Here are 10 articles about big changes that spine surgeons should know.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
1. The Future of Spine Surgeon Employment: Q&A With Dr. Gunnar Andersson of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush
Over time, as more and more physicians enter the healthcare market as it is now evolving, there will be fewer independent practices. There will certainly be less of us older doctors around to remind the younger ones of how it used to be, "back in the day." However, unless something significant happens beyond implementation of the Affordable Care Act, there will always be physicians and surgeons practicing independently, albeit aligned with hospitals, accountable care organizations and state health exchanges.
2. 7 Access to Care Issues for Spine Patients & How Surgeons Can Overcome Them
Several factors impact access to spine care. As the aging population increases along with life expectancy, the medical field will see a diminishing number of back pain specialists and spine surgeons to care for patients. Coupled with declining reimbursements and coverage denials, spine conditions and diseases place a heavy burden on society.
3. Physician Payment Sunshine Act is Here: What Spine Surgeons Can Expect
The interactions will then be published on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website starting September 2014. There is an exemption for reporting pharmaceutical funding of certified and accredited continuing medical education.
4. Health Insurance Exchanges: 3 Changes Impacting Spine Surgeons
The increased availability of health insurance exchanges has the potential to increase the number of people in the individual insurance market by both making it easier for employers to drop coverage and by making coverage more accessible to the formerly uninsured. People shopping for their own health plans are particularly likely to seek plans with low premiums, as their coverage is not being subsidized by an employer. To save money, people pick plans with higher deductibles, narrower networks and no branded drug coverage.
5. Are ACOs Beneficial for Spine Surgeons? Q&A With Dr. Nick Shamie of UCLA
A. Nick Shamie, MD, associate professor of spine surgery at UCLA and president of the American College of Spine Surgery, discusses new payment models on the horizon and how spine surgeons will fit into accountable care organizations.
6. Will Healthcare Reform Impact a Spine Surgeon's Retirement Plan? Q&A With Dr. Brian Knabe of Savant Capital
Brian Knabe, MD, is a former medical physician turned financial advisor at Savant Capital Management, a fee-only wealth management firm. He discusses the smartest moves for spine surgeons at various stages in their careers to ensure an enjoyable retirement.
7. What Spine Surgeons Need to Know About Insurance Premiums Next year
The health insurance landscape will change dramatically over the next few months, as enrollment in health insurance exchanges begins Oct. 1 and coverage on Jan. 1, 2014. While the exact aftermath is uncertain, many are making predictions based on reports out about how the early exchanges have worked and the evolution of coverage in Massachusetts, which was a model for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
8. 15 Things to Know About the HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule Before Sept. 23
By Sept. 23, hospitals and physicians must comply with the HIPAA omnibus final rule, which strengthens patient privacy protections and provides patients with new rights to their protected health information.
9. 10 Steps to Negotiate Smart Bundled Payment Deals for Orthopedic Surgery
Hoag Orthopaedic Institute began doing bundled payments in 2008 with patients traveling from around the country for their orthopedic services. Most of these patients were employees of large, self-insured companies who were seeking elective procedures. James Caillouette, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Newport Orthopedic Institute and Hoag Orthopaedic Institute in Irvine, Calif., participated in the coordination of those programs and more recently sat on the advisory board for the Integrated Healthcare Association's pilot project for bundled payment in California.
10. 8 Emerging Business Issues in Spine Surgery, Including Pay for Performance
The roundtable discussion on business issues in spine surgery included orthopedic spine surgeon with Laser Spine Institute Stefan Prada, MD; Steven Weinshel, MD, of Aurora BayCare Medical Center; Chief Medical Officer at Access MediQuip Steven Arnold, MD; and President and CEO of Analytics Jeffrey Mason.
More Articles on Spine Surgeons:
8 Strategies for Better Spine Surgeon Documentation—And Why It's Necessary to Improve
7 Access to Care Issues for Spine Patients & How Surgeons Can Overcome Them
10 Key Components of On-Call Contracts for Spine Surgeons