CHICAGO—Reimbursement cuts have been detrimental to healthcare providers, but private practice physicians and hospitals still can get ahead. During a presentation March 25 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session, Gregory S. Thomas, MD, MPH, practicing cardiologist at Mission Internal Medical Group in Mission Viejo, Calif., offered strategies to help both private and public sectors.
The Access to Medical Imaging Coalition, American College of Radiology and the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance have protested the Obama Administration’s proposed budget for 2013, which contains imaging cuts projected to save $820 million over 10 years. The groups argued that the cuts would restrict access to imaging, raise costs and impact manufacturing jobs.
In an Oct. 25 letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) and other industry stakeholders urged the implementation of the Physician Payment Sunshine Provision, a part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that requires drug, device and medical supply manufacturers to report payments made to physicians and teaching hospitals.
While the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC’s) overall goal to scrap the government’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula is commendable, most say the commission is going about it the wrong way and have asked MedPAC to rethink its proposal. A MedPAC solution, proposal in September, was recommended by members in a 15-2 vote Oct. 6; however, most say the plan needs reworking, particularly because the proposal to overturn SGR is laced with long-term freezes and cuts to physician payments.
Public policies should focus on readmissions that may be avoidable—those that are unplanned and related to the initial admission, such as a surgical site infection, according to a report from the American Hospital Association (AHA).
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