Cohesiveness of Medical Groups in the Brave New World

Guest Writer: Kelly Haenlein, MHA, Director, Regulatory and Payment Policy, American Academy of Dermatology and 2011 Annual Conference Program Committee Chair

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains 2,409 pages of text. Of that, five pages outline the Congressional intent behind the creation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Those five pages could very well drastically change the way physicians in the US are organized and deliver medical care starting in January 2012 and beyond.

Dr. Gregg Meyer, Senior Vice President for the Edward P. Lawrence Center for Quality and Safety at Massachusetts General Hospital, is a national leader in quality and safety. As a leader in the Partners HealthCare system, one of the largest integrated systems of providers in the county, Dr. Meyer has first-hand experience with the type of provider integration called for in the development of ACOs and how it will impact delivery, payment, continuity of care, quality and safety.

During the AAMSE 2011 Annual Conference in Boston, Dr. Meyer will discuss the trends toward physician employment by hospitals and large integrated systems through his perspective as a physician to help attendees better understand the broad impact for our members and ultimately, the medical societies we manage.

Please join me in Boston, July 20-23 and Embrace the Revolution of Health Care!