Performing your own internal coding audit
With RACs surrounding us and lots of talk lately about fraud and abuse issues, now might be a good time to conduct your own internal audit. When you perform an... Read More >
Beyond Co-Pay: Upfront Bills at the Doctor’s Office
Upfront Payments Rethinking Your Practice s Front Desk Collection Policy Insured patients typically expect to make a small co-payment when they see a doctor, and later get billed for anything... Read More >
Two-Thirds Don’t Have a Financial Plan
nbsp Despite increasing pressure to slash debt and rebuild retirement funds, nearly two-thirds of consumers do not have a written financial plan, according to the National Consumer Survey on Personal... Read More >
Write Out Your Physician Group’s Retirement Policy
With a written plan in place for transitioning into retirement, you ll find it much easier to communicate jointly about that touchy issue. As always, you must consider the group... Read More >
HIPAA acknowledgments
nbsp Reprinted with permission by HcPro. Please check out their premium monthly newsletter Briefings on HIPAA BOH . Do HIPAA acknowledgements need to be renewed by patients every year? No.... Read More >
Can a managed care contract be negotiated or renegotiated?
nbsp Absolutely The problem is that most medical practices don t even try to negotiate a managed care contract. Most feel it would be a waste of time and resources... Read More >
Musings on billing, collection, and profitability
So you ve got a handle on your accounts receivable A R and you know roughly how long it takes to get paid once you submit a bill. Congratulations now... Read More >
Practice costs are the No. 1 worry
nbsp Healthcare Finance News reports that the Medical Group Management Association survey reveals the three top challenges of running a group practice remain the same as in , with money... Read More >
OIG targeting incident-to billing
nbsp In the midst of healthcare reform debates and new HIPAA mandates, the Office of the Inspector General OIG has released a new study of incident to billing. This study... Read More >
Sept 2009 – RAC update
nbsp Connolly Healthcare, the Recovery Audit Contractor for Region C, has posted three new approved issues on its website. Two of these issues, Wheelchair Bundling and Urological Bundling, relate specifically... Read More >
Bereavement Leave
A client recently asked my advice on employee bereavement leave of absence. Here is one I usually recommend Employees who wish to take time off due to the death of... Read More >
Relocation and NPI notification
nbsp If a health care provider with a National Provider Identifier NPI moves to a new location, must the health care provider notify the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System... Read More >
Employees wanting to work from home
What if you have a biller that wants to work from home? What are been the pros and cons? I do have clients that allow their coders to work for... Read More >
Tools to Challenge Payer Collaboration on Contracts
More and more provider organizations are beginning to incorporate contract language that protects their revenue streams. When facing payer consolidation and collaboration, consider these tips to make sure you continue... Read More >
Imaging accreditation
Obtaining your imaging accreditation promotes the appropriate and rational use of imaging services, standardizes the level of care a radiologist can offer, and covers a broad range of imaging areas.... Read More >
Should You Consider Selling Your Practice to a Hospital?
Without a doubt, times are tough for physicians in private practice. Operating costs continue to rise at a staggering pace and reimbursements are simply not keeping up. Recruiting and retaining... Read More >
J-1 & HI-B Visas – Use by Physicians
From Lathrop Gage law firm www.lathropgage.com Immigrant visas are for people who intend to live permanently in the U.S. Nonimmigrant visas are for people with permanent residence outside the U.S.... Read More >
Employees – can you be both friend and a boss?
nbsp You are a boss and a friend of an employee. I have found, from experience that it is difficult to remain objective and it is also hard to identify... Read More >
Recruiting Report: Doc Signing Bonuses & Salaries Up
nbsp The Wall Street Journal recently reported that hospitals and practices using a big recruiter to hire new doctors are making more frequent use of signing bonuses. For the year... Read More >
Copying charges for medical records
When charging patients for copying their medical records, don t just pick a number out of the air to charge them. These fees are usually regulated by each state. Here... Read More >
OIG Eyes Unqualified Help in Incident-to
The Office of Inspector General OIG is worried physicians are billing for services provided by unqualified help, so it just audited Medicare incident-to claims for . What it found made... Read More >
Practice continuation agreements
nbsp I meet and talk with many physician sole practitioners. Honestly, I find them fascinating and have many as clients. Being solo provides a variety of challenges. One is succession.... Read More >
Merging? Issues to consider.
nbsp Physicians are continuing to consolidate, as predicted. Here are a few issues you should focus on when considering a merger with another medical practice Careful review of compensation differences.... Read More >
Do you think Stark has enforcement teeth?
nbsp You damn well better believe it because this week it was announced that Covenant Medical Center in Iowa has agreed to pay the U.S. government . million to settle... Read More >
How can a health care provider apply for and obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI)?
I ve covered this ground before but it seems the question still arises. A health care provider may apply for an NPI in one of three ways . Apply through... Read More >
Inspire the front desk staff
As I have mentioned many times over, I believe the front desk is arguably the most important position in a physician s office. As such, you should always look to... Read More >
Internet based credit card processing
nbsp If you accept credit cards in your medical office, take a look at an internet-based option called Medireceipt www.medireceipt.com . Not only will it save you money on credit... Read More >
Technical revenues, incident to, and Stark
nbsp Keep in mind there is an incident to aspect of the Stark in office ancillary services exception, the exception that applies to the technical component. As I understand it,... Read More >
Management Practices That Spell Doom
nbsp There was an excellent article in a recent issue of Business Week which addressed the issue of well-intentioned but misguided managers are you listening medical practice administrator? who are... Read More >
Encourage five-star service by minimizing complaints
Everyone has been involved in a group that included complainers, and everyone knows that complainers love company. Get rid of them. If your complainers are physicians, have a serious discussion... Read More >
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As a top advisor to physicians, I help increase practice profits by delivering hands-on, expert medical accounting/tax support, practice counsel, and revenue-building strategies. Read More >
