Only 35 percent of cardiovascular practitioners are in private practice, down from 59 percent in 2007, according to an American College of Cardiology survey.
The 2012 Practice Census includes responses from more than 2,500 cardiovascular practices across the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.
While the percent of physician-owned practitioners has decreased, the percent of hospital-owned practitioners has increased. Thirty-five percent of practitioners are currently hospital-owned compared to 11 percent in 2007.
Here are some other key data points from the survey:
• Twenty-four percent of cardiovascular practices are owned by hospitals today compared to 8 percent in 2007. Sixty percent of practices are currently physician-owned compared to 73 percent in 2007.
• Continued cuts to Medicare physician payment and reimbursement in general are the top two issues keeping more than 70 percent of private practitioners awake at night.
• Medicare payment cuts (56 percent) and reimbursement (49 percent) were also top challenges for hospital-owned practices, followed by billing and coding (41 percent), hospital/practice alignment (40 percent), workflow management (38 percent) and health information technology implementation (36 percent).
More Articles on Hospital Cardiology:
St. Luke's Miners Campus in Pennsylvania Opens Heart & Vascular Center
Cedars-Sinai, Scripps Memorial Can Offer Cardiac Procedure in Outpatient Setting Under New Bill
California Pacific Medical Center's Closure of Cardiac Program Sparks Protests
The 2012 Practice Census includes responses from more than 2,500 cardiovascular practices across the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.
While the percent of physician-owned practitioners has decreased, the percent of hospital-owned practitioners has increased. Thirty-five percent of practitioners are currently hospital-owned compared to 11 percent in 2007.
Here are some other key data points from the survey:
• Twenty-four percent of cardiovascular practices are owned by hospitals today compared to 8 percent in 2007. Sixty percent of practices are currently physician-owned compared to 73 percent in 2007.
• Continued cuts to Medicare physician payment and reimbursement in general are the top two issues keeping more than 70 percent of private practitioners awake at night.
• Medicare payment cuts (56 percent) and reimbursement (49 percent) were also top challenges for hospital-owned practices, followed by billing and coding (41 percent), hospital/practice alignment (40 percent), workflow management (38 percent) and health information technology implementation (36 percent).
More Articles on Hospital Cardiology:
St. Luke's Miners Campus in Pennsylvania Opens Heart & Vascular Center Cedars-Sinai, Scripps Memorial Can Offer Cardiac Procedure in Outpatient Setting Under New Bill
California Pacific Medical Center's Closure of Cardiac Program Sparks Protests