MGMA Week in Review: Valentines Day, Reimbursement Audits, and Heart Health
Download MP3Well, hi, everyone, and welcome to the MGMA Week in Review podcast. I'm Daniel Williams, and I'm flying solo today as my cohost, Colleen Luckett, had a scheduling conflict, but we wanna wish her a good weekend. Before we dive into this week's stories, I do wanna wish you all a very, very happy Valentine's Day. This is our Valentine's Day weekend edition, and I have some exciting personal news. I'm gonna be heading out later this afternoon for my very, very first weekend yoga retreat in the beautiful Colorado Mountains, and I am ecstatic about this.
Daniel Williams:I am so excited to, just spend a lot of time relaxing, being mindful, and doing some yoga as well. And I'm looking forward to some very much needed r and r, and I'm excited to unplug, unwind, and just immerse myself in the experience. So I'm gonna be sure to share some reflections on that in a future episode. So with that said, let's jump into our first story. So our first story is this week's MGMA stat poll.
Daniel Williams:Regular auditing of payer payments is crucial to ensure accurate reimbursement. Now if your practice isn't regularly auditing payer payments, you could be leaving money on the table. A recent MGMA stat poll found that 47% of medical group practice leaders conduct monthly or quarterly audits to ensure that they are being paid accurately according to their contracts. These audits are essential for identifying underpayments, claim denials, and inconsistencies in payer reimbursements. Now with the complexity of insurance contracts and the constant changes in reimbursement policies, it's easy for payment errors to slip through unnoticed.
Daniel Williams:Many medical practices assume that payers are always paying them correctly, but let's face the facts here. The reality is the discrepancies are more common than you might think. Even small payment variances can add up over time, significantly impacting revenue. One of the most effective strategies for catching these discrepancies is implementing a structured auditing process. This means regularly comparing payer remittances to contracted fee schedules and flagging any mismatches.
Daniel Williams:Technology can also help. Many revenue cycle management systems offer automated auditing tools that make it easier to track payment accuracy. If you're not sure where to start, a good first step is to conduct a retrospective audit of recent claims to identify any patterns of underpayment. From there, practices can develop a proactive auditing strategy to ensure they're receiving the revenue they rightfully earned. Accurate reimbursement is the backbone of financial sustainability, and auditing payer payments should be a priority for every health care organization.
Daniel Williams:This is a section that Colleen usually handles, the MGMA stat, but I will add here your contributions are vital to MGMA's ongoing work to provide great resources, education, and advocacy for medical group leaders. So please sign up for MGMA stat to make your voice heard in our weekly polls. Simply text stat, s t a t, to 33550 or visit mgma.com/mgma-stat, and then polls will be sent to your phone via text message. I received my, MGMA text yesterday and got my this actually got this stat poll, and that's why I included it here. So let's go to our next story, building support and allyship for women physicians.
Daniel Williams:We need your help. Now this next story, I really do wish that Colleen were here for it. She's been actively involved with the MGMA women's forum, and I know she'd have some great insights on this topic. So let's get right to it. Women physicians face unique challenges in the workplace, and a recent piece from Medical Economics highlights the importance of sponsorship and allyship in advancing gender equity in healthcare.
Daniel Williams:Women physicians experience higher rates of burnout, depression, and even suicide compared to their male counterparts. This isn't just due to workload. It's also about bias, workplace culture, and a lack of leadership opportunities. Despite making up nearly 40% of the physician workforce, women are still underrepresented in executive roles and decision making positions. One way to address this disparity is through sponsorship, not just mentorship.
Daniel Williams:While mentorship is valuable, sponsorship goes a step further. It means actively advocating for women physicians by recommending them for leadership roles, speaking opportunities, and professional recognition. Research shows that when men use their influence to support women in medicine, it helps break down structural barriers in ways that mentorship alone cannot. If you're wondering how to get involved, the MGMA Women's Forum is a great place to start. It provides networking opportunities, resources, and support for women leaders in healthcare.
Daniel Williams:Whether you're a physician, administrator, or an ally looking to make a difference, supporting initiatives like these is essential. Let's continue the conversation and ensure that women in medicine get the recognition, leadership opportunities, and support they deserve. What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna drop a direct link to that, women's forum in our episode show notes, so look for that there. And then finally, this is Valentine's Day, and it's Valentine's Day weekend. So I'm just gonna say, please celebrate Valentine's Day with actual hearts in mind.
Daniel Williams:It is Valentine's Day, and we could not end this show without talking about heart health. While today is about chocolates, flowers, and romantic dinners, it's also a great time to think about your physical heart and how to keep it healthy. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in The US, and small lifestyle changes can make a big impact in reducing risk. We all love indulgent Valentine's treats, but there are plenty of ways to celebrate while keeping heart health in mind. Consider swapping out heavy processed meals for a heart healthy dinner.
Daniel Williams:Think grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad with avocado and nuts. Instead of a box of chocolates, try dark chocolates with high cocoa content, which has antioxidants that support heart health. Physical activity is another great way to celebrate love while taking care of your heart. Dancing, a long walk, or even a couple's yoga session can boost endorphins, strengthen your cardiovascular system, and bring you closer to your loved ones. And if you really wanna make an impact this Valentine's Day, learning CPR could be the best gift you ever give.
Daniel Williams:Every year, thousands of people experience sudden cardiac arrest, and a bystander CPR can double or even triple survival rates. The bottom line, love your heart as much as you love your loved ones. This Valentine's Day, consider making small, intentional choices that support heart health because the best way to show love is to ensure you're around for many more Valentine's Days to come. This wraps up our show for today. As always, you can find links to all the articles we discuss here in the episode show notes.
Daniel Williams:If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe to the MGMA Week in Review podcast so you never miss an update. As I mentioned at the beginning, I'm gonna be off at a yoga retreat this weekend, but I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with love, health, and maybe a little heart healthy movement. Take care, and we'll see you next time.
