The Leading Business Education Network for Doctors, Financial Advisors and Health Industry Consultants

On Growing Tensions in Healthcare Services Markets

6 Responses

1. Beth, on July 2, 2009 at 2:42 PM said:

   More

   For more or moral hazard, competitive tension and health insurance costs, vist this link:

   http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/moral-hazard-and-whether-patients-should-consider-cost-in-their-health-care-decisions.html

   Elizabeth

   LikeLike
2. Brian Knabe, MD CFP CMP™, on July 31, 2009 at 7:42 AM said:

   The free-market system

   In a free-market system, competition is generally a good thing. It can lead to improved quality, better efficiencies, and eventually lower costs. It has been documented that physician-owned hospitals can increase patient satisfaction while reducing complications and mortality.

   Unfortunately as it is currently structured, the healthcare system in the US is not based upon free market concepts. After millions of dollars are invested in facilities to provide needed services in a competitive manner, the viability of these facilities can be negotiated away by politicians and other interest groups. This problem is illustrated in the current healthcare debate in Washington

   http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20090727/REG/907249983

   As part of the “cost saving measures” being proposed, limitations and restrictions are being considered which may eventually lead to the demise of these facilities. Investments in facilities, technology, and services can be made instantly obsolete by changes in Medicare reimbursement. This makes it difficult for those investing in healthcare to maintain a long-term point of view for patients and for communities. Another example, in my experience, was the growth of home health services a few years ago. Medicare cutbacks in reimbursement caused these needed services to be decreased, and patient care suffered.

   Brian J. Knabe; MD CFP CMP™

   LikeLike
3. Howard, on August 1, 2009 at 7:34 PM said:

   Dr. Knabe,

   And, the competition keeps coming … Recall one Rick Scott, formerly of the HCA debacle, who now runs a chain of convenient care clinics.

   
   Howard

   LikeLike
4. Dr. David E. Marcinko MBA, on January 18, 2011 at 2:32 PM said:

   Collaboration Among Organizations

   Bob – Well done! Another way to decrease competitive tensions and improve the healthcare operations management function is to obtain better information by collaborating with other organizations in gathering information.

   Most operational failures result from breakdowns in the supply of materials and information across organizational boundaries. Better capacity decisions can often be made in collaboration with other institutions.

   For example, emergency rooms often take collaborative approaches and use Internet technology to regulate ambulance traffic to emergency rooms. Some metropolitan areas share information concerning accessibility and efficiency of care on a regular basis. The sharing of information facilitates benchmarking that leads to improved performance for the community.

   Hospitals can also benefit from involvement in community-based quality improvement initiatives.

   For example, community hospitals can collaborate with their competitors and members of the business community to share information that leads to the identification of opportunities to improve performance, the delivery of root-cause analysis, and the development of process measures that facilitate change. Working with other organizations and employers in the community can not only lower costs, but also improve population health.

   Dr. David E. Marcinko
   http://www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com

   LikeLike
5. Leroy Howard MA CMP™ candidate, on April 23, 2014 at 9:07 PM said:

   Barriers and Tensions

   Communication will not remove all barriers to success. However, it is an important part of all successful endeavors.

   Too often meetings are held to discuss problems which would never arise if we communicate effectively and held fewer meetings!

   Leroy Howard MA CMP™ candidate
   http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

   LikeLike
6. D. Kellus Pruitt DDS, on July 9, 2014 at 1:59 AM said:

   Escalating tensions in healthcare

   Yesterday, I shared a link to an article titled “Feds push electronic records that make fraud easier,” by Jayne O’Donnell, USA TODAY, July 6, 2014.

   http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/06/electronic-health-records-medicare-healthcare-fraud-funding/12157645/

   O’Donnell described CMS’ planned increased use of contractors like EHR consultant Reed Gelzer to provide increased oversight against provider fraud – rumored to be on the increase. Gelzer tells USA TODAY that the best way to stop physicians from committing fraud will be to spur better accuracy and reliability with more funding for regulation and enforcement. He adds, “Investigators I’ve spoken with say that the only constraint on more recoveries is more resources.”

   Today, providers’ honor was defended by study results revealed in an article titled, “Electronic health records don’t increase Medicare fraud, study finds.” No byline, Healthcanal.com, July 8, 2014.

   http://www.healthcanal.com/public-health-safety/52845-electronic-health-records-don%E2%80%99t-increase-medicare-fraud,-study-finds.html

   Healthcanal: “Despite widespread stories and concerns among policymakers about the potential for electronic health records to increase fraudulent billing, the authors found that adopters and non-adopters increased their billing to Medicare at essentially identical rates. They found the same results among the groups of hospitals most likely to use electronic health records to increase coding and revenue.”

   Are we witnessing the inevitable escalation of force between CMS and physicians over the purpose of EHRs? If so, my money is on the physicians.

   HHS Secretaries cannot remove gall stones.

   D. Kellus Pruitt DDS

   LikeLike