Dive Brief:
- About 120 clinicians at Medical University of South Carolina Hospital in Charleston have yet to sign new employment contracts that change the way physicians get paid, Becker’s Hospital Review reported.
- As of last month, MUSC physicians are paid based on the number of patients they treat rather than the amount of money their department generates. Doctors have until Aug. 15 to sign the new contracts.
- An MUSC spokeswoman cited several reasons why physicians haven’t inked the contracts, including travel, requests for clarification and staff attrition. More than 40 clinical faculty members have signed in the past week, she said.
Dive Insight:
MUSC physicians have opposed the relative value unit-based (RVU) payment plan since it was announced in May. They argue it will hurt quality and limit time with patients by forcing them to put volume ahead of patient experience.
The change comes as MACRA and alternative payment models are rewarding providers for high patient satisfaction ratings and patient engagement.
In April, a group of heavy hitters in the industry called for more value-based models, saying they put the focus on patients and outcomes while reducing costs. And a Lazard survey found close to half of C-suite respondents thought adoption of value-based or risk-sharing pricing models would transform healthcare.
But implementation requires provider support.
MUSC already uses RVU to track physician performance in some departments. The change that took effect in July expands its use across the organization. The goal, officials have said, is to even the playing field so doctors in less profitable departments don’t lose out.