Re: Doctors going out of business

[Guest guest]

I like both articles. I may post them on my office bulletin board at some time.

They certainly mirror my own grim thoughts. I thought I was doing quite well

last year at this time, at the end of my second year of solo, ultra-low-overhead

micropractice. But income is down, self-employment taxes are higher than I

anticipated, personal savings used to finance this venture are running very low,

and I'm turning away new patients because I can't keep up with the mounds of

administrative work generated by the ones I already have. If it weren't for my

hope of getting Meaningful-Use money this year, I would probably be planning to

shut down! The really frightening thing is that I can't imagine where I will go

to work, because I just HATE the way most medicine in this country is practiced

today! Oh, well, maybe things will turn around again, before it's too

late.---Sharlene

> >>>

> >>>> **

> >>>>

> >>>> On cnn page today. I cant even imagine having expenses of 1.5 mil

> >>>> per month. I had no idea that is how oncology works.

> >>>>

> >>>>

> >>>>

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3<\

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index..htm?hpt=hp_t3\

>

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> >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> >>> http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> >>> =======

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> >>> =======

> >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> >>> http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> >>> =======

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>

[Guest guest]

,I think you represented things well.  People need to know about the funding of primary care in order for it to change.

I'll contact you about setting up a call.Thanks!

SharonSharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine

10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA  92617PH: (949)387-5504   Fax: (949)281-2197  Toll free phone/fax:  www.SharonMD.com

 

Here's the article:http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/smallbusiness/1201/gallery.doctors-broke/index.html?section=money_smbusiness 

The tone is more grim than I would prefer.   She spoke with and I for over an hour between the two of us so she had plenty of quotes to pick from. " There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary.

Yes, we'd be glad to talk about 's practice on an IMP call.

 

,Let us know when the article comes out.

Would you and your partner doing the community supported practice being willing to share the story on an IMP call?

SharonSharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine

10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA  92617PH: (949)387-5504   Fax: (949)281-2197  Toll free phone/fax: 

www.SharonMD.com

 

She initially asked a lot of questions about whether or how often we needed to take out loans to meet payroll.  Did we use SBA loans?  How many staff did we employ per physician? etc.  She was very interested in how many physicians in our county had quit or gone employed (all primary care docs here except us and one solo internist).  She also was interested in my partner's 1/2 cash practice.

After I spoke with her she spent 45 min. on the phone with my business manager.  We both stressed the fact that we're doing very well at the moment but that primary care is fragile and SGR and the payments not keeping up with costs are forcing us to consider dropping Medicare and other third party payers entirely.  We also stress our view that independent >> employed.

Who knows how she'll use our quotes.   That's the risk with talking to reporters but I did like her first article.Her next article should come out in a few days.

 

What did you tell her?

 

WK

 

From: Pierce

Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 3:00 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Doctors going out of business

 

 

Our business manager and I were interviewed by this same reporter this morning.  We'll see how her next article turns out.  

 

On cnn page today. I cant even imagine having expenses of 1.5 mil per month. I had no idea that is how oncology works.

 

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3

 

g

 =======Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.(Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)http://www.pctools.com======= =======Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.(Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)http://www.pctools.com

=======

[Guest guest]

Myria:

I do not wish to be a nuisance, just interested in the numbers.

Have you calculated out how much time you spent overall preparing for and doing

the appeals, and how much money you recieved for your efforts?

Is the $$/hour worth it?

Steve

moorestown, NJ

> > > >> > > >>>

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> > > >> > > >>>>

> > > >> > > >>>> On cnn page today. I cant even imagine having expenses of 1.5

mil

> > > >> > > >>>> per month. I had no idea that is how oncology works.

> > > >> > > >>>>

> > > >> > > >>>>

> > > >> > > >>>>

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3<\

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index..htm?hpt=hp_t3\

>

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> > > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> > > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> > > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

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> > > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> > > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> > > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

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> > > >     MD

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> > > >    

> > > >ph    fax

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>

[Guest guest]

Then all docs and patients lose by default!

Horvitz

stown, NJ

> >>> > > > >> > > >>>

> >>> > > > >> > > >>>> **

> >>> > > > >> > > >>>>

> >>> > > > >> > > >>>> On cnn page today. I cant even imagine having expenses

> >>> of 1.5 mil

> >>> > > > >> > > >>>> per month. I had no idea that is how oncology works.

> >>> > > > >> > > >>>>

> >>> > > > >> > > >>>>

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> >>>

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3

> >>> <

> >>>

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index..htm?hpt=hp_t3

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> >>> > > > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> >>> > > > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> >>> > > > >> > > >>> http://www.pctools.com<

> >>> http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

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> >>> > > > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> >>> > > > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> >>> > > > >> > > >>> http://www.pctools.com<

> >>> http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

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> >>> > > > >ph   fax

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> >> Reply to

sender<sangeethamurthy@...?subject=Re%3A%20%5B%5D%20Re%3A%20\

Doctors%20going%20out%20of%20business>| Reply

> >> to

group< ?subject=Re%3A%20%5BPracticeimprovemen\

t1%5D%20Re%3A%20Doctors%20going%20out%20of%20business>| Reply

> >> via web

post<http://groups.yahoo.com/group//post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxMHYwMG\

ZzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzkzNjA5MTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYxMzI3BG1zZ0lkAzU3NTQ5BH\

NlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3JwbHkEc3RpbWUDMTMyNjgyMDgwNQ--?act=reply & messageNum=57549>|

Start

> >> a New

Topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group//post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlM3Exa\

DVmBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzkzNjA5MTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYxMzI3BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA\

250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTMyNjgyMDgwNQ-->

> >> Messages in this

topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group//message/57330;_ylc=X3oD\

MTM2dTZqNWF0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzkzNjA5MTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYxMzI3BG1zZ0lk\

AzU3NTQ5BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Z0cGMEc3RpbWUDMTMyNjgyMDgwNQR0cGNJZAM1NzMzMA-->(

> >> 66)

> >> Recent Activity:

> >>

> >> - New

Members<http://groups.yahoo.com/group//members;_ylc=X3oDMTJm\

cDA3OGczBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzkzNjA5MTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYxMzI3BHNlYwN2dGwE\

c2xrA3ZtYnJzBHN0aW1lAzEzMjY4MjA4MDU-?o=6>

> >> 2

> >>

> >> Visit Your

Grou<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZXZjOHRiBF9\

TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzkzNjA5MTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDYxMzI3BHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHA\

Ec3RpbWUDMTMyNjgyMDgwNQ-->

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>

[Guest guest]

OK

How bout this scenario.

A patient you have known for quite a few years comes in for a visit. The visit

takes about 45 minutes due to the complexity. The patient has switched jobs, and

is presently self insured, although he has plenty of available funds in his bank

account.

Your fee is $200.

You go on to the next patient. 5 minutes later your front desk person, if you

have one, knocks on your door and states the patient does not want to pay your

$200 bill. He will only pay $150. Remember this is not because he does not have

the funds. He has plenty of money. He is just choosing to downcode your fee to

save money.

What do you do?

Horvitz, D.O.

stown, Nj

> > > > >> > > >>>

> > > > >> > > >>>> **

> > > > >> > > >>>>

> > > > >> > > >>>> On cnn page today. I cant even imagine having expenses of

1.5 mil

> > > > >> > > >>>> per month. I had no idea that is how oncology works.

> > > > >> > > >>>>

> > > > >> > > >>>>

> > > > >> > > >>>>

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3<\

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index..htm?hpt=hp_t3\

>

> > > > >> > > >>>>

> > > > >> > > >>>> g

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> > > > >> > > >>>

> > > > >> > > >>> =======

> > > > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> > > > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> > > > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> > > > >> > > >>> =======

> > > > >> > > >>>

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> > > > >> > > >>> =======

> > > > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> > > > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> > > > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> > > > >> > > >>> =======

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> > > > >     MD

> > > > >    

> > > > >    

> > > > >ph    fax

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>

[Guest guest]

Deb:

I understand your point.

But....

We are still playing by their rules, that we signed onto, that are stacked

against us.

It makes no sense.

I have said this many times, but will say it again.

Until docs start putting their own value into their services by charging their

own fees, not some cock-a-manie copay-third party system that we have now, we

will never get back our profession, or the respect of our patients.

Steve

> >> > >> > > >>>

> >> > >> > > >>>> **

> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> > >> > > >>>> On cnn page today. I cant even imagine having expenses of

> >> > >> > > >>>> 1.5 mil

> >> > >> > > >>>> per month. I had no idea that is how oncology works.

> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> > >> > > >>>>

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3<\

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index..htm?hpt=hp_t3\

>

> >> > >> > > >>>>

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> >> > >> > > >>> =======

> >> > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> >> > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> >> > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> >> > >> > > >>> =======

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> >> > >> > > >>> =======

> >> > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> >> > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> >> > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> >> > >> > > >>> =======

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> >> > >Â Â Â

> >> > >Â Â Â

> >> > >ph   fax

> >> > >

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>

[Guest guest]

$36.40 total for a visit??

Shouldn't you be asking yourself why you contract with United?

How much overhead is needed to maintain a billing apparatus to collect the

$6.40?

Steve

stown, NJ

> >> >> > >> > > >>>

> >> >> > >> > > >>>> **

> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> >> > >> > > >>>> On cnn page today. I cant even imagine having expenses of

> >> >> > >> > > >>>> 1.5 mil

> >> >> > >> > > >>>> per month. I had no idea that is how oncology works.

> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3<\

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index..htm?hpt=hp_t3\

>

> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

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> >> >> > >> > > >>> =======

> >> >> > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> >> >> > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> >> >> > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> >> >> > >> > > >>> =======

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> >> >> > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.

> >> >> > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.19000)

> >> >> > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> >> >> > >> > > >>> =======

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>

[Guest guest]

80-90% of your practice is with one insurer, and it is United!!

I am sorry, but you are screwed!

How do you stay in business?

Horvitz

stown, NJ

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>> **

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>> On cnn page today. I cant even imagine having expenses

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>> of

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>> 1.5 mil

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>> per month. I had no idea that is how oncology works.

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index.htm?hpt=hp_t3<\

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/smallbusiness/doctors_broke/index..htm?hpt=hp_t3\

>

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>>

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>> g

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> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> =======

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> found.

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database:

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> 6.19000)

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> =======

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> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> =======

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> found.

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> (Email Guard: 7.0.0.27, Virus/Spyware Database:

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> 6.19000)

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>>

http://www.pctools.com<http://www.pctools.com/?cclick=EmailFooterClean_51>

> >> >> >> > >> > > >>> =======

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