Editor’s Note: A recent study led by
Dr. Kanu Okike and published in Health
Affairs found that very few orthopedic surgeons are able to correctly
estimate the price of implantable devices. Doctors surveyed in the study were
only able to accurately estimate these costs between 17 and 21 percent of the
time. Lori Pilla, Vice President of Clinical Advantage and Supply Chain
Optimization for Amerinet, shared her thoughts on the study and its
implications for healthcare organizations with Inside HSCA.
A very interesting study published recently
in Health Affairs touches on the reality of implant utilization and why
there remains a gap overall in relation to actual costs being paid by hospitals
across the country. For years there has been a significant variance in the
knowledge amongst surgeon groups about the total expense implants place on
hospital budgets. It is very refreshing to see that at least the majority of
the group actually participated in the survey and the fact that 21% actually
knew the costs is progress. It is not a surprise that the delta across the
estimates is so variant against what the cost actually is, of those products
they use every day.
On the other side, this article
validates once again the lack of transparency in pricing on vendors like
products used in different organizations as pointed out by the Government
Accountability Office in 2012. As reimbursements continue to decrease, this
point will be of focus as organizations bear the strain of increased implant
costs.
Finally, as organizations work to
engage their physicians in helping with cost containment, it will be important
to:
·Stress the lack of variance in quality outcomes across like
products made by multiple suppliers
·Educate the physicians, and drive this education through
both outcomes data and financials
·Finally, incentivize those physicians, who are early
adopters in participating in cost containment through equipment and other
desired service line products.