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Health care changes march on regardless of political transitions
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KOLOA, Hawaii — Regardless of any changes made in health care policies between presidential administrations, some trends are already in motion and will likely continue, according to Alan E. Reider, JD, MPH, who spoke at Hawaiian Eye 2017.
“My prediction is that it really doesn’t matter with respect to where we go from Obamacare to Trumpcare,” Reider said. “Things have been moving in a certain direction in health care ... that are going to continue irrespective of whether these changes ... are made.”
Alan Reider
Reider presented a list of options for ophthalmologists moving forward, including connecting with private equity to become part of a larger enterprise, merging with other practices to expand geographic and patient base, integrating with or purchasing an optometric practice, creating a network to contract with payers to provide vision care to subscribers and joining an ACO.
Or, ophthalmologists may simply choose to stay the course, he said.
“We’re in a fascinating time here. Things are developing very, very fast,” he said. “I really do believe that this train has left the station, ... and we’re seeing changes, we’re seeing consolidation. Part of it is forced by the overwhelming bureaucracy that you have to deal with. And so I think there is going to be a change. Many of you will have to look at where you are in your practice life and decide if you’ll follow that change or not.” – by Patricia Nale, ELS
Reference:
Reider AE. Preparing for Trumpcare: Options to consider. Presented at: Hawaiian Eye; Jan. 14-20, 2017; Koloa, Hawaii.
Disclosure: Reider reports he is a partner in the office of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP with clients who are manufacturers of products and services as well as providers of services.