The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released Medicare physician payment data. As the pundits, the press, and analysts pore through the data, it reminds me of the need for context and, yes, the devilish details. I once had an attorney tell me I obviously made too much money. Of course, this was…
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There is No ‘I’ in Health Care Team
One definition of team is “a group of people who work together.” We talk a lot about health care teams. The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) supports the team concept. PAMED opposes the independent practice of advanced practice nurses, not because we don’t respect their skills and abilities, but because we think good medical practice requires…
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Time is a Great Thief: Tips on Being in the Moment for Patients
As a consultant, I’m sometimes asked to evaluate physician interactions with patients. Sometimes it’s via a camera in the room, watching a recording, or live, and other times I’m in the room, introducing myself as a colleague with an interest in watching Dr. X in action. The reasons vary. Poor patient reviews, clinical skills questions,…
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Much Ado About (Narrow) Networks
A recent Wall Street Journal article about narrow networks described it as new pressure on insurers. Sorry, WSJ, not new. Employers have pressured insurers about access to their employees’ providers for years. What is new is the increased willingness of some buyers (read that as insurers including Medicare) to accept an insurer’s narrow network in…
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