Lakeside Medical Group, Heritage Provider Network, CEO Dr. Richard Merkin, Featured on Several Segments of Fox National News and Fox Business Channel on Current Healthcare Payment Structures to Physicians

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Mar 16, 2010, 02:11 ET

MARINA DEL REY, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Lakeside Medical Group, member of the Heritage Provider Network Family, President and CEO Dr. Richard Merkin, was featured on several segments throughout the day on Fox National News and Fox Business Channel discussing current healthcare payment structures to physicians.

Fox News Correspondent Anita Vogel featured an interview with Dr. Keith Richman, Lakeside Medical Group, part of the HPN family, in several segments running throughout the day on the Fox National News and also the Fox Business Channel regarding healthcare payment structures that allocate more dollars to specialists than to family doctors. Vogel noted that in some cases and some parts of the country, cardiologists or a radiologists can make double what a pediatrician or family doctor can make, causing a large drop in medical school enrollees focusing on family medicine.

"What we specialize in at Lakeside, HPN, is managed, accountable cost effective care that has successfully helped to change the business model that allows these inequities, " said Dr. Richman. "It is critically important that we value thought analysis and diagnostic skills family medicine dictates as well as the specialist who suggests numerous tests. We are constantly evaluating based on the best medically available data, do we really needs these tests, or can we better serve the patient in a different way?"

"Our family of medical groups at HPN have achieved success by keeping the quality of healthcare up and costs down," said Dr. Richard Merkin, President and CEO of HPN. "We are pleased we can offer a model that can be duplicated throughout the country and have an impact on improving our healthcare system."

About Heritage Provider Network

Heritage Provider Network, Inc. (HPN) is on the cutting edge of the accountable care model of health care delivery: coordinated, patient-doctor centric, integrated health care systems that represent the future of health care in the United States. HPN develops programs and services that are responsive to the healthcare needs of today's patient. HPN designs its networks to offer patients a comprehensive range of medical care in convenient locations. It organizes and manages medical groups and independent practice associations, integrating with hospitals and ancillary care providers. This system represents a workable, successful business model that has been duplicated with medical groups, IPAs and medical facilities throughout California. HPN is dedicated to quality, affordable health care and putting patients' wellness first.

SOURCE Heritage Provider Network, Inc.