Proceedings adapted from a payor panel.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This panel featured four representatives from the healthcare industry and government, offering an opportunity for critical care professionals to pose questions and discuss issues and concerns relevant to anyone caring for critically ill and injured patients today. A brief biography is provided for each panelist. DISCUSSION: The Society of Critical Care Medicine Advocacy Committee recognized that there are not enough opportunities for clinicians and other members of the critical care team to discuss questions or issues with their counterparts on the payor side of providing clinical care. That is, much of the difficulty faced by providers after providing critical care services could be resolved if the channels of communication were opened, and so a payor panel was organized to start the process. CONCLUSION: Each of the panelists provided a prepared statement on issues relevant to critical care, as evident from their respective roles. Specific scenarios and other suggestions regarding payment policy, coding, and quality of care are provided.