1. The Physicians Foundation
OSMAP General Session
Gary J. Price, MD, MBA
Board Member of the Physicians Foundation
November 11, 2016

2. About The Physicians Foundation

3. Overview
National non-profit organization formed in 2003 and dedicated to:
Empowering physicians to lead in the delivery of high quality, cost-efficient health care
Strengthening the physician-patient relationship
Informing national healthcare policy by giving a voice to physicians nationwide
Supporting practicing physicians as they work to sustain their medical practices and navigate health reform

4. Our Mission
To empower physicians to lead in the delivery of high-quality, cost-efficient healthcare.

5. The Physicians Foundation Signatory Medical Societies
Alaska State Medical Association Medical Society of Northern Virginia California Medical Association Medical Society of the State of New York Connecticut State Medical Society Nebraska Medical Association Denton County Medical Society (Texas) New Hampshire Medical Society El Paso County Medical Society (Colorado) North Carolina Medical Society Florida Medical Association South Carolina Medical Association Hawaii Medical Society Tennessee Medical Association Louisiana State Medical Society Texas Medical Association Medical Association of Georgia Vermont Medical Society Medical Society of New Jersey Washington State Medical Association

6. Recently Published

7. Our Recent Work: 2016 Patient Survey

8. Overview Survey examined: Status of the physician-patient relationship
Factors patients believe are contributing to increased healthcare costs
Patient perceptions of stakeholders impacting treatment options

9. Key Findings Nine out of 10 are highly satisfied with PCP
48% unconfident about affordable care should they become seriously ill
59% say the cost of prescription drugs contributes to rising healthcare costs
83% believe health insurance companies have the most impact on available treatment options

10. The Healthcare Cost Burden
Costs affect consumers in several ways. Many are concerned with the future costs of seeking healthcare. Many U.S. adults use noncompliance techniques to reduce their overall healthcare costs. And, large segments of the population already have debt due to medical costs.
67% of adults are concerned with being able to pay for medical treatment if they get sick or are injured.
48% are not confident they could afford care if they become seriously ill.
40% have “medical” debt.
43% had an unexpected healthcare expense in the past 12 months; and, for 63% of these, it caused serious financial hardship.
25% of U.S. adults have skipped a medical test, treatment or follow-up or avoided a visit with a doctor for a medical problem (28%) in the past 12 months because of the cost. Because of cost:
18% have skipped doses of medicine.
27% have avoided filling a prescription.

11. Who impacts treatment options?
Detailed Findings
Who impacts treatment options?

12. The ACA…where do we go now?
The ACA continues to be a “hot button” issue. Most U.S. adults state it hurts the healthcare system, that the healthcare system was better before the law passed, and that it should be repealed or reformed. These attitudes are largely influenced by political ideology or affiliation.
54% of U.S. adults strongly agree/agree the ACA should be repealed in it’s entirety.
This is true more for Republicans (77%) than Democrats (27%).
Similarly, 54% strongly agree/agree the healthcare system was better before the ACA passed.
Again, this is true more for Republicans (77%) versus Democrats 34%.
And, 52% think the ACA hurts the healthcare system overall.
83% of Republicans hold viewpoint versus 23% of Democrats.
Regardless of political affiliation, there is agreement that the ACA should be reformed (75% strongly agree/agree).

13. Our Recent Work: 2016 Biennial Physician Survey

14. Overview
Biennial research examines viewpoints of today’s physicians to gain consensus on
professional morale
practice patterns
career plans
perspectives

15. Background
Survey conducted online from April 2016 through mid-June 2016
Findings are based on responses from over 17,000 physicians across the U.S.
Overall margin of error (MOE) for the entire survey <1%

16. Trends and Findings Professional morale of physicians is declining
62.8% of surveyed are pessimistic about future of medical profession
About half of respondents would not recommend medicine as a career to their children
Close to 1/3 would not become physicians if they had their careers to do over 

17. Trends and Findings
Physicians identified regulatory / paperwork burdens and loss of clinical autonomy as their primary sources of dissatisfaction
21% of time spent on non-clinical paper work duties
72% say third party intrusions detract from the quality of care provided

18. Trends and Findings
Physicians’ primary source of professional satisfaction: the patient relationship
73.8% listed patient relationship as most satisfying aspect
Similarly, patient survey found 95% of patients reported satisfaction with PCPs ability to explain information
96% of patients feel physicians are respectful of them

19. Trends and Findings
Physicians not convinced to sufficiently engage / support mechanisms of healthcare reform to achieve aims
Majority of physicians reported their compensation is not tied to value
20% familiar with MACRA
Most indicated ICD-10 has had little to no impact in practice efficiency, revenue or patient care
89% say EHR has had little or no impact or detracted from patient interaction

20. Strategic Findings
Physicians and Patients highly driven by desire for quality of physician-patient relationship
Patients feel they still have access to this, Physicians feel this has been eroded significantly
Physician Morale (burnout) is a major concern

21. Strategic findings
Patients and Physicians understand major role of “the third parties” in the exam room
Physicians view current EMR technology as a frequent hindrance and source of frustration, while patients are embracing their interface with it.
There is broad support for improvement in the ACA which crosses party lines

22. Strategic Findings
Areas where physicians and our patients have common ground and could effectively advocate together:
Initiatives which lower costs, financial burden of care
Efforts to harness technology to improve the physician patient relationship rather than detract from it
Reform of the ACA
Intrusion of third parties into medical decision making

23. Questions or Comments?

24. The Physicians Foundation wants to hear from you!
What vital physician issues would you like to see the Foundation research? How can we better collaborate to drive meaningful change for our physicians?
us at
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25. Thank you!