In the News

Oncologists are getting hit with yet another one-two payment punch under a new national downcoding policy from Cigna that took effect Oct. 1. Read the full article at Oncology News Central

Private equity (PE) investment in health care organizations has come under the microscope for potential ill effects on patient care. In some cases, scrutiny are needed as a check against measurable deterioration of quality indicators at facilities such as hospitals, emergency departments and nursing facilities. But those studies don’t tell the whole story about private

An initiative by insurance companies to reduce high-cost doctor visits could cause physicians to abandon private practice and work for big hospital chains, independent practitioners are warning. They say the trend could drive up patient costs. Read the full article at Capitol Beat

An October 1 article in GI & Hepatology News cautioned physicians against partnering with private equity firms, warning that they target “quick profits and quick exits, which can be inconsistent with quality long-term patient care.” But several recent studies – and my own experience – show that affiliating with a private equity-backed management services organization

Physician affiliation appears to influence site of care costs, with hospital-based providers more likely to utilize higher-cost settings than independent practitioners, according to study results. Read the full article on Healio

Physicians in Connecticut and around the country are sounding the alarm about a new policy by insurers they say could lead to lost revenue and increased administrative burden for providers, but confusion persists about how the policy will be enacted. Read the full article on CT Mirror

SHREVEPORT, La. – Louisiana is projected to be short nearly 5,000 doctors by the year 2030. Already, 60 of the state’s 64 parishes don’t have enough physicians, leaving patients with fewer options and longer wait times for care. In many small rural towns, independent physicians are the backbone of the healthcare system, often the only

Independent physicians continue offering patient care at lower costs than hospitals, according to a new study. “Physician Practice Affiliation Drives Site of Care Cost Differentials: An Opportunity to Reduce Healthcare Expenditures,” was published in the Journal of Market Access & Health Policy. Researchers sought to examine the relationships among practice models, sites of care and

Each of Washington state’s 39 counties is now designated at least partially as a “health professional shortage area,” according to the Rural Health Information Hub. In a viewpoint article published by The Seattle Times Aug. 25., Steven Kaptik, MD, a gastroenterologist in Tacoma, Wash., outlines the forces driving the state’s ongoing physician shortage. Read the

Every one of Washington’s 39 counties is now designated at least a partial “health professional shortage area” by the federal government, meaning there aren’t enough doctors overall, or in certain specialties, to meet patients’ needs. Rural areas, in particular, are struggling to attract and retain enough physicians. Medicare’s flawed reimbursement formula deserves some of the