Healthcare has often been compared to other “stodgy” industries such as banking and utilities - change-adverse industries that experienced consolidation and some degree of technical revolution for the consumer. But, what if healthcare is in for a more radical change? Maybe considering the dramatic change in how consumers access and view television is a better barometer of what is to come in healthcare.
The Largest Obstacles to “Repealing” the Affordable Care Act
President-elect Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress have been very clear about their desire to fully repeal Obamacare, even on Day 1 of the new Administration. This desire brings up many questions from the rest of us. Is this possible? Are they being literal? What are the biggest hurdles to getting this done?
Physician Retirement Age: Mystery Solved
For many hospitals and health systems, planning for the succession of their physician base often is one of the largest components of their Provider Development Plan. While actual planned retirement age varies by market, physician specialty, the economy, the state of our industry, and life’s circumstances, it is important to project the need for replacing aging physicians as accurately as possible.
Will MACRA Cause Physicians to Retire Early?
Over the last 25 years, there have been at least five different legislative measures that have stirred rumors of physicians either retiring early or going to find something different to do for a living. While the first five proved to be largely false alarms, one does wonder whether the implementation of MACRA will be the tipping point for many physicians.
Close to Home, or Close to Work: What Do Your Patients Prefer?
Our clients increasingly ask us whether patients prefer to see their doctor close to home or close to work. Rather than rely on anecdotal information and gut instinct, we completed a national study on the topic and received 3,025 responses – and the results are very interesting.
Are Your Physicians Ready for Reimbursement Risk?
In April of 2015, Congress replaced the wildly unpopular Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula in a rare, overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. The elation, however, had more to do with getting rid of the angst of the annual doc fix and less to do with the system that replaces the SGR formula. So, what is replacing the SGR?
8 Medical Staff Development Planning Mistakes to Avoid, Part Two
In the
first part of this series, we discussed the difficulties inherent in
Medical Staff Development Planning when relying only on physician-to-population ratios, skipping primary research on physician supply, and focusing only on the “market need” for providers. Developing a robust and dynamic Medical Staff Development Plan is also more than just a surplus or deficit calculation and the most successful planning includes a broad group of constituents sitting around the table.
What is the "Shelf Life" of a Community Needs Assessment?
As we continue to work with our clients’ legal counsel across the country, we are finding that the “shelf life” of the Community Needs Assessment has continued to evolve. At this point, the majority of our clients are re-defining their CMS service area (the hospital Stark service area or "geographic area served by the hospital") and updating the community needs analysis on an annual basis. That said, it does vary by organization and legal counsel.
It seems reasonable to assume that the utility of the Community Needs Assessment would decrease in direct proportion to the length of time that has passed since its completion. From 3d Health’s perspective, the assessment is as accurate as possible on the day it is issued. Our clients and their legal counsel ultimately make the determination regarding how long they can rely on the report and still be in compliance.
In order to best serve the needs of our hospital and health system clients, 3d Health offers two approaches to Community Needs Assessments:
1) We work with clients to complete a comprehensive assessment on an annual basis across 45 different physician specialties. This approach, often done in concert with a Medical Staff Development Plan, offers the most comprehensive coverage for hospitals with significant recruitment activity.
2) We issue Single Specialty Studies on a per recruit basis during the course of the year. This approach ensures a determination of community need on a per recruit basis at the time of recruitment. It also allows for a Community Needs Assessment that reflects the many market changes that take place throughout the year: medical staff retirements, community physician retirements, your hospital’s recruiting activities, and the recruiting activities of competitors within the market.
