ECONOMICS: Free Market Resource Allocation

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.HealthDictionarySeries.org

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Free-market economists are those who believe that the market is better at allocating resources than governments and that excessive regulation and high public spending tend to diminish growth in the long run.

In Medicine: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/09/19/dr-michel-accad-can-austrian-economics-save-medicine/

Austrian Economics: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/06/07/the-entrepreneur-according-to-austrian-economists/

Keynsian v. Austrian Economics: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/09/19/keynesian-versus-austrian-economics/

MORE: See also Austrian school, Chicago school, laissez-faire and neoliberalism.

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“Medical economics and finance is an integral component of the health care industrial complex. Its language is a diverse and broad-based concept covering many other industries: accounting, insurance, mathematics and statistics, public health, provider recruitment and retention, Medicare, health policy, forecasting, aging and long-term care, are all commingled arenas …. The Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance will be an essential tool for doctors, nurses and clinicians, benefits managers, executives and health care administrators, as well as graduate students and patients. With more than 5,000 definitions, 3,000 abbreviations and acronyms, and a 2,000 item oeuvre of resources, readings, and nomenclature derivatives, it covers the financial and economics language of every health care industry sector.”

ORDER DICTIONARY OF HEALTH ECONOMICS AND FINANCE: https://www.allbookstores.com/Dictionary-Health-Economics-Finance-David/9780826102546

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EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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CLEVELAND CLINIC: Controversial New Health Insurance Co-Payment Policy

By Staff Reporters

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Health Insurance Co-Payments Upfront or Lose Your Appointment

Definition: A co-payment is a fixed amount you pay each time you get a particular type of healthcare service, and co-pays will generally be quite a bit smaller than deductibles. However, deductibles and co–pays are both fixed amounts, as opposed to coinsurance, which is a percentage of the claim.

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On some health plans, certain services are covered with a co-pay before you’ve met the deductible, while other health insurance plans have co-pays only after you’ve met your deductible. And, the pre-deductible versus post-deductible co-pay rules often vary based on the type of medical service you’re receiving.

PRE-PAID PLANS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/04/17/health-insurance-pre-paid-plans/

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Starting in June 2025, Cleveland Clinic patients who can’t pay their co-pay on the spot will have non-emergency appointments rescheduled or cancelled. This new policy could make it harder for low-income people who prefer to be billed to see a clinic doctor, and create delays that could lead to medical emergencies down the road.

For example, a delay in care can mean six to eight more weeks of a tumor growing or a blood clot developing or an infection brewing.

Source: Julie Washington, cleveland.com [5/13/25]

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OAK STREET HEALTH: Agrees to Pay $60M to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Liability for Paying Kickbacks to Insurance Agents in Medicare Advantage Patient Recruitment Scheme

By Staff Reporters

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Oak Street Health, headquartered in Chicago and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVS Health since 2023, has agreed to pay $60 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to third-party insurance agents in exchange for recruiting seniors to Oak Street Health’s primary care clinics.

Part C: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/05/03/eschew-medicare-advantage-part-c-plans-now/

The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits anyone from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration — which includes money or any other thing of value — to induce referrals of patients or to provide recommendations of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded programs. Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Part C, Medicare beneficiaries have the option to obtain their health care through privately-operated insurance plans known as MA plans. Some MA Plans contract with health care providers, including Oak Street Health, to provide their plan members with primary care services.

Medicare Advantage Rates: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/04/28/medicare-advantage-plan-rates-substantially-increased-for-2026/

The United States alleged that, in 2020, Oak Street Health developed a program to increase patient membership called the Client Awareness Program. Under the Program, third-party insurance agents contacted seniors eligible for or enrolled in Medicare Advantage and delivered marketing messages designed to generate interest in Oak Street Health. Agents then referred interested seniors to an Oak Street Health employee via a three-way phone call, otherwise known as a “warm transfer,” and/or an electronic submission.

In exchange, Oak Street Health paid agents typically $200 per beneficiary referred or recommended. These payments incentivized agents to base their referrals and recommendations on the financial motivations of Oak Street Health rather than the best interests of seniors. The settlement resolves allegations that, from September 2020 through December 2022, Oak Street Health knowingly submitted, and caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare arising from kickbacks to agents that violated the Anti-Kickback Statute.

US Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/oak-street-health-agrees-pay-60m-resolve-alleged-false-claims-act-liability-paying-kickbacks

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SPINAL CORD: Injury Awareness Day 2025

By Staff Reporters

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History of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day

The first mention of spinal cord injuries was in the ancient Egyptian Edwin Smith’s papyrus from 2,500 B.C. The ancient Egyptian physicians described the injury as “untreatable.”

The first treatment for spinal cord injuries occurred in ancient India, where Hindu doctors used traction techniques to straighten the spine. The Greeks also employed the same technique as the Hindus. For example, Hippocrates — born in the 5th century B.C. — developed traction devices that helped straighten patients’ spines. It wasn’t until the second century A.D. that Galen, a Greek physician, discovered the relation between spinal cord injuries and loss of autonomic function and sensation.

Paul of Aegina, born in 625 A.D., became the first physician to pioneer surgical techniques for spinal cord injuries. He employed laminectomy to relieve pressure on the spine and recommended using a windlass to reduce the dislocation. The notion and treatment remained the same until the latter half of the 20th century; physicians continued to believe that spinal cord injuries were incurable. Although during the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci and Andreas Vesalius, made contributions to S.C.I. through their accurate depiction of the human spine and nerves.

In 1981, the Canadians Albert Aguayo and Sam David ended the millennia-long belief that S.C.I. is incurable. Through experiments on rats, they showed that axons could regenerate in the central nervous system in the right environment. The introduction of imaging, surgery, medical care, and rehabilitation medicine in the mid-20th century helped improve the care for spinal cord injuries and increased the life expectancy of those living with the condition.

CHIROPRACTORS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2014/10/14/career-advice-for-those-interested-in-chiropracty/

Finally, the creation of emergency medical transport services in the 1970s contributed to these improvements in S.C.I. treatment.

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CUBAN: Health Care Paradox

By Staff Reporters

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Classic Definition: In our hemisphere, there is the mystery of the Cuban health care paradox.

Modern Circumstance: This small island country whose economy produces about $6,000 in goods and services per person annually, a mere fraction of U.S. economic activity, lacks access to many commonly used drugs. Specialty medical care is scarce, and obesity rates are high and growing.

Paradox Example: Yet Cuba paradoxically boasts a life expectancy that surpasses the U.S. by six months. So, could this finding be explained by their diet, too, one that is rich in fresh produce, but low in saturated fats?

Question: Or, might it be related to their accessibility to primary care services and high compliance rates of childhood vaccination?

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UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CEO: Quits and Suspends Annual Forecast

By Staff Reporters

BREAKING NEWS

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UnitedHealth Group just announced the exit of CEO Andrew Witty and suspended its 2025 forecast due to surging medical costs, sending its shares down more than 10%. Chairman Stephen Hemsley will become CEO, effective immediately.

Medicare Advantage: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/10/11/medicare-advantage-part-c-plans-face-headwinds/

The fourth-largest U.S company big revenue in 2024, Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth has experienced a turbulent year that saw the shock killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, and a cyberattack that affecting an estimated 190 million people and cost the company an estimated $3.1 billion dollars.

UnitedHealth: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/04/17/unitedhealth-stock-dives/

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OMADA: Digital Health Company Files for IPO

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Virtual chronic care provider Omada Health has filed to go public in the United States, the latest in a string of healthcare listings expected this year. Omada did not disclose the details as to how much it plans to raise from its IPO.

IPO: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/03/02/ipo-road-show-with-pros-and-cons/

The San Francisco, California-based company, which last raised $192 million in a Series E funding round in 2022, reported a 38% increase in revenue to $169.8 million for 2024, according to its IPO paperwork. For the first quarter of 2025, the company posted a 56.6% year-on-year jump in revenue to $55 million. Omada has applied to list its common stock on the NASDAQ under the symbol “OMDA”.

Healthcare IPOs on U.S. exchanges have fetched $7.1 billion in 2024, compared with $2.8 billion a year earlier, according to data compiled by LSEG.

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TRUMP: Brings Down Prescription Drug Costs

By Staff Reporters and ChatGPT

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President Trump to bring down prescription costs

In a Sunday post to Truth Social, President Trump signed an executive order at 9 am today to institute a most-favored-nation policy with pharmaceutical companies that he predicted could lower drug prices by 30% to 80%.

PBMs: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/01/15/podcast-pharma-rebates-to-pbms/

“The United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World,

While Americans pay more for pharmaceuticals than any other country, Bloomberg reported that the American market fuels innovation and drives growth in the industry. Drug makers have pushed back on previous efforts to revamp the system in the US, saying it would make revenue evaporate and hinder the development of potentially lifesaving drugs.

WEIGHT LOSS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/10/24/weight-loss-drugs-for-kids-stocks-for-adults/

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OSTRICH BIAS: Negative Information

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

Financial Advisor, Planner and Insurance Agent Information

By Staff Reporters

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Ostrich Bias is a behavioral phenomenon describing the tendency of individuals to avoid or ignore information that they perceive as negative or threatening. This term is derived from the popular but inaccurate belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when faced with danger, even though they do not exhibit such behavior.

Evidence: There is neuro-scientific evidence of the ostrich effect. Sharot et al. (2012) investigated the differences in positive and negative information when updating existing beliefs. Consistent with the ostrich effect, participants presented with negative information were more likely to avoid updating their beliefs; wills, estate plans, investment portfolios, and insurance policies, etc..

Moreover, they found that the part of the brain responsible for this cognitive bias was the left IFG – inferior frontal gyrus – by disrupting this part of the brain with TMS – transcranial magnetic stimulation – participants were more likely to accept the negative information provided.

EXAMPLE: The Ostrich Bias can cause someone to avoid looking at their bills, because they’re worried about seeing how far behind they are on home mortgage payments, credit cards, education or auto loans, etc.

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Daily posts are organized by subject. ME-P administrators moderate the activity. Moderation may also conducted by community-specific moderators who are unpaid volunteers.

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MEDICAL DEMAND: Health Care Elasticity

DEFINITION

By Staff Reporters

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Classic: Despite a wide variety of empirical methods and data sources, the demand for health care is consistently found to be price inelastic

Modern: If you are sick, you will not be very price sensitive. There are exceptions to this rule (e.g., elective surgery such as plastic surgery, purchases of eyeglasses) but most studies find that patients are fairly insensitive to changes in health care prices.

Examples: For instance, the RAND Health Insurance Experiment found that the price elasticity of medical expenditures is -0.2.

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The Medical Executive-Post is a  news and information aggregator and social media professional network for medical and financial service professionals. Feel free to submit education content to the site as well as links, text posts, images, opinions and videos which are then voted up or down by other members. Comments and dialog are especially welcomed. Daily posts are organized by subject. ME-P administrators moderate the activity. Moderation may also conducted by community-specific moderators who are unpaid volunteers.

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2 Fast 2 Furious: HHS Cuts on the Horizon

By Health Capital Consultants LLC

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During the first 90 days of the Republican Party’s government trifecta (controlling the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives), both the Trump Administration and Congress have laid the groundwork for seismic change to the U.S. healthcare industry.

In an attempt to track the latest actions of the federal government’s legislative and executive branches affecting the healthcare industry since the first installment in our February issue, this Health Capital Topics article summarizes recent events in Washington and the impact of these changes on providers and patients. (Read more…)

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MEDICINE: Emergent Care

SOME PHYSICIAN WORK FOR FREE

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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What is an Emergency Medicine Physician?

An emergency medicine physician is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and life-threatening medical conditions that require immediate intervention. These physicians work in hospital emergency departments, urgent care centers, and other acute care settings, where they provide rapid assessment, stabilization, and treatment to patients of all ages with a wide range of medical emergencies.

Emergency medicine physicians are trained to handle diverse medical emergencies, including trauma, cardiac emergencies, respiratory distress, severe infections, neurological emergencies, and obstetric emergencies, among others. They play a vital role in the front line management of medical emergencies, ensuring that patients receive prompt and appropriate care to improve outcomes and save lives.

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Classic: Emergent Room or Emergency Department care is the provision of immediate medical service offering outpatient care for the treatment of acute and chronic illness and injury. It requires a broad and comprehensive fund of knowledge to provide such care. Excellence in care for patients with complex and or unusual conditions is founded on the close communication and collaboration between the urgent care medicine physician, the specialists and the primary physicians.

Modern: Urgent care does not replace your primary care physician. An urgent care center is a convenient option when someone’s regular physician is on vacation or unable to offer a timely appointment. Or, when illness strikes outside of regular office hours, urgent care offers an alternative to waiting for hours in a hospital Emergency Room.

Examples: Chest pain, bleeding that cannot be stopped and loss of consciousness; etc.

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SOME ER DOCTORS WORK FOR FREE

The new president of emergency medicine for the Alberta Medical Association says Emergency Room physicians already coping with long hours, staff shortages and jammed waiting rooms are also being obligated, in some cases, to work for free. Dr. Warren Thirsk says the government has yet to follow through on a promise to reimburse emergency room doctors for so-called “good faith” payments.

“There’s been lots of excuses, but the bottom line is no one has actually received a penny for those suspended good-faith payments,” Thirsk said in an interview. “On average, every emergency physician in this province is out thousands of dollars for free work.” Good-faith payments reimburse ER doctors when they see patients who don’t have identification and can’t prove an Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan billing number.

Thirsk said the United Conservative government stopped those payments when it ripped up the master agreement with the AMA in early 2020. He said it promised to bring back those payments when the two sides agreed to a new deal in September 2022. But to date that hasn’t happened, he said.

“I’m legally and morally bound to look after you [if] you’re unidentified [as a patient],” said Thirsk, an emergency room doctor at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital.

“I’m going to look after you because it’s the right thing to do no matter what the problem is.”

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LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE: A Hobson’s Choice Decision?

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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Long Term Care Insurance [LTCI]

Some retired people live on a fixed income and many of them live right on the edge of their financial capability.  At some time in their life, they may have to make a choice regarding many purchases.  

In this case, we will illustrate “choice” using a couple’s purchase of Long-Term-Care Insurance [LTCI]. Of course, economics is the study of choice; wants, needs and scarcity, etc. In our case, if they decide to make the purchase they commit to a lifetime of premium payments. The financial tradeoff is this; if they make the commitment to purchase LTCI, they must give up something else.

EXAMPLE: In order to maintain a monthly premium of $100 ($1,200per year), an elderly patient, retired layman or couple must essentially relegate about $30,000 of financial assets to generate the $100 necessary to make an average premium payment (assumes a 7% rate of return with 4% withdrawal rate) or [4% X $30,000 = $1,200 year]. Thus, if the monthly premium cost is $500 per month, the elder must give up the use of $150,000 of retirement asset just to generate enough cash flow to pay for the LTC insurance. 

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The married elder couple has to make the Hobson’s Choice decision among lifestyle (dinners, vacations, gifts to children, prescription drugs, medical care or food and shelter) versus paying an insurance premium to provide for nursing home coverage for a need, which may be very real, but will not occur until sometime in the ambiguous future. 

And so, when faced with such a tough economics Hobson’s Medicine Choice, neither of which delivers peace of mind or a respectable solution; many will simply decide that, in either case, they may already end up impoverished. Thus, many will often opt for the better lifestyle now … while they can enjoy it … together. 

Cite: Anonymous Health Insurance Agent, Norcross, Georgia

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DAILY UPDATE: Meta, Eli Lilly, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple and the Roaring Markets

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily

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Meta Platforms jumped 4.23% after the big tech giant reported that its advertising revenue came in at $41.39 billion, beating analyst projections of $40.44 billion, thanks to higher ad price growth than expected. Daily active users rose to 3.43 billion, up from 3.35 billion last quarter, while nearly 1 billion people use its digital AI assistant every month. Management expects Q2 sales to come in between $42.5 billion and $45.5 billion, in-line with analyst forecasts of $44.03 billion.

  • EPS: $6.43 per share, crushing estimates of $5.28
  • Revenue: $42.31 billion, above the $41.10 expected

Microsoft leaped 7.63% after reporting its profit jumped a staggering 18% from a year earlier. That wasn’t the only good news: Revenue from Microsoft’s Azure cloud software grew 33% year over year, higher than the 31% expected by analysts. But perhaps the best news of all was management’s upbeat guidance—Microsoft projected revenue between $73.15 billion and $74.25 billion for the current quarter, well above expectations of $72.26 billion.

  • EPS: $3.46 per share, beating forecasts of $3.22
  • Revenue: $70.07 billion, above the $68.42 billion projected

Eli Lilly dropped 11.66% today, despite the fact that the pharmaceutical giant reported that sales skyrocketed 45% year over year thanks to its lucrative GLP-1 drugs, Zepbound and Mounjaro. Two things spooked investors today: The company lowered its profit outlook well below its preview estimate due its acquisition of a cancer drug from Scorpion Therapeutics, and CVS Health dropped Zepbound from its preferred drug list in lieu of arch-rival Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy this morning.—LB

  • EPS: $3.34 adjusted, beating the $3.02 expected
  • Revenue: $12.73 billion, compared to the $12.67 projected

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

🟢 What’s up

  • Kohls popped 7.76% after the retailer fired its brand-new CEO for unethical behavior.
  • CVS Health not only beat earnings expectations but raised its fiscal guidance, pushing shares of the pharmacy chain up 4.11%.
  • Wayfair rose 3.65% on surprisingly strong earnings for an online furniture seller that analysts were convinced would be hit hard by tariffs.
  • Roblox gained 2.91% as people checked out of reality and hit the metaverse in higher numbers than ever.
  • CoreWeave popped 7.31% thanks to key customer Microsoft’s strong capex guidance.
  • Carrier Global climbed 11.61% after the air conditioning company boosted its fiscal forecast. Turns out everyone needs AC regardless of economic uncertainty.
  • People also need straight teeth: Dental products manufacturer Align Technology rose 1.98% on solid earnings.
  • Quanta Services gained 9.99% after the construction engineering company beat Wall Street estimates on both the top and bottom line.

What’s down

  • Qualcomm may have beaten earnings expectations, but shares fell 8.92% after investors were disappointed by the chipmaker’s lower guidance.
  • GM was in the same boat: Earnings beat forecasts, but poor guidance and warnings that tariffs could cost the company up to $5 billion this year pushed shares 0.42% lower.
  • Robinhood Markets enjoyed a 50% increase in revenue last quarter as traders played the volatile market, but the stock still sank 5.07%.
  • Moderna fell 5.29% after the vaccine maker missed revenue expectations and said it’s planning another $1.5 billion in cost cuts.
  • Church & Dwight, maker of household goods like Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, missed revenue forecasts last quarter and sank 6.87%.
  • Becton Dickinson & Co. lost 18.13% after the medical device maker warned of the adverse effects of, what else, tariffs.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/2h47urt5

Amazon plans to invest about $4 billion into its rural delivery network across the US.

Apple is in hot water after a judge ruled it violated a court order to reform the App Store.

The Department of Justice sued several big health insurers, alleging they used illegal kickbacks to nudge members into Medicare programs.

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Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP ON THE BRINK: Executives Eyeing the Exits

By Health Capital Consultants LLC

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While the healthcare industry has been dealing with high employee turnover since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, that turnover was largely among clinical staff.

However, a recent survey found that significant healthcare leadership turnover may also be on the horizon. AMN Healthcare subsidiary B.E. Smith found that nearly half of healthcare executives plan to leave their organization in the next year.

This Health Capital Topics article reviews the survey and the reasons behind the intended exits. (Read more…) 

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MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS: Rates Substantially Increased for 2026

By Health Capital Consultants LLC

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On April 7, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published their 2026 Rate Announcement for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans.

For 2026, the payment rate to MA plans will increase 5.06%, the largest increase in the past ten years, and up significantly from the 2.2% rate increase proposed by the Biden Administration.

This Health Capital Topics article will review the Rate Announcement. (Read more…)

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ECONOMIC COMPETITION MODELS: In Medicine and Health Care

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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HEALTH CARE ECONOMIC COMPETITION MODELS

In a discussion of competitive healthcare economic models, assumptions must include normal demand quantities, many fully informed patients and the fact that physicians cannot directly influence demand for medical care. These assumptions, although fluid, also preclude that patient buyers are large enough to have any influence over price and result in the following”:

  • In a “pure monopoly”, there is only one provider with a unique service. The doctor   is a “price maker” and charges whatever s/he wishes.
  • In an “oligopoly”, there are a few physicians who provide similar services. For example, when it becomes clear to Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones that neither can win their price war, oli-gopolists return prices to prior, but still inflated levels!  
  • In “monopolistic competition”, there are many providers with differentiated services. For example, should Dr. Jones decide to have evening hours, she may charge a premium for her fees if Dr. Jones doe not follow suit.
  • Finally, when “pure competition” occurs, there are many physicians, providing providing similar and substitutable services. Marketing and advertising does not affect fees, and prices are determined by supply and demand. The doctors become “price takers” by accepting fees arrived at by practicing competitively.

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DAILY UPDATE: OpenAI, FDA, Roche & Rite Aid as Stocks Soar

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

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  • OpenAI would be open to buying Chrome if Google is forced by a federal court to sell the web browser, the company’s ChatGPT head said yesterday.
  • The FDA suspended milk quality tests in some dairy products due to reduced capacity stemming from federal workforce cuts, Reuters reported.
  • Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, is investing $50 billion in US manufacturing to circumvent President Trump’s tariffs, the company said yesterday.
  • Rite Aid is preparing to sell itself in pieces ahead of a possible second bankruptcy, Bloomberg reported.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/2h47urt5

What’s up

  • Intel surged 5.54% on reports that the chipmaker plans to cut 20% of its workforce.
  • Oklo gained 8.60% after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced he’s stepping down as chairman of the board of the nuclear power startup.
  • Duolingo popped 10.01% after Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of the language learning company, calling it a “best-in-class consumer internet asset.”
  • Cava climbed 6.29% due to an upgrade from analysts at Bernstein, who think the bowl slop stock will not only survive but thrive in an economic downturn.
  • Amphenol rose 8.21% thanks to impressive earnings for the high-speed cable company, coupled with a solid fiscal outlook.
  • Vertiv Holdings jumped 8.60% after the data center company posted an impressive quarterly profit and raised its fiscal forecast.
  • SAP rose 7.47% following the software stock’s strong profit performance last quarter.
  • Novavax soared 19.52% on the news that the FDA has asked for more clinical data about its Covid vaccine.

What’s down

  • Enphase Energy plunged 15.65% thanks to a big miss on both the top and bottom lines for the solar tech stock.
  • Going down: Elevator manufacturer Otis Worldwide fell 6.64% on an earnings miss thanks to fewer orders from Chinese customers.
  • Online learning platform Chubb fell 2.17% after announcing a 38% decline in net income last quarter.
  • Baker Hughes may have beaten profit forecasts last quarter, but the oilfield operator’s revenue miss sent shares tumbling 6.44%.
  • Bristol Myers Squibb lost 2.59% after the pharma giant announced its schizophrenia drug Cobenfy performed poorly in Phase 3 trials.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/tj8smmes

  • Stocks surged first thing this morning after President Trump said the media blew things out of proportion and that he has “no intention” of firing Jerome Powell. He also said he would be “very nice” to China in tariff negotiations.
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also did some damage control, touting the opportunity for a “big deal” between the US and China.
  • The combination sent a relief rally sweeping through markets, and while the euphoria faded by mid-afternoon, all three indexes ended the day in the green.
  • Gold fell and bitcoin rose as investors took on more risk (see below), while oil dropped on reports that OPEC+ may hike its crude output after its meeting next month.

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AOMB: Assignment of Medical Benefits

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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Classic: An arrangement by which a patient requests that their health benefit payments be made directly to a designated person or facility, such as a physician or hospital. It is a legally binding agreement between patient and Insurance company asking them to send your reimbursement checks directly to your doctor.
 
Modern: To accept assignment means that the provider agrees to accept what ever the insurance company allows or approves as payment in full for the claim. The patient signs paperwork requiring his health insurance provider to pay his physician or hospital directly.
 
EXAMPLES:
 
CMS: The approved amount, also known as the Medicare-approved amount, is the fee that Medicare sets as how much a provider or supplier should be paid for a particular service or item. Original Medicare calls this “assignment.”
 
Tardiness: When a medical office accepts an assignment of benefits, the insured patients may have to wait several months for their insurance reimbursement to arrive.

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HONESTY BOX: Experiment

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

By Staff Reporters

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Classic: It’s no surprise that people are more honest when they know that they’re being watched. But what about just reminding them of the idea of being watched, without them actually being watched?

Modern: Researchers at the University of Newcastle’s Division of Psychology have an honor (or trust) system where they are requested to deposit payment for coffee in an “honesty box.” There was a note saying how much they should pay.

In 2006, Dr. Melissa Bateson and colleagues decided to do a little experiment: they placed an image above the note. They alternate between two pictures: one week they would use a picture of alleged human eyes and the other week, flowers. After 10 weeks, they plotted the amount of money received versus drinks consumed and found that people paid nearly three times as much for their drinks when eyes were displayed.

There’s an argument that if nobody is watching us it is in our interests to behave selfishly. But when we think we’re being watched we should behave better, so people see us as co-operative and behave the same way towards us,” — Dr Bateson said

EXAMPLE:

Tax: This has great exemplar potential in things like federal, state and local income tax preparation, etc.

Insight: “It’s a definite that you’re all going to screw up, but it’s not a definite that any of you will learn from that,” declared one of our medical school instructors, years ago. “Cultivate the attitude that allows you to own your mistakes, and then, not repeat them” — reported Monique Tello MD MPH.

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STOCK MARKET: Update

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks kept the good vibes going for a second trading day yesterday with tech companies like Apple rising as investors reacted to the weekend’s news that smartphones and computers would be temporarily exempt from “reciprocal” tariffs—at least until new semiconductor tariffs are imposed.

Car companies also jumped after President Trump suggested he wanted to “help” as automakers try to transition their production to the US in the face of 25% auto tariffs.

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DAILY UPDATE: UnitedHealth Group Members Appear Sicker as Stock Markets Edge Up

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily

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A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that in 2021, UnitedHealth Group received just under $14 billion in extra Medicare Advantage payments after using a code that made its members appear sicker. It’s another tough break for the plan and provider that has faced allegations of illegally taking additional money from patients and taxpayers, especially after its CEO was fatally shot in early December.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/2h47urt5

US stocks edged higher on Monday as investors focused on tech’s temporary reprieve from President Trump’s tariffs.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) trimmed bigger gains to rise a healthy 0.8%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ (^IXIC) also closed off its session high, up 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up around 0.7%, or more than 300 points.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/tj8smmes

Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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Stocks UP and Stocks DOWN

By Staff Reporters

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🟢 What’s up

  • Auto stocks soared on comments from President Trump that car companies “need a little bit of time.” GM rose 3.48%, Ford climbed 4.13%, and Stellantis gained 5.64%.
  • Investors are bullish: WeBull exploded 374.72% after the online investment platform went public via SPAC merger last Friday.
  • Goldman Sachs rose 1.87% after the Wall Street titan announced record revenue in its equities-trading business thanks to stock market volatility in the first quarter.
  • Palantir gained 4.60% after it sealed a deal with NATO to provide the organization with its advanced AI-powered warfighting system.
  • Intel climbed 2.89% on news that it will sell a 51% stake in its programmable chips unit Altera to Silver Lake Management.
  • Pfizer somehow rose 0.96% despite announcing that it is discontinuing the development of a once-daily weight-loss pill after a patient experienced a liver injury. That’s great news for Viking Therapeutics, which has its own oral weight-loss pill in the pipeline. Shares of Viking rose 10.58%.
  • Speaking of biotech stocks, Verve Therapeutics soared 26.38% after the company reported no issues with patients trialing its new gene-editing technology.

What’s down

  • Meta Platforms fell 2.22% as its antitrust trial began today. If it loses its case against the FTC, it may be forced to sell off Instagram.
  • DaVita sank 3.03% after the kidney disease treatment company announced it was the victim of a ransomware attack.
  • Hilton Worldwide Holdings fell 1.10% on a downgrade from Goldman Sachs analysts, who believe the vacation club company will struggle as fewer people splurge on travel. Marriott International received the same treatment, and also dropped 0.77%.
  • LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (really rolls off the tongue) tumbled 6.39% after the luxury goods retailer missed analyst expectations, reporting a 3% decline in sales compared to forecasts of 2% growth.
  • It’s a bit broad, but Citi analysts downgraded all US stocks to “neutral” this morning. The analysts argued that US stocks are too exposed to President Trump’s policies and are expensive compared to international peers, and endorsed investing in Japanese, European, and UK equities instead.

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MEDICAL PRACTICE: As a Financial Asset Class?

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By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA MEd CMP

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What Is an Alternative Investment?

An alternative investment is a financial asset that does not fall into one of the conventional investment categories. Conventional categories include stocks, bonds, and cash. Alternative investments can include private equity or venture capital, hedge funds, managed futures, art and antiques, commodities, and derivatives contracts. Real estate is also often classified as an alternative investment.

QUESTION: But what about a medical, podiatric or dental practice?

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An Alternate Asset Class Surrogate?

A medical practice is much like an alternative investment [AI], or alternate asset class in, two respects.

  • First, it provides the work environment that generates personal income which has been considered generous, to date. 
  • Second, it has inherent appreciation and sales value that can be part of an exit (retirement) or succession planning transfer strategy.

Conclusion

So, unlike the emerging thought that offers Social Security payments as a surrogate for an asset classes; or a federally insured AAA bond – a medical practice might also be considered by some folks as an asset class within a well diversified modern investment portfolio.

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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FINANCIAL MODELING TERMS: All Physicians Should Review and Know

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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Financial Modeling is one of the most highly valued, but thinly understood, skills in financial analysis. The objective of financial modeling is to combine accounting, finance, and business metrics to create a forecast of a company’s future results.

According to Jeff Schmidt, a financial model is simply a spreadsheet, usually built in Microsoft Excel, that forecasts a business’s financial performance into the future. The forecast is typically based on the company’s historical performance and assumptions about the future and requires preparing an income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, and supporting schedules (known as a three-statement model, one of many types of approaches to financial statement modeling). From there, more advanced types of models can be built such as discounted cash flow analysis (DCF model), leveraged buyout (LBO), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and sensitivity analysis

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DEFINED TERMS

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): A valuation method used to estimate the value of an investment based on its expected future cash flows, adjusted for the time value of money. It’s like deciding whether a treasure chest is worth diving for now, based on the gold coins you’ll be able to cash in later.

Sensitivity Analysis: This involves changing one variable at a time to see how it affects an outcome. Imagine tweaking your coffee-to-water ratio each morning to achieve the perfect brew strength.

Budget – A budget is the amount of money a department, function, or business can spend in a given period of time. Usually, but not always, finance does this annually for the upcoming year.

Rolling ForecastA rolling forecast maintains a consistent view over a period of time (often 12 months). When one period closes, finance adds one more period to the forecast.

Topside – A topside adjustment is an overlay to a forecast. This is typically completed by the corporate or headquarter team. As individual teams submit a forecast, the consolidated result might not make sense or align with expectations. When this occurs, the high-level teams use a topside adjustment to streamline or adjust the consolidated view.

Monte Carlo Simulation: Picture yourself at the casino, but instead of gambling your savings away, you’re using this technique to predict different outcomes of your business decisions based on random variables. It’s like playing financial roulette with the odds in your favor.

What-If Analysis: Ever daydream about what would happen if you took that leap of faith with your business? This tool allows you to explore various scenarios without risking a dime. It’s like trying on outfits in a virtual dressing room before making a purchase.

Leveraged Buyout (LBO) Model: This is a bit like orchestrating a heist, but legally. It’s about acquiring a company using borrowed money, with plans to pay off the debts with the company’s own cash flows. High stakes, high rewards.

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Model: Picture two puzzle pieces coming together. This model evaluates how combining companies can create a new, more valuable entity. It’s the corporate version of a matchmaker.

Three Statement Model: The holy trinity of financial modeling, linking the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. It’s like weaving a tapestry where each thread is crucial to the overall picture.

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM): A formula that calculates the expected return on an investment, considering its risk compared to the market. It’s like choosing the best roller coaster in the park, balancing thrill and safety.

Cash Flow Forecasting: This is your financial weather forecast, predicting the cash flow climate of your business. It helps you plan for sunny days and save for the rainy ones.

Cost of Capital: The price of financing your business, whether through debt or equity. It’s like the interest rate on your growth engine, pushing you to maximize every dollar invested.

Debt Schedule: A timeline of your business’s debts, showing when and how much you owe. It’s your roadmap to becoming debt-free, one milestone at a time.

Equity Valuation: Determining the value of a company’s shares. It’s like assessing the worth of a rare gemstone, ensuring investors pay a fair price for a piece of the treasure.

Financial Leverage: Using debt to amplify returns on investment. It’s like using a lever to lift a heavy object, increasing force but also risk.

Forecast Model: A crystal ball for your finances, projecting future performance based on past and present data. It’s your guide through the financial wilderness, helping you navigate with confidence.

Operating Model: A detailed blueprint of how a business generates value, mapping out operational activities and their financial impact. It’s like laying out the inner workings of a clock, ensuring every gear turns smoothly.

Revenue Growth Model: This tracks potential increases in sales over time, charting a course for expansion. It’s like plotting your ascent up a mountain, anticipating the effort required to reach the summit.

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STOCK MARKET: Panic Buying Apple A18 Processor iPhones

By Staff Reporters

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Just after midnight, President Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs went into effect against 86 countries. Analysts have estimated that the new US average effective tariff rate is north of 20%, the highest in more than 100 years. Ahead of the tariff deadline, markets swung violently, mostly way down: According to Bloomberg’s Cameron Crise, yesterday was the fourth straight trading day when the S&P 500’s trading range was 5% or more. That’s only happened in 1987, 2008, and 2020.

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The Apple A18 and Apple A18 Pro are a pair of 64-bit ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc., part of the Apple silicon series. They are used in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineups and the iPhone 16e, and built on a second generation 3 nm process by TSMC.

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Yesterday, for several hours on Tuesday, it looked like stocks were going to regain some of the ground lost during the market’s very bad week. But after the Trump administration made it clear that its increased tariffs on China would go into effect, all three indexes plunged. Apple, which makes most of its iPhones in China, was hit harder than many of its Big Tech peers.

So shoppers are thinking it’s better to have an Apple A18 processor and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Apple customers are scrambling to buy new iPhones out of fear that the company could raise prices to offset President Trump’s tariffs.

Employees at locations throughout the US said they’re being bombarded with questions about potential price hikes and have witnessed customers panic-buying phones. Though Apple declined to comment to Bloomberg, its retail stores reportedly saw higher sales over the last weekend than in previous years.

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ACO REACH: A New Model

ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS

Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health

By Staff Reporters

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Model Overview

The ACO REACH Model provides novel tools and resources for health care providers to work together in an ACO to improve the quality of care for people with Traditional Medicare. REACH ACOs are comprised of different types of providers, including primary and specialty care physicians.

The ACO REACH Model makes important changes to the previous Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model which include:  

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  1. Promote Provider Leadership and Governance. The ACO REACH Model includes policies to ensure doctors and other health care providers continue to play a primary role in accountable care. At least 75% control of each ACO’s governing body generally must be held by participating providers or their designated representatives, compared to 25% during the first two Performance Years of the GPDC Model. In addition, the ACO REACH Model goes beyond prior ACO initiatives by requiring at least two beneficiary advocates on the governing board (at least one Medicare beneficiary and at least one consumer advocate), both of whom must hold voting rights. 
     
  2. Protect Beneficiaries and the Model with More Participant Vetting, Monitoring and Greater Transparency. CMS will ask for additional information on applicants’ ownership, leadership, and governing board to gain better visibility into ownership interests and affiliations to ensure participants’ interests align with CMS’s vision. We will employ increased up-front screening of applicants, robust monitoring of participants, and greater transparency into the model’s progress during implementation, even before final evaluation results, and will share more information on the participants and their work to improve care. Last, CMS will also explore stronger protections against inappropriate coding and risk score growth. 

MORE: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/aco-reach

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MONEY SCRIPTS: Fundamental Subconscious Beliefs and Economic Behavioral Patterns Defined

SALES PSYCHOLOGY FOR INVESTMENT ADVISORS, FINANCIAL ADVISORS, INSURANCE AGENTS, WEALTH MANAGERS AND FINANCIAL PLANNERS

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA MEd CMP®

http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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Stocks were decimated yesterday in the first full trading day following President Trump’s tariff announcement. It was the biggest single-day decline since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Every Magnificent Seven stock was battered—Apple worst of all. And so perhaps it is a good time to discuss the concept of “Money Scripts”.

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Money Scripts are unconscious beliefs about money that are typically only partially true, are developed in childhood, and drive adult financial behaviors. Money scripts may be the result of “financial flashpoints,” which are salient early experiences around money that have a lasting impact in adulthood. Money scripts are often passed down through the generations and social groups often share similar money scripts. And so, we argue that Money scripts are at the root of all illogical, ill-advised, self-destructive, or self-limiting financial behaviors.

In research at Kansas State University [KSU], researchers identified four distinct Money script patterns, which are associated with financial health and predict financial behaviors. These include: (a) money avoidance, (b) money worship, (c) money status, and (d) money vigilance [personal communication Brad Klontz, PsyD, CFP®, Kenneth Shubin-Stein, MD, MPH, MS, CFA and Sonya Britt, PhD, CFP®].

And so, we all like to think our financial decisions are fully rational, but the truth is that our subconscious beliefs have a dramatic impact on our money and financial decisions. These money scripts are important to know and understand. A summary is below:

            Money Avoidance

Money avoidance scripts are illustrated by beliefs such as “Rich people are greedy,” “It is not okay to have more than you need,” and “I do not deserve a lot of money when others have less than me.” Money avoiders believe that money is bad or that they do not deserve money. They believe that wealthy people are corrupt and there is virtue in living with less money. They may sabotage their financial success or give money away even though they cannot afford to do so. Money avoidance scripts may be associated with lower income and lower net worth and predict financial behaviors including ignoring bank statements, overspending, financial dependence on others, financial enabling of others, and having trouble sticking to a budget.

            Money Worship 

Money worship is typified by beliefs such as “More money will make you happier,” “You can never have enough money,” and “Money would solve all my problems.” Money worshipers are convinced that money is the key to happiness. At the same time, they believe that one can never have enough. Money worships have lower income, lower net worth, and higher credit card debt. They are more likely to be hoarders, spend compulsively, and put work ahead of family.

            Money Status

Money status scripts include “I will not buy something unless it is new,” “Your self-worth equals you net worth,” and “If something isn’t considered the ‘best’ it is not worth buying.” Money status seekers see net worth and self-worth as being synonymous. They pretend to have more money than they do and tend to overspend as a result. They often grew up in poorer families and believe that the universe should take care of their financial needs if they live a virtuous life. Money status scripts are associated with compulsive gambling, overspending, being financially dependent on others, and lying to one’s spouse about spending.

            Money Vigilance

Money vigilant beliefs include “It is important to save for a rainy day,” “You should always look for the best deal, even if it takes more time,” and “I would be a nervous wreck if I did not have an emergency fund.” The money vigilants are alert, watchful and concerned about their financial welfare. They are more likely to save and less likely to buy on credit. As a result, they tend to have higher income and higher net worth. They also have a tendency to be anxious about money and are secretive about their financial status outside of their household. While money vigilance is associated with frugality and saving, excessive anxiety can keep someone from enjoying the benefits that money can provide.

Identification

When money scripts are identified, it is helpful to examine where they came from. A simple behavioral finance technique involves reflecting on the following questions:

  • What three lessons did you learn about money from your mother?
  • What three lessons did you learn about money from your father?
  • What is your first memory around money?
  • What is your most painful money memory?
  • What is your most joyful money memory?
  • What money scripts emerged for you from this experience?
  • How have they helped you?
  • How have they hurt you?
  • What money scripts do you need to change?

Conclusion

Ideally, from a balanced middle ground, we can see past the limitations of money scripts, our self and others who are polarized. Those who believe “Money is meant to be spent” or “Money is meant to be saved” have a world view that results in extreme positions. Labeling them as “correct” or “wrong” is not a useful way to try to shift anyone’s polarized money script beliefs.

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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OBTAIN: An Unbiased Second Financial Planning Opinion

By Ann Miller RN MHA CPHQ CMP

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Finally … Fiduciary second investing and financial planning opinions right here!

Telephonic or electronic advice for medical professionals that is:

  • Objective, affordable, medically focused and financially personalized
  • Rendered by a pre-screened financial consultant for doctors and medical professionals
  • Offered on a pay-as-you-go basis, by phone or secure e-mail transmission

The iMBA Discussion Forum™ is a physician-to-financial advisor telephone or e-mail portal that connects independent financial professionals to doctors, nurses or healthcare executives desiring affordable and unbiased financial planning advice.

Medical professionals and healthcare executives can now receive direct access to pre-screened iMBA professionals in the areas of Investing, Financial Planning, Asset Allocation, Portfolio Management, Insurance, Mortgage and Lending, Human Resources, Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits. To assist our medical professional and healthcare executive members, we can be contracted with per-minute or per-project fees, and contacted by client phone, email or secure instant messaging.

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ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION: A Financially Toxic Contract Example for Physicians

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

By. Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA MEd CMP®

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SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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WARNING – DISASTROUS ACO EXAMPLE – WARNING

GIVEN CASH FLOW MODEL

Suppose that in a new Accountable Care Organization [ACO] contract, a certain medical practice was awarded a new global payment or capitation styled contract that increased revenues by $100,000 for the next fiscal year. The practice had a gross margin of 35% that was not expected to change because of the new business. However, $10,000 was added to medical overhead expenses for another assistant and all Account’s Receivable (AR) are paid at the end of the year, upon completion of the contract.

Cost of Medical Services Provided (COMSP):

The Costs of Medical Services Provided (COMSP) for the ACO business contract represents the amount of money needed to service the patients provided by the contract.  Since gross margin is 35% of revenues, the COMSP is 65% or $65,000.  Adding the extra overhead results in $75,000 of new spending money (cash flow) needed to treat the patients. Therefore, divide the $75,000 total by the number of days the contract extends (one year) and realize the new contract requires about $ 205.50 per day of free cash flows.

Assumptions

Financial cash flow forecasting from operating activities allows a reasonable projection of future cash needs and enables the doctor to err on the side of fiscal prudence. It is an inexact science, by definition, and entails the following assumptions:

  • All income tax, salaries and Accounts Payable (AP) are paid at once.
  • Durable medical equipment inventory and pre-paid advertising remain constant.
  • Gains/losses on sale of equipment and depreciation expenses remain stable.
  • Gross margins remain constant.
  • The office is efficient so major new marginal costs will not be incurred.

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Physician Reactions:

Since many physicians are still not entirely comfortable with global reimbursement, fixed payments, capitation or ACO reimbursement contracts; practices may be loath to turn away short-term business in the ACA era.  Physician-executives must then determine other methods to generate the additional cash, which include the following general suggestions:

1. Extend Account’s Payable

Discuss your cash flow difficulties with vendors and emphasize their short-term nature. A doctor and her practice still has considerable cache’ value, especially in local communities, and many vendors are willing to work them to retain their business

2. Reduce Accounts Receivable

According to most cost surveys, about 30% of multi-specialty group’s accounts receivable (ARs) are unpaid at 120 days. In addition, multi-specialty groups are able to collect on only about 69% of charges. The rest was written off as bad debt expenses or as a result of discounted payments from Medicare and other managed care companies. In a study by Wisconsin based Zimmerman and Associates, the percentages of ARs unpaid at more than 90 days is now at an all time high of more than 40%. Therefore, multi-specialty groups should aim to keep the percentage of ARs unpaid for more than 120 days, down to less than 20% of the total practice. The safest place to be for a single specialty physician is probably in the 30-35% range as anything over that is just not affordable.

The slowest paid specialties (ARs greater than 120 days) are: multi-specialty group practices; family practices; cardiology groups; anesthesiology groups; and gastroenterologists, respectively. So work hard to get your money, faster. Factoring, or selling the ARs to a third party for an immediate discounted amount is not usually recommended.

3. Borrow with Short-Term Bridge Loans

Obtain a line of credit from your local bank, credit union or other private sources, if possible in an economically constrained environment. Beware the time value of money, personal loan guarantees, and onerous usury rates. Also, beware that lenders can reduce or eliminate credit lines to a medical practice, often at the most inopportune time.

4. Cut Expenses

While this is often possible, it has to be done without demoralizing the practice’s staff.

5.  Reduce Supply Inventories

If prudently possible; remember things like minimal shipping fees, loss of revenue if you run short, etc.

6. Taxes

Do not stop paying withholding taxes in favor of cash flow because it is illegal.

Hyper-Growth Model:

Now, let us again suppose that the practice has attracted nine more similar medical contracts. If we multiple the above example tenfold, the serious nature of potential cash flow problem becomes apparent. In other words, the practice has increased revenues to one million dollars, with the same 35% margin, 65% COMSP and $100,000 increase in operating overhead expenses. 

Using identical mathematical calculations, we determine that $750,000 / 365days equals $2,055.00 per day of needed new free cash flows!  Hence, indiscriminate growth without careful contract evaluation and cash flow analysis is a prescription for potential financial disaster.

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EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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MEDICARE: Four Payment Models Ended Early

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

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Four Medicare Payment Models Ended Early

In the latest iteration of Trump Administration healthcare cuts, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on March 12th, 2025 that four Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) payment models would be sunset at the end of 2025, earlier than originally scheduled.

Cutting these models, which decision was based on “a comprehensive and data-driven review of [CMS’s] model portfolio,” are anticipated to save nearly $750 million (although the source of these savings was not detailed).

This Health Capital Topics article discusses the models being ended and the impact on healthcare stakeholders. (Read more…)

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HOSPITAL: Finances Hold Steady in 2025

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

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Hospital Finances Held Steady in First Month of 2025

In the first month of 2025, hospital revenue and expenses both increased, balancing each other out and resulting in continued steady financial performance for hospitals, according to Kaufman Hall’s January 2025 National Hospital Flash Report.

Revenues grew more quickly in the inpatient setting, as more patients were treated in the hospital and emergency department than in outpatient settings. While expense increases were largely driven by drug costs, the rate of that growth has significantly slowed.

This Health Capital Topics article reviews the report and the current state of hospital operations. (Read more…) 

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CELEBRATE: National Physicians Week 2025

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; FACFAS MBA MEd

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NATIONAL PHYSICIANS WEEK

National Physicians Week sets out March 25-31 to honor the healers dedicated to the art of medicine. In 2017, National Physicians Week highlighted the shortage of physicians in the United States against a growing landscape of minorities joining the ranks.

#NationalPhysiciansWeek

“In hindsight, I am proud of what we have accomplished in a short period of time, including raising the recognition of our group and spotlighting the years of sacrifice by those in our profession to serve our patients. We are poised to initiate actionable efforts to engage and educate our physician community.”

Cite: Dr. Kimberly Funches Jackson, President

Today in 2025, let’s explore the invaluable contributions of physicians, celebrate their hard work during National Physicians Week, and highlight the essential role that locum doctors play in enhancing healthcare delivery.

A Week to Honor All Physicians

National Physicians Week is a celebration of the remarkable work that doctors do every single day. From diagnosing complex conditions to providing life-saving treatments, physicians dedicate themselves to improving the health and well-being of their patients. It’s a week for healthcare professionals, patients, and communities to come together and show appreciation for the doctors who make a difference in our lives.

Physicians work long hours, face immense pressure, and make critical decisions daily. Their contributions go beyond the walls of the hospital, as many are also involved in research, teaching, and community outreach.

So, this week, it’s important to acknowledge not only their professional expertise but also the compassion and resilience they exhibit in their work.

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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DENTAL Care “Deserts”

By Staff Reporters

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Dental care in America divides people into two camps: those who can afford regular preventive care and cleanings, and those who can’t.

These so-called dental deserts contribute to a deep disparity in overall health. People who live in these places are more likely to get tooth decay and develop severe health problems. They also spend more money on care, and more time seeking health assistance in an emergency.

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Stat: 25 million. That’s how many US residents live in areas without enough dentists, according to a recent Harvard University study.

A growing movement against fluoride is adding to the risk of tooth decay in these “dental deserts.” (NPR)

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PHYSICIAN NET WORTH: Versus Average Family

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP®

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Average Net Worth of an American Family

Both median and average family net worth surged between 2019 and 2022, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. Average net worth increased by 23% to $1,063,700, the Fed reported in October 2023, the most recent year it published the data. Median net worth, on the other hand, rose 37% over that same period to $192,900.

You might wonder why the average and median net worth figures are so different. That’s because when you take the average of something, you add together every value in a data set and then divide that figure by the number of individual values.

When calculating a median, you simply look at the middle figure within a data set. That said, an average figure can be significantly higher or lower than a median figure if there are extreme outliers – meaning a group of people with significantly more net worth than the rest of the group can bring the average higher.

Average Net Worth by Age

The average net worth of someone younger than 35 years old is $183,500, as of 2022. From there, average net worth steadily rises within each age bracket. Between 35 to 44, the average net worth is $549,600, while between 45 and 54, that number increases to $975,800. Average net worth surges above the $1 million mark between 55 to 64, reaching $1,566,900.

Average net worth again rises for those ages 65 to 74, to $1,794,600, before falling to $1,624,100 for the 75 and older group. The median net worth within every single age bracket, however, is much lower than the average net worth.

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Physicians [MD/DO] Net Worth by Specialty

A 2023 Medscape report shows the top 10 specialties with the most survey respondents saying they are worth more than $5 million.

  1. Plastic Surgery (31% of all survey respondents)
  2. Orthopedics (28%)
  3. Gastroenterology (25%)
  4. Urology (23%)
  5. Cardiology (22%)
  6. Ophthalmology (18%)
  7. Radiology (17%)
  8. Oncology (17%)
  9. Pathology (14%)
  10. Ob/Gyn (14%)

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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ECONOMIC THEORY: Congestion Pricing and Charges

By Wikipedia and Staff Reporters

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Congestion pricing or congestion charges is a system of surcharging users of public goods that are subject to congestion through excess demand, such as through higher peak charges for use of bus services, electricity, railways, telephones, and road pricing to reduce traffic congestion; airlines and shipping companies may be charged higher fees for slots at airports and through canals at busy times. This pricing strategy regulates demand, making it possible to manage congestion without increasing supply.

According to the economic theory behind congestion pricing, the objective of this policy is to use the price mechanism to cover the social cost of an activity where users otherwise do not pay for the negative externalities they create (such as driving in a congested area during peak demand).

By setting a price on an over-consumed product, congestion pricing encourages the redistribution of the demand in space or in time, leading to more efficient outcomes.

EDUCATION: Books

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HOSTILE COMPANY TAKEOVER: Definition, Defense & Pharmaceutical Company Example

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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SPONSOR: http://www.HealthDictionarySeries.org

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A hostile takeover happens when an entity takes control of a company without the knowledge and against the wishes of the company’s management. A hostile takeover is an acquisition strategy requiring that the entity acquire and control more than 50% of the voting shares issued by the company.

In mergers and acquisitions (M&A), a hostile takeover is the acquisition of a target company by an acquiring company that goes directly to the target company’s shareholders, either by making a tender offer or through a proxy vote.

Ideally, an entity interested in acquiring a company should seek approval from the target company’s Board of Directors. The difference between a hostile and a friendly takeover is that, in a friendly takeover, the target company’s board of directors approve of the transaction and recommend shareholders vote in favor of the deal.

Defenses against a hostile takeover

These defense mechanisms can be preemptive or reactive, depending on how prepared the company is for the possibility of a hostile bid.

Poison pill is one of the most common defenses against a hostile takeover. Officially known as a “shareholder rights plan,” the poison pill allows existing shareholders to purchase additional shares at a discount, diluting the ownership interest of the acquiring company. The goal is to make it prohibitively expensive for the acquirer to complete the takeover.

A golden parachute is another defense strategy, which involves providing lucrative compensation packages (bonuses, severance pay, stock options, etc.) to key executives in the event they are terminated as a result of the takeover. This creates a financial disincentive for the acquiring company, as it would need to pay out these large sums upon completing the takeover.

In a Crown jewel defense, the target company sells or threatens to sell its most valuable assets—its “crown jewels”—if the takeover is completed. This reduces the attractiveness of the company to the acquirer, as the most desirable assets would no longer be part of the deal.

The Pac-Man defenses a more aggressive strategy in which the target company turns the tables by attempting to buy shares of the acquiring company, effectively launching a counter-takeover. While rare, this defense can deter hostile bids by making the takeover battle more costly and complex.

A White-Knight defense involves the target company seeking out a more favorable acquirer, or “white knight,” to make a friendly takeover bid. This allows the target company to avoid the hostile acquirer while still securing the benefits of a merger or acquisition.

EXAMPLE: Sanofi-Aventis and Genzyme Corp. Year: 2011 Deal value: $20.1 billion Industry: Pharmaceutical

The hostile takeover between Sanofi-Aventis and Genzyme Corp. occurred in 2010 when Sanofi, a French pharmaceutical company, wanted to buy Genzyme, a US biotech firm specializing in rare diseases. Genzyme resisted the offer, leading to conflict. Sanofi started a public campaign to pressure Genzyme’s shareholders into selling.

After months of negotiations, the two companies reached a deal in 2011. Sanofi agreed to pay $74 per share, with additional payments tied to Genzyme’s future performance, bringing the total deal value to around $20.1 billion. This acquisition allowed Sanofi to expand into the lucrative market for rare disease treatment.

MORE: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/hostile_takeover

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ABOUT State Medical Licensing Boards

A CONTROVERSY?

By Staff Reporters

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DEFINITION

State medical boards are the agencies that license medical doctors, investigate complaints, discipline physicians who violate the medical practice act, and refer physicians for evaluation and rehabilitation when appropriate. The overriding mission of medical boards is to serve the public by protecting it from incompetent, unprofessional, and improperly trained physicians. Medical boards accomplish this by striving to ensure that only qualified physicians are licensed to practice medicine and that those physicians provide their patients with a high standard of care.

The right to practice medicine is a privilege granted by the state. Each state has laws and regulations that govern the practice of medicine and specify the responsibilities of the medical board in regulating that practice. These regulations are laid out in a state statute, usually called a medical practice act. State medical boards establish the standards for the profession through their interpretation and enforcement of this act.

Assembling a quality physician population to meet the needs of the public begins with licensure. During the process of evaluating applicants for medical licensure, state medical boards’ primary focus is on a physician’s qualifications, including undergraduate and graduate medical education, work history, and personal character.

Candidates for licensure also must successfully complete a rigorous examination designed to assess their ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles of health and disease that constitute the basis for safe and effective patient care.

The Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc., and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) have collaborated to establish a single, 3-step examination for medical licensure in the United States, known as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The USMLE provides state medical boards with a common evaluation system for all licensure applicants. To assure the continued relevance of the exam, the NBME uses basic science and clinical faculty from the nation’s medical schools as well as practicing physicians, some of whom serve on state medical boards, to generate the examinations.

Cite: https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/role-state-medical-boards/2005-04

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OPINIONS

“… I am persuaded that licensure has reduced both the quantity and quality of medical practice…It has reduced the opportunities for people to become physicians, it has forced the public to pay more for less satisfactory service, and it has retarded technological development…I conclude that licensure should be eliminated as a requirement for the practice of medicine”

-Milton Friedman, Nobel prize-winning economist

“As a rule, regulation is acquired by the industry and is designed and operated primarily for its benefit”

-George J. Stigler Nobel Prize-winning economist

“Licensing has served to channel the development of health care services by granting an exclusive privilege and high status to practitioners relying on a particular approach to health care, a disease-oriented intrusive approach rather than a preventive approach….By granting a monopoly to a particular approach to health care, the licensing laws may serve to assure an ineffective health care system”

-Lori B. Andrews, Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College

“Let us allow physicians, hospitals and schools to spring up where they’re needed, abolish the restrictive licensure laws, and simply invoke the laws against fraud to insure honesty among all providers of health care …That will make health care affordable for everyone”

-Ron Paul, MD former Texas Congressman

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DAILY UPDATE: Medicare TeleHealth Coverage as Wall Street Stock Markets Rise

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily

A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.

http://www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com

SPONSORED BY: Marcinko & Associates, Inc.

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http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

Daily Update Provided By Staff Reporters Since 2007.
How May We Serve You?
© Copyright Institute of Medical Business Advisors, Inc. All rights reserved. 2025

REFER A COLLEAGUE: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com

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Your Referral Count -0-

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Stocks on Wall Street shook off a weak start and closed slightly higher Friday, snapping a four-week losing streak.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/2h47urt5

The S&P 500 edged up 0.1%. The index finished with a 0.5% gain for the week. It’s still down 4.8% so far this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a 0.1% gain, while the NASDAQ composite rose 0.5%.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/tj8smmes

It appears Medicare coverage for tele-health is here to stay—at least for the next six months. When the House of Representatives and Senate passed a budget on March 11t and 14th, respectively, they not only avoided a government shutdown, but also extended a resolution for Medicare to cover non-behavioral health tele-health appointments until September 30th.

Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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EDUCATIONAL TEXTBOOKS: https://tinyurl.com/4zdxuuwf

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HEALTHCARE VALUATION: Terms and Definitions

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

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The term “value” has many different meanings and definitions to different parties. Therefore, at the outset of each valuation engagement, it is critical to define appropriately (and have all parties agree to) the standard of value to be employed in developing the valuation opinion.

The standard of value defines the type of value to be determined and answers the question “value to whom?” There are several standards of value that may be sought, including: Fair Market Value (FMV), Fair Value, Investment Value, and Liquidation Value. (Read more...) 

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FINANCIAL ADVISORS & MEDICAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS: Marcinko & Associates, Inc

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

D. E. Marcinko & Associates Core Operating Values

9.   We act with honesty, integrity and are always straightforward.
8.   We strive to be innovative, creative, iconoclastic, and flexible.
7.   We admit and learn from mistakes and don’t repeat them.
6.   We work hard always as competitors are trying to catch up.
5.   We treat others with dignity and respect.
4.   We are the onus of consulting advice for the well being of others.
3.   We fight complacency as former success is in the past.
2.   The best management styles are timeless, not timely.
1.   Our clients are colleagues and always come first.

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements.

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CONTACT: Ann Miller RN MHA at: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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PROSPECT THEORY: Physician-Client Empowerment for Financial Decision Making

BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS

By Staff Reporters

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Prospect theory is a psychological and behavioral economics theory developed by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in 1979. It explains how people make decisions when faced with alternatives involving risk, probability, and uncertainty. According to this theory, decisions are influenced by perceived losses or gains.

Example:

Amanda, a DO client, was just informed by her financial advisor that she needed to re-launch her 403-b retirement plan. Since she was leery about investing, she quietly wondered why she couldn’t DIY. Little does her FA know that she doesn’t intend to follow his advice, anyway! So, what went wrong?

The answer may be that her advisor didn’t deploy a behavioral economics framework to support her decision-making. One such framework is the “prospect theory” model that boils client decision-making into a “three step heuristic.”
 
Prospect theory makes the unspoken biases that we all have more explicit. By identifying all the background assumptions and preferences that clients [patients] bring to the office, decision-making can be crafted so that everyone [family, doctor and patient] or [FA, client and spouse] is on the same page. Briefly, the three steps are:

1. Simplify choices by focusing on the key differences between investment [treatment] options such as stock, bonds, cash, and index funds. 

2. Understanding that clients [patients] prefer greater certainty when it comes to pursuing financial [health] gains and are willing to accept uncertainty when trying to avoid a loss [illness].

3. Cognitive processes lead clients and patients to overestimate the value of their choices thanks to survivor bias, cognitive dissonance, appeals to authority and hindsight biases.

Assessment

Much like healthcare today, the current mass-customized approaches to the financial services industry falls short of recognizing more personalized advisory approaches like prospect theory and assisted client-centered investment decision-making.

 Jaan E. Sidorov MD [Harrisburg, PA]   

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AMAZON: Healthcare Pivot

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

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Amazon’s Healthcare Pivot

During the January 2025 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Teladoc’s executives announced the company has partnered with Amazon Health Services, joining its Health Benefits Connector program. The program was rolled out in January 2024 and connects Amazon customers with virtual care benefits covered by their insurance plan or employer; if eligible, customers are able to apply to join the program(s).

Teladoc is the fifth company to join Amazon’s Health Benefits Connector program (formerly known as Health Conditions Programs), along with digital physical therapy company Hinge Health; chronic condition management company Omada; online therapy and mental health firm Rula; and behavioral healthcare provider Talkspace. (Read more…) 

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MORTON’S FORK: A Hobson’s Choice & Paradox

By Staff Reporters

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A Morton’s fork is a type of false dilemma in which contradictory observations lead to the same conclusion.

Morton’s Fork: Claims its origin from John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a public policymaker who used convoluted and contradictory logic to establish tax laws in the mid-15th century.

He contended that whoever lived humbly must be saving much money and hence would be able to pay higher taxes; and those that lived lavish lives were obviously rich, so they could also pay higher taxes.

In other words: a Hobsons Choice between two equally unpleasant alternatives.

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FACILITY CHARGE: Healthcare Service Fees

DEFINITION

By Staff Reporters

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FACILITY CHARGE DEFINED

Classic: Service fee submitted for payment by a healthcare facility, such as a clinic, hospital or ambulatory care center.

Modern: Facility fees are expenses charged by hospitals to cover their overhead – the funding needed to keep the lights on, machines running, and doors open, etc. People who receive outpatient care at hospital-owned buildings are charged a facility fee, in addition to treatment costs and fees charged, individually, by doctors.

Examples: How to Fight Facility Fees:

  • Check with your health agent or insurer. Many insurers don’t cover facility fees or cover only a portion. 
  • Talk to your doctor. It’s hard to tell whether a facility is hospital-run or whether your doctor works for a health system.
  • Negotiate hard.

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DENTISTRY: DDS versus DMD Degree

DENTAL ADA DEGREES

By Colgate and Staff Reporters

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DDS vs. DMD Degree

DDS and DMD are the acronyms of the degrees dentists earn after finishing dental school. DDS means Doctor of Dental Surgery, and DMD can mean either Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine. While the names are different, the American Dental Association (ADA) explains that they represent the same education. Some universities may grant dental graduates with a DDS, and others grant a DMD, but both degrees have the same requirements.

According to the ADA, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery established the first Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees in 1840. When Harvard University started its dental school in 1867, their degrees were called Dentariae Medicinae Doctorate (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) because Harvard uses Latin names for their degrees. Even though these degrees are based on the same educational requirements, they still have different names.

Difference Between a DDS and a DMD Degree?

Today, many universities award a DMD degree. Dentists with either a DDS or a DMD are educated to practice general dentistry. All dentists receive a rigorous education. First, dental schools typically require a four-year undergraduate education. Afterward, graduates go to dental school for another four years of classroom training, clinical training, and dental laboratory training.

Dental students spend the first two years of dental school studying biomedical sciences courses like anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, and pharmacology. The last two years are focused on clinical and laboratory training.

After graduating from dental school, dentists must pass a national written examination called the National Board Dental Examination, followed by a regional clinical board examination. Dentists must also pass a jurisprudence examination about state laws before being given a license to practice dentistry in that state.

Post Graduate Education After a DDS or DMD

Most dentists stick with practicing general dentistry. However, some choose to specialize in a particular area of dentistry after earning their degree. Training programs range from two to six years, depending upon the specialty area. There are several dental specialties, including endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, and pediatric dentistry. The ADA can help you find a dentist with a specialty that fits you best.

Dentists receive a rigorous education and have to pass several exams to be able to practice. Whether they have a DDS or DMD after their name, you should choose a dentist based on their skills, types of services provided, communication, and professionalism.

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ABBREVIATIONS GLOSSARY: Risk Management, Insurance and Asset Protection for Physicians

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.HealthDictionarySeries.org

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RISK MANAGEMENT, LIABILITY INSURANCE AND ASSET PROTECTION ABBREVIATIONS

[Glossary of Important Acronyms]

Much has been written and much has been opined on the topic of medical risk management, insurance, asset protection and professional liability for physicians and healthcare providers in this textbook; and elsewhere.

But occasionally, we all still get lost in a wide array of abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms that are constantly changing in this ecosystem.

And so, this glossary serves as a ready reference for those who want to know about these medical risk management definitions in a quick and ready fashion.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

AAASC             American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers

AAHP                American Association of Health Plans

ABN                  advance beneficiary notice

ABQAUR          American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review

ACE                   acute care episode

ACHCE             American College of Health Care Executives

ACS                   American College of Surgeons

ADA                  Americans with Disabilities Act

ADC                  average daily census

ADL                  activities of daily living

ADT                  Admission/Discharge/Transfer

AHA                  American Hospital Association

AHIMA             American Health Information Management Association

AHRQ               Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

AI                      average inventory

AIMR                Association for Investment Management and Research

AIR                    assumed interest rate

ALE                   annualized loss expectancy

ALF                   assisted living facility

ALOS                average length of stay

AMA                 American Medical Association

AMBAC            AMBAC Indemnity Corporation

AMGA               American Medical Group Association

ANSI                 American National Standards Institute

AP                     accounts payable

APA                  American Psychiatric Association

APC                   ambulatory payment classification

APG                   ambulatory payment group

APR                   annual percentage rate

AR                     accounts receivable

ASA                   American Society of Appraisers

ASC                   ambulatory surgery centers; also Accredited Standards Committee

ASHA                American Surgical Hospital Association

ASO                   administrative services only

ASTC                 ancillary service technical component

ATM                  asynchronous transfer mode

AVG                  ambulatory visit group

BANTA             best alternative to negotiated agreement

BBA                  Balanced Budget Act of 1997

BBRA                Balanced Budget Refinement Act [1999]

BCP                   business continuity planning

BEA                   break-even analysis

BEP                   break-even point

BIPA                 Benefits Improvement and Protection Act [2000]

BLS                   Bureau of Labor Statistics

BPD                   border protection device

BS                      balance sheet

BSA                   Bank Secrecy Act

BVS                   business valuation standard

CA                     certificate authority

CAC                  Carrier Advisory Committee

CAS                   cost accounting standards

CASB                Cost Accounting Standards Board

CC                     common criteria [for IT Security Evaluation —ISO/IEC 15408];
complication or comorbidity [for MS-DRGs]

CCA                  certified cost accountant

CCC                   cash conversion cycle

CCEVS              common criteria evaluation and validation scheme

CCHIT               Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology

CCU                  critical care unit

CDC                  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDH                  consumer-directed healthcare

CDHP                consumer-directed healthcare plan

CDPM               Clinical Data Project Manager

CDSS                 clinical decision support system

CEO                   Chief Executive Officer

CF                      conversion factor

CFA                   Chartered Financial Analyst

CFO                   Chief Financial Officer

CFR                   Code of Federal Regulations

CHAMP             Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007

CHAMPUS        Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services

CHE                   Certified Healthcare Executive

CHIPS               Center for Healthcare Industry Performance Studies

CIA                    Corporate Integrity Agreement

CIO                    Chief Information Officer

CIP                    Customer Identification Program

CIS                    computer information systems

CLIA                 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act

CLT                   capitation liability theory

CME                  continuing medical education

CMI                   case mix index

CMIO                Chief Medical Information Officer

CMIS                 contribution margin income statement

CMN                  Certificate of Medical Necessity

CMP                  Certified Medical Planner ™

CMS                  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [formerly HCFA]

COD                  cash on delivery

COGME             Council of Graduate Medical Education

COH                  cash on hand

COLA                cost of living allowance

CON                  Certificate of Need

COO                  Chief Operating Officer

COSO                Committee of Sponsoring Organizations

COTS                 commercial off-the-shelf

CPHQ                Certified Physician in Healthcare Quality

CPIM                 Certificate in Production and Inventory Management

CPI-U                Consumer Price Index—urban

CPM                  critical (clinical) path method

CPOE                computerized physician order entry [system]

CPR                   computer-based patient record

CPT                   current procedural terminology

CQI                    continuous quality improvement

CRL                   Certification Revocation List

CRM                  customer relationship management

CRVS                California Relative Value Studies

CSO                   Chief Security Officer

CT scan              computed tomography scan [also called CAT scan]

CUSIP               Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures

CVE                   common vulnerabilities and exposures

CVPA                cost-volume-profit analysis

CY                     calendar year

DAC                  discretionary access control

DBMS                database management system

DCF                   discounted [net] cash flow

DEA                  Drug Enforcement Agency

DHHS                Department of Health and Human Services

DHMR               Designated Healthcare Management Representative

DIO                   days inventory outstanding

DLH                  doctor labor hours

DME                  durable medical equipment

DNFB                discharged, not finally billed

D&O                  directors and officers

DO                     Doctor of Osteopathy

DOA                  dead on arrival

DoD                   Department of Defense

DOJ                   Department of Justice

DOT                  Department of Transportation

DPH                  Department of Public Health

DPM                  Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

DPO                  days payable outstanding

DPP                   direct participation program

DRA                  Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

DRG                  diagnosis-related group

DES                   disease-specific care

DSH                   disproportionate share hospital [adjustment]

DSO                   days sales outstanding

DSS                   decision support system

DVP                  delivery versus payment

DWC                 days working capital

EAP                   Employee Assistance Program

EBDIT               earnings before depreciation, interest and taxes

EBM                  evidence-based medicine

ECP                   Exposure Control Plan

ED                     emergency department

EDI                    Electronic Data Interchange

EDSS                 Executive Decision Support System

EEOC                Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

EHCR                Efficient Healthcare Consumer Response Report

EHO                  emerging healthcare organization

EHR                   electronic health record

EIN                    employer identification number

E&M                  evaluation and management

EMR                  electronic medical record(s)

EMTALA           Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act

EOB                   explanation of benefits

EOMB               Explanation of Medicare Benefits

EOQ                  economic order quantity

EOQC                economic order quantity cost [analysis]

EPA                   Environmental Protection Agency

ePHI                  electronic personal health information

EPO                   exclusive provider organization

EPR                   electronic patient record

EPRI                  Emergency Preparedness Resource Inventory

ERISA               Employee Retirement Income Security Act

ERP                   enterprise resource planning

FACT Act          Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003

FAR                   federal acquisition regulation

FASB                 Financial Accounting Standards Board

FBCA                Federal Bridge Certification Authority

FC                      fixed cost

FCA                   False Claims Act

FDA                   Food and Drug Administration

FEHBP              federal employees health benefits program

FF&E                 furniture, fixtures and equipment

FFS                    fee-for-service

FGIC                  Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

FHA                   Federal Housing Administration

FIFO                  first in first out

FIPS                   Federal Information Processing Standard

FMAP                Federal Medical Assistance Percentage

FMLA                Family Medical Leave Act

FMV                  fair market value                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

FTP                    file transfer protocol

FV                     fair value

  • FY                     fiscal year

GAAP                generally accepted accounting principles

GAO                  [U.S.] Government Accountability Office (name changed in 2004 from General Accounting Office)

GDP                   gross domestic product

GIGO                 garbage in, garbage out

GMC                  guaranteed mortgage certificate

GNMA               Government National Mortgage Association

GNP                   gross national product

GPWW              Group Practice Without Walls

GSA                   General Services Administration

HARA               Healthcare Accounts Receivable Analysis [report]

HCCM               Hierarchical Condition Category Management

HCFA                [former] Health Care Financing Administration

HCFAC              Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Control [program]

HCFMA             Health Care Financial Management Association

HCPCS              healthcare common procedure coding system

HCSS                 Health Care Staffing Services

HD-HCP            high deductible healthcare plan

HEDIS               Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set

HFMA               Healthcare Financial Management Association

HH                     home health

HHA                  home health agency

HHCA               home healthcare agency

HHRG                home health resource group

[D]HHS             [Department of] Health and Human Services

HIM                   health information management

HIMSS               Health Information and Management Systems Society

HIPAA              Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [of 1996]

HIPDB               Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank

HIPPS                health insurance prospective payment system

HIS                    hospital information system

HISAC               Healthcare Information Sharing and Analysis Center

HIT                    healthcare information technology

HMMIS              hospital materials management information system

HMO                 health maintenance organization

HOPPS              hospital outpatient prospective payment system

HR                     Human Resources

HSA                   health systems agency; also health savings account

HSG                   hospital service group

HSRV                hospital-specific relative value

I&A                   identification and authentication

IBA                    Institute of Business Appraisers

IBNR                 incurred but not reported [expenses]

ICD-9-CM          International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [10-CM]

ICP                    inventory conversion period

ICSI                   Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement

IDS                    integrated delivery system; also intrusion detection system

IDTF                  independent diagnostic testing facilities

IHS                    Indian Health Services

IME                   indirect medical education [adjustment]

IOM                   Institute of Medicine

IPA                    Independent Physician Association; also Independent Practice Association

IPPS                  [Medicare] inpatient prospective payment system

IRB                    Institutional Review Boards

IRC                    Internal Revenue Code

IRR                    internal rate of return

IRS                    Internal Revenue Service

ISAC                  Information Sharing and Analysis Center

ISMS                  information security management system

ISO                    International Standards Organization

ISP                     Internet service provider

I-SPY Act          Internet Spyware Prevention Act

IT                       information technology

ITL                    Information Technology Laboratory

ITR                    inventory turnover ratio

JAMA                 Journal of the American Medical Association

JCAHO              [former] Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

[now known as the The Joint Commission-TJC]

JIT                     just-in-time

[inventory management]

LAN                  local area network

LCC                   life-cycle cost

LEP                   limited English proficiency

LIFO                  last in, first out

LIS                     Laboratory Information Systems

LISW                 Licensed Independent Social Worker

LLC                   Limited Liability Company

LLP                   Limited Liability Partnership

LMFT                Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

LPCC                 Licensed Professional Clinical [Mental Health] Counselor

LOS                   length of stay

LVN                  licensed vocational nurse

LPN                   licensed practical nurse

LRAC                long-range average cost

LRRA                Liability Risk Retention Act

LSP                    limited service provider

LTCPP               long-term care pharmacy provider

MABC               medical activity-based costing

MAC                  monitored anesthesia care; also mandatory access control

MB                    marginal benefit

MBT                  Mechanical Biological Treatment [organization]

MC                    marginal cost

MCC                  major complication or co-morbidity

MCM                 mixed cost method

MCO                  managed care organization

MCS                  Monte Carlo Simulation

MD                    medical doctor

MDC                  major diagnostic category

MEC                  modified endowment contract

MedPAC            Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

MGMA              Medical Group Management Association

MI                      Medical Informatics

MIS                    management information services

MLIC                 malpractice liability insurance component

MMA                 Medicare Prescription Drug, Modernization, and Improvement Act of 2003

MMCO              Medicare Managed Care Organizations

MOE                  maximum office efficiency

MPCA               medical practice cost analysis

MPT                  Modern Portfolio Theory

MR                    medical records, marginal revenue

MSA                  medical savings account

MSCI                 Metals Service Center Institute

MS-DRG            Medicare Severity DRG

MSDS                material safety data sheet

MSO                  management services organization

MUD                 medically unnecessary days

MVO                 mean variance optimization

NACVA             National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

NAICS               North American Industry Classification System

NAIP                 National Association of Inpatient Physicians

NAHC               National Association of Healthcare Consultants

NASD                National Association of Securities Dealers

NASDAQ          National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations

NAT                  network address translation

NAV                  net asset value

NBER                National Bureau of Economic Research

NCFFR              National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting

NCPDP              National Council for Prescription Drug Programs

NCQA               National Committee for Quality Assurance

NCUA               National Credit Union Administration

NCVHS             National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics

NDC                  National Drug Code

NEJM                New England Journal of Medicine

NGC                  National Guideline Clearinghouse

NIAP                 National Information Assurance Partnership

NIC                    net interest cost

NIOSH               National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

NIS                    net income statement

NISAC               National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center

NIST                  National Institute of Standards and Technology

NOW account     negotiable order of withdrawal account

NPDB                National Practitioner Data Bank

NPI                    National Provider Identification [number]

NPP                   Notice of Privacy Practices

NPS                   national provider system

NPV                  net present value

NQF                   National Quality Forum

NRC                  National Research Council

NRV                  net-realized accounts receivable value

NSA                   National Security Agency

NTFS                 new technology file system

NTPA                net target profit analysis

NYSE                New York Stock Exchange

OBO                  order book official

OBRA                Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act [of 1989]

OCC                  Option Clearing Corporation

OCR                  optical character recognition; also Office of Civil Rights

OFAC                Office of Foreign Assets Control

OFPP                 Office of Federal Procurement Policy

OID                   original issue discount

OIG                    Office of the Inspector General [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]

OMB                  Office of Management and Budget

OPHC                Office of Prepaid Health Care

OPIM                 other potentially infectious material

OPPS                 outpatient prospective payment system

OS                     operating system

OSI                    open systems interconnect

OR                     operating room

OSHA                Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSJ                    Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction

OTC                   over-the-counter

P4P                    pay-for-performance

P/E                     price to earnings [ratio]

P/R                    price to revenue [ratio]

PAC                   planned amortization certificate

PAY                  post-acquisition year

PC                     [mortgage] participation certificate; also personal computer

PCC                   project cost of capital

PCMCIA            Personal Computer Memory Card International Association

PCP                   primary care physician

PDA                  personal digital assistant

PDX                   Patient Data Exchange

PE[C]                 practice expense [component]

PEO                   professional employer organization

PFS                    patient financial services

PG                     purchasing group

PHA                  public housing authority

PHI                    protected health information

PHN                  Private Health Network

PHO                  physician-hospital organization

PHR                   patient health record

PIN                    personal identification number

PIO                    public information office

PKI                    public/private key informatics/infrastructure

PKIX                 public key infrastructure for X.509 certificates

PLIC                  [mal]practice liability insurance component

PMG                  primary medical group

PM/PM              per member per month

PO                     purchase order

POC                   point-of-care

POL                   physician office laboratory

POS                   point-of-service

POSP                 point of service plan

PP                      projection profile

PP&E                property, plant, and equipment

PPE                   personal protective equipment

PPMC                physician practice management company

PPO                   preferred provider organization

PPS                    [Medicare] prospective payment system

PR                     pregnancy and related conditions

PROM               programmable read-only memory

PSI                     patient safety indicator

PSN                   provider-sponsored network

PSO                   provider-sponsored organization

Pt                       patient

PTO                   paid time off

PWC                  physician work component

PY                     projected year

QA                     quality assurance

QI                      quality improvement

RA                     registration authority

RADIUS            remote authentication dial-in user service

RAN                  Revenue Anticipation Note

RBAC                role-based access control

RBRVG             resource-based relative value group

RBRVS              resource-based relative value scale

RBRVU             resource-based relative value unit

RDBMS             regional database management system

REIT                  real estate investment trust

RERVU             resource-based relative value unit

REV/PP             revenue per patient

RFI                    request for information

RFID                  radio frequency identification device [scanner]

RFP                   request for payment

RHIO                 Regional Health Information Organization

RN                     Registered Nurse

RNANS             Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia

ROE                   return on equity

ROI                    return on investment

ROM                  read-only memory

ROP                   re-order point

RRG                   risk-retention group

RSNA                Radiological Society of North America

RUG-III             resource utilization group III

RVS                   relative value scale

RVUm               relative value unit – malpractice

RVUpe               relative value unit – practice expenses

RVUw               relative value unit – work

rWACC              relative weighted average cost of capital

S&P                   Standard and Poor’s

SaaS                   Software-as-a-Service

SAMHSA           Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAN                   storage area network

SARS                 Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome

SBBI                  Stocks, Bonds, Bills and Inflation [Yearbook]

SCIM                 supply chain inventory management

SCF                    statement of cash flows

SCM                  supply chain management

SCP                   standard cost profile

SD                     standard deviation

SDLC                 system development life cycle

SDN                   specially designated nationals

SDO                   standards development organization

SEC                   Securities and Exchange Commission

SERP                 supplemental extended reporting policy

SESIP                sharps with engineered sharps injury protection

SHM                  Society of Hospital Medicine

SIC                    Standard Industrial Code

SIPC                  Securities Investor Protection Corporation

SLA                   service level agreement

SMA                  special miscellaneous account

SMD                  Society of Medical Dental Management Consultants

SMS                   socioeconomic monitoring system

SMTP                simple mail transfer protocol

SNF                   skilled nursing facility

SNMP                simple network management protocol

SP                      special publication

SSH                   single-specialty hospitals

SSL                    secure socket layer

STP                    standard treatment protocol

SVPN                secure virtual private network

TEL                   Terror Exclusion List

TFC                   total fixed cost

TIC                    true interest cost

TIN                    tax identification number

TLS                    transport layer security

TPA                   third party administrator

TQIM                 total quality and improvement management

TQM                  total quality management

UCC                  Uniform Commercial Code

UCSF                 University of California at San Francisco

UDP                  user datagram protocol

UFS                   unix file system

UIIRC                University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center

UM                    utilization management

UPIN                 Unique Provider Identification Number

UR                     utilization review

USPAP              Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices

v                        variance

VA                     Veterans Affairs

VAR                  value at risk

VC                     variable cost

VOC                  volatile organic chemicals

VPN                  virtual private network

WACC               weighted average cost of capital

WAN                 wide area network

WHO                 World Health Organization

WIA                   weighted industry average

WORM              wrote once-read many

READINGS

  • Marcinko, DE and Hetico, RN: Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care. Springer Publishing, New York, NY 2007
  • Marcinko, DE and Hetico, RN: Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security. Springer Publishing, New York, NY 2009
  • Marcinko, DE and Hetico, RN: Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance. Springer Publishing, New York, NY 2008

EDUCATION: Books

HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION BLOGS 

  • Candid CIO: Will Weider, CIO of Ministry Health Care and Affinity Health System, offers his perspectives on administration issues in this blog.
  • Christina’s Considerations: Christina Thielst is a hospital and healthcare administrator and entrepreneur with a deep desire for continually improving the health of the community being served. This is her blog.
  • Healing Hospitals — Formerly Ask a Hospital President: F. Nicholas “Nick” Jacobs has more than 20 years experience in hospital management, with an acknowledged reputation for innovation and consumer-centered leadership.
  • Hospital Impact: Part of the Fierce network of health sites, this site is becoming popular among healthcare administrators for its news updates, tips and opinions on health care matters.
  • Leading the Way to Medical Excellence: the president of McLeod Health non-profit institutions provides weekly insights into his facilities and health care in general.
  • Let’s Talk Health Care: Bruce Bullen, Interim Chief Executive Officer at Harvard Pilgrim in Massachusetts, provides and open and ongoing conversation about health care administration.
  • Life as a Healthcare CIO: Dr. John Halamka records his experiences with infrastructure, applications, policies, management, and governance as he supports 3,000 doctors, 18,000 faculty and about three million patients.
  • Managed Care Matters: Joe Paduda shares his knowledge on managed care for group health, health policy, health research, and medical news for insurers, employers, and healthcare providers.
  • More than Medicine: Tom Quinn, president and CEO of Community General Hospital in Syracuse, New York, began his career as a hospital kitchen worker. His perspective on administration reflects his knowledge on how hospitals work from every angle.
  • Regis University Health Services Administration Blog: Learn more about a college health service through the blog provided by its health administrator, Michael Jackson.
  • Running a Hospital: A CEO of a large Boston hospital shares thoughts on hospitals, medicine and health care issues.
  • St. Joseph Medical Center: Chief Executive Officer at St. Joseph Medical Center in Missouri, Mr. Kashman, provides personal insight into administrative matters and general topics.
  • Todd’s Perspective: Todd Linden, president and CEO of Grinnell Regional Medical Center, offers insights into medical administration and guest bloggers provide insight into various departments.
  • Wachter’s World: This blog focuses on hospitals, hospitalists, quality, safety, policy and much more from Robert M. Wachter, MD, Professor and Associate Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

                 Legal Matters

  • Drug and Device Law: This blog contains an attorney’s personal views (and those of several other Dechert attorneys) on topics that arise in the defense of pharmaceutical and medical device product liability litigation.
  • Drug Injury Watch: Learn more about drug injury lawsuits from an attorney who represents patients and their families.
  • FDA Law Blog: Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is the largest dedicated food and drug law firm in the country. Their knowledge about laws and regulations governing drugs, medical devices, foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics is helpful to anyone interested in these topics.
  • Health Care Law Blog: Bob Coffield’s expertise lies in helping businesses and health care providers weave through a variety of state and federal health care regulations and assisting them in business transactions.
  • Health Plan Law: This site contains information about group health plans, claims administration and related ERISA fiduciary issues. This site also contains tutorials.
  • HealthBlawg: this is David Harlow’s popular health care law blog, offering expert insights and easy-to-understand analysis.
  • Healthcare Law Blog: Holland & Hart’s healthcare practice provides insight into this arena, including HIPAA, Stark law, the Anti-kickback Statute and more.
  • HIPAA Blog: Join in on this discussion of medical privacy issues often buried in “political arcana.”
  • HIPAA, HiTech & HIT: This updated blog brings insight into legal issues, developments and other pertinent information that relates to the creation, use and exchange of electronic health records.
  • HIT Blawg: This blog is focused on national health information technology legal trends and current news on this topic.
  • Home Care Law Blog: Learn more about legal and policy issues in the home health care, private duty and hospice industries from Gilliland & Markette LLP.
  • Med Law Blog: This law blog focuses on topics that range from compliance to contracts and from employee benefits to HIPAA and HIT.
  • Physician Law: This blog provides and easy way to stay on top of current news, updates and useful tips relating to legal issues that affect physicians and non-institutional providers.

                 eHealth and Health IT

  • Chilmark Research: This blog provides perspectives on key IT trends in the healthcare sector.
  • davidrothman.net: David is the Information Services Specialist at the Community General Hospital Medical Library, but he also provides great ideas for 2.0 tools and tips for healthcare industry professionals on this blog.
  • e-CareManagement blog: Vince Kuraitis, owner of Better Health Technologies, LLC, has a passion for disease management and care coordination that dates back to 1995.
  • e-HealthExpert: A non-profit organization provides a free and open forum to support the development of expertise in the field of eHealth, Healthcare Information Systems, and Health IT (Clinical IT).
  • eHealth: John Sharp is an IT Manager for a major medical center in Northeast Ohio, with a focus on ehealth, personal health records, Web 2.0 technologies, Windows Sharepoint Services and project management.
  • Found In Cache: If you would prefer a professional’s take on social media matters, Web sites and all things technological, then follow Ed Bennett, a technology expert for a Maryland medical care system.
  • Future Health IT: A health IT and EPR advocate from the UK provides a format to discuss the future of health care and IT.
  • Informaticopia: This UK blogger provides eclectic news and views on health informatics and elearning.
  • MedGadget: Stay ahead of the gadget curve with this site, which offers information about the newest health care gadgets on the market as well as emerging medical technologies.
  • Neil Versel’s Healthcare IT Blog: A healthcare journalist’s provides his views on the major segment of the industry he covers — and, he provides a ton of links to other sites as well.
  • Schwartz Healthcare IT Blog: A variety of authors from Schwartz Communications provide insights into ways to use IT effectively within healthcare facilities.
  • The Health IT Channel: For a different perspective on IT and EHR as well as other health care issues, watch a few videos at this site.
  • The Healthcare IT Guy: The CEO of Netspective, a Java/.NET consultancy that specializes in healthcare IT with an emphasis on e-health, EMRs, data integration, and legacy modernization, supplies tips and information for physicians and healthcare administration.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: To Mackenzie H. Marcinko PhD of iMBA Inc., Perry D’Alessio CPA CMP™ [Hon] New York, NY; and Daniel B.  Moisand CFP®, Principal for Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, Melbourne, FL.

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DAILY UPDATE: Walgreens Boots Private Equity, Medical Cost Debt as Stock Markets Stabilize

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily

A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.

http://www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com

SPONSORED BY: Marcinko & Associates, Inc.

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Daily Update Provided By Staff Reporters Since 2007.
How May We Serve You?
© Copyright Institute of Medical Business Advisors, Inc. All rights reserved. 2025

REFER A COLLEAGUE: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com

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CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Walgreens Boots Alliance says it has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners as the struggling retailer looks to turn itself around after years of losing money. Walgreens said Thursday that Sycamore will pay $11.45 per share, giving the deal an equity value just under $10 billion. Shareholders could eventually receive up to an

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/2h47urt5

Stocks

  • The S&P 500 rose 0.6%
  • The NASDAQ 100 rose 0.7%
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%
  • The MSCI World Index rose 0.2%
  • Bloomberg Magnificent 7 Total Return Index rose 0.2%
  • The Russell 2000 Index rose 0.4%

Currencies

  • The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.2%
  • The euro rose 0.6% to $1.0851
  • The British pound rose 0.4% to $1.2929
  • The Japanese yen was little changed at 147.89 per dollar

Cryptocurrencies

  • Bitcoin fell 4% to $86,226.2
  • Ether fell 3.8% to $2,129.51

Bonds

  • The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced two basis points to 4.30%
  • Germany’s 10-year yield was little changed at 2.84%
  • Britain’s 10-year yield declined two basis points to 4.64%

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/tj8smmes

Stat: 20%. That’s how many US residents under age 49 have borrowed money to cover medical costs. (West Health and Gallup)

Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com

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EDUCATIONAL TEXTBOOKS: https://tinyurl.com/4zdxuuwf

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2025: National Dentist Day

By Staff Reporters

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March 6th is National Dentist Day, a day to celebrate the men and women who keep our chompers chomping, our gnashers gnashing, and our whites pearly.

Dentists (DDS/DMD) are doctors who specialize in oral health. It’s their job to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral diseases, monitor the growth of our teeth and jaws, and perform surgical procedures on our teeth and mouths!

Dental health is integral to our overall health, so today we salute them not just for keeping our teeth looking good, but keeping our bodies in tip-top shape.

MORE: https://nationaltoday.com/national-dentist-day/

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EDGAR: What it Is & How it Works?

Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval

By Staff Reporters

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EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) is an internal database system operated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that performs automated collection, validation, indexing, and accepted forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the SEC. The database contains a wealth of information about the commission and the securities industry which is freely available to the public via the Internet.

In September 2017, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton revealed the database had been hacked and that companies’ data may have been used by criminals for insider trading.

MORE: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/

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