Locum Tenens Medical Practitioners

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Employment Considerations of a Nomadic Lifestyle

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

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Locum Tenens [LT] is an alternative to full-time employment for most medical specialties. And, although having never personally used this business model myself [my past work history does include moonlighting, acting as an assistant surgeon, litigation support duties, and/or weekend / after-hours employment], this business model is increasingly attractive to many doctors.

Addressing the Physician Shortage

It is well known that the physician shortage is especially acute in rural America where LT recruiting firms do at least 60% of their business. For example, the National Rural Health Association [NRHA] and the federal Office of Rural Health Policy [ORHP] reports that roughly 25 percent of the U.S. population lives in rural America, but only 10 percent of US physicians practice in these areas. There are 2,157 Health Professional Shortage Areas [HPSA’s] in frontier areas of all states and US territories; compared to 910 in urban areas.

Benefits and Disadvantages

Younger physicians seem to enjoy the travel and excitement of the LT model, while mature physicians like to practice at their leisure. Of course, the lack of a permanent office presence, with its potential equity build-up and little community involvement, may be considered drawbacks of the LT business model

Employment Factors

LT employment factors to consider include third-party employment firm reputation, malpractice insurance, credentialing, travel and relocation expenses [which are negotiable].  

Salary Considerations

A recent survey by LocumTenens.com revealed the following salary considerations:

www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

Assessment

Moreover, a LT firm typically will not cover taxes. 

Conclusion

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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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4 Responses

  1. More on Locum Tenens Doctors frm the NEJM

    http://www.nejmjobs.org/locum-tenens-medicine.aspx

    Ginney 2

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  2. More Part-Time Docs – Too!

    The nation’s largest medical groups are increasingly relying on part-timers, and a higher percentage of them are men.

    For example, in 2011, part-time physicians represented 25% of the workforce in large groups, up from 13% in 2005, according to the latest physician retention survey conducted by the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and Cejka Search, a healthcare recruitment firm.

    http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/760627

    Charles

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  3. Locum tenens physicians tempt industry

    Businesses the nation over have been succumbing to temp-tation, employing staffing agencies as a means to appease their ongoing craving for cost-effective, short-term labor.

    http://www.physbiztech.com/news/locum-tenens-physicians-continue-tempt-industry?email=MARCINKOADVISORS@MSN.COM&GroupID=90115

    And, in an era when economic uncertainty is king, not even healthcare facilities are exempt from pursuing the temp.

    Ann Miller RN MHA

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  4. LT Pay

    Paymemt arrangements are negotiated between the practice and the locum tenens, generally on a per diem basis (§30.2.11.).

    Here are the Medicare Guidelines for locum tenens: If a physician is absent for a limited period of time for vacation, disability, continuing education, etc, you may bill Medicare for services performed by a locum tenens physician under the regular physician’s NPI as long as the following conditions are met.

    • The regular physician must be unavailable.
    • The locum must be compensated on a per diem or similar fee for time basis.
    • The Medicare beneficiary seeks to receive the services from the regular physician.
    • The regular physician cannot bill for the services of a locum tenens physician for a continuous period of longer than 60 calendar days.

    If, after returning to work for a brief period of time, the regular physician must be absent again, the same locum tenens physician may be re-hired, and a new 60-day period begins. If a physician is absent longer than 60 days without returning to work, the locum tenens must be credentialed and enrolled as you would do if this were a new physician.

    Frank

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