Q&A with Dr. Tom
There's no part of my compensation that's based on the financial performance of my Medicare Advantage patients. Yet I'm constantly pestered about improving my coding and care costs. There's more and more hoops I have to jump through to get care for these patients. My inbox is full of recommendations to addend my already closed office notes.
It's taking up A LOT of my time and I'm seeing fewer patients because of it.
What should I do?
Quit. Now.
Shared-risk contracting under Medicare Advantage gives you a chance to get paid based on your skill and expertise.
Without participation in your Medicare Advantage contract, you're a tool, a commodity---and you'll be treated as such.
You and your personal time will be squeezed and squeezed and squeezed again until you've had enough.
Then they'll bring some young sucker in to replace you.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
You'll be just like a turn of the century factory worker, working the looms of some sweatshop without the protection of a union---used and then discarded when no further profit can be wrung from your broken body.
Think that's harsh? Look around at your fellow clinicians.
If you can't quit, then just say no to your employer.
No, I'm not going to spend extra time risk coding---I'm not getting paid for it.
No, I'm not going to spend my time jumping through your cost-control hoops---I'm not getting paid for it.
But if you do this, better be prepared to be put on the dreaded "Performance Improvement Plan"---a black mark that'll follow you around for the rest of your life.
Better to just quit---and find an employer with a clue, an a soul.
You deserve better.
In fact---you deserve the best!
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