As the healthcare environment continues to change in ways never seen before, our provider community has been given an opportunity to have their voices heard on a state level. Rebekka VanNess, Administrator of the Gila Multi-specialty Independent Practice Association (GMIPA), has recently been appointed by United Healthcare to serve on its Administrative Advisory Council.

The GMIPA was created in 1997, and is comprised of healthcare professionals who are members. Today, the association is over 120 members strong and includes the majority of all disciplines of healthcare professionals in Grant and Hidalgo counties. The GMIPA supports our provider community through administrative activities, advocacy and negotiating with managed care plans, to name just a few of the functions. GǣNow more than ever, our healthcare professionals need support in a myriad of ways. As providers work to take care of their patients, the GMIPA works to take care of the provider community,Gǥ VanNess said.

One goal of the United Healthcare AAC is to advance and refine how the plan interacts with care providers and medical societies, by having representation to share ongoing medical practice staff input to them and their affiliated companies that results in meaningful and mutually beneficial enhancements in the company's processes and policies. The council is tasked to facilitate dialogue and collaborate on issues and national trends related to Health Care Reform, Quality, Administrative Simplification and Patient/Member Support.

The advantages of the GMIPA are the functions it performs for its members; assembling, and educating members and offering strong leadership that helps drive clinics and healthcare providers to develop more mature organizations. The GMIPA wields far greater power than individual healthcare professionals alone and they are able to undertake administrative functions that reduce healthcare costs.

GǣWe are currently working with our hospital and providers to solidify an effective and sustainable Clinically Integrated Network (CIN), which would be beneficial to the entire corner of the state; patients and providers alike,Gǥ VanNess said.

If you are a licensed healthcare professional in New Mexico and have interest in knowing more about GMIPA membership, you may contact the organization at 575-538-2355 or visit the website at www.gmipa.com