Each year, the Massachusetts Medical
Society administers the Membership Satisfaction Survey to a large number of MMS
physician members. The responses to this survey are vital to ensuring that the MMS
continues to serve physician members effectively.
The Membership Survey
assesses members' satisfaction with products and services offered by the
Society, ascertains members' perceptions of the most important issues for
the Society to address, and obtains members' assessments of the Society's
performance in these areas and its responsiveness to their concerns.
The
Membership Survey also assesses overall levels of satisfaction with membership
and the likelihood of renewal.
Member
Satisfaction
The overall level of satisfaction with MMS membership continues to be strong. In 2013, the overall level of satisfaction among members surveyed was very
high, as 91% said they were either "very satisfied" or
"satisfied" with their membership. Amongst the members surveyed, 97%
said they were likely to renew their membership. Virtually all members in each
age, gender, practice type, and activity level subcategory were likely to renew
their membership.
MMS
Priorities
Members see advocacy on behalf of physicians as the principal task of the MMS. The top four priorities for members involve advocacy on behalf of physicians:
- 86% said that advocating for physicians with state
government was "very important"
- 80% said that advocacy on behalf of physicians in the
area of payment reform was "very important"
- Roughly three quarters of members said that advocating
with the federal government
- Similarly, about three-quarters of members said advocating
for health plan administrative relief was "very important"
Key
Performance Ratings
The Society received strong ratings in
several key performance areas from its members:
- Virtually all members (96%)
rated the MMS as “good,” “very good” or “excellent” in providing medical
education opportunities.
- 94% of members
rated MMS as "good," "very good," or
"excellent" in "communicating information to you in a
timely way on MMS activities.”
- The Society’s advocacy efforts were also lauded by
members, with 86% and 82% rating the MMS’s advocacy with state government
and federal government, respectively, as “good,” “very good” or
“excellent”.
- 81% said the MMS’s advocacy efforts for physicians in
the area of payment reform were “good,” “very good” or “excellent”.
- 76% said the MMS’s advocacy efforts for health plan
administrative relief was “good,” “very good” or “excellent”.
Global
Payment, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and Health Reform Responses
This year, members were asked
several questions regarding global payments:
- 36% of members were “very
likely”, 28% were “somewhat likely”, 20% were “not very likely”, and 16%
were “not at all likely” to participate in a global payment system.
- 32.5% of members “strongly agree” or “agree” that they
are ready to enter into new contracts with hospitals and other physician
groups to work together under a global payment contract, a decrease from
2012, when 56.3% of members responded similarly.
- 40.7% of members “strongly agree” or “agree” that they
are large enough to negotiate fairly with insurance plans – a decrease
from 2012, when 50.6% of members responded similarly.
- Members also expressed some concerns about
participating in ACOs. Specifically:
- 57% were “very concerned” about proper risk adjustment
for patient panel sickness
- 54% were “very concerned” about the ability of the Integrated
Delivery System (IDS)/ACO to manage risk
- 50% were “very concerned” about transparency regarding
IDS/ACO structures and its financing of providers
- Finally, members indicated they expected the following
changes in their practices over the next five years as a result of health
care reform:
- The majority
(44.3%) expect the number of patients seen per to increase, while 26.1% expect
it to decrease, and 29.6% expect it to stay the same
- 71.6% expect Income to decrease, while on 6.6%
indicated it would increase, and 21.7% indicated it would stay the same
- 58.5% expect work hours to increase, with just 9.8%
expecting them to decrease, and 31.8% expecting them to stay the same
- 60.2% expect the amount of time invested in wellness
and prevention to increase, 8.4% expect it to decrease, and 31.4% expect
it to stay the same
Download more details here. (.pdf, 14 pages, 469 kb)
Please contact Melissa Higdon, MPH, the Manager of Health
Policy & Research within the Department of Health Policy with questions at
781-434-7227.
