PA physicians’ group says we must invest in primary care
“Increasing preventive care means investing in primary care, but the result is healthier patients living longer lives and a health care system that pays wisely for the checkups and tune-ups and follow-up care to prevent expensive breakdowns that cost so much more,” says John S. Jordan, Executive Vice President for the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians,
Advocacy groups say PA’s budget is going to hurt physician retention
By cutting funding to the Health Care Provider and Retention Account (HCPRA) and the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Errors (Mcare) fund, PA is discouraging doctors to practice here, say the groups.
Wall Street Journal examines “tangible and unseen” healthcare costs
The WSJ says that spending by doctors extends beyond insurance as many take steps to protect themselves; patients’ wishes push up bills, too.
Doctors who choose to see less patients, in exchange for offering more personalized care
The latest report on “concierge” practices.
Did you know…
…that a family was recently charged $6,000 for a doctor to put three stitches in a child’s mouth?
Phila. Trial Lawyers Assoc. says malpractice payments have fallen dramatically
The association says that tort reform is unnecessary, and that reducing preventable medical errors should be the priority.
Pay-for-performance programs growing in PA
More insurers are trying out programs that tie their reimbursement rates to patient care outcomes.
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine hope to up PA’s physician retention rate
Doctor retention is important; with the population aging, chronic health problems rising, and the number of physicians declining.
Republican-Herald touts Rep. Shapiro’s physician incentive bill
Rep. Shapiro has proposed a program to subsidize the tuition of any new physician who practices in-state for 10 years.
The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Josh Shapiro, would subsidize the tuition of any new physician who practices in-state for 10 years. Any physician who does not practice in-state for the entire 10 years would have to repay the entire loan.
By the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the plan would cost the state government $10 million a year. That, however, is a reasonable cost to ensure broad access to physicians and medical services.
Check out the rest of the editorial.