physician groups
Judge dismisses IL conspiracy suit against MD groups
An Illinois judge has booted an antitrust suit brought against two Chicago-area physician groups, which claimed that they'd conspired to get rid of Medicaid patients in an effort to force the State... Read more...
Leavitt: Medicare formula isn't working
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has come out and admitted that Medicare's "sustainable growth rate" formula used to determine physician compensation is more or less broken. In a recent meeting... Read more...
HHS Ok's hospital/physician gainsharing
Two gainsharing arrangements between a hospital and physician groups have gotten an OK in advisory opinions from the HHS Inspector General's office. The ruling assures the applicant(s) that they'd be... Read more...
Group says Stark rules unfair to for-profits
Though they haven't been implemented yet, the revised Stark rules which went into effect December 4, 2007 have come under fire from at least one powerful hospital group, which says they aren't fair.... Read more...
Physician ratings are here to stay
When a health plan decides to rate its physician groups like mid-priced eateries,... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: Some providers refusing Medicare Advantage patients
At least some providers are bringing the hammer down when it comes to Medicare Advantage. With the plans getting higher payments from the government, the providers say, they can pay higher rates, or... Read more...
AZ hospital, MDs pay $6.7M to settle Medicare charges
An Arizona hospital and two affiliated medical groups have agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Justice $6.7 million to settle charges that they billed Medicare improperly. The DoJ had contended that... Read more...
Physicians see expected 10 percent Medicare cut
Unless something dramatic happens, it appears that physicians will see Medicare reimbursement cuts of almost 10 percent in 2008 under a final rule issued yesterday by CMS. The cut is driven by the... Read more...
Health plans, MD groups plan 'medical home' project
Representatives from seven major health plans are working with four major physician groups to see if they can firm up the 'medical home' model of care. The coalition will conduct as many as 100 pilot... Read more...
Blue Cross of California pays $31M in P4P bonuses
It's another prosperous year for a select group of medical practices and IPAs, that are getting $31 million in pay-for-performance bonuses this year from Blue Cross of California. This follows a 2006... Read more...
