Mark Seitz to receive John F. Sasen Leadership Award
The Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA) (Alexandria, VA) announced that Mark T. Seitz, president and CEO of National Distribution & Contracting Inc (NDC) (Nashville, TN), is the recipient of the 2016 John F. Sasen Leadership Award. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities, commitment, and service to HIDA and the healthcare products distribution industry. “HIDA is very pleased to recognize Mark’s leadership in healthcare distribution,” said HIDA president and CEO Matthew J. Rowan. “Mark’s strategic thinking and collaborative approach have made invaluable contributions to HIDA, its members, and the industry.” Seitz became president of NDC in 2005 after serving as legal counsel to the organization. He practiced healthcare law for over 20 years and served as a partner in a large regional law firm. He has served on HIDA’s board of directors since 2006 and on its executive committee from 2012 to 2014. The award was to be presented at the Chairman’s Dinner at the 2016 HIDA Streamlining Healthcare Conference.
Study: Heavy burden of EHRs could contribute to physician burnout
According to a new study published in the in Annals of Internal Medicine, for every hour physicians provide direct clinical face time to patients, nearly two additional hours is spent on EHR and other clerical work within the clinic day. Outside office hours, physicians spend another one to two hours of personal time each night doing additional clerical work. Researchers suggest that the burden of EHRs could contribute to physician burnout. According to the report, time spent in meaningful interactions with patients is a powerful driver of physician career satisfaction but increased paperwork and time on the computer means less time for direct patient care. Correlations between increases in EHR task load and physician burnout and attrition have been shown (more than half of U.S. physicians experience some sign of burnout), but little quantitative data is available on how physicians’ spend their time. The researchers found that during the office day, physicians spent 27 percent of their total time on direct clinical face time with patients and more than 49 percent of their time on EHRs and desk work. In the exam room, physicians spent almost 53 percent of their time on direct clinical face time and 37 percent on EHRs and desk work. To read more, visit annals.org/article.aspx.
Secretary Burwell: HHS attempting to increase marketplace participation
HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said the department is making operational changes and meeting with insurers to stimulate competition in Affordable Care Act marketplaces, especially those facing limited health-plan options next year. High-profile exchange exits like those from Aetna (Hartford, CT) and UnitedHealthcare (Minnetonka, MN) may leave a projected one-third of 2017 ACA exchanges with one plan option and high premiums. However, Burwell said 85 percent of exchange enrollees have received tax credits to limit premium costs. Burwell also said HHS and the IRS are collaborating to contact individuals who footed penalties for not purchasing health insurance and provide the individuals with enrollment information. In addition, HHS is working to reduce data matching errors that prevented eligible individuals from enrolling in the past. CMS also released its proposed HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2018, which were heavily targeted toward stabilizing exchanges.