Troy Ahlstrom writes…

As I’m sure you’re aware, CMS has eliminated consult codes for 2010.  (We’ve discussed this topic on this blog previously with Drs. Nelson and Bessler.)  Interestingly, our practice ran an analysis on the effect of changing these inpatient consultation codes (99251-55) over to new patient history and physical codes (99231-33) and found that we might actually do a bit better financially with the conversion.  Welcome findings, no doubt…

However, what about the impact on our colleagues with traditional practice models? (more…)

Public Policy Contributor Ron Angus writes…

Well, it’s time to raise the white flag in reference to the current healthcare reform process winding its way through Washington, DC.  Not the white flag of surrender, but the white flag signaling the last lap of the race!  The most recent lap in this race was completed when the Senate finalized work on HR 3590. SHM formally commented on many provisions of HR 3590 and forwarded those thoughts to key Senators several weeks before the final bill was passed.  The bill passed on the morning of Christmas Eve without a single Republican vote.  It is an interesting historical footnote that the time and date of this vote were dictated respectively by imminent severe winter weather in Washington and the Senate’s impending Christmas Holiday. (more…)

Mike Radzienda writes…

Remember that commercial, “Hey, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter!?”   Those two great tastes that go great together…

How about, “With a name like SMUCKERS you know it’s got to be good?”  If one had never eaten Smuckers jelly, one might have guessed otherwise.

Any-hoo…

Last week I read an article entitled “So You Want To Be An Academic Hospitalist?”  I was disappointed and I submit that the article missed an opportunity to make an important point.  Please indulge me and my lame metaphors: (more…)

Troy Ahlstrom writes…

I don’t know about you, but I don’t understand health care reform.  That’s not to say that I don’t think we need a helping of regulatory medicine to fix what ails the country’s cobbled together healthcare “system.”  I just can’t work the pieces into a functioning whole.

The basic tenets of health care reform debate, 2009-2010 edition, have been:
1)    Provision of universal, or near universal, healthcare to the citizenry of the U.S.
2)    Limiting the costs of healthcare in the U.S. by reducing the growth rate of health care costs to the U.S. government, and thereby, the American taxpayer.
3)    There shall be no rationing of healthcare in the new system.

Given that I can’t model the platitudes and punditry into a functional system for further examination, I’ll just cast them aside and look at the practical aspects in the healthcare economy.  (more…)