From the January 2017 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Let’s turn to the second question in the first paragraph. Are you a service? What does this mean? In today’s health care world we are talking about value or quality or patient satisfaction. What are you doing regarding these issues? Let’s think beyond MACRA and MIPS/ APM. What are you doing in your practice to address them?
The first question to ask goes back to what you talk about at the monthly board meeting, finances or quality? We use quality and value as interchangeable terms. The value-based payment models require very serious looks at how service is provided, what is provided and how that service is billed. Is it better to have full control of imaging in the office or send to an imaging center, as you have a capitation or bundled payment agreement? It may be worthwhile buying a device, even without the fee-for-service reimbursement, to better control costs and utilization.
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The payers as well as the government are surveying patients for satisfaction. How about asking one simple question: Based on today’s (your last) visit, would you recommend our practice to a family member or a friend? Do you have treatment/care plans in place that ensure consistency in approach to care based upon solid evidence? This is difficult when there is more than one provider, but some agreement must be achieved. Are you as efficient as you can be? When most practices seriously address this question, the answer is no. For instance, if you can see one more patient a day under fee-for-service, 99213 at Medicare rates, you gain $18,000. Within the population health world you meet patient demand for more open slots for visits. Either way, it’s a win.
The late Peter Drucker, a true management thinker, basically said that if you provide service and meet your customers’ needs, profits will follow. The opposite, focusing on profit, will remove your focus on the patient who, in turn, will leave. I know there’s the skeptic who says all patients are different, they don’t comply with the treatment plan or they are difficult to deal with. True, but remember you’re good at what you do, so do it!
About the author: Owen Dahl, FACHE, CHBC, LSSMBB, is a practice management consultant, speaker and author with more than 50 years in health care management. His latest book, Think Business (Second Edition), has recently been released. He lives in The Woodlands, Texas.Back to HCB News
