A recent survey conduced by the Medical Group management Association(MGMA) listed Provider Enrollment and Contracting as one of the top challenges facing medical practices. 1,789 medical groups were ask to rank a comprehensive list of the key problems and issues facing a medical practice today. Not surprisingly financial issues dominated the list. Payer contracting issues ranked 8^th in importance.

The Top Ten lists is as follows:

1. Rising Cost

2. Uncertainty of Medicare reimbursement rates

3. Implementing electronic health record requirements

4. Maintaining physician compensation levels

5. Recruiting physicians

6. Collection from patients

7. Payer Provider Enrollment

8. Establishing good working relationships among practice physicians

9. Modifying physician compensation methodology

10. Participating the the CMS’s Physician Quality Reporting I Imitative

The One issues that took the biggest leap this year was implementing the Patient-centered Medical Home model, epically among primary care specialties. Issues surrounding physician compensation while still significant lessens in severity on this years survey. In addition the urgency of the PQRI have lessened as well.

Other findings include:

As it has been in recent studies, improvement is billing, collections and denial management where the top priorities for this year. Due to the uncertainties surround Medicare rates, more practices were considering not taking new Medicare patients.

The survey responses are available for review online (1-page Microsoft Excel file)