EHR Costs Prompting Doctors To Leave Small Practices, Report Finds

Many doctors are leaving small practices for larger health care systems in  part because of the cost involved in meeting federal requirements for electronic  health record implementation, according to a report released Wednesday by consulting firm  Accenture, eWeek reports.

Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who  demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR systems can qualify for Medicaid and  Medicare incentive payments.

Report Details

After surveying 204 primary care physicians and specialists, Accenture  predicted that the percentage of physicians who practice independently will drop  from 57% in 2000 to 36% in 2013 (Horowitz, eWeek, 11/1).

The report found that:

• 61% of surveyed physicians cited business operations as a reason for  choosing hospital employment over private practice; and
• 53% cited EHR requirements as a reason for leaving private practice (Accenture release, 10/31).

Health IT Costs Could Play a Role

Kaveh Safavi — managing director for Accenture’s North America healthy  industry group — said that business expenses, such as the cost of health IT  systems, are leading doctors to join larger health care organizations. He added  that large health systems often have the health IT expertise and capital that  small practices lack.

Safavi said, “There’s a whole level of forces, expertise and purchasing power  that the small practices don’t have,” adding, “They can’t simply choose not to  have a practice that’s digital or connected.”

Small Practice Physicians Eye Telehealth

According to the report, physicians who remain in small practices likely will  start offering new services like telehealth to maintain their profits.

Accenture predicted that the use of telehealth and other subscription-based  services will increase threefold over the next three years (eWeek,  11/1).

Source: iHealthBeat

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