In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Ally Baheti interviews Dr. Michael Cumming about the issue of site of service differentials in healthcare. Dr. Cumming is an interventional radiologist and the founder of Vascular and Interventional Experts.

They discuss the history and the impact of these differentials, which often result in higher costs for identical services depending on the site they’re carried out in. For example, services offered within hospitals typically cost significantly more than those offered in ambulatory surgery centers or physician offices. The doctors also describe the role of key stakeholders such as lobbyists and industry players, the outcomes of care provided in various settings, and ongoing legislative efforts to address these issues. Finally, they discuss how physicians can advocate for high quality, value-based care.

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SHOW NOTES

00:00 - Introduction
03:33 - Site of Service and Its Impact on Payment
06:15 - Role of CMS in Determining Payment
09:09 - Role of Advocacy Groups in Site of Service Payments
17:51 - Future of Site of Service Payments
20:17 - Negative Consequences of Site of Service Differentials
24:01 - Closing Remarks and Reflections

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RESOURCES

CMS.gov website:
https://www.cms.gov/

Preliminary Results of the Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society National Registry:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1526602820949970