News roundup December 14-18

Payments from pharmaceutical companies to physicians was associated with increased prescribing of lower-value drugs, according to a study recently published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The answer is maybe. One possible exception is this three-part consideration: (1) the physician is 100% in an ambulatory setting, (2) the practice site is a hospital/health system corporation with its own unique (non-hospital) CMS billing number, and (3) the physician does not require any hospital-based privileges.

As part of our initiative to highlight the efforts of MSPs everywhere, the Credentialing Resource Center Team is recognizing stellar MSPs in the community by featuring them in Credentialing Resource Center Digest. In our latest feature, we would like to recognize Beverly Napper CPCS. Napper is the medical staff services coordinator at Medical City North Hills in North Richland Hills, Texas and has more than 25 years of experience in medical staff services. She began her career providing data services in a health plan credentialing department and has spent nearly 20 years working in hospital medical staff services departments.

The Credentialing Resource Center team is currently seeking experts to review the 2020 MSP Salary Survey Report. We’re looking for MSPs, physician leaders, healthcare practitioners, quality professionals, and others with relevant experience who are willing to comment on the findings of the report and how the data reflects what they’re seeing in the field. The CRC team will credit all quotes published in the report and feature you in the report’s expert contributors section. Don’t miss this chance to get involved and give back to your peers in the profession! Email editor Karla Accorto at kaccorto@hcpro.com if you’re interested or to learn more!

Here is your exclusive first look at the 2020 MSP Salary Survey Report, coming in early 2021.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the “Court”) affirmed a Texas District Court’s decision granting summary judgment, finding that the plaintiff waived his right to arbitration after engaging in substantial litigation spanning 16 months.

Health plans will have to start covering COVID-19 vaccines shortly after their approval, regardless of whether they are delivered by an in-network provider, under regulations finalized by three federal agencies.