Alta Orthopaedics’ Christopher S. Proctor Receives Distinction for Industry Leadership
Christopher S. Proctor, M.D. has received Distinction as a Distinguished Arthoscopy Leader (D.A.L.) by the Arthroscopy Association of North America. Dr. Proctor joins a small group of 21 physicians from across the country, and is the only arthroscopic specialist recognized in Santa Barbara. The full press release by AANA can be read here.
“Senators Differ on Best Approach to Ban Surprise Billing”
“The bill would hold patients harmless for surprise bills by only requiring them to pay the in-network cost-sharing amount for any out-of-network services. Plans will pay providers the local median amount for that geographic area, an approach favored by insurers but opposed by providers… Efforts to tackle surprise billing receive strong support from both sides of the aisle. The act being debated Tuesday ensures no one will pay more for their care than their in-network cost-sharing amount in a surprise billing situation. But the payment mechanism isn’t as clear-cut. Providers support third-party arbitration while payers and employers generally advocate for rate setting. The Senate bill includes a third option: an in-network guarantee. According to Ben Ippolito, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, the in-network guarantee is the “only option that will address the market failure that gives rise to surprise medical bills” by stopping them before they occur” (Healthcare Dive). Read More
“Trump Administration Pushes to Make Health Care Pricing More Transparent”
“President Trump signed an executive order Monday on price transparency in health care that aims to lower rising health care costs by showing prices to patients. The idea is that if people can shop around, market forces may drive down costs… Push back from various corners of the healthcare industry came quickly, with hospital and health plan lobbying organizations arguing this transparency requirement would have the unintended consequence of pushing prices up, rather than down” (NPR) Read More
“Hospital Price Transparency Push Draws Industry Ire, but Effects Likely Limited”
“Far-reaching rules mandating industry price transparency could mark a major shift, but experts are skeptical the efforts will meaningfully lower prices for patients without a more fundamental system overhaul… Many policy analysts and economists said that while price transparency is good in theory, current evidence shows patients don’t take advantage of pricing information now available, said Ateev Mehrotra, associate policy of healthcare policy and Harvard Medical School. (Healthcare Dive). Read More