Placing Bundled Payments in Perspective: A Survey of the New England Ophthalmological Society.

OBJECTIVE To determine ophthalmologists' views on the Medicare bundled payment model for specialty physicians in the outpatient setting. DESIGN AND METHODS The New England Ophthalmology Society (NEOS) was emailed an anonymous survey. Views of bundled payments and demographic characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS Of responding members, 72% (115/160) strongly opposed bundled payments; 68% (108/160) believed bundled payments will lead to financial losses, and the majority did not support including costs of prescription drugs (69%, 109/159) or preoperative (77%, 123/159) or postoperative complications (59%, 94/159) in the bundle. Respondents who held office in a medical society, were in private practice, solely billed for income, and had mostly conservative political views were significantly more likely to oppose bundling. CONCLUSION The majority of NEOS ophthalmologists were opposed to bundled payments. Personal beliefs and practice type may influence the level of ophthalmologist support of bundled payments.