decisionhealth Newsletters, Answer Books - 2009 Issue 2 (February)
Risk Sharing / 5 Tips to Help You Prepare for Managed Care
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Article Overview
This article explains how anesthesiology groups can assess readiness for managed care participation before signing contracts. It focuses on broad financial and operational planning considerations such as risk tolerance, possible shifts in patient volume, understanding practice costs, building reliable management reporting, and maintaining contingency reserves. The content is aimed at physicians, practice administrators, and other leaders involved in contract evaluation and revenue management.
Why This Topic Matters
Managed care contracts can affect cash flow, operational capacity, and the financial stability of an anesthesia practice. Understanding the article helps decision-makers evaluate whether a contract fits their practice before committing resources.
Article Sections
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Understanding managed care and practice exposure
Introduces the overall financial context of managed care for anesthesia practices and the kinds of practice-level considerations that arise before contracting.
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Figure out how much risk you can handle
Discusses assessing a practice’s tolerance for financial exposure and how contract concentration can affect stability.
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Try to predict how your patient population will shift
Explores anticipated changes in patient volume and the operational planning issues that can follow from those changes.
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Know your actual costs per visit or per unit before you sign any contracts
Focuses on reviewing internal cost information and comparing practice economics against contract arrangements.
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Get a reliable and flexible management information system
Covers the importance of accurate reporting and data analysis for contract evaluation and ongoing management.
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Build contingency reserve
Addresses planning for cash-flow disruptions and maintaining financial flexibility to handle difficult periods.
What You Will Learn
- How managed care can affect anesthesia practice finances and operations
- How to evaluate practice risk before entering a contract
- How to anticipate possible changes in patient volume
- Why internal cost data matters before negotiating
- How management information systems support contract oversight
- Why contingency reserves can help manage cash-flow uncertainty
Who Should Read This
- Anesthesiologists
- Anesthesia practice administrators
- Physician group managers
- Revenue cycle and practice management staff
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