Costs, Medicare pay top group concerns

Rising operating costs and uncertain Medicare rates dominated this year's biggest challenges for medical groups, according to survey results released in June by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).

The MGMA 2010 "Medical Practice Today: What Members Have to Say," survey of 1,798 members, showed that Medicare uncertainty rose from the fifth-largest concern in 2008 and 2009 to the second-largest concern this year. Rising operating costs also topped the list in 2009.

An organizational governance issue MGMA introduced to the list this year, "managing teamwork and group dynamics among physicians," debuted at No. 8. "Implementing a patient-centered medical home model of care," made the biggest leap from last year's list, from No. 22 to No. 12 this year.