Determining Compensation for Super-Specialized Physicians: What to Consider

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by Karin Chernoff Kaplan, Managing Director

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Before the early 20th century, there were virtually no physician specialists in the United States. Today, the list of physician specialties continues to expand as medical knowledge grows with new discoveries and advancements in technology. Now, healthcare leaders must consider: How does this super-specialization affect physician compensation? Specialization and Sub-Specialization Historically, physicians were generalists, but […]

Posted in Provider Compensation

Don’t Forget the Second Wave of WRVU Changes

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by Karin Chernoff Kaplan, Managing Director

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The First Wave 2021 was the big year for WRVU changes associated with CMS’s extensive and far-reaching updates to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). The changes, designed to ultimately be budget neutral, restructured reimbursement to increase payments to cognitive specialists (such as primary care and other medical specialties) and reduce reimbursement to procedure-based specialists. […]

Posted in Provider Compensation

2023 High-Impact Initiatives: Emerging from the Crisis

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by Mark Dubow, Director
and Meredith Inniger, Principal

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Leaders of hospitals and health systems face an array of difficult challenges as they move into 2023. In light of the challenges providers face, the Veralon team has identified high-impact initiatives that may help systems turn the corner for a brighter 2023. Briefly, the challenges include: Weakened balance sheets that limit capital available for new […]

Posted in Strategy & Planning

Prioritize Service Lines During Challenging Times

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by Mark Dubow, Director

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Analyzing and prioritizing service lines like a portfolio can support focused growth, even during a financial crisis. Cost cutting is critical but insufficient to ensure viability and success when the financial crisis faced by health systems is prolonged, as it has been in 2022. Health systems must also grow revenue. Tight budgets and limited access […]

Posted in Strategy & Planning

Fair Play, Fair Pay: Assuring Provider Pay Equity

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by Karin Chernoff Kaplan, Managing Director

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It’s not easy to determine if there is equity in provider compensation across your organization, given the many departments, specialties, and roles—but it’s essential. Consider the following hypothetical: A local news source reports a 30% pay discrepancy between your male and female maintenance employees performing the same work. Chances are you would rather not have […]

Posted in Provider Compensation

Responding to 5 Competitive Threats to CINs

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by Molly Johnson, Consultant

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Health systems and their Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) face threats from a variety of competitors, including market disruptors, that may lure away aligned independent physicians and patients. Although the landscape of these competitors differs by market, they threaten the core business of CINs and complicate health system alignment with independent physician groups. Contact the Author: […]

Posted in Strategy & Planning

Magnitude of Financial Pressures Demands Fast, Actionable Financial Planning

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by J. David Robeson, III, Principal
and Ross Shuster, Manager

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Yet again, the latest Omicron surge delivered a financial punch to hospitals and health systems across the country, with many organizations experiencing one of their worst quarters ever this year. Now, healthcare leaders must take a fresh look at their financial planning process to determine their way forward in a turbulent environment. When the highly […]

Posted in Partnerships, M&A, and Finance

Anatomy of a Deal Series No. 5:
After the Deal Is Over: What Hospital Integration Looks Like

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by Daniel M. Grauman, Managing Director & CEO

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The devil is in the details. A year after the merger of Independent Hospital (IHX) and Regional Health System (RHS), the work of integrating these facilities is still underway. Some aspects of integration, such as reviewing group purchasing contracts, food services agreements, opportunities to consolidate back-office functions and more, have been relatively easy to complete. […]

Posted in Partnerships, M&A, and Finance

Why It’s Time to Update Your Physician Compensation Model

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by Karin Chernoff Kaplan, Managing Director

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It’s time to stop playing “kick the can” when it comes to physician compensation in hospitals and health systems. When the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) sought to restructure physician reimbursement by increasing payment to cognitive care specialists such as primary care physicians and reducing reimbursement for procedure-based specialists, it was a move designed […]

Posted in Provider Compensation