January 27, 2025
Dr. McNally Pens Op-Ed in MedPage Today on Shortage of Independent Surgeons
| In an op-ed in MedPage Today, Dr. Amy McNally, The Network’s Chief Surgical Officer, describes how reimbursement for surgical professional services has declined, disproportionately affecting private practices and tipping the scales toward hospital settings. As reimbursement shrinks, Dr. McNally explained, independent practices have found it increasingly difficult to remain afloat, let alone to attract and retain top-tier talent. “Hospitals, on the other hand, have responded to declining reimbursement by charging facility fees to offset financial losses, including from declining Medicare reimbursement,” Dr. McNally wrote. Over the past few years, hospitals have increasingly charged facility fees, which can cost up to thousands of dollars and often come as a surprise to patients. Hospitals claim that these fees cover the use of hospital space or equipment. “Yet, the way these funds are used by hospitals is opaque – but perhaps the increased revenue gives hospitals a leg up in offering more attractive salaries to surgeons,” Dr. McNally noted. “Two things are clear. First, cutting reimbursement for surgeons isn’t bringing healthcare costs down. Rather, it’s emboldening health systems to jack up fees, raise out-of-pocket costs, and limit competition from community-based providers. Second, and more importantly, the shift toward hospital-based care isn’t improving patient outcomes,” she concluded. Dr. McNally called on Congress to shine a light on the use of facility fees and how they impact competitiveness in the healthcare marketplace. To read Dr. McNally’s op-ed, CLICK HERE. |