“With the changes instituted recently and coming soon from Medicare and private insurance companies, it simply makes it impossible to maintain a solo or small practice,” writes Dr. Shiffman in a Summit Daily commentary.
Dr. Shiffman mentions three factors that put him over the tipping point in deciding to dissolve his solo practice:
1. Amount of time spent following up on claims with insurance companies.
2. Medicare reimbursements rates being at “absurdly low” levels.
3. The creation of Medicare accountable care organizations, which “encourage medical practices to join hospitals and become multi-specialty medical providers.”
Dr. Shiffman has accepted a position at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md., as a clinician-educator.
More Articles Related to Medicare ACOs:
Embracing Accountable Care: 5 Tips From Tucson Medical Center CEO Judy Rich
The ACO Game of Wealth, Power and Local Politics
With 27 new ACOs, 1.1M Medicare Beneficiaries Enrolled in Shared Savings
