We expect some input, and physicians are compensated for participation, but we don't have a policy that mandates it. Some doctors think any time spent away from patient care is not time well spent. What we want are long-term contracts with better capitation rates for better utilization, along with maintaining quality. If we can do that in the next two to three years, we'll reap the benefits of our new system. Luchi sees him evolving to accommodate physicians' coming of age.
Nobody is willing to let go immediately.
Insurers still want to be in on the information loop, particularly for claims processing. But Luchi and Wiest believe freeing insurers from medical management can only improve their insurance product. Time and again, we've asked our physicians if they would consider being bought by a larger organization. A tradition of small clinics that are convenient for patients is an asset for St. Paul's Family HealthServices group, according to co-medical director Mark Wiest, M.D., and chief operating and financial officer Tom Luchi.