For a little more, the doctor will see you now

'Boutique' plans enrich care for some but exclude many

Longtime patients Honor and Bill Branch were determined to continue seeing Zebley. "The health care system in this country is an abominable mess," said Honor Branch, 67. "We certainly are not wealthy, but I feel that we are choosing to spend our money to have the best health care that we can."

She said always found Zebley attentive, but when he adopted a boutique practice, there was even more time during appointments to pepper him with questions. She has called him on his cell phone during emergencies and made same-day appointments. And when she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, Zebley, who was out of town at a conference, called her at home to discuss the results and the course of action.

"I thank God that I have the doctor that I have," Branch said.

But patients like Kathy Anderson of Ellicott City are outraged at the thought of their doctors switching to a boutique model

"I just think it's morally wrong," said Anderson, a data clerk at Mount View Middle School in Marriottsville. She said her daughter and son-in-law also see the same doctor. "If I went in, I would be condoning this type of practice," Anderson said, noting that her daughter, who is in her 20s, would not be able to afford the extra expense. "I would be giving myself access at the cost of my daughter not having access."

As for Moore, she says she would prefer the new system, but doesn't know if her family can afford it.

"We have to sit down and talk about it," she said.