Dayton Daily News spoke to physicians in Ohio about how they're staying independent in a healthcare field that's becoming increasingly hospital affiliated.
Here's what you should know:
1. Kenneth Christman, MD, of Dayton (Ohio) Plastic Surgery, said his practice felt the pressures associated with remaining independent. For Dr. Christman, surprise billing continues to wreak havoc on his bottom line.
He doesn't have in-network deals with physicians because the work he's doing is worth more than what could be negotiated by payers.
He said, "in network rates for small practices are so low he couldn't stay in business if he had in-network contracts," according to the report.
2. Ohio Association of Health Plans President and CEO Miranda Motter and Anthem argued payers and physicians need networks to keep the price of healthcare down.
3. Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association CEO Bryan Bucklew sided with the payers, saying affiliated networks make navigating the current healthcare environment easier.
4. The independent physicians aren't without an advocate though. PriMed Physicians, a network of physician-owned practices, allow the independent physicians to pool their resources on large investments and benchmarking data to make quality-related decisions.
5. John Fleishman, MD, a Dayton-area ophthalmologist, relishes his independence. He's an adamant supporter of an Ohio law that would've increased price transparency for patients in Ohio. The law was passed, but several professional organizations filed suits to delay its implementation. An Ohio judge sided with the groups and granted the injunction.
6. Dr. Christman told Daytona Daily News, "My patients have a right to know. A lot of patients have come to me outside their network. I tell them what I’m going to charge them. I give them the dollar amount. And furthermore, I tell them look, I can do this cheaper right here in my office."