Firing a warning on PHOs: antitrust settlements a 'shot across the bow' by feds

Article Abstract:

The cases of two separate physician-hospital organizations (PHO) resulted in a consent decree by the Justice Department that will force them to restructure. Under the consent decree, physician contracts cannot be exclusive, the PHOs cannot set fees unless they become 'qualified managed care plans,' hospital staff privileges cannot be leveraged to restrict competition, and there are limits set on the further acquisition of primary care practices. PHOs must either use an outside party to set fees or restructure into a 'qualified managed care plan.'

Hospitals, Legal Counsel and Prosecution, Antitrust Division, Cases, Hospital-physician joint ventures, HealthCare Partners, Health Choice

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Re-organized medicine: medical societies must bolster their value to survive

Article Abstract:

The American Medical Assn's 1998 State Health Legislation Meeting focused on ways to boost the efficiency of organized medicine and ability of medical societies to better address their members' needs. Membership costs are increasing, and the total number of members at all levels is decreasing. Medical organizations are planning to communicate more efficiently with their members by using Web sites. Other problems medical organizations face include the increasing number of nonphysician practices with prescribing autonomy.

Membership organizations, not elsewhere classified, Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations), Membership Organizations NEC, Management, Conferences, meetings and seminars, Laws, regulations and rules, Health care industry, Physicians, Medical professions, Associations, institutions, etc., Associations, American Medical Association

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