Practice Management News

The age of outcomes is upon us. In fact, payers are demanding health care providers collect data on exactly how well they do their job as perceived by the patient. These patient-reported outcome assessment tools are perceived by many as onerous and simply “one more thing to do.” There is evidence that the implementation of outcomes assessment instruments leads to better patient management and enhanced quality of life. However, determining patient satisfaction may contain a hidden benefit: physician wellbeing.

AAFP and ACP are among the medical groups claiming CMS’s recent decisions regarding the final rule for the 2018 Physician Fee Schedule and a final rule with comment period for the Quality Payment Program make some improvements, but do not go far enough.

The bipartisan legislation, “The Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act of 2017,” was recently introduced by the Senate to modernize the Stark Law and eliminate the barriers it poses to care coordination.

States now have freedom to create demonstration projects that increase access to treatment for opioid use and other substance use disorders, according to a new policy recently announced by CMS.

During the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network Fall Summit, Seema Verma, MPH, administrator of CMS, announced the launch of CMS’s new comprehensive initiative, “Meaningful Measures,” which takes a new approach on quality measures to reduce the regulatory burden imposed upon all physicians.

While awareness of the Choosing Wisely campaign was low among physicians, a majority of those who knew of the campaign reported that it was helpful and valuable, according to data published in Health Affairs.

BOSTON — While the internet has been a boon in making a vast wealth of information available, it has also made a vast amount of misinformation available, which is especially problematic when patients research their medical conditions online, then bring their findings to a health care provider.

by Jonathan P. Jarow, MD

Barbara L. McAneny, MD, will be the first oncologist to lead the AMA when she assumes the association’s presidency next year.

President Donald J. Trump on Thursday made the long-anticipated declaration that the opioid addiction crisis is a public health emergency.