Comments on: Reducing the paperwork burden on primary care

By: Steven Murphy MD

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:43:56 +0000

How is simple documentation via a computer more work?

By: Doc Stone

Doc Stone — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:28:24 +0000

Then the paperwork burden is replaced by the computer work burden. No difference.

By: Steven Murphy MD

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:39:44 +0000

Kevin,
Listen. The key to reducing paperwork is to not create any……Stop creating paper charts, stop creating paper terms of service, stop documenting on paper. That will fix a huge bunch of this. The team we have is workin on that…

By: Lookout

Lookout — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:55:33 +0000

I just received an advertisement from a doctor the charges $2000 for a year of primary care…everything included. Labs, x-ray, etc. No insurance…no billling except for routine payment….could set these up with automatic billing. I guess you would have some accounting if there was outsourcing Give the money to the doctor instead of the insurance company.

A doctor wouldn’t need very many patients to make a good living. Too bad more doctors don’t just say no to insurance company contracts. Perhaps we would then have a good catastophic options too.

By: Kevin Sullivan

Kevin Sullivan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:23:13 +0000

Dr. K,

True Story: Insurance company needs an Attending Physician Statement (APS) for a Proposed Insured (PI). The insurance company contracts this info gathering to another service, paying only $50 per APS. The hired service contacts the MD’s office. The MD’s office contracts this to a second company, who charges $90 for APS’. A $40 Mexican Stand-off occurs. Solution? The PI had to go to the MD’s office and demand a copy of his records. Oh, and he have the MD’s office $20 to copy that file. And, could we fax that direct to the Insurance company? Nope. We faxed it to the Insurance Company’s service, who then, I hope, faxed the APS to the Underwriting department.

Sadly, I know about 3,104 more stories regarding paperwork, just like that one.

By: DMS Student

DMS Student — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:38:58 +0000

In the past I’ve commented on why medical students don’t want to do primary care. This (excessive paperwork and having to pay armies of people to fight with insurance companies) is another reason. The actual medicine in primary care is difficult enough but the thought of also doing the amount of paperwork required to practice primary care makes me want to vomit. All specialties require excessive amounts of paperwork but primary care is terrible.

Honestly, the idea of a practice that charges patients $25-$100/month (sliding scale based on income) for primary care services (excluding tests) sounds very appealing. I know my parents would sign up for it and I’m sure the physicians would enjoy practicing medicine again (while only completing enough paperwork to keep the lawyers at bay).

By: BookstoreMD

BookstoreMD — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:56:10 +0000

Yes. I think $50 /15 minute should be cost effective and can be made to work. The medical office can eliminate their billing staff, insurance related rejections and save healthcare dollars.

By: Dr. Grumpy

Dr. Grumpy — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:55:29 +0000

This isn’t just primary care. I’m a neurologist, and get this crap too. Worker’s comp forms, FMLA, medication authorization forms, test authorization forms, release to work forms, etc. This effects all fields.

By: Doc99

Doc99 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:23:36 +0000

This practice model will be sorely tested under so-called “reform” as it penalizes non-par docs. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

By: Nuclear Fire

Nuclear Fire — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:24:44 +0000

I think this is a great practice model.