Physician payment systems will soon focus on quality, value and accountability, according to Joan Houska, a leading healthcare policy analyst.
Houska spoke yesterday at the annual conference of the Medical Group Managers Association of Kansas City. The group met at the Overland Park Convention Center. Houska said legislation passed last week by Congress fixed the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate formula. But, it also set in motion more changes in how Medicare intends to pay physicians for services provided to patients 65 years of age and older.
The law will lead four to five years down the road to a greater emphasis on outcomes, she said. She encouraged practice administrators in attendance to work with physicians to help define quality.
Other speakers presented information on a wide range of topics, including opportunities for independent medical practices, preparing for the transition to new coding methods, and social media marketing for medical practices.
Three representatives of Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics attended the conference — Becky Hanna, patient care team supervisor; Dawn Comer, workers compensation and medical-legal supervisor; and Jim Bloom, practice administrator.
