Blog

During tough times the healthcare sector of the job market is usually a safe bet for being recession resistant. Over the last 1-2 years it has fared well during these tough economic times and the healthcare market is ready to add more jobs to the job market, 14,500 jobs to be exact! The healthcare industry, encompassing hospitals, ASCs and OBSFs have added 14,500 jobs from December 2009 - January 2010.

Due to much scrutiny, and rightfully so, there has been a demand for a relief in the way of a five-year plan to dissipate the 21 percent fee cut for physicians that care for Medicare patients. Should no action be taken in the month of February, the pay cut will go active in March. The Senate has recently motioned to pass a pay as you go legislation which requires Congress to cover new spending or any tax cuts with correlating spending cuts or tax increases.

Here is something that is sure to bring about mixed emotions from our readers. Massachusetts state physicians will now bill insurers AND patients for their time over the phone with patients. Physicians are being allowed to bill for consultations with patients only if the conversations are deemed necessary to manage and perform patient care.

Through a new series of state regulations patients are going to find it more difficult during doctor visits. According to the CMA, the new regulations are said to set time limits for HMO patients to visit doctors and may force HMOs to then add more and more doctors to just keep appointments on schedule.

A major move by the U.S. Senate has been making headlines as of late. The U.S. Senate has just passed a huge measure that would amount to the first step towards eliminating yearly Medicare reimbursement cuts for physicians. This movement would exempt the cost of repealing for five years the SGR or sustainable growth rate.