Why It Sometimes Doesn't Pay, Literally, to Take Medicaid Patients
I have written a couple of pieces lately documenting the high percentage of physicians who refuse to take Medicaid patients, and some of the reasons for their refusal. One of my pieces prompted a physician to email me with his take on this matter. I am going to quote from that email, but take out identifying information to protect his anonymity. Here’s what he said:
I had the experience of dealing with Medi-Cal (California's name for its' Medicaid plan) in the early 90s when I had started a primary care solo practice. Of 40 primary care docs in a 3 mile radius of my office, I was one of three who accepted Medi...
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - March 13, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Peter Ubel Source Type: news
Where Are We on the Diffusion Curve? Trends and Drivers of Primary Care Physicians’ Use of Health Information Technology
“Adoption of health information technology (HIT) by physician practices rose considerably from 2009 to 2012, yet solo physicians lag practices of 20 or more and certain functions—like electronically exchanging information with other physicians—have been adopted by only a minority of providers. Physicians who are part of an integrated delivery system, share resources with other practices, [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)
Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics - January 30, 2014 Category: Information Technology Authors: Lodewijk Tags: News Adoption Health Information Technology Physicians Primary Care Provider Source Type: news
Small providers use cloud EHR, large groups warming up to outsourcing
“Solo doctors, small group practices and specialists find health IT outsourcing — typical choices being a cloud EHR with integrated practice management and billing systems — an option at least worth considering, whether they sign up or not. Outsourcing health IT isn’t so easy, however, for larger healthcare providers from medium-sized hospitals and up, which [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)
Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics - January 21, 2014 Category: Information Technology Authors: Lodewijk Tags: News Cloud Outsourcing Provider Source Type: news
Treatment of PTSD May not Be a Solo Affair
It appears that use of the term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has risen sharply over the past few years.
As talk of PTSD is spreading like wildfire, interest in treatment and research are on the rise as well. The acquisition of an APA-accredited internship is not only highly coveted for being the gold standard of doctoral internships, but it also opens the gates for practicing at Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals and clinics.
While PTSD cases may be most widely recognized and treated among military combat veterans, it is a condition that can affect anyone. Notably, PTSD survivors often either are married or i...
Source: Psych Central - November 19, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Eric Roberts Tags: Disorders General Men's Issues Psychology Psychotherapy PTSD Relationships & Love Stress Treatment Women's Issues Interpersonal Relationship Intimate Relationship Partner Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Psychological trauma Sul Source Type: news
'Practice' pack of condoms with instructions leads to improved comfort and consistency of use
A new and successful strategy for combating the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV draws from an old idea: Practice is fundamental to learning, even when it involves using condoms correctly. The Kinsey Institute Homework Intervention Strategy gives men a "ditty bag" full of condoms and lubricants, makes sure the men understand how to apply condoms correctly, and then assigns homework. The men are expected to try out at least six condoms solo, paying particular attention to their own pleasure and which condoms they like best... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - November 8, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Sexual Health / STDs Source Type: news
Ditty bag of condoms, home-use instructions lead to improved comfort and consistency with condom use
(Indiana University) A new and successful strategy for combating STIs such as HIV draws from an old idea: practice is fundamental to learning, even when it involves using condoms correctly. The Kinsey Institute Homework Intervention Strategy gives men condoms and lubricants, makes sure the men understand how to apply condoms correctly, and then assigns homework. The men are expected to try out at least six condoms solo, paying particular attention to their own pleasure and favorite condoms. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - November 6, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Time to Cut Physician Reimbursement Red Tape
Martin MerrittBlog | October 06, 2013 | Healthcare Reform, Medical Billing & Collections, Patients, Physician CompensationBy Martin MerrittAs we begin to correct bugs in health insurance exchanges, it is time to also give some thought to reducing the amount paid by each solo physician to get paid. (Source: Physicians Practice)
Source: Physicians Practice - October 4, 2013 Category: Practice Management Authors: keithmartin Source Type: news
AAFP Delegates Wrestle With Needs of Older Physicians, Rural Practices
AAFP News Now article reports that delegates to the 2013 Congress of Delegates in San Diego voted Sept. 24 to safeguard access to quality health care for all by investigating how best to serve the interests of the nation's older family physicians, as well as those in solo or small practices, especially in rural areas. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - September 26, 2013 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
House bill would stop EHR penalties for more medical practices
Solo practices and physicians approaching retirement age could become exempt from Medicare pay reductions if expanded hardship exemptions for EHR adoption are enacted. (Source: American Medical News)
Source: American Medical News - June 17, 2013 Category: American Health Source Type: news
House bill would stop EHR penalties for more medical practices
Solo practices and physicians approaching retirement age could become exempt from Medicare pay reductions if expanded hardship exemptions for EHR adoption are enacted. (Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT)
Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT - June 17, 2013 Category: American Health Source Type: news
Relationships Are a Critical Part of Building Medical Homes
The small Nebraska town where I practice family medicine has a population of about 2,000. Although my practice is only 30 minutes west of Lincoln -- the state's capital and second-largest city -- solo and small family practices are common in the rural areas to my north, south and west. As my colleagues in these small practices ponder the patient-centered medical home (PCMH), I know that it can seem overwhelming to implement. The bodies that recognize or certify PCMH practices have numerous confusing requirements that have more to do with processes than patient care. So when I talk to family physicians who have concerns abo...
Source: As We See It: Voices From the AAFP - May 15, 2013 Category: Practice Management Source Type: news
Does ROSE Test by Endocrinologists Aid Thyroid Diagnosis?Does ROSE Test by Endocrinologists Aid Thyroid Diagnosis?
Doctors disagree as to whether rapid onsite evaluation of thyroid biopsies, known as ROSE, is a worthwhile procedure for endocrinologists to learn and be able to practice solo in their offices. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - May 10, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Diabetes & Endocrinology News Source Type: news
Help for Solo, Small-Group Physician Practices, Hospital Privileging Among Topics Discussed at NCSC
At the 2013 National Conference of Special Constituencies (NCSC) held April 25-27 in Kansas City, Mo., AAFP members from five constituent groups -- women, minorities, new physicians, international medical graduates (IMGs) and physicians interested in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) issues -- adopted a number of resolutions put forth by the Reference Committees on Organization and Finance and Practice Enhancement, including a resolution related to creating a new special interest group to represent solo and small-practice physicians and a resolution on physician credentialing and hospital privileges. (Source: Inside AAFP)
Source: Inside AAFP - April 30, 2013 Category: Practice Management Source Type: news
Digital Health Needs To Be More Than Just Digital Data
This last week – the widely read Dr. Rob Lamberts lamented the usability of his Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software for his new primary care practice. It's worth reading (here) as it highlights the larger systemic problem of EMR software generally and then specifically as EMR software is overlaid onto a new payment model.
In Dr. Lamberts case, a software solution – one that was built specifically around billing mechanics (namely ICD-9 and CPT "codes") – was overlaid onto a new practice model that bills patients a flat monthly fee for "all-they-can eat" prim...
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - January 19, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Dan Munro Source Type: news
