The Rundown | Week of 5.15.2017

Est. Reading Time: 3 Minutes

Healthcare is a rapidly evolving industry – it’s difficult to read up on everything that matters to you. But the success of your practice can depend on how knowledgeable you are about changes in the healthcare landscape. Privia has compiled a weekly list of important articles we are reading on healthcare industry trends, clinical best practices and legislative updates for your convenience. Here are some of the important articles and blogs on healthcare that stood out this week:

>>By 2025, the United States could be facing a shortage ranging from 34,600 to 88,000 physicians in total. Physician shortages in specialty, nonprimary care areas such as surgical, psychiatry, and pathology could be between 33,500 and 61,800 by 2030, according to study. The projected shortages in the primary care field range from 7,300 to 43,100 by 2030. The study’s authors say that wide range is due to the possibility of rapid growth in nurse practitioner and physician assistants (PAs) joining the field.

>> In 2011, the CPC initiative increased support to fund primary care transformation with an initial average per-member-per-month payment of $20, which resulted in a 50 percent increase in primary care spending. These fees were risk adjusted, with the highest being $40 per member per month for the patients with the highest illness severity. What did these investments achieve? At its halfway point in 2014, the overall initiative demonstrated a 1 percent net savings in Medicare fees ($8 per member per month), counterbalanced by the care management fees and improved patient experience across multiple domains. While savings may be modest or neutral, these practices were able to achieve improved outcomes at no additional cost across the United States and demonstrated clear financial benefits in several states.

>> “At current levels of activity, with 31.9% of children being active to a healthy level, the model predicted over 8 million youths will be overweight or obese by 2020, which would cost $1.1 trillion in direct medical costs and $1.7 trillion in lost productivity annually. It also projected that 63% of youths will eventually be diagnosed with at least 1 of the 4 obesity-related diseases in their lifetime.”

>> “’When we think about pricing transparency, it’s a combination of both cost and quality that really enables a person to understand the value of what they’re getting and to make an informed decision about where to receive care,’ she says. Additionally, Baylor Scott & White launched an interest-free patient loan program that patients can sign up for at the time of service or post-discharge. Ms. Knodel says this is one more option for patients to satisfy outstanding balances.”

>> Bonus: Check out Episode 2 of Privia’s podcast, the Break Room, Creating a High Performing Practice

>> “More uninsured. The original version of Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act would remove health coverage for an estimated 24 million Americans by 2026, according to independent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. The hardest hit in the long run would be lower-income Americans and those nearing retirement. Lawmakers from both parties rely on the nonpartisan budget office to gauge the potential impact of legislation. It is unclear how the revised bill would change this as the Congressional Budget Office has not completed its analysis.”

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