Today’s Top Story
Report looks at physician payment systems.
A report from the American Medical Association examines trends in physician payment, based on surveys of post-residency physicians. The researchers state that, during 2014, about 51 percent of respondents said they were paid by multiple methods. Additionally, the report notes the following:
- Salary and productivity-based payments were the most common payment methods.
- About one-half of physicians’ total compensation was earned from salary.
- Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of employed physicians didn’t receive salaried payments at all.
- Salary was more likely to be a key factor for physicians working outside of a group practice than for those inside a practice.
- Physician payment methods varied widely across specialties.
Other News
Is your organization on-track for ICD-10?
An article in HealthLeaders Media offers a week-by-week series of guidelines to assist providers with the final transition to ICD-10. Based on interviews with representatives from the American Health Information Management Association and the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange, the writer identifies key milestones, such as validating systems and reviewing contracts with third-party payers. In addition, the writer suggests sending out an organizational newsletter to keep staff informed about changes, and imposing a vacation blackout period during the transition. Read more…
Access ICD-10 transition materials from AAOS…(member login required)
Study: Use of peripheral nerve blocks may improve postoperative pain management for patients with tibia and ankle fractures.
Findings from a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma suggest that use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) as part of an analgesic protocol for surgical repair of tibia and ankle fractures may improve postoperative pain management. The authors conducted a prospective cohort study of 93 consecutive patients undergoing surgical repair of fractures of the ankle and tibia. During the first 24 hours after surgery, average pain scores were similar across cohorts. However, patients who received PNBs reported greater satisfaction with pain management, spent less time in severe pain, and had a higher overall perception of pain relief compared to those who did not. In addition, patients receiving PNBs demonstrated better quality of recovery (as measured by the Quality of Recovery Questionnaire) at 24-hour, but not 48-hour, follow-up. Read the abstract…
CMS pursues overpayments under “60-day rule.”
According to information from Venable LLP, a district court has determined that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may use the so-called “60-day rule” portion of the Affordable Care Act to impose False Claims Act liability on providers who fail to report and return identified overpayments to Medicare or Medicaid within 60 days of being “put on notice of a potential overpayment.” The writer notes that “the government has been persistent in using the False Claims Act […] to rectify alleged fraud, particularly in the healthcare context. Providers and others should act diligently to conduct an investigation, report the problem if there is one, and return the overpayment.” Read more…
Study: Older age linked to increased risk of admission after ambulatory surgery.
Data from a study published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggest that older age may increase the likelihood of unanticipated hospital admission after ambulatory surgery. The researchers conducted a retrospective database study of 53,667 ambulatory surgical cases and noted 1,370 hospital admissions. After adjustment, they found that age older than 70 years was independently associated with hospital admission. Based on cases with no postoperative morbidity, the researchers found that age older than 60 years was still associated with increased likelihood of hospital admission. Read more…
Read the abstract…
FDA seeks public comment on National Medical Device Evaluation System recommendations.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiographic Health has issued a request for public comment regarding recommendations for a National Medical Device Evaluation System assembled by the Medical Device Epidemiology Network’s Medical Device Registry Task Force. At the meeting at which the report was announced, Julia Skapik, MD, MPH, medical officer for the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), announced that ONC does not think the agency will be able to meet statutory implementation goals and plans to submit a report to Congress explaining why those goals will not be met. Learn more about the proposed system…
Read the report (PDF)…
Learn more about how to submit comments…
Florida.
WUSF Public Media reports that the Florida Supreme Court may address the constitutionality of a 2013 medical liability law that some argue violates patient privacy rights. Opponents say the law violates a right to privacy guaranteed under the state constitution by allowing defense attorneys to obtain “ex parte” personal health information regarding patients involved in medical liability cases from other physicians who have treated the patient. The 1st District Court of Appeal recently upheld the law, but attorneys challenging the statute have asked the state supreme court to address the issue. Read more…
Last call: Coding, Coverage and Reimbursement Committee.
Aug. 31 is the last day to submit you application for chair of the Coding, Coverage and Reimbursement Committee. This committee reports to the Council on Advocacy and oversees all AAOS activities in coding, coverage, and reimbursement. Applicants for this position must be active fellows with extensive experience with coding and reimbursement processes, and a proven ability to work within a committee and council structure. Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)
