April 30, 2007  -  Dr. Nelson Simmons, a family doctor in McKinney, is luring new patients with an innovative prototype for delivering medical care to small businesses.

JUAN GARCIA/DMN

Dr. Nelson Simmons hopes his concept will catch on.

Through his company called Personal MD, Dr. Simmons has created his own local network of sorts in Collin County, loosening the health insurance straitjacket that both doctors and small businesses have come to lament. If his success continues, he plans to duplicate the operation throughout North Texas.

A growing list of what now includes 70 small-business owners in Collin County pay him $40 per covered employee every month. In return, their employees receive same-day service from a family doctor, steep discounts from 30 specialists who are friends of Dr. Simmons and membership into Personal Rx, Dr. Simmons' discount pharmacy program.

"Bottom line is we become an inexpensive option of giving employees basic health care access," Dr. Simmons said. "Basically, for less than $500 a year, your employees can at least have a doctor."