Monique Butler, MD MBA

Full Medicaid expansion needed to retain Georgia’s physicians Georgia was ranked 5th worst place to practice in a recent Medscape article (“Best and Worst Places to Practice 2024”), using five criteria: physician compensation, cost of living, malpractice premiums, the health of the state’s residents, and physician burnout levels. As current and future physicians and health advocates, this column will add context by detailing our experiences practicing in Georgia. It is no surprise that three of the five worst-ranked states for practicing are among those that have not expanded Medicaid. In Georgia, refusal to expand Medicaid means that nearly 12 percent of residents (well over a million people) are uninsured, significantly limiting their access to healthcare. Only in Texas is coverage worse. Due solely to political concerns, Georgia chose to submit a Medicaid waiver and develop its own Medicaid expansion program, Pathways to Coverage. The governor’s office projected that the program would cover an additional 100,000 Georgians in its first year. But it has been an utter failure, with fewer than 3,500 covered at a cost to taxpayers of $26 million. Full Medicaid expansion would have added over 350,000 Georgians while cutting state spending by $710 million. These three states that refused to expand Medicaid are not surprisingly red. It is also unsurprising that the states with the greatest percentage of unhealthy residents are red. Hopefully, Georgia who thought they had a better way of expanding access to care with their own plan that squandered $26 million to cover 3,500 residents will realize that retaining physicians requires a more sensible approach to expanding access to care. #expandinghealthacess, #accesstocare, #limitingcoveragetoresidents https://lnkd.in/eefqH-9Y

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🚨 Update on Baptist Health and Florida Blue Negotiations 🚨 Negotiations between Baptist Health and Florida Blue are ongoing and remain tense as the September 30 contract deadline approaches. Discussions have been underway since February 2024, but no agreement has been reached. The core issue is payment rates: Baptist Health seeks increases to cover rising costs, arguing that current rates are below market, while Florida Blue contends that these demands are excessive and significantly above inflation. With the potential for Baptist Health services to become out-of-network for Florida Blue members on October 1, many patients in Northeast Florida are left uncertain about their healthcare options. Both sides are committed to finding a resolution, but time is running out. 🔗 Sources: Action News Jax, Baptist Health, Health News Florida

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Join Kina L. White, DrPH, MHSA, FACHE, and me next Thursday, November 7, for a webinar, Getting Ready for the CMS Age-Friendly Measure. The #webinar is free for Mississippi Hospital Association members and $100 for non-members. We will crosswalk the requirements for becoming an #AgeFriendly Health System with the requirements of the new CMS structural measure that goes into effect on January 1, 2025. The Age-Friendly Hospital Measure assesses a hospital's commitment to providing age-friendly care. It consists of five domains: - Eliciting Patient Healthcare Goals - Responsible Medication Management - Frailty Screening and Intervention (Mobility, Mentation, and Malnutrition) - Social Vulnerability (Social Isolation, Economic Insecurity, Ageism, Limited Access to Healthcare, Caregiver Stress, Elder Abuse) - Addressing Hospital Culture and Leadership for Age-Friendly Care Hospitals receive one point for each domain they meet, with a total score ranging from zero to five. We will also cover how to incorporate age-friendly care into your #healthequity work. In addition to those over 65 being a group that experiences health disparities, there are also more disparities within that larger group. For example, Black and Hispanic older adults are more likely to report wanting their healthcare providers to spend more time discussing what matters to their health and well-being. And rural older adults often face challenges in accessing specialized geriatric services. We will share tools and resources available in Mississippi and nationally. For those registered, a recording and the slide deck will be shared. I hope to see you there! Register here: https://lnkd.in/g8j64XZb

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This is a unique meeting of healthcare executives who share strategies and use cases for innovative technologies (AI and cybersecurity)and operations. I highly recommend this meeting as an opportunity to meet some transformational leaders in healthcare. https://lnkd.in/gfffn2aH

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Great conversation here between my colleague Blake Watts and our friends over at Leader's Edge Magazine! Blake discusses point solution fatigue, the importance of investing in health tech, and what makes Ochsner Connected Health a unique player in how we approach chronic disease management with employers nationwide. #HealthTech #EmployeeWellness #ChronicDiseaseManagement #DigitalHealth #ValueBasedCare #Diabetes #Hypertension #GLP1 #Obesity

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I'm thrilled to share a recent article from the Spring 2024 Winship Magazine highlighting the incredible efforts of our team in addressing oncology drug shortages. This challenge is a critical aspect of patient care that often goes unnoticed but requires immense hard work, coordination, and planning. A huge shoutout to our exceptional pharmacy department, especially our pharmacy technicians, buyers, and inventory teams. Your dedication ensures that our patients have uninterrupted access to the vital medications they need for their unique cancer treatments. Kudos to our Medical Director, Dr. Jonathan Kaufman for his leadership and unwavering commitment to overcoming these challenges. Throughout this process the integration between our physician and pharmacy leadership has been outstanding. The relentless efforts behind the scenes by our Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University teams are pivotal in providing top-notch care to our patients. It's a humble reminder of the intricate work that goes into each patient's journey, making a significant difference in their fight against cancer. To everyone involved in making this possible—thank you for your remarkable work! Read the full article to learn more about how our teams are making strides in mitigating oncology drug shortages: https://lnkd.in/exrXHFQ9 #PatientCare #Oncology #PharmacyHeroes #TeamWork #CancerCare #EmoryHealthcare #Winship #Cancer #Healthcare #Drugshortages #shortages #Medicationshortages #LifeSciences

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KH's most recent Flash Report unveils promising signs of financial performance, with a notable slowing of margin decline. The widening gap between lower and higher performing organizations highlights the focus on long-term investment and innovation in high-performing orgs. Lower performing organizations must focus on enhancing efficiencies and reworking key elements like their operating model and portfolio management. Explore the insights in the report here: [National Hospital Flash Report May 2024 Metrics](https://lnkd.in/ggUcyDPh). For resources to boost performance, visit us at https://lnkd.in/enBa3Tp

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Do you want to see who knows what we need to do and what is most important to fix health care? Listen to Sue Veer addressing this Committee. Hear from those who have a heart for serving most Americans most behind and are willing to sacrifice to address the next generation always ignored - and then we wonder why outcomes get worse. She was discussing 340B in about them most balanced and informative way possible. She noted how the CHC used 340 B "supports health care services that would otherwise be unavailable in many of the communities that we serve... the one that is near and dear to my heart are those early childhood services that are otherwise unfunded because we are building the health of the future generation" - Early Childhood Services - Sue Veer - More than a Hero - A leader for our nation and absolutely on target with her heart and her service and her testimony $600,000 margin lost and 0.6 FTE of labor to comply with 340 B - loss of nearly $700,000 in delivery capacity for those most in need! Did you hear this Congress, CMS, and others how you cut the lifeblood and distract the delivery team members time and time again over the past 40 years of design changes. Stop killing hospitals, practices, and delivery team members where most Americans are most behind. Start paying attention to Sue Veer and many others like her who can teach you how your designs fail and how they can work - for future generations. You do not fun health care where needed. You have forced a patchwork. Please don't kill the patches and pieces before you actually implement a plan for sufficient basic health access for 95% of the nation, not just 50 - 60%. Listen to the heart of health care delivery. Listen to those that you must fully fund who are the only ones that can be most and best for most Americans most behind.

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As healthcare leaders, we must continually evolve to ensure that every patient receives unbiased and empathetic care. A recent Forbes article highlights the need to address biases within our health systems. At Ochsner Health, we are dedicated to implementing strategies that combat biases and enhance patient safety and care quality. We foster an environment where patients actively participate in their treatment plans, respecting their preferences and values. This approach builds trust and promotes better health outcomes. Encouraging open dialogue and sharing experiences among our team members fosters a culture of continuous improvement and resilience. Ochsner Health embodies unbiased, empathetic care is not just an aspiration but our ongoing commitment and duty as healthcare leaders. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gDmmxkRT #Leadership

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Join Eric Lucas, Jonathan Mason & Georgia Green, MS, CHFP for a webcast on 8/27 - Medicare Regulatory Update: 2025 IPPS Final Rule. We’ll discuss the latest updates for hospitals and cover topics including an evaluation of the IPPS final rule key areas, reimbursement shifts and data trends identified in the IPPS final rule data, and next steps and factors to consider because of the final changes, including the mandatory TEAM model. #healthcare #hospitals

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Purchased services are vital to healthcare, but they can also become financial drains if not managed properly. A mature purchased services strategy includes insight into all expenses, reduction in unnecessary variation, and prioritized patient care, outcomes, and experience. By focusing on these areas, health systems can lower costs, improve clinical care, and enhance patient experiences. Learn more in Advantus Health Partners article about how to create a mature purchased services strategy: https://lnkd.in/g4UwCjCW #HealthcareSupplyChain #ValueBasedCare #SupplyChainManagement

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NEW YEAR GREETINGS & UPDATE FROM ORLANDO HEALTH DIGESTIVE HEALTH INSTITUTE (OHDHI) On behalf of OHDHI I wish you a Happy New Year. OHDHI was conceived in 2022, with a 5-year growth plan. I am pleased to provide update on year-three activities. PROGRAM GROWTH: What started as 4-member endoscopy team is now 34 physician & 265 staff strong. OHDHI includes 6 advanced endoscopists, 2 IBD specialists, 2 Hepatologists, 1 Pancreatologist, 1 Motility Specialist and 20 general gastroenterologists. OHDHI provides services at 6 hospitals, 9 outpatient clinics & 4 ambulatory centers. CLINICAL CARE: In 2024, the general GI/subspecialty services in Orlando region provided >65000 outpatient consultations and performed 87502 endoscopic procedures. The liver & IBD clinics evaluated >3600 and 6100 outpatients and have dedicated inpatient subspecialty service at ORMC. The 3-yr old Center for Advanced Endoscopy, Research and Education (CARE) performed 10509 advanced procedures – EUS 3898, ERCP 1325, 116 third space and 5170 complex interventions. When combined with Bayfront campus, EUS volume was 4517, ranking OHDHI once again # 1 in North America. RESEARCH: First in-human study evaluating AI-EUS for detection of pancreatic cancer was concluded and findings presented at UEGW and secured 1st prize at the ACG in Philadelphia. United States Pancreatic Disease Study Group founded by us is leading multicenter randomized trial comparing EUS-guided celiac block versus sham therapy for pain in chronic pancreatitis. Please stay tuned for major announcements in 2025 on international collaborations in research. TRAINING: The 2-year-old ACGME accredited GI fellowship has matched 2 fellows for upcoming year and new advanced endoscopy fellow will be joining from University of Montreal. EDUCATION: 3 symposiums were conducted (1) Florida Live Endoscopy which drew 339 delegates from 27 countries (2) Florida IBD Congress and (3) Florida Digestive Diseases Update which together drew > 570 delegates from >40 States. 2025 GOALS: (1) 70000 sq ft DHI housing our office, clinic, research, and advanced endoscopy suites is slated for opening in 04/2025, (2) two new transplant hepatologists will join as momentum is in full swing for establishing transplant program, (3) ESWL for chronic pancreatitis will be started first quarter of 2025 and (4) we anticipate completion of 2 RCTs in interventional EUS in the new year. We are determined to retain Orlando’s standing as Global Capital for EUS - the AI innovation and research endeavors are reflective of our goals and ideals. OHDHI will be hosting Florida Live EUS, the premier global event, from August 21-23, 2025. Although supply chain constraints, inflation and workforce shortage made growth challenging, we have accomplished few major milestones within 36 months and are just getting started. If you will be visiting Orlando or want to be part of an exciting clinical program, drop by to see and know more about our thriving and expanding OHDHI! 

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Do you know or are you one of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) members who earned a certification in Q2 to validate expertise and demonstrate commitment to the profession? Some 2,115 individuals were honored in Q2 with HFMA certifications, with 101 people earning multiple certifications. Check out the story to see a list of all honorees.

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Today marks an important milestone with Emory Healthcare’s announcement of their statewide PHC and collaboration with Guidehealth. We began our commercial relationship with Emory Healthcare Network earlier this year on an interim basis and quickly progressed by fully integrating our technology and capabilities. In a short time, our joint efforts have created “speed to value”, demonstrating considerable traction and early wins on quality, patient care and overall performance. There are many people to thank - - and I'll start by acknowledging the network and service line leadership of Patrick Hammond, Tina-Ann Kerr Thompson, MD, MBA and their teams including Dan Salinas, MD and Susan Helton, Adam Tribbett and many others. Unless they saw the merits of us working together, we wouldn’t be here. We as a company have grown through inspiring engagement with Emory’s digital health leadership led by Alistair Erskine MD MBA and his team including Nitu Kashyap. The data science architecture, our use of AI and integration into Emory’s digital health strategy has transformed our business in many ways including accuracy and risk prediction, clinical prioritization, outreach and access, and scalable interventions. A shout out to Guidehealth's technology partners who have led us to unprecedented success and first mover advantage of our platform. I want to personally acknowledge Joon S Lee MD, Emory Healthcare CEO for his vision and personal attention to our collaboration. As also Chris Augostini, EVP and Emory University CFO. Their teams have been working closely with us to make today’s announcement a reality. Finally, to our leadership, at every level beginning with MARK SELNA, McKay Crowley, MD, MBA, FACP, CHCQM, Robert Alterman, Michael Gleeson, Roger Ou, Jeanne Wisniewski, ACC and their teams who’ve been working tirelessly to integrate technology and people into partner workflows, I want you to know that none of this would have been possible without your creativity, dedication and higher purpose that you bring to bear for patients and physicians every day. With today’s announcement, we now support six health systems in four states across a variety of contracts. With Emory, our collaboration extends across all patients and payers and is by far the most comprehensive and clinically integrated expansion of our model. And with it, we are honored to firmly plant our flag in the Peach State! https://lnkd.in/eARfUMnG

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I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the inaugural conference of the Southeast Regional Urgent Care Association. I’m pictured here with UCI/Doctors Care’s Executive Administrative Assistant, Dennis Pinnell. Many thanks to the event sponsors and the Board of Directors, who worked diligently to make this a successful meeting. SERUCA’s Founder and President, Dr. Bernie Short, is to be commended for his commitment to the organization and the promotion of Urgent Care as a specialty. Some takeaways from the conference are listed below: As AI is progressively integrated into healthcare, clinicians will have more time to focus on “taking care of people.”  AI assistants will collect patient histories, make preliminary diagnoses, and present treatment plans for review, allowing healthcare providers more time to prioritize patient interactions and critical decision-making. UCA’s advocacy efforts are centered mainly around improving Urgent Care reimbursements. There are many opportunities for SERUCA members to get involved at the state and national levels. Advocacy work is fun! Urgent care visit acuity degradation is ubiquitous throughout the industry. Driven by current economic pressures and physician shortages, the physician-to-advanced practitioner ratio continues to decline. Without a commitment from medical leadership to invest in AP training, urgent care centers will become glorified triage stations. The mechanism of injury is paramount when evaluating hand injuries. Be sure to include this in your history gathering. Point-of-care ultrasound in urgent care centers can generate revenue, patient satisfaction, and clinician engagement. With our current rad tech shortage crisis, POCUS may be a part of the solution. Despite decades of performing laceration repairs, Dr. Patrick O’Malley’s Advanced Suturing Techniques lecture gave me some clinical pearls. #urgentcare #healthcare #conference #AI #advocacy #clinicalinsights

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On today's show I interview Roshini Singh, Autonomous APRN, who owns her own practice in South Florida. Not only is it a unique practice model she chose, but she started it during the pandemic! Listen as we discuss why and how she started her practice, and much more! https://lnkd.in/eWvhcwWB

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I would venture to say that our Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) team at Pediatric Resource Group (PRG) has more collective years of pediatric CDI experience than all other CDI consulting firms combined. 110 years amongst us and we are not done growing our team. If we include my physician advisor consultants that support peds CDI, the years of experience goes beyond 150. It's not just experience. Our team is full of national CDI leaders who speak at conferences regularly as well as CDI and coding leaders at major children's hospitals. We bring that expertise to our clients to assess, develop or optimize pediatric and neonatal CDI programs around the country. Peds is different from a care, culture, and reimbursement perspective. Your CDI consulting partner needs to understand all the nuances associated with this unique patient population. Hospital leaders, let's connect to see how PRG can help you optimize or cover peds/NICU CDI. CDI consultants, let's partner on peds clients. Amy Bush, BS, RN, MJ, CCDS, CCS, Kristen Johnston Jorde Spitler MHA BSN RN CCDS, Ashley Ezell, Kristin K., Kesia St Romain, Amy Philen, BSN, RN, CCDS, Jeff Morris, BSN, RN, CCDS, CCS, Jessica Audino-Iwuji #pediatricCDI #clinicaldocumentation #peds

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