2021 GI Outlook (GO) Conference | November 2021-Update on Legislative & Regulatory Oversight and its Impact on your GI Practice

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The video is a presentation by Camille Bonta during the 2021 ASGE GI Outlook course. Bonta is an advocate and policy consultant for the ASGE and has been involved in lobbying and regulatory efforts for healthcare organizations. In her presentation, she discusses several key issues affecting the private practice of gastroenterology.<br /><br />Bonta highlights the projected growth in national healthcare spending and Medicare expenditures, emphasizing the impact on private practices. She also discusses the controversial approval of the Alzheimer's drug Adrahelm and its potential cost implications for Medicare. Bonta then addresses the decline in Medicare physician payment and the threat of future cuts, including sequestration.<br /><br />The presentation delves into the topics of practice consolidation and acquisition, focusing on the increasing employment of physicians by hospitals and other corporate entities. Bonta references a study that shows the rise in physician practices being acquired and physicians transitioning to employment. She also discusses the implications of private equity in healthcare and the need for more transparency and oversight.<br /><br />Bonta touches on several other issues, including surprise billing, ASC cost reporting, utilization control mechanisms, prior authorization, and site neutrality. She explains the No Surprises Act and its impact on ambulatory surgery centers, as well as pending legislation to address step therapy and prior authorization protocols.<br /><br />The presentation concludes with a call to action for ASGE members to engage in advocacy efforts, encouraging them to contact their members of Congress to support physician Medicare payment cuts and legislation that reduces payer interference in physician decision-making.<br /><br />(Source: Transcription of the video presentation by Camille Bonta at the 2021 ASGE GI Outlook course)

Asset Subtitle

Camille S. Bonta, MHS

Keywords

private practice of gastroenterology

Medicare expenditures

physician employment

private equity in healthcare

surprise billing

prior authorization

physician decision-making