Market data is an efficient and cost effective way to structure a physician contracting compliance program, and is used by hundreds of hospitals across the country. Among the perks of using market data are consistency, accessibility, and flexibility.
As long as the database used to calculate payment benchmarks is both large and diverse, benchmarks typically remain stable from year to year. However, there are several factors that may change benchmarks from year to year, like a significant increase in the sample size or changes in the market. It is always important to document FMV compliance, even if benchmarks shift.
By understanding why benchmarks may change from year to year, you can prepare for these changes within your compliance plan. Having a process in place to deal with potentially challenging conversations will help facilitate the process.
Dealing with Changing Benchmarks:
If the contract was within fair market value when signed, and documentation exists, payment rates can remain as is until the contract expires.
This is when documentation becomes crucial. If you document the benchmark data and that the value of a contract was fair market value when the contract was signed, it is compliant until the contract expires. At this time, if the contract is still below the 75th or the 90th percentile, the payment rate may still be compliant. If the rate is now too high and you cannot negotiate it lower, consider documenting the value of the contract to the organization, general inflation rates, and the changes in the benchmark data.
Be strategic while setting payment rates.
Perhaps your organization has determined that rates at or below the 75th percentile is considered compliant. That doesn't mean that every contract signed should be at the 75th percentile. Allow some wiggle room by negotiating a rate between the 50th and 75th percentile. If rates fluctuate over time, you have some cushion before the rate becomes problematic. This is especially true if the service in question comes from a smaller data set, given that these rates are more likely to fluctuate.
Document why the situation is unique.
A high rate can be justified when the situation is unique. Maybe there are a limited number of physicians in a particular specialty in the area, there is a high burden for taking call, or the payer mix is unfavorable. These can all be legitimate reasons for high rates; after all, someone has to be at the 90th percentile in all benchmarks. However, all payment rates above the 90th percentile need thorough documentation.
Demonstrate the effort to negotiate the lowest possible rate.
Documenting conversations and efforts made to set a payment rate that is fair market value is essential. If you are unable to successfully lower the rate to an amount you are comfortable calling fair market value, take special care to document conversations. Note who met with whom, and explain the attempts made to negotiate lower rates.
If you have any questions, in general or about a specific case, please don't hesitate to email the team at info@mdranger.com
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