“Physicians are reaching the tipping point on their business models, particularly in primary care,” Tom Blue, executive director of the American Academy of Private Physicians, recently told the San Antonio News-Express in an article about concierge and direct-pay practices. “They just can’t make ends meet. They’re being forced to make decisions about changing their revenue models.”
And while no one knows exactly how fast the retainer trend is growing, a 2005 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found there are 146 retainer physicians nationwide, noted USA Today. The article also cited a 2009 report commissioned by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission that compiled a list of 756 retainer physicians. And according to a 2010 survey of members of the American Academy of Family Physicians, 3 percent of respondents said they ran some form of retainer practice, up from 1.2 percent in 2009. Finally, the San Antonio News reported that the American Academy of Private Physicians estimates 1,100 primary care physicians don’t accept insurance, double the number of five years ago.
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Question: For the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, how should an eligible professional (EP), eligible hospital, or critical access hospital (CAH) that sees patients in multiple practice locations equipped with certified EHR technology calculate numerators and denominators for the meaningful use objectives and measures?
Answer: EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs should look at the measure of each meaningful use objective to determine the appropriate calculation method for individual numerators and denominators.The calculation of the numerator and denominator for each measure is explained in the July 28, 2010 final rule (75 FR 44314).
Note: Manage My Practice is proud to participate in a new content swap with FiercePracticeManagement. This swap will provide readers of both websites with fresh content on more topics. We hope you enjoy our first FiercePracticeManagement article!
Measuring healthcare in terms of quality is a relatively new concept, one in which even the biggest payer in the country admits is a work in progress.
One initial lesson is that the word “quality” means different things, depending on whom you ask. In a recent survey of 374 new patients with early-stage breast cancer, for example, researchers discovered that the women’s idea of quality varied greatly from the medical definitions of the term used by hospitals, Reuters reported.
For the most part, the patients rated the care they got as of lower quality than their medical records indicated they received. In particular, just 55 percent said the care they received was “excellent,” although 88 percent actually got good-quality care according to medical guidelines, the study indicated. Among those who did rate their care as excellent, most also highly rated their process of getting care, as well as being treated well by medical staff.
Employees are the most valuable resource in any business.
We hear that statement all the time. I believe it. Most managers would say they believe it. But a lot of managers don’t act as if they believe it. If you take it to heart and realize what the extreme cost of turnover is to your organization, then you are always trying to find new ways to find the very best staff, and once you’ve hired them, to keep them motivated and willing to stick with you.
Each of us require the basics – compensation and benefits must meet baseline needs for anyone to consider any job offer. Survey after survey tells us, however, that it is the needs beyond the basics that close the deal and keep employees satisfied going forward.
An article discussing the recent Society for Human Resource Managements (SHRM) Job Satisfaction Survey stated:
“…there are more important factors that contribute to job satisfaction, such as relationships with immediate supervisors, management recognition of employee job performance, and communication between employees and senior management.”
Phoenix Cardiac Surgery probably never thought they would be a poster child for HIPAA safeguards, but this 5-physician cardiothoracic practice in Prescott, Arizona has become famous for something no medical practice wants to be famous for – not protecting their patient information.
Today’s HHS Press Release reads as follows:
HHS settles case with Phoenix Cardiac Surgery for lack of HIPAA safeguards
Today HHS announced a proposed rule (complete rule here – 175 page pdf) that would delay the go live for ICD-10 from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014. What follows are excerpts from the proposed rule.
The NCAA basketball final game is now set. Kentucky and Kansas will meet on Monday evening to determine who will be the national champion. What is so fascinating is to watch how different players contribute in key situations that make the difference in the ultimate outcome.
