surveys find Family practice revenues slipping
Family practices have reported a decline in margins of 3.5 percent overall for 2005, according to two surveys by the Medical Group Management Association. Continued declines in reimbursement and overall 6.3 percent increases in operating costs were cited as factors that contributed to the falling revenues. The MGMA’s cost surveys of 2005 data looked at both multi-specialty and single-specialty family practices.
CMS announces Medicare rate changes for 2007
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that payment rates for home health services will rise 3.3 percent in 2007. An estimated additional $410 million in wage adjusted payments to home health agencies will be made as a result of updating the prospective payment system. Certain durable medical equipment agencies will also benefit from the payment changes. “This rule rewards home health agencies that continue to report quality data and also provides beneficiaries with access to more affordable oxygen equipment,” said CMS administrator Leslie Norwalk.
top California physician groups honored for P4P
The top physician groups in California have been honored in the Integrated Healthcare Association pay-for-performance program. The top 20 percent of the 228 physician groups were recognized for quality care measures for clinical care, patient experience, and implementation of IT. The largest physician incentive program in the nation, the IHA P4P program aims to enable physician groups to receive financial rewards from participating in health plans based on quality measures for clinical care, patient experience, and implementation of information technology.
Service gives doctors Medicare info real time
Physician groups can access their patients’ Medicare eligibility, deductible and benefit status information in less than six seconds using a new eligibility software service. The Sammy Systems, developed by ICS Software, provides physicians with real-time eligibility status. The product is intended to make billing processes more efficient by allowing physicians to access a Medicare patient’s information before the patient’s visit. Additionally, claims processed with the system are automatically checked for verification of insurance, deductible and benefit status.