manufacturers (56 percent), and pa- tients (52 percent) as bearing most of the responsibility. When asked about cost-cutting strat- egies, most physicians said they would support promoting continuity of care (75 percent), expanding access to quality and safety data (51 percent), and limit- ing access to expensive treatments with little net benefit (51 percent). Only 7 percent expressed enthusiasm for elimi- nating fee-for-service payment models. Most physicians — 76 percent — re- ported being “aware of the costs of the tests/treatments [they] recommend.” Roughly 80 percent agreed they should adhere to clinical guidelines that dis- courage the use of marginally beneficial care and “be solely devoted to individual patients’ best interests, even if that is ex- pensive.” An overwhelming 89 percent said doctors need to take a more active role in limiting unnecessary tests. Researchers said they conducted the study because “physicians’ perspectives on policies and strategies related to cost containment and their perceived re- sponsibilities as stewards of health care resources in general are increasingly ger- mane to pending and proposed policy re- forms” on improving the quality and effi- ciency of care. “Moving toward cost-con- scious care in the current environment … [using] strategies for which there is widespread physician support might cre- ate momentum for such efforts.” Read the full survey online at http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article .aspx?articleid=1719740.


As health care delivery and financ- ing shift toward value-based account- able care models, TMA offers new tools to help all types of physician practices adapt to meet those market demands and provide more efficient patient care while preserving the patient-physician relationship. From building practice infrastructure,


to improving clinical and cost perfor- mance, to pursuing clinical integration, TMA’s Physician Services Organization will offer services that bolster physi- cians’ clinical and financial autonomy, whatever the practice’s current level of sophistication may be. A key element will be giving physi-


cians easy access to data to measure and improve their clinical performance and financial viability. For example, one ser- vice might help you comb through your data to identify chronically ill patients who need extra help to stay as healthy as possible and stay out of the hospital. Another might align primary care physi- cians and specialists to better coordinate the care they provide to their common patients. For more information about the TMA Physician Services Organization and its services, email Kim Harmon, TMA’s director of special projects, at kim.har mon@texmed.org.


Scientific Meeting


A2013nnual Saturday & Sunday


November 16-17 Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort San Antonio, Texas


Jointly sponsored with Scott & White. KEYNOTE SPEECH


presented by Dr. Louise Aronson, author of “HISTORY OF THE PRESENT ILLNESS.”


Join us for a special presentation KEYNOTE CONCERT featuring psychiatrist and concert pianist on the


faculty at Weill Cornell Medical School, Dr. Richard Kogan.


 Gain insight into recent medical advances


 View the top selections of clinical and research poster entries


Seton, United form commercial ACO


TMA’s PSO helpful with ACO decisions


Thinking about whether an accountable care organization (ACO) is right for your practice? Figuring out how to stay inde- pendent while adapting to the evolving health care market? The Texas Medical Association’s Physician Services Organi- zation for Patient Care can help you with those decisions.


Medicare isn’t the only payer on the accountable care organization (ACO) bandwagon. Private payers are jumping on board, too. In August, the Seton Health Alliance and UnitedHealthcare launched a com- mercial ACO to help patients in United’s employer-sponsored health plans in Cen- tral Texas get more coordinated, cost-ef- fective care.


1/3 V It is believed to be the first active


commercial ACO in the region. The Seton Health Alliance ACO is a physician-hospital partnership between


October 2013 TEXAS MEDICINE 41


 Analyze the newest evidence-based treatment and management of common medical problems facing internists


 Network with Texas chapter members


 Meet friends and former colleagues


Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend.


Visit www.txacp.org to register. For information, visit www.txacp.org


or call the chapter business office at 512.370.1508.


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