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Affordable Care Act Archives - Diederich Healthcare

Keeping the Physician Practice Independent: Challenges and solutions under the Affordable Care Act

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Remaining independent and complying with the Affordable Care Act (signed into law in March of 2012), is difficult while possible for independent and small group practices.  However, given the difficulties, a large percentage of currently practicing physicians and medical practices have moved to an employee arrangement.  Further, approximately 75% of new graduates intend to be employees of a large system over the next five years.  The current independent practices and small group practices have good…

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Changing Practice Models & The Affordable Care Act

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Undoubtedly, one of the largest issues facing physicians today is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as the ACA. The bill, which was passed on March 23rd, 2010, outlined comprehensive health care reform initiatives that will eventually change the landscape of physician practice as we currently know it. Although opinions on the Act and what it means for health care delivery are highly divided, one thing is for certain – the changes…

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Data Exposures & Cyber Liability In The Medical Practice

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Data compliance standards (HIPAA, HITECH and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) and the implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) require medical practices and healthcare organizations to not only utilize electronic data, but also ensure that the data is secure and methods are in place to report and recover any lost or stolen information. Any company that maintains private personal/financial information on customers/patients has the responsibility to protect that information. Any unauthorized…

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its effects on Healthcare Delivery – Part 3

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This article is part of a series: Part 1 Part 2   All of the factors addressed in Parts 1 and 2 of this article… increased patient population, increase in coverage benefits, change in practice/healthcare delivery models, changes in reimbursement models …contribute to intensified and newly created Medical Professional Liability (MPL) issues.  Current MPL litigation trends are showing a reduction in the frequency of claims, but an increase in severity of awards.  Large plaintiff verdicts…

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its effects on Healthcare Delivery – Part 2

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This article is part of a series: Part 1 Part 3   Millions of additional insureds seeking healthcare from the same population of practicing physicians who are receiving ever-reducing reimbursement rates will cause physician practices to change rapidly and dramatically. The formation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) appears to be the root of the response to newly created physician reimbursement models. An ACO is a “healthcare organization characterized by a payment and care delivery model…

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Comparative Models of Healthcare Delivery in the Midst of an Expected Physician Shortage

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The Affordable Care Act of 2011 has changed the conventional model of healthcare delivery and payments in an effort to meet the “triple aim” of the IHI goals: Improve the general health of the defined population, enhance the patient care experience, and reduce the per-capita cost of care. Although the ACA will greatly increase patient care, physician access is still expected to be an issue due to increases in the newly insured and aging populations….

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Change in 2014 – Oklahoma physicians can reduce practice costs with minimal effort

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Uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Care Act and continuing changes in the delivery of healthcare are of significant concern for physicians.  Doctors across the country are examining the healthcare environment and taking steps to prepare for the impact that this anticipated change will have on their practices.  As a result, many are looking for ways to reduce overhead costs while maintaining the core value of their practice – patient care.   Medical malpractice insurance represents a significant…

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its effects on Healthcare Delivery – Part 1

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This article is part of a series: Part 2 Part 3   Medical practices and the delivery of healthcare are adapting to accommodate current and imminent changes in the patient population, the health coverage available to the patient population, and reimbursement models resulting from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA’s creation of a dramatic and possibly overwhelming influx of new patients with access to healthcare is one of the base forces causing physicians to…

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Effects of Healthcare Reform on Medical Malpractice Insurance & Claims

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According to the Insurance Information Institute (2011), although “premiums are now stable and the frequency and severity of claims has moderated, some observers see the beginning of a reversal”.  A 2010 study by Conning notes that “medical malpractice profitability cycle has peaked…a number of factors will challenge insurers and possibly lead to higher losses over the next few years”.  These factors include: Outpacing other tort areas, costs to defend/settle medical malpractice cases are continually rising…

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