Intelligence Unit
Special Reports
Special Events
Subscribe
Sponsored
Departments
- Leadership
- Finance
- Technology
- Physicians
- Community Hospitals
- Health Plans
- Marketing
- Quality
- Nursing
- HR
Follow Us
Physicians Ask Congress for SGR Alternatives
John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, May 30, 2012
MGMA also wants to "break down the silos" that separate payment systems for Medicare Part A and Part B so that different practice models can be accommodated.
"According to the Congressional Budget Office, physician spending only represents 13% of all Medicare spending versus 32% under Part A (hospital inpatient services and SNF)," Turney wrote.
"To truly address costs, incentives must be aligned to encourage physicians to reduce spending in the highest cost areas of the Medicare program. Many of the new emerging models will only succeed if the silos are broken down, allowing physicians and hospitals to work together to prevent hospitalizations and provide cost effective care."
John Commins is a senior editor with HealthLeaders Media.
Most Viewed
Most Emailed
- Primary Care Docs Average More Hospital Revenue Than Specialists
- How Chargemaster Data May Affect Hospital Revenue
- $6.4B Henry Ford, Beaumont Merger Failed on Cultural Hurdles
- House Lawmakers Grill CMS Over Health Exchange Navigators
- Fortunately, Angelina Jolie Isn't On Medicare
- ED Physicians Key to Half of Hospital Admissions
- Insurer's App Aims to Lower Healthcare Costs, Securely
- Don't Let Nurses Sink Your Bottom Line
- 69% of Employers Plan to Offer Healthcare Coverage After 2014
- Q&A: Catholic Health Initiatives' New Senior VP for Capital Finance
Comments are moderated. Please be patient.
DonS (6/4/2012 at 4:35 PM)
The SGR must be addressed this year. Beginning in 2013 and for 2014, PPACA mandates that States Medicaid rates for primary care E&M be at least Medicare rates. The States will have trouble putting this in place if the SGR rolls on with Congressional patches and the 'doc-fix' isnt decided on until the last minute - or like in some years, not until after January 1!
Joshua (5/30/2012 at 11:39 AM)
It was great to read your article, and even better to hear both the MGMA and AMA make the case for alternatives rather than simply avoiding the SGR. The government needs to evoke incentives for quality outcomes and the providers (both hospitals and physicians) can aptly bring these quality outcomes when working together. Global payment, ACOs, and results-based payment for treatments have historically been rejected by physician advocates. However, coming to a joint agreement and leaving behind one-size-fits-all will be beneficial to both patients and providers.