Placing Bundled Payments in Perspective: A Survey of the New England Ophthalmological Society

Abstract

Objective: To determine ophthalmologists' views on the Medicare bundled payment model for specialty physicians in the outpatient setting.

Design and methods: The New England Ophthalmology Society (NEOS) was emailed an anonymous survey. Views of bundled payments and demographic characteristics were analyzed.

Results: Of responding members, 72% (115/160) strongly opposed bundled payments; 68% (108/160) believed bundled payments will lead to financial losses, and the majority did not support including costs of prescription drugs (69%, 109/159) or preoperative (77%, 123/159) or postoperative complications (59%, 94/159) in the bundle. Respondents who held office in a medical society, were in private practice, solely billed for income, and had mostly conservative political views were significantly more likely to oppose bundling.

Conclusion: The majority of NEOS ophthalmologists were opposed to bundled payments. Personal beliefs and practice type may influence the level of ophthalmologist support of bundled payments.

Keywords: Medicare; bundled payments; ophthalmology.