Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Costs, Benefits and Politics Robert A. Nebiker Deputy Director Virginia Department of Health Profession 2001 CLEAR Conference San Antonio, Texas September 14, 2001 1

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Whose idea was this anyway? ü Mandated by the 1998 General Assembly. ü Support form hospitals (focus group) and managed care plans. ü Best defense is an offense. ü Some initial opposition from organized medicine but, supported the bill. ü Based on Massachusetts project. 2

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project What it is… Law mandates: ü ü ü ü ü Medical and post graduate education Specialty board Duration in practice Practice locations/Translating services Publications Medicaid participation Disciplinary actions by Hospitals, plans, professional organizations, etc Paid claims Notices and Orders 3

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project What it may be …. . Optional Information: üTelephone number üDays of week at practice location üMaiden name üEmail Address üWebsite Address üMedicare participation üTranslation services at secondary practice locations üForeign languages spoken at secondary practice locations üContinuing Education üHonors and awards 4

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project This mandate required several administrative actions: üAn appropriation $330 k 1 st Year ; $250 k each subsequent year üActual cash---Fee increase üHiring of staff üLetting of a contract 5

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Options for Implementation In house: üEstablish a professional level position. üStaff out administrative positions. üMake major systems modifications. Out source: üData collection üCall center üEntire range of needed services including systems 6

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Cost Saving- Web Based Entry: • Cost per 100 -Data entry by staff…. . $260 • Cost per 100 - Web/Client entry…. $-0 • Number entered on line…. . 22, 897 (80%) • Cost of Web site development. . $23, 000 • Estimated Savings………$36, 540 7

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Web Advantages…. ü 100, 000 data entry portals ü 24/7 availability üImmediate completion resolution üFixes responsibility on reporting physician üNo paper üNo mailing 8

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project What are the benefits ? ü On line (and mail/fax back) access to self reported and limited verified information to 30, 000 + ü Ability to search by: § § Name Specialty Locality Hospital ü 97, 000 Sessions in 6 weeks (3, 068, 625 page views) 9

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project We are for it !!! (Sometimes) ü Insurers ü Hospitals ü Consumers ü Elected Officials ü Open Records advocates ü Press ü Medical Society ü Local (County) Medical Societies 10

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Second Thoughts…. ü 1999 medical society: The whole undertaking ü 2000 northern Virginia medical groups: Malpractice on the net 11

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Third Thoughts… ü Senate Bill 10 in the July 2001 Special Session ü Made no mention of the Internet/Web ü Seems to limit kinds of Orders: ØRevocation-OK ØReprimand-OK ØFine-No ØViolation/No sanction-No ØReinstatement-No 12

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Third thoughts…. . Senate Bill 10 ü Made no mention of the Internet/Web ü Made no mention of Notices ü Provided access to “reports or complaints of misconduct that have not resulted in any disciplinary action or proceeding” ü 149 Licensees with Notices/Orders per year ü 1700 with dismissed cases 13

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Where we are…. ü Web site is up and the call center is operational ü Notices and Orders are available 10/06/2001 ü We have denied requests for over 300 unfounded complaints ü Press is active…. . 14

Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Where we heading…. ü SB 59 Pre-filed for the 2002 General Assembly will undo SB 10 as an emergency and makes several technical changes ü Less than accurate reporting by physicians. Five such physicians we the subject of Washington Post article. Picked up by other media. 15

Department of Health Professions Visit us …. www. vahealthprovider. com Call: 804 -643 -4337 Fax: 804 -643 -5375 16