LocumLife - February 2009 - (Page 17)

Americans, in November proposed an individual coverage requirement that includes a coverage verification system, automatic enrollment process, and enforcement of the requirement that all individuals purchase and maintain coverage. That same week, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association followed with its own pledge of universal coverage. Neither organization offered a specific timetable for the proposals. AHIP’s reform proposal includes provisions emphasizing primary care programs in medical schools as well as expanded loan forgiveness. Critics, however, were skeptical. “They are recommending a continuation of the same inefficient, fragmented structure that we now have, except that it is expanded to include everyone,” says Don McCanne, MD, senior health policy fellow for Physicians for a National Health Program, which advocates a single-payer system. FEW PATIENTS CHECK ONLINE DOCTOR RATINGS Despite the proliferation of healthplan-sponsored online physician quality rating systems, as well as consumer review websites, two recent studies suggest few potential patients are checking the Internet to choose their next doctor and still rely on word of mouth to make that choice. The Henry J. Kaiser Foundation released results of a survey of 1,517 Americans in October that showed only 6% had seen and used online information comparing doctor quality (specifically surgeons) when choosing a physician. Likewise, a study released in December by the Center for Studying Health System Change indicated that half of the 5,800 consumers it surveyed relied on word-ofmouth recommendations when choosing a primary care physician. Use of online information for choosing a new physician ranged from 3% for consumers undergoing procedures to 7% for consumers choosing new specialists to 11% for consumers choosing new primary care physicians. To learn more about physician ratings, go to http://www.memag.com/ratings. This department originally appeared in Medical Economics, a sister publication. For subscription information, call 877-922-2022. www.memag.com Circle Career Card No. 601 www.LocumLife.com FEBRUARY 2009 LocumLife 17 http://www.memag.com/ratings http://www.memag.com http://locumtenens.comphealth.com http://www.LocumLife.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of LocumLife - February 2009

LocumLife - February 2009 Editorial Insights Contents From Nalto Stat! Money Matters Resources Last-Minute Luxury Opening the Door Med Ec-cerpts Winning the Battle Career Center Advertisers' Index Opportunities Direct Residency Corner Destinations Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - February 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.