The following was compiled by AAPP Director of Chapter Development, Callie Rutter.

This is a work in progress, and we would welcome any corrections, comments, or additions.

1996: Dr. Howard Maron and Scott Hall, FACP established MD2 (pronounced MD squared) located in Seattle, Bellevue, WA and Oregon and charged an annual retainer fee of $13,200 and $20,000 per family.

1999: Medical Professionalism Project-consisting of members of the internal medicine community, including representatives of ACP and the American Board of Internal Medicine, set out to draft a charter that could serve as a framework for understanding professionalism.

1999: Institute of Medicine releases the now famous report of medical errors, patient safety, and professional integrity that caused further probing in physician exam rooms.

2000: Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, WA began operating concierge medical services within its facilities and used some of the profits from the 5 physician practice to subsidize other programs and indigent care services.

2000: MDVIP, founded by Dr. Robert Colton and Bernard Kaminetsky, in Boca Raton, FL. A brand of concierge medicine practice and management firm which has set-up more than 300 concierge medical practices with offices from Arizona to Rhode Island.

2001: American Medical Association writes PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL EITHICS concierge physician guidelines.

2002: ACB Foundation , ABIM Foundation and the European Federation of Internal Medicine defines ethical principles and responsibilities contracts between patient and physician, which is in a language that suggests both parties have equality,, mutual interest and autonomy.

2002: Medicare addresses concierge medicine and retainer fees.

2002: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, CMS, outlined its position on concierge care in a March 2002 memorandum.  The memorandum states that physicians may enter into retainer agreements with their patients as long as these agreements do not violate any Medicare requirements.

2002: Pinnacle Care establishes patient care with a one-time membership fee for access to VIP service.

2002: The AMA counsel on medical service issued a report in June 2002 on Special Physician-Patient contracts.  It concluded that retainer medicine was very small phenomenon.

2003: American Society of Concierge Physicians, was founded by Dr. Johon Blanchard. The association later changed its name to SIMPD, Society for Innovative Practice Design.

2003: AMA issued guidelines for boutique practices in June 2003.

2003: Department of Health and Human Services rules the concierge medical practices are not illegal and the federal government takes a decidedly hands off approach and the OIG, Office of the Inspector General.

2003: American College of Physicians writes doctors struggle to balance professionalism with the pressures of everyday practice.

2003: June 2003 the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs outlines guidelines for “contracted medical services”.  The AMA House of Delegates approves these guidelines.

2004: GAO, General Accountability Office writes 146 concierge physicians in the U.S.

2004: Harvard University study finds that 55% of the respondents are dissatisfied with their health care, and 40% of that 55% agreed that the quality of care had worsened in the previous 5 years.

2005: The AOA, American Osteopathic Association adopts not to recommend and official policy on concierge care.

2006: MDVIP, a concierge physician practice management firm, reports that 130 physicians within their network treat up to 40,000 patients worldwide.

2008: Boasting an estimated 35 concierge doctor practices, Orange County, CA appeared to be a leading hub of concierge medicine.

2008: Concierge Physician of Orange County (CPOC)– a non-profit group of existing concierge physicians was founded.

2010: SIMPD reorganizes, expands its vision, and rebrands itself the American Academy of Private Physicians.

2010: American Academy of Private Physicians forms first local chapter in Orange County, California called AAPP,OC (formerly CPOC)