Entries by Susanne Madden

Participating in New Healthcare Exchange Plans

February 20, 2014 in /by

Pearl | February 19, 2014 |
By

It is early with regard to the healthcare exchange plans and yet practices across the country are already feeling the impact. It’s not just consumers who have experienced problems while attempting to sign up for the exchange plans on the healthcare.gov website; providers too are dealing with major headaches as they navigate through the first couple of months of this new system.

Looking for more information about the effects of healthcare reform on your medical practice? Join us May 2 & 3 in Newport Beach, Calif., for Practice Rx, a new conference for physicians and office administrators.

Let me explain. The insurance companies created something called “narrow networks” within their full network of providers. What that means is that only a subset of physicians within any given insurance company’s network “qualified” for participation in the exchange plans. The result is that while some physicians got rolled into these plans, others were excluded, even though they participate in some of the other products with that particular insurance company. For example, a physician could be participating with an HMO and a PPO-type product, but be excluded from the exchange product. This has created a dilemma for many practices. On the one hand, it means no new business coming in from new exchange members. On the other hand, it also means scrambling to hold onto existing patients that have switched to these new, lower-priced health insurance products.

Medical Practice Super Groups, Are They for You?

November 20, 2013 in /by

PHYSICIANS PRACTICE Pearl | November 20, 2013 |
By

Practices today are facing challenges such as lower earnings, more complex regulations, higher costs, obligations to create higher-quality care and produce better outcomes, all while they see other colleagues merge or become acquired by local hospitals or healthcare systems. So at least once a week I get an inquiry from a physician asking, “Should I sell my practice?”

There is no single answer to that question. It depends on many factors, including whether or not the practice is in good financial shape and if it is well managed. I do consider those to be two of the strongest indicators for successfully remaining independent. However, the options shouldn’t be limited to either selling or remaining independent.

Make the Most of Patient Education Opportunities at Your Practice

September 18, 2012 in /by

Pearl | September 18, 2012 | Pearls, Patient Relations, Staff, Managers Administrators
By

Do you think your patients would rather be educated by their provider or by Dr. WebMD? Make your practice the place patients can go to learn about their healthcare from the person they trust most — you.

See more at: www.physicianspractice.com/pearls/make-most-patient-education-opportunities-your-practice