Proponents of the ACO model argue that this time it’s different, that the model is not about controlling physicians, it’s about clinical issues and getting physicians integrated with other providers…
How to Extract More Than Fair Market Value
Healthcare deal compliance, in terms of antikickback, Stark, and tax exempt entities, often turns on the propriety of the consideration paid. And that turns on the concept of fair market value, which is often neither fair nor indicative of value. That’s because fair market value is defined for those purposes in a fashion that ignores…
Self-Referral of Imaging Studies as Weapon
According to a report in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, a study reveals that the total amount of Medicare payments to non-radiologist physicians for non-invasive diagnostic imaging is greater than that paid to radiologists. The reason: self-referral within non-radiology practices. No real news as to the role of…
Customer Service Services You
I’ve written before about the importance of customer service (see, for example, my blog posts of September 26, 2009, and June 3, 2009, or my article Securing Customer Satisfaction). Many medical groups have trouble focusing on improving customer service, and in getting their providers to implement tactics to support the group’s customer service strategy, because…
Lemons to Lemonade
In the relationship between a physician group and a hospital, problems happen. Planned or unplanned. For example: Someone finds a partially used vial of drugs that was not properly disposed of. The CEO complains about your level of service. Most groups view these events tactically: They happened. Now what? Accept responsibility? Ignore and hope it goes…
JetBlue-ing up Your Practice
The bizarre story of the JetBlue flight attendant who, after an altercation with a passenger, made a profanity-laden speech over the plane’s intercom, grabbed beer from the galley, opened the plane’s door and slid down the emergency evacuation chute, just got even more strange: He’s become a web sensation, lauded by other self-absorbed losers for his…
Physician (non)Ownership of Hospitals
ObamaCare has made it harder than it was before for physicians to own hospitals participating in federal healthcare programs. One option of course, open for as long as there is still private health insurance coverage, is for physicians interested in hospital ownership to own facilities that exclude federally funded patients. The other, and perhaps superior…
Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics and Acronyms
Disraeli commented that there are lies, damned lies and statistics. It’s time to add acronyms to the list. A new acronym to save healthcare has arrived, the ACO, an “accountable care organization.” But accountability to whom? And for what care, exactly? Lastly, and most importantly, who runs the organization? An ACO, is about power and…
Obamacare – Clarion Call for Stipend Strategy
So, Obamacare passed. While there’s a time and a place to discuss political reactions, this is neither.
Hospital-Based Services, Not Hot Dogs
If you’re selling medical services but collecting only peanuts (or even hot dogs), you need a better agent.