QUESTION:
The administration for our residency is saying that we lose $400 each time we place an IUD for Medicaid patients and that we should stop doing this (or find a creative way to place IUDs in a more budget neutral way). First of all, does this calculation seem correct to you? If so, do you have any ideas for how we can place IUDs without breaking the bank? (I already unsuccessfully made the argument that an IUD is cheaper than a pregnancy).
REPLY:
Yes, the Camellia Foundation will donate ten FDA approved IUD's for a nominal $20 each if you have the desire to do a fund raiser among residents and faculty on behalf of patients who deserve this service. When you have a log of the ten patients who have received these IUD's, the Foundation will provide another ten.
This way the hospital will not have to buy the IUD's and they cannot lose money. After all, they are simply saying that they do not want to buy anymore of these supplies for your patients.
This is an opportunity to be an FP idealist and a social reformer. Another example of how hospital administrations do not have incentives aligned with community based physicians. This is killing our residencies. Legally and ethically the Camellia Foundation can help you go around them. I will help.
Wm MacMillan Rodney MD
Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine
Adjunct Professor Surgery/Emergency Medicine
Meharry/Vanderbilt School of Medicine
Medicos para la Familia
Memphis and Nashville, Tn.
www.psot.com
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