News Profile

MAMA Strategic Planning
May 1, 2008

2008 Strategic Planning

The MAMA Board concluded the 2008 Strategic Planning meeting this past weekend.  The conclusions from this year’s meeting have established the necessary vision for the short, and long term success of our organization.  The following are the key components from the meeting

Professional Liability:  As an organization, our collective premiums have once again dropped for 2008.  This marks the third consecutive year of a premium reduction.  Additionally, we are on track to hit the 6% contribution maximum in our profit sharing program.  Lastly, we successfully negotiated an additional 2% increase in the profit sharing program levels for the 2008-09 policy year.

Billing Service: The Board authorized immediate research into the possible development of a centralized billing service for any, and all MAMA practices.  We will begin an exhaustive study of interested practices, economies of scale, as well as web based, and traditional software companies.  Billing, coding and collections will be the primary responsibilities of this new company.

Allied Health:  We are evaluating charging an annual fee for practices employing allied health personnel.  The liability, and credentialing requirements that payers once reserved only for physicians are now imposed on allied health professionals as well.  By doing so, allied health can benefit via the MAMA contracts.  Should a fee be adopted, it would not go into effect until the 2009 fiscal year.

Humana/OSF HealthPlans:  The current MAMA/OSFHP contract does not allow for Humana to begin accessing your services without your written authorization.  Humana’s purchase will require an amendment to our contract before the two payers can merge their covered lives. Prior to signing such an amendment, a careful evaluation of the impact, and supporting market date will occur.

In Office Pharmacy:  We are currently researching the possibility of providing in office pharmacy services to patients.  Prescribing, dispensing and billing for some of the more prevalent prescriptions your office may write.  This concept is growing in popularity in other regions, and we are now beginning to evaluate the costs and benefits of implementing a similar initiative in Bloomington/Normal.

Complimentary Medicine:  With over $35 billion spent, and 50% of Americans using some form of complimentary, or integrative medicine in 2007, the board’s interest in exploring possible complimentary services has peaked. With no immediate plans to roll out specific services, the prospect of MAMA’s involvement, or endorsement of such services is in the strategic plan moving forward.

Outreach: MAMA is looking to connect with our community to address studies that suggest there is a pending shortage in specialty services. Offering a regularly occurring symposium to the youth of our community, as well as a possible scholarship opportunity for McLean County youth to attend medical school is under evaluation.