The Reporter: Dec 1994, Vol.5, No.4
Network Nears First Anniversary

The Columbia Presbyterian Physician Network (CPPN) marks its first anniversary in January 1995 as the managed care service organization for clinical faculty in P&S and in the School of Dental and Oral Surgery. Now more than 700 members strong, the CPPN's overall goal is to represent physician interests in managed care negotiations and to provide administrative support to the physician group for utilization review, quality assurance activities, and financial risk sharing under capitated plans.

"The CPPN's philosophy is to assist all interested physicians and dentists with managed care contracting and operations," says Dr. Myron L. Weisfeldt, president of the network. "The philosophy is to be inclusive and helpful, maximizing faculty involvement in programs of their choice."

CPPN is a self-governing group of physicians and dentists supported but not managed by the hospital and university. It supports the "single voice" concept for CPMC-wide managed care negotiations with clear budgeting and separation of physician income in joint negotiations with vendors.

Dr. Weisfeldt says CPMC offers several strengths, beyond the quality of the physicians, that optimize the network's efforts: independent departments and practices within a medical school not traditionally dependent on clinical income; commitment from both the hospital president and the medical school dean; a tradition of collegial relationships; the ability to recruit top medical talent; the successful Oxford Health Plans; and, more recently, a weakening of competition in the New York City academic managed care marketplace.

"The physicians of CPMC should play the determining role in developing our institution's plan for future health care delivery systems," Dr. Weisfeldt says. "How well we organize our faculty to work cohesively and proactively in the increasingly competitive environment will determine our practice rewards for many years to come."

The CPPN provides managed care information through departmental meetings, a monthly newsletter, and individual mailings on specific managed care issues. It also is developing a provider directory listing its members by contracted plan to facilitate referrals of managed care patients within its own network of faculty. The directory will be updated several times annually as managed care contracting progresses.

The CPPN administrative office, managed by Nancy Boccuzzi, is located in Room 260 of Harkness Pavilion. Ms. Boccuzzi invites questions, requests, and suggestions. The office can be reached at 305-4645 (ext. 64645).