MGMA Week in Review: PTO Policies, Behavioral Health Integration, and Patient Care Enhancement
Download MP3Hi. This is Daniel Williams, senior editor at MGMA and host of the MGMA Podcast Network. We had a little technical difficulties with our weekend review episode. It was due to drop 05/30, 2025. So 05/30/2025.
Daniel Williams:I went and checked, and there just been something happened to it. So we've got that recorded, and we're gonna share it with you. So just consider it a bonus episode on this Monday morning, June 2. Happy June, everyone. So let's go to that episode now.
Daniel Williams:Well, hi, everyone, and welcome to the MGMA weekend review podcast. I'm Daniel Williams, senior editor, and today, I'll be flying solo. Co host Colleen Luckett is working on another project that she needed to be working on. So let's just grab a cup of coffee or whatever keeps you going, and let's dig into some insights that matter to your practice. Now we'll kick things off today with a fresh MGMA story.
Daniel Williams:This is our stat for this week. It's called how do you handle your medical practice staff's paid time off and leave or PTOs? You can find this over at MGMA.com/stat. You can read the entire article, and I'll provide you with the direct link to that. So here's the deal with this story about paid time off.
Daniel Williams:It sounds simple, but ask 10 practice managers how they handle it, and you'll probably get 10 different answers. So in this week's MGMA stat, it breaks it down in what we see as a wide range of approaches from the experts. So they're pretty progressive. Some practices are sticking with the classic accrual model. You work, you earn time off, but others are experimenting with flexible PTO or even, hang on to this, unlimited leave policies.
Daniel Williams:Wow. Sign me up for that. So with unlimited, there's something that we use to only hear about in the start up world, but it's slowly making its way into health care, especially in roles that are directly patient facing. Now, obviously, the big challenge is coverage. Giving your staff more freedom is great, but it doesn't make patients magically disappear.
Daniel Williams:We want patients there, and we wanna provide them with the service they need. So how is this being done? Practices are getting creative, cross training staff, tightening up schedules, putting more emphasis on technology, anything to keep operations smooth without burning folks out. And here's something I thought was interesting. Some leaders are actually seeing better retention when they offer more generous PTO.
Daniel Williams:People feel seen. They feel like their personal lives matter, and that can go a long way towards reducing turnover and keeping your team engaged. The bottom line, and this comes straight from the article, your PTO policy isn't just a checkbox. It's part of your culture. It tells your staff what kind of place this is to work.
Daniel Williams:So as mentioned, we will provide a direct link, to this article in the episode show notes and some best dos and don'ts in crafting your PTO policy. So let's move on to our next story. Let's talk about something that's been a long time coming, and that's integrating behavioral health into primary care. Axios published a piece on May 27 titled insurers warm to behavioral health in primary care, and it's shedding light on some promising developments. Here's the gist.
Daniel Williams:Since Medicare introduced billing codes back in 2017 for what's called the collaborative care model, there's been a significant uptick in insurers covering mental health services within primary care settings. This model brings together a primary care provider, a behavioral health manager, and a psychiatric consultant to create and manage a patient's mental health treatment plan. According to new analysis from Milliman, the number of Medicare Advantage enrollees receiving mental health services through this model has grown eightfold since those billing codes became available. That's a substantial increase indicating that more patients are getting the integrated care they need. But it's not just Medicare Advantage seeing growth.
Daniel Williams:Traditional Medicare and Medicaid have also experienced significant increases, and the commercial market isn't far behind. For instance, in Madison, Wisconsin, about fifteen twenty four out of every 100,000 commercially insured individuals receive collaborative care services in 2023 compared to a national average of about 59 per 100,000. Factors contributing to this growth include support from health systems, dedicated primary care physicians championing the model, and philanthropic funding to cover start up cost. There's also bipartisan legislation in Congress aiming to increase Medicare reimbursements for existing behavioral health providers in collaborative care, which could further boost access to these services. So while there's still a long road ahead, it's encouraging to see insurers and health care providers embracing a more integrated approach to mental health care.
Daniel Williams:It's a step in the right direction for making comprehensive care more accessible to patients across the country. Alright. And for our final story today, let's talk about five words that can make a world of difference in patient care. We'll take care of that. In an article published on May 30 by Doctor.
Daniel Williams:Neil Baum in Physicians Practice, he emphasizes how this simple phrase, we'll take care of that, can significantly enhance the patient experience. Doctor. Baum points out that saying, we'll take care of that, conveys empathy, confidence, and a commitment to patient centered care. It reassures patients that their concerns are being heard and addressed, fostering trust and satisfaction. In the hustle of daily practice, it's easy to focus on task and forget the human element, but these five words, we'll take care of that, can bridge that gap.
Daniel Williams:Reminding patients that they're not just another appointment, they're individuals whose well-being matters. So whether it's a billing issue, a scheduling conflict, or a clinical concern, taking a moment to say, we'll take care of that, can leave a lasting positive impression. So that's gonna do it for this week's MGMA weekend review. I'm Daniel Williams, and thanks for spending a little time with me today. Hope you found something useful, maybe even something you'll share with your team.
Daniel Williams:If you've got feedback or ideas for what we should cover in future episodes, please reach out and let us know. We'll provide direct links and access to us in our episode show notes. And next week, we'll have my cohost, Colleen Luckett, back with us, so be sure to tune in. Take care, and we'll talk soon.
