Success factors of risk based specialty networks

Specialty physicians are feeling the heat from managed care because of shrinking reimbursement, selective paneling and clinical re-engineering. They have felt the need to leverage their influence by developing specialty groups and networks. While each network is unique in its external circumstances, there are several common elements to successful specialty networks, including having a clear network mission, obtaining adequate capitalization, obtaining equity, accepting only a manageable amount of risk, gaining member volume establishing and maintaining payer diversity, being high quality and efficient, developing and using information tools, supporting network efficiencies, allying with other physician organizations, exercising network panel selection and deselection, and empowering physicians with knowledge.