2. 1 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

3. 2 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Whose idea was this anyway? Mandated by the 1998 General Assembly. Support form hospitals (focus group) and managed care plans. Best defense is an offense. Some initial opposition from organized medicine but, supported the bill. Based on Massachusetts project.

4. 3 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project What it is… Law mandates: 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

5. 4 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project What it may be ….. Optional Information : Telephone number Days of week at practice location Maiden name Email Address Website Address Medicare participation Translation services at secondary practice locations Foreign languages spoken at secondary practice locations Continuing Education Honors and awards

6. 5 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project This mandate required several administrative actions: An appropriation $330k 1 st Year ; $250k each subsequent year Actual cash---Fee increase Hiring of staff Letting of a contract

7. 6 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Options for Implementation In house: Establish a professional level position. Staff out administrative positions. Make major systems modifications. Out source: Data collection Call center Entire range of needed services including systems

8. 7 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

9. 8 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Web Advantages…. 100,000,000 data entry portals 24/7 availability Immediate completion resolution Fixes responsibility on reporting physician No paper No mailing

10. 9 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project What are the benefits ? On line (and mail/fax back) access to self reported and limited verified information to 30,000 + Ability to search by:  Name  Specialty  Locality  Hospital 97,000 Sessions in 6 weeks (3,068,625 page views)

11. 10 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project We are for it !!! (Sometimes) Insurers Hospitals Consumers Elected Officials Open Records advocates Press Medical Society Local (County) Medical Societies

12. 11 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Second Thoughts…. 1999 medical society: The whole undertaking 2000 northern Virginia medical groups: Malpractice on the net

13. 12 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Third Thoughts… Senate Bill 10 in the July 2001 Special Session Made no mention of the Internet/Web Seems to limit kinds of Orders:  Revocation-OK  Reprimand-OK  Fine-No  Violation/No sanction-No  Reinstatement-No

14. 13 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Third thoughts….. Senate Bill 10 Made no mention of the Internet/Web Made no mention of Notices Provided access to “reports or complaints of misconduct that have not resulted in any disciplinary action or proceeding” 149 Licensees with Notices/Orders per year 1700 with dismissed cases

15. 14 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Where we are…. Web site is up and the call center is operational Notices and Orders are available10/06/2001 We have denied requests for over 300 unfounded complaints Press is active…..

16. 15 Department of Health Professions The Practitioner Information Project Where we heading…. SB 59 Pre-filed for the 2002 General Assembly will undo SB 10 as an emergency and makes several technical changes Less than accurate reporting by physicians. Five such physicians we the subject of Washington Post article. Picked up by other media.

17. 16 Department of Health Professions Visit us …. www.vahealthprovider.com Call: 804-643-4337 Fax:804-643-5375