Contents tagged with health care reform
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Study: Patients are very satisfied with family physicians
Study: Patients are very satisfied with family physicians
posted 11.20.12
A new consumer study released last month by the Physicians Foundation shows that patients highly value family physicians. … more
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Standardization can relieve administrative burden, if we can get there
The amount of time and money physicians and their staffs spend on the administrative tasks of medicine is astounding. A recent perspective article in the New England Journal of Medicine quantifies it this way: “The average physician spends 43 minutes a day interacting with health plans about payment, dealing with formularies, and obtaining authorizations for procedures,” and physician practices hire coding and billing staff “who spend their days translating clinical records into billing forms and submitting and monitoring reimbursements.”
That translates to an annual cost of $361 billion spent on health care administration, and half of these expenditures are unnecessary.
The authors argue that standardization is key to reducing administrative costs, and much of this can be achieved through health information technology and electronic health records. Though they say the only entity with the “clout” to push through standards in medical transactions is the federal government, measures in the Affordable Care Act and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH)—like instituting regulations on payers and providing incentives to physicians and facilities—may start us on the right path when previous efforts have failed.
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Money & Medicine: Reflections on the message
We have known for years that the payment system for health care services provides incentives for hospitals and physicians to run more tests and perform more procedures. Debuting this week, a PBS special “Money & Medicine” examines not only runaway health care spending, but also the danger patients face from over-diagnosis and over-treatment.
“If you add up medical errors, drug interactions, and hospital-acquired infections, medicine itself is the third leading cause of death in this country,” one expert says in the film. And another, “I’m paid more when I harm my patients; I’m paid more when I do more, even when it’s not beneficial.”
Contributing to the estimated 30 percent of U.S. health care spending—$800 billion a year—that pays for unnecessary services, the filmmakers identify several forces at play. First, briefly, the providers: “One person’s waste is nearly always another person’s income, and income turns into strong political defenses of areas that are classic waste.” Next, the patients: Patients’ demands are changing the behavior of providers. And particularly in end-of-life care, the family can demand “full court” care regardless of the odds.
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Accountable care organizations take shape in Texas
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Accountable care organizations take shape in Texas
By Kate Alfano
With CMS’ announcement of the first accountable care organizations approved to participate in the Medicare … more
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Supreme Court upholds Affordable Care Act
Supreme Court upholds Affordable Care Act
posted 06.28.12
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has judged that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is constitutional. A five-member … more
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Learn about payment reform models with TAFP online videos
Learn about payment reform models with TAFP online videos
posted 05.10.12
Last fall, TAFP held a summit on various payment reform models physicians should consider as the country moves away from … more
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STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT: Congress passes health system reform
STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT
Congress passes health system reform
Legislation is the first step in what will be a long journey to a sustainable health delivery system
posted 03.23.10
Dear … more
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TAFP members voice opinions on national health care reform on Austin NPR station
TAFP members voice opinions on national health care reform on Austin NPR station
posted 01.14.10
Four family physicians were featured on KUT, the Austin branch of National Public Radio, as part … more
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CMS releases final rule for ACOs, relaxes requirements to participate
CMS releases final rule for ACOs, relaxes requirements to participate
By Kate Alfano
On Oct. 20, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the final rule for establishing … more
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Payment and System Reform
Payment and system reform
Watch “Family physicians embracing change”
MORE VIDEOS • What is an ACO?
• What is direct primary care?
• A physician-led Austin ACO
Medicare Access and … more