Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411040099
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-15 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER|
DATELINE: TYSONS CORNER LENGTH: Medium
Either way, the intent of the proposed alliance is to wrest patient care decision-making back from outsiders.
With 6,245 members, the society represents 38 percent of the state's doctors. The network, however, also would be open to nonmembers. The plan is for a not-for-profit corporation to negotiate contracts with purchasers of health care and a for-profit subsidiary to provide business services to physician practices.
The proposal is to be debated today at the society's annual house of delegates meeting and will be voted on Saturday. If passed, the society is ready to solicit network members. Proposed assessments are $850 for Medical Society members and slightly more for others.
The amount of assessment, however, could depend on whether the network takes a partner. Talks have been held with a couple of insurance companies, a member of the steering committee said.
"A partner is going to be that, though," Dr. C. Gregory Lockhart of Richmond said. "We don't want to just give network control away."
Part of the challenge will be to get doctors to understand more about medical costs, he said.
Doctors will have to be recognized not only as "purveyors of care," but as purveyors of cost-efficient, quality care in order to be competitive, he said. "We can't return to the past in the way health care is delivered."
Managed-care organizations are directing patients away from doctors, telling physicians how to treat patients, causing physicians to lose money and diminishing the clout of their organizations, Lockhart said.
"Here, we can take back the practice of medicine by delivering high quality health care at a reasonable cost. Are we going to be a player?" he asked the delegates.
Lockhart said he is not concerned that the society is proposing to enter the managed care market after so many other entities already are there.
"It doesn't matter if you're early or late, if you're right," he said.
Roanoke physician Chris Alexander called the proposal the society's "biggest challenge ever," but he said he thinks it will win favor with Roanoke Valley doctors.
"Basically, we're trying to re-establish our professionalism - that we put patients first - even though some people want to paint us with a different brush," Alexander said.
by CNB