Welcome to this edition of MGMA's Week in Review podcast. Today we'll review a recent poll on medical groups' staffing outlook and discuss key regulatory updates impacting prior authorization.

Sources:
MGMA statement on CMS’ Interoperability and Prior Authorization final rule: https://www.mgma.com/press-statements/january-17-2024-mgma-statement-on-cms-interoperability-and-prior-authorization

MGMA Stat: https://www.mgma.com/mgma-stat/contract-locum-tenens-work-spending-holding-steady-for-medical-groups-heading-into-2024

MGMA Webinar: https://www.mgma.com/webinars/recreating-the-wheel-modernized-hiring-and-retention-strategies-with-remote-employees?utm_source=email&utm_medium=marketo&utm_campaign=con-gen-jan-2024-newsletter1108-0123&mkt_tok=MTQ0LUFNSi02MzkAAAGQ1Z7rEFtI0rg3-sH4eq3r8SQTVa7tS7K-p_XSIWUlH1OjLehqoMDaJZSavQIrMTXlEU983Wqjfy931eGoCfIhyY9W5D5XC53XamqGXEDV9g

Resources:
MGMA Stat: mgma.com/stat

Ask an Advisor: www.mgma.com/ask-an-advisor

MGMA Membership: www.mgma.com/membership

MGMA Advocacy: www.mgma.com/advocacy

MGMA Consulting: www.mgma.com/consulting/overview

Music: "Cool Piano" by Tagirijus courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

If you would like additional tools and resources related to medical practice leadership or you have stories to share with us, email us at podcasts@mgma.com or email Daniel Williams directly at dwilliams@mgma.com.

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Week in Review: Medical Groups' Staffing Outlook and Prior Authorization Updates

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Introduction: 
In this MGMA Week In Review podcast episode, hosts Colleen Luckett and Daniel Williams discuss UnitedHealth's recent data breach and ransom payment, Deborah Fine's insights on small talk skills during her keynote address at the MGMA Financial Conference, new medical codes from CMS, opportunities to lead resource groups at the 2024 MGMA conference, and challenges of social media for healthcare workers. 
 Sources/Resources: - NBC News article on UnitedHealth Group cyberattack - UnitedHealth website for identity theft protection - MGMA article on recent medical coding updates from CMS - Link to learn more about opportunities to lead MGMA resource groups at the 2024 conference - HealthIT article on navigating social media use as a healthcare professional

MGMA Week In Review - Cybersecurity, Coding Updates, and Networking Opportunities

Summary:
This episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast features Dr. Dawn Tartaglione, DO, FACOS, DFACOS, Medical Director of Neurosurgery at Bayhealth. Known as “Dr. T,” she discussed her journey into neurosurgery while highlighting its challenges, rewards and innovations. In 2003, Dr. T was the first female Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine to become a board-certified neurosurgeon. This launched her 22-year career in neurosurgery practice, where she has specialized in multiple areas including spine, neurotrauma, brain and spine tumors, and critical care. Dr. T is also the first neurosurgeon to be elected President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. Dr. T sat with MGMA Senior Editor Daniel Williams, MBA, MSEM, to offer insights into the intricacies of neurosurgery, the importance of stress management and trends such as navigation tools. Key Takeaways:
- Dr. T discussed her path from an early interest in science into a successful neurosurgery career through medical school and residency. - Delivering bad news to patients and their families presents numerous challenges, requiring being both direct and empathetic while considering cultural and linguistic factors. Using a structured approach, Dr. T starts with definitive statements before softening the blow while being mindful of the patient’s/family’s emotional state.  - Work flexibility and self-care is important to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Some best practices include reducing or cutting time spent on social media, finding hobbies outside work and creating a work environment that supports everyone’s passions.  - Deep brain stimulation has become a revolutionary treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions by improving symptoms and fine motor control. Other innovations, such as navigation tools and AI applications, allow for better visualization that improves how neurosurgeons mitigate risks while operating on the nervous system. 
Resources Dr. T on the Web Bayhealth on the Web MGMA Resources: MGMA Stat Ask an Advisor MGMA Membership MGMA Consulting WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

A Conversation with Dr. T: Insights into Neurosurgery, Patient Care, and Career Sustainability

This episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast discusses initiatives to improve maternal health outcomes through transportation services, growing support for permanent telehealth expansions, confusion around Medicaid coverage, and the impact of cyberattacks on healthcare practices. It also shares results from an MGMA Stat poll on quality performance metrics in physician compensation plans. Takeaways: - Access to care through programs addressing social determinants like transportation can help improve health outcomes. - Value-based payment models that include quality metrics are becoming more prevalent in physician compensation. - Clear communication around Medicaid coverage is vital to prevent unnecessary loss of coverage. - Cyberattacks can significantly impact healthcare practices, leading to data breaches, disruption of services, and financial losses. Support is needed to help them manage challenges and financial strain from such events. - Data security is a growing concern as ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations continue. Sources:
Uber Health story
Telehealth Expansions for Seniors
Confusion on Medicaid Coverage
Change Healthcare article
MGMA Stat Poll MGMA Resources:
MGMA Stat
Ask an Advisor
MGMA Membership
MGMA Consulting 
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

Week in Review: Telehealth Expansions, Medicaid Coverage, and Quality Metrics in Physician Compensation

Summary:
In this episode of MGMA’s Mindful Medicine podcast, Nike yoga instructor Xochilt Hoover shares her journey of practicing and teaching yoga since 2009. Hoover is part of Brown University’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher training, and her yoga classes can be streamed on Netflix. With April being National Stress Awareness month, Hoover shared insights from her personal journey of self-discovery on and off the mat with MGMA senior editor Daniel Williams, MBA, MSEM.  Key Takeaways:
- Mindfulness can be integrated seamlessly into yoga practice and teaching.
- Moving slowly allows students to feel benefits in both body and mind. 
- Activities done in a spirit of joy and with others can enhance well-being and reduce stress.
- Finding stillness through yoga and meditation can balance busy, restless modern lives. Resources: Xochilt on the web  Xochilt on Instagram Xochilt on Youtube Xochilt on Netflix MGMA Resources:
MGMA Stat
Ask an Advisor
MGMA Membership
MGMA Consulting 
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

Mindful Medicine: Integrating Mindfulness and Yoga into Daily Stress Relief

Introduction: 
In this episode of the AskMGMA Podcast, hosts Daniel Williams and Christy Good discuss strategies for managing stress and burnout among healthcare professionals. Williams shares his experience with mindfulness practices at MGMA and launches a new stress management program. 
Summary: Williams and Good discuss the results of MGMA's recent stat poll which found 75% of medical group leaders reporting increased stress levels in 2024. They explore causes of stress in healthcare and strategies discussed in the podcast, including setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, managing email overload, and the importance of peer support. 
Key Takeaways: 
- Practice mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing, and other stress-relief techniques daily
- Set clear boundaries between work and personal life 
- Prioritize downtime, hobbies, spending time with family and friends
- Manage information overload by scheduling dedicated email/phone times
- Seek peer or professional support to manage intrusive thoughts 
Sources/Resources: 
- MGMA stress management program for members (This is open to MGMA Members) 
- The Energy Bus book
- Investing in time management to make space to address stress, burnout  MGMA Resources:
- MGMA Stat
- Ask an Advisor
- MGMA Membership
- MGMA Consulting WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

Week in Review: Medical Groups' Staffing Outlook and Prior Authorization Updates

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