Medicare Scam Alert
The Newest Medicare Scam CMS has become aware of a scam where perpetrators are sending faxes to physician offices posing as the Medicare carrier or Medicare Administrative Contractor MAC .... Read More >
Dependency Exemption in Divorce
nbsp In chief counsel advice, the IRS concludes that for divorce decrees or separation agreements executed before July , , a noncustodial parent may claim a dependency exemption without using... Read More >
Determining cost of service
Use this effective shortcut to determine cost of service First, using a spreadsheet program, for your most recent fiscal year, list all the procedure codes that you bill along with... Read More >
Ad Frequency: The Key To A Healthy Return On Investment
Achieving the right balance between where and how often to advertise can pay big dividends for practice growth. Frequency, or the number of times you run an ad, in print... Read More >
Some physicians cutting fees and offering payment plans during economic downturn
The Washington Post Kaiser Health News , Boodman reports that doctors are encountering more patients struggling to pay for care, and as a result, some physicians are now selectively cutting... Read More >
Stark and allocation of ancillary income
nbsp Stark dictates that ancillary income cannot be allocated based on referrals to the ancillary service. As long as the ancillary income distribution formula is set in advance, is not... Read More >
Master budgeting for your medical office
If you re just starting to build a medical office, craft your best estimate of what will happen in the upcoming year as straightforwardly as possible. As you compare each... Read More >
A simple way to keep track of drug inventory
Drug Inventory Log If you don t already have one, here is a real simple way to keep track and control of drugs kept in the office . Medicine vials... Read More >
Documenting E/M services
nbsp I ran across this documentation chart the other day appears to be a pretty good one. Use it not only as a documentation tool, but an educational tool as... Read More >
How to handle penalties against non-compliant partners
You cannot effectively impose penalties against non-compliant partners without clear provisions for punitive action. Our experts, thus, urge providing for sanctions, and specifically for monetary penalties, within your group documents.... Read More >
Notices of privacy practices
nbsp Reproduced from name of publication HCPro, Inc., Hoods Lane, Marblehead, MA . - . www.hcpro.com. Used with permission. nbsp Do notices of privacy practices NPP apply to business associates... Read More >
Eliminate timecards
nbsp Time Clock Software and Labor Tracking Systems are the solution to the Attendance monitoring problems in every company, including physician practices. Count Me In has a product that is... Read More >
Employed or Independent – What direction is in store for you?
The trend of hospitals acquiring physician practices is back. Approached physicians are thinking should I stay put or should I sell out. My friend and colleague Mike DeVries Mike vmde.com... Read More >
Create a patient form that’s in tune with the times
Add a field on patient forms that asks, How would you like to be addressed by our staff? More than simply demonstrating political correctness, that single action shows that you... Read More >
Looking for on-call scheduling software?
Take a look at these three companies: www.atstaff.com www.docs2000.net www.lightning-bolt.com Read More >
Fraud and abuse update
On May , , President Barack Obama signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act into law, introducing sweeping changes to the False Claims Act and providing hundreds of millions of... Read More >
Survey staff to evaluate practice performance
Survey staff to find out, confidentially, how your employees think the practice is performing in several service-related areas. Ask them to view the practice s service as if they were... Read More >
Give patients the opportunity to express their feelings
You must give patients the opportunity to express their feelings and ask questions, whether during regular office visits or during discussions following disappointing outcomes. Doing so can help the healing... Read More >
Podiatrist Gets Sentenced in Medicare Fraud Case
Major Medicare fraud and false claims settlements against large providers and pharmaceutical and device companies are reported in the news on a regular basis these days. Unfortunately this trend may... Read More >
Dealing with Insurance Reps
nbsp A recently posed question by a client In my medical office, I am sometimes asked to call insurance company representatives to inquire about payments or for updates to patient... Read More >
Call Back Success Tactics
nbsp One of the most common reasons I see patients get upset with medical offices is that they don t get a call back when promised this is especially true... Read More >
Restrictive covenants protect against competitive practice
A restrictive covenant on your existing partners is important to governing the practice for its own success. For starters, if you don t impose such restrictions on yourselves, you will... Read More >
10 steps to safeguard your data
Every practice needs to develop safeguards to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information from a physician practice by a health plan or other source. In an age of data transparency,... Read More >
Government can and will place a levy on your Medicare pay if you owe taxes
IRS to Garnish Medicare Reimbursements for Unpaid Taxes If you owe back taxes, expect the IRS to come calling in non-traditional ways in fact, they might just garnish some of... Read More >
Is There a Fraudster in Your Organization? 16 Red Flags to Watch
nbsp An embezzler or other workplace fraud perpetrator will often display certain telltale red flags. One of the many charts included in the Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud... Read More >
Professionalism lessons from a former medical administrator
In the recent issue of MGMA e-source, there was a reprint of an article by Mark G. Sanders, CPA, a former MGMA member and now owner of MGS Consulting, Louisville,... Read More >
Design a fair retirement exit
Physicians generally enjoy more flexibility regarding retirement than do members of many other professions. But sometimes a declining doctor refuses to acknowledge his or her diminished capacity, causing a confrontation... Read More >
Does Overhead paging = HIPAA violation?
Reproduced from name of publication HCPro, Inc., Hoods Lane, Marblehead, MA . - . www.hcpro.com. Used with permission. So is overhead paging a patient by name back to a clinic... Read More >
Practice interaction with insurers costs $21B-$31B per year
nbsp This certainly doesn t surprise me A recent study has found that medical practices spend between billion and billion annually dealing with insurers or more than , per physician... Read More >
First impressions are lasting impressions at the front desk
Your front desk personnel are the first contact a patient has with your office. How they are dealing with people every day gives off a lasting impression about your office.... Read More >
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Accounting and Tax Services Litigation Support Managed Care Consulting Managed Care Contract Negotiations Medical Practice and Healthcare Entity Valuation Medical Practice Assessment Medical Practice Brokerage Medical Practice Embezzlement Consulting Medical Practice Management Medical Practice Merger Advice Medical Strategic Planning Newsletter Personal Financial Planning Oversight Physician Compensation Models Physician Compliance Physician Financial Management Services Retirement UncategorizedAbout Reed Tinsley, CPA
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 >
