Although some spine and orthopedic groups have embraced bundled payments, interventional pain physician Taif Mukhdomi, MD, is concerned about its long term effects and sustainability.
Dr. Mukhdomi is speaking at Becker’s 22nd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, set for June 18-21 at the Swissotel Chicago.
If you would like to join the event as a speaker, please contact Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com.
This response was lightly edited.
Question: What is the most dangerous trend in spine and orthopedics right now?
Dr. Taif Mukhdomi: Bundled payments. We’ve all seen the effects of bundle payments on total joints and how it has invariably affected the way joint replacement practices have operated. There becomes a focus on volume to continue to be sustainable or dropping insurance companies due to poor reimbursements. Ultimately there is all this talk about value-based care and decision making to help support the end goal of providing efficient care. The unfortunate truth of healthcare is that it’s not supposed to be 100% efficient because people’s lives and livelihoods are not a math equation. We are all trying to balance supply and demand of healthcare and cannot sacrifice quality — it’s what makes our country a destination in medicine.
