Off the Chart: A Business of Medicine Podcast

Medical Economics Editorial Director Chris Mazzolini sits down with Furman S. McDonald, MD, incoming president of ABIM to talk about maintenance of medical certifications.

Music Credit: Acute Imagination by Angus & Friends - stock.adobe.com

Medical Economics Editor Richard Payerchin and Steven P. Furr, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians discuss cuts in the Medicare Fee Schedule, the AAFP’s work on increasing the number of physicians in rural areas, and even a bit about Furr’s own family medicine practice in Alabama.

Music Credit: Emotional Cinematic Piano by Elonix - stock.adobe.com

Timestamps

Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00)
Overview of the podcast and introduction of the guests discussing family physician challenges.

Medicare Fee Schedule Cuts (00:01:10)
Discussion on the 28% cut in physician reimbursement and its implications.

Impact on Practices (00:02:21)
Concerns about the sustainability of practices due to ongoing Medicare cuts.

Advocacy Efforts (00:02:26)
Efforts made by AAFP to inform Congress about the effects of physician cuts.

Importance of G2211 Code (00:03:12)
Significance of the G2211 code for increasing family physician reimbursement.

Congress and Medicare Economic Index (00:04:02)
Discussion on whether reimbursement should be based on the Medicare Economic Index.

Site Neutral Payments (00:05:13)
Effects of site neutral payments on family physicians and practice sustainability.

Consolidation in Healthcare (00:05:59)
Concerns regarding physician consolidation and its impact on patient care.

Non-Compete Agreements (00:06:54)
Discussion on the implications of non-compete clauses for family practices.

Cybersecurity in Healthcare (00:07:25)
Impact of the Change Healthcare cyberattack and recovery efforts in practices.

Practice Structure (00:09:06)
Overview of Dr. For's practice structure and its resilience to cyber threats.

Cybersecurity Measures (00:09:45)
Importance of cybersecurity measures and employee education in practices.

Obesity Treatment (00:10:50)
Discussion on new treatments for obesity and their implications for patient care.

Pharmaceutical Pricing Concerns (00:11:59)
Concerns regarding high pharmaceutical prices and their impact on patient equity.

New Physician Residencies (00:12:50)
Status and importance of new physician residencies in rural communities.

Closing Thoughts (00:13:36)
Final thoughts on the urgent need for Medicare reimbursement reform and its impact on healthcare.

Medical Economics Summer Intern Grace Koennecke and Alex Ashbrook, Director of WIC and Root Causes at the Food Research & Action Center discussing food insecurity and how physicians can help their patients overcome these burdens.

Music Credit: Raindrops by SoundGrenade - stock.adobe.com

Timestamps


Introduction to Food Insecurity (00:00:00) Discussion on the connection between diet and health, emphasizing healthcare's role.

Podcast Overview (00:00:19) Keith Reynolds introduces the podcast and the interview with Grace Koennecke and Alex Ashbrook.

Alex Ashbrook's Role (00:00:59) Alex Ashbrook explains his position at FRAC and their mission against hunger.

Health Impacts of Food Insecurity (00:01:35) Food insecurity's significant health risks, including diabetes and hypertension, are discussed.

Challenges for Healthcare Providers (00:02:49) Barriers healthcare providers face in connecting patients to federal nutrition programs.

Benefits of SNAP and WIC (00:03:05) The importance of SNAP and WIC in improving health outcomes and addressing food insecurity.

Gaps in Program Participation (00:04:20) Discussion on low participation rates in SNAP and WIC among eligible populations.

Connecting Patients to Resources (00:05:45) Strategies for healthcare providers to effectively connect patients to nutrition assistance programs.

Screening for Social Determinants (00:07:15) Healthcare providers screening for food insecurity as a primary intervention strategy.

National Momentum for Food Security (00:08:37) Recent national initiatives promoting healthcare involvement in addressing food insecurity.

Steps for Healthcare Providers (00:09:28) Key actions healthcare providers should take to facilitate access to nutrition programs.

Awareness of Nutrition Programs (00:10:53) The need for healthcare providers to understand eligibility and resources for federal programs.

Successful Models of Integration (00:12:37) Examples of effective models where healthcare systems connect patients to nutrition assistance.

Future of Federal Nutrition Programs (00:14:32) Vision for seamless connections to nutrition programs for eligible patients.

Advocacy for Nutrition Programs (00:16:09) The importance of physician advocacy to strengthen federal nutrition programs.

In this episode, Medical Economics Managing Editor Todd Shryock interviews Joseph Betancourt, MD, president of the Commonwealth Fund, about health care consolidation. Betancourt discusses the significant increase in consolidation over the past 7 to 10 years, driven by the goal of creating efficiencies and improving care. However, he notes that these benefits have not materialized, leading to challenges for patients and providers. 

Music Credit: Sketch by High Proof - stock.adobe.com

Consolidation Trends (00:00:55)
Betancourt discusses the increasing trend of consolidation in the healthcare industry over the past 7 to 10 years.

Impact of Consolidation (00:03:10)
Examining the claimed benefits of consolidation, such as improved efficiencies and patient care, and the actual outcomes, including no significant quality improvements and increasing prices.

Survival of Independent Practices (00:05:33)
The challenges faced by independent medical practices in competing with larger consolidated systems and the potential impact on their survival.

Disappointing Results for Disruptors (00:08:00)
The discussion around the underwhelming results of disruptors like Amazon, Walmart, and CVS in the healthcare industry and the potential implications for future consolidation.

Access and Convenience (00:10:10)
The impact of consolidation on access to healthcare services and the efforts made by large systems to improve access and convenience.

Continuity of Care (00:11:50)
The potential impact of consolidation on the doctor-patient relationship and the importance of continuity of care, especially for patients with chronic conditions.

Autonomy and Agency (00:14:06)
The loss of autonomy and agency experienced by physicians in larger consolidated systems, leading to potential unionization movements.

Physician Compensation (00:15:54)
The variability in physician compensation when joining larger entities and the lack of clear trends in this regard.

Administrative Burden (00:16:50)
The discussion on whether joining a larger entity relieves physicians of administrative tasks and the ongoing challenges related to administrative burden in healthcare.

Quality Care for Independent Physicians (00:18:37)
Advice for independent physicians on maintaining and improving quality care for their patients in the current healthcare landscape.

Consolidation Trends (00:19:49)
Discussion on the ongoing trend of healthcare consolidation and its impact on providers and patients.

Unresolved Impact (00:19:54)
Uncertainty around whether healthcare consolidations are delivering the proposed benefits and the challenges faced by providers and patients.

Medical Economics Editor Richard Payerchin sits down with U.S. Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter to discuss the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and why physicians should get involved in policy decisions. 

This episode of Off the Chart with Medical Economics explores how one hospital system has made mental and behavioral health services available in its primary care practices, and why that has improved clinical outcomes while enhancing health equity.

With its ability to scan and analyze large quantities of data, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize medical research. But how do we balance that promise with peoples’ rights to keep their health information private and secure? Matt Hollingsworth, co-founder of Carta Healthcare, has been immersed in AI for most of his professional life. In this episode of Off the Chart he explains how AI’s growing use threatens data privacy and what can be done about it.

Scott Rivkees, M.D., former head of the Florida Department of Public Health, describes how distrust of scientific expertise is undercutting state and local laws designed to improve public health.

Why do Black and Hispanic people find it harder to access medical care than whites? Income inequality is a significant reason, but a recent study finds that people of color also encounter more non-financial barriers to care than whites. Cesar Caraballo, MD, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral associate at the Yale School of Medicine, joins Off the Chart to explore its findings in more detail, and explain why disparities in care access have been growing worse.