Integration & Physician Issues

In reaction to healthcare reform, there has been a high level of interest among hospitals to acquire physician practices. Physicians who seek the stability of hospital employment have also been interested in hospital acquisitions. Hospitals stand to improve patient outcomes,…

A New York senator has proposed legislation aiming to curb the state's looming physician shortage by increasing the number of residencies by 15,000 over five years, with preference to programs in rural areas.

The following is reprinted with permission from Oliver Wyman. Several weeks ago, the Congressional Budget Office released an analysis of 10 CMS demonstration projects. The headline for CBO and much of the media coverage that followed was negative: The demonstration…

Months after Irvine, Calif.-based Monarch Healthcare sold its management to an arm of health insurer UnitedHealth, Blue Shield of California is demanding $10.5 million in damages from the physician group for alleged contract violations, according to a Wall Street Journal…

Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare Health System has announced its affiliation with a 400-physician group and its acquisition of a physician management company.  

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield — the private payor for Virginia, Maryland and Washingon, D.C. — is distributing more than $8.5 million to 12 regional safety net clinics to help develop patient-centered medical homes.

Newport Beach, Calif.-based Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Blue Shield of California and Greater Newport Physicians Medical Group have announced a three-year accountable care initiative, effective July 1.

A bill heading to the Idaho House floor unopposed would ban hospitals from turning physicians away if they practice or have financial stakes in a competing hospital, according to an Idaho Statesman report.

Pittsburgh-based Highmark, an insurer, has filed trademark paperwork for a new physician practice management company, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

WakeMed Health & Hospitals, based in Raleigh, N.C., has acquired Capital Urological Associates, according to a Triangle Business Journal report.