This portion of the Health Policy Web site relates to the work done by ASTRO’s Code Development and Valuation Committee. Najeeb Mohideen, M.D., is the chair of this committee that works in coordination with the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Editorial Panel and the AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value System Update Committee to develop and assign relative value units to new and already established radiation oncology CPT codes.
To learn more about ASTRO’s interactions with the CPT Editorial Panel and RUC, please AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value System Update Committee through the CPT please refer to the links on the right.
ASTRO and AMA Conducting Physician Practice Information Survey
For the first time in nearly a decade, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), the American Medical Association (AMA), and more than 70 other healthcare professional organizations, have worked together to coordinate a comprehensive multi-specialty survey of America’s physician practices. The survey will collect up-to-date characteristics of thousands of physician practices from virtually all specialties, and be used in efforts to positively influence national decision-makers to ensure accurate and fair representation for all physicians and patients.
Getting our nation’s policy-makers to understand today’s landscape and the requirements for care is critical. These data will allow medicine to articulate the challenges of running a practice that provides expert patient care, while operating a business that is sustainable. The study results will not only help in the short-term, but will allow future generations of doctors to continue providing superior care to their patients.
One particularly important section of the study pertains to practice expenses and the amounts that are attributable to you. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has indicated that the results of this study will be used to help determine physician payment. Please encourage your staff to make this information available as the survey’s success depends on accurate and complete data. This information will remain confidential. The survey firm, Dmrkynetec, will not identify any individuals or entities participating in this research.
Dmrkynetec, a survey firm with extensive experience in the area of physician practice finance, has been retained to administer the survey. Dmrkynetec will contact randomly selected physicians and practice managers in order to collect their confidential responses. Please watch for this survey and complete it thoroughly and accurately. Do your part to represent our profession.
Physician Practice Information Survey Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Physician Practice Information (PPI) survey?
The PPI survey is a national effort aimed at collecting up-to-date information on physician practice characteristics in order to positively influence national decision makers while further developing and refining AMA and ASTRO policy. Practice data being used by Congress, as well as CMS, are nearly a decade old for most specialties and must be updated to reflect current experience. The PPI survey will provide policy makers with current, accurate data across specialty and practice types so that they can make more informed, evidence-based decisions.
Why should I participate in this study?
This study represents your practice’s opportunity to communicate accurate financial and operational information to policy makers including members of Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Your participation in this study will ensure that the voice and priorities of your medical specialty are clearly heard.
What type of information is being collected?
The PPI survey is focused on collecting information on practice characteristics, provider hours worked, number of patient visits and number of procedures performed. The survey also seeks to quantify common professional expenses associated with medical practice (during 2006), participation in Medicare and common characteristics of managed care plans. Finally, current topics of national interest such as medical malpractice coverage and the use of electronic medical records are explored.
What organizations endorse the study?
The AMA and ASTRO, along with 70 other medical specialty organizations have provided financial support and endorsement for the 2007 Physician Practice Information Survey.
Who is conducting the study?
The organizations endorsing the PPI study have contracted with the Dmrkynetec to collect this data on their behalf. Dmrkynetec is an independent, nationally-recognized research and consulting firm with extensive background in collecting information regarding provider issues.
Why was I chosen?
You were randomly selected as part of a statistically-controlled sample to represent thousands of other providers in your specialty and region of the country. Your participation is critical to ensure that the information collected is representative of providers in all types of practice situations.
How long will this survey take?
There are two components associated with the PPI survey; one to be completed by the provider and the other by the practice’s manager/administrator. Advance study materials include worksheets to help efficiently organize the information. Once these worksheets are filled in, each component of the survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete by phone or Web.
Are my responses confidential?
The Dmrkynetec adheres to strict confidentiality guidelines. All information that would permit identification of any participant will be regarded as strictly confidential. Such information will be used only for purposes of the study and will not be disclosed or released for any other purposes without prior consent, except as required by law.
Where can I see results of the study?
Results of the final study may be published in AMNews, JAMA, the Journal of Health Economics and a wide variety of other professional journals. In addition, practices participating in the 2007 PPI survey will receive a special data summary document containing highlights of study results. This summary document will only be available to PPI participants.