care.
Bureaucracy
Medicare does not recognize private practice physicians and the patients they serve. This is illustrated by the fact that the recent Medicare Healthcare Advisory Commission did not appoint one private practice physician on their panel.
Insights, Voices, and Testimonials
We share the personal narratives of patients and independent practitioners who are managing chronic illness and advocating for a more patient-centered healthcare system.
Join the Movement
Be the voice for independent medical practitioners managing chronic illness.
Independent physicians and their patients represent a significant and underrepresented voice in American healthcare. As our numbers grow, so will our ability to advocate for meaningful change.
If you are a physician or patient who believes in preserving access to independent, community-based care, we invite you to join us.
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