The director of the White House Office of Health Reform said she found the office’s latest health reform stakeholder discussion “inspiring” after several primary-care representatives highlighted what they believe is needed to improve the nation’s healthcare system. ... FULL STORY
A number of factors are swirling together to dramatically effect how physicians are paid for their services now and in the future. The question is: Is this as good as it’s going to get? ... FULL STORY
Several months ago, President Barack Obama identified eight principles detailing his philosophical stance on healthcare reform. I would like to take this opportunity to demonstrate how closely the business practices of physician-owned and -operated hospitals align with those eight principles. ... FULL STORY
As focus gets placed on comparative effectiveness there will be a series of recommendations. What is critical is that each of these recommendations be viewed with full transparency regarding the interest groups who are making the recommendations. ... FULL STORY
In July 2008, the MGMA released the results of a questionnaire that ranked members’ most pressing practice-management challenges. In this edition of Practice Makes Perfect, we tackle No. 11 on that list: Participating in commercial pay-for-performance programs. ... FULL STORY
There hasn’t been an official verdict on the value of specialty hospitals, but proponents of these facilities recently attained more evidence to support their case. A recent report shows that specialty hospitals in three markets have not done financial harm to their general hospital counterparts.
John Pollastrini’s job these days is all about fixing what the economic recession has broken. “Patients come in, and they are anxious and depressed. ... FULL STORY