nbsp Because you receive payments, schedule follow-up visits, and thank patients as they leave the office, you are in the best position to suggest additional helpful services to patients. With... Read More >
Putting together an effective billing team begins with the hiring process. Individuals who have the five following personal characteristics-above and beyond the usual hiring criteria-are likely to be successful at... Read More >
nbsp In recent years, practices have explored options to being solely reliant on insurance contracts. Some practices are opting out of all insurance contracts and Medicare and charging an annual... Read More >
How To Triage a Patient Over The Phone There is nothing better for managing patient intake than the good old telephone. Asking the right questions and noting the right information... Read More >
nbsp The needs of elderly patients can vary from a physical handicap, such as being hard of hearing, to becoming overwhelmed with medical information or even forgetting what the doctor... Read More >
According to the Spring edition of the SSA IRS Reporter see www.irs.gov pub irs-pdf p .pdf , the following statement was added to the Form W- instructions based on a... Read More >
nbsp The U.S. Department of Justice DOJ and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OIG have indicated that they intend to begin... Read More >
nbsp My colleagues and I all agree that if the front desk doesn t collect the copay at the time of the visit, you ll be hard-pressed to ever see... Read More >
The Office for Civil Rights OCR , which enforces the HIPAA privacy rule, has posted a set of FAQs on its Web site related to the disposal of PHI. Questions... Read More >
nbsp A quick peek at patients encounter forms before they leave the office can prevent some major billing problems for your office. The receptionist should scan the encounter form to... Read More >
nbsp As medical group practices face changing reimbursement structures and increased operating costs, aligning physician compensation plans with organizational goals is critical. Many practices achieve this alignment by using productivity-based... Read More >
Many large medical practices give out employee achievement awards annually some even monthly . Are you aware of the tax issues related to these awards? The IRC Section j defines... Read More >
Today s medical climate affects both a senior s or group s willingness to offer buy-in and the junior s willingness to take it. To begin, consider young physicians concerns.... Read More >
Your budgeting discussions are likely to uncover certain practice goals. You might want, for example, to open one or more satellite offices. When such goals emerge, it s time to... Read More >
nbsp It s still winter out there and snow seems to be coming down in blankets in some parts of the country but not here in Texas where it is... Read More >
Great post by Martie Ross mross lathropgage.com Once a year, the federal government adjusts the dollar limits under the non-monetary compensation and incidental medical staff benefits exceptions under the Stark... Read More >
nbsp Keep in mind that physician employment arrangements that include production-based compensation may be affected inadvertently by changes to changes in the Medicare physician fee schedule. There are numerous employment... Read More >
Internal Revenue Service officials released the final report on its tax-exempt hospital project. The project aimed to help the IRS and public better understand how nonprofit hospitals benefit their communities,... Read More >
The Tax Act made changes to the health benefit provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of COBRA . Eligible former employees who were enrolled in their employer s... Read More >
nbsp Due to tax law changes made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of , the Internal Revenue Service IRS has issued new wage withholding and advance earned income... Read More >
Unfortunately, doctors rarely appreciate why their group members serve as partners or what responsibilities they should assume. Compared to commercial business, professional service groups traditionally have one serious problem The... Read More >
Obtaining a DEA Certificate copy Obtaining a copy of a DEA Drug Enforcement administration certificates is an crucial step for any medical practice, particularly for physicians who prescribe controlled substances.... Read More >
CMS has condensed all Physician Fee Schedule PFS carrier-specific pricing files into one zip file. This file is found in the list on the CMS Web page at http www.cms.hhs.gov... Read More >
Building an effective complaint process requires more than scheduling periodic venting sessions or hanging a suggestion box. Instead, encourage staff to register their complaints in a way you can constructively... Read More >
Why are patients mad at doctors? Maybe, suggests medical blogger Dr. Robert Lamberts, it s because doctors aren t following the rules. Dr. Lamberts, an Augusta, Ga., physician and writer... Read More >
The IRS issued the Form Employer s Quarterly Tax Return accessible at www.irs.gov pub irs-pdf f .pdf , reflecting the change for employer COBRA subsidies enacted by the American Recovery... Read More >
Medical group practices revenues failed to keep pace with swelling operating costs in , according to the Medical Group Management Association MGMA Cost Survey Reports. For example, multispecialty practices reported... Read More >
nbsp Frank Cohen has just completed his own four-year study on changes in E M utilization between and . In this study, Frank created a set of values that measure... Read More >
A decision by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit finding that a long-standing agreement between a physician group and a hospital was insufficient to protect them... Read More >
CVS Caremark Settles . Million Case Over Privacy Violations Capping a first-of-its kind joint investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and the HHS Civil Rights Office, drugstore and pharmacy benefits... Read More >
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