PRIVATE HEALTHCARE CENTRAL
October 24, 2006-- HOT TOPIC: APPA TO PRESENT OUR OWN AGENDA FOR HOSPITALIST PROGRAMS
-- MEDICATION DISCOUNTS FOR YOUR PATIENTS
-- MEDICATION DISCOUNTS FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS
-- NEW MEMBER NEWS: MAY K CHATILA MD AND SEAN A FISCHER MD
|
|
| HOT TOPIC: APPA TO PRESENT OUR OWN AGENDA FOR HOSPITALIST PROGRAMS Our October llth meeting “Hospitalists and Hospital Policies: Setting Our Own Agenda” resulted in a strong, unified opinion about the potential adverse consequences of a hospitalist program and the role APPA should play in addressing the issue. The consensus is as follows: l. An imposed hospitalist program could adversely impact our private healthcare culture and financially impact certain members’ practices. 2. Our private healthcare culture of relationship based medical practice is our most valuable asset, our most distinguishing characteristic vs other communities, and the most gratifying aspect of our practices. 3. APPA should take the lead in addressing the hospitalist issue on behalf of the entire medical staff. 4. A small working group of APPA members should meet with hospital administrators regarding specific hospital problems which might be addressed by a voluntary hospitalist program composed of current medical staff members. Private Healthcare Central will report on the progress of these meetings in our next newsletter.
|
|
| MEDICATION DISCOUNTS FOR YOUR PATIENTS Our patients frequently complain about the cost of drugs we prescribe. They ask for alternatives, generics or sources of less expensive meds. Finding resources for them is time consuming and knowing where to look is not our area of expertise. SIMPLY REFER ALL INQUIRIES TO THE APPA WEBSITE WWW.PRIVATEMD.COM. Tell your patient to look under the PATIENT INFORMATION section and click on “Where To Find Discounts on Medications”. This will take you to a list of links to specific parts of websites wherein you can compare prices. The links include DestinationRx, MedSave(which has a free discount drug card program as well) Walgreens and Costco. We will add links as they become available. You will be doing a great service for your patients and it is an easy answer for these questions.
|
|
| MEDICATION DISCOUNTS FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS Medicare patients ask the same questions as discussed above, but they have special difficulty because of Medicare Part D. But your answer can be the same. SIMPLY REFER ALL INQUIRIES TO THE APPA WEBSITE WWW.PRIVATEMD.COM. Tell patients to look in the MEDICARE PATIENT INFORMATION CENTER. They will find the same section mentioned above “Where to Find Discounts on Medications” with the same great links. In addition there is a separate section “Lower Your Part D Drug Costs” which is a link to PartDoptimizer. This is a great site which is zipcode and plan specific for finding the best prices for these patients. This is another easy answer and a great resource for your senior patients.
|
|
| NEW MEMBER NEWS: MAY K CHATILA MD AND SEAN A FISCHER MD MAY CHATILA M.D. is originally from Lebanon and trained here, completing her rheumatiology training at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She recently relocated from Washington University in St. Louis and is now in solo private practice. Her practice is general rhuematology with a special interest in rheumatoid arthritis. Her office address is 2222 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 405, Santa Monica 90404. Phone (310) 315-3500. SEAN FISCHER M.D. is from Maryland and completed his oncology training at Georgetown University Hospital where he was Chief Fellow. He recently joined Drs. Terpenning, Nishikubo and Henick at Santa Monica Hematology Oncology Consultants. His practice is general hematology-oncology with a special interest in lung cancer. His office address is 2021 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 400E, Santa Monica 90404. Phone 310- 453 -5654. Private Healthcare Central is a publication of the American Private Physicians Association. Direct comments or questions to Pamela Deloney, administrator for APPA.
|
|
| Quick Links... |
|
| Contact Information email: info@privatemd.com
phone: (310) 453-0169
|
