Learn from the past
If you have a budget from last year, review it closely. Try to find out why you missed or exceeded projections. Look into the numbers. Accurate overall totals might not... Read More >
Replace vague definitions with clear contract language
Give the definitions section of your contracts some muscle to strengthen your case should you ever have to take on a payer in a lawsuit. You might even find that... Read More >
Pushing paper? Remember the 4 F’s
File it If a piece of paper is workth saving, file it immediately. Don t toss it on your desk for later. Forward it If the paper requires action from... Read More >
Physician Compensation concepts
Your group s compensation formula may be its most jealously guarded sacred cow. Whether sensible or not, it continues in place as long as members don t object. And your... Read More >
OIG Report Criticizes CMS Oversight of HIPAA Security Compliance
The American Health Lawyer s Association www.healthlawyers.org reports that The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services CMS needs to be more proactive in overseeing and enforcing implementation of the Health... Read More >
Forgotten idea in managed care negotiations
nbsp nbsp There is a hidden secret in managed care negotiations that many physician practices fail to utilize involving your the patients and their employer s in the process. Once... Read More >
IRS inflation & cost of living adjustments impacting you
Inflation-adjusted Amounts To keep pace with inflation, the IRS modified dozens of tax benefits for . For example, the value of each personal and dependency exemption for most taxpayers will... Read More >
30 tips for getting along with others – it’s important in the physician’s office
. Follow Dale Carnegie s advice Remember that a person s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language. Pay attention when someone tells... Read More >
Get Ready to Relearn the ADA
Get ready to relearn the Americans with Disabilities Act by Jan. , . New legislation signed last month has defanged a common employer defense, and the changes are going to... Read More >
HIPAA employee training – how often?
Remember that the HIPAA privacy and security rules require you to provide regular HIPAA training for all work force members. But there is no requirement that work force members receive... Read More >
Collaboration strengthens referral relationships.
Delayed treatment, dissatisfied patients, and decreased referrals too often result from failure to properly manage the referral process. In an ideal situation, three primary steps take place in coordinating referrals... Read More >
Listen to your patients
All of us, including our patients, want to be heard. We value relationships with people who really listen. And letting patients know that you see them as people goes a... Read More >
NPPES – Keeping It Safe and Keeping It Updated
This message is for health care providers, particularly physicians and other practitioners, who have obtained National Provider Identifiers NPIs and have records in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System... Read More >
New tax law – Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
nbsp On October , , President Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, which included an AMT patch and extension of a number of popular tax breaks, most of which... Read More >
First-time med school applicants down
As first reported by Modern Healthcare s Daily Dose newsletter, enrollment figures may be up, but the number of first-time applicants to U.S. medical schools declined slightly this year, according... Read More >
Automated telephone attendants
I called a physician office the other day and was greeted by the automated telephone attendant, which I don t mind in many cases, But this one droaned on and... Read More >
Physician search firms can be expensive; use them wisely
The use of search firms generally an approach used by larger practices and clinics with sufficient financial resources is the most costly way to find a new physician for your... Read More >
Define your practice’s mission
It can be difficult to lead your practice without first clarifying for everyone the vision of where you jointly want to end up. Without a clear mission statement, practices make... Read More >
Put quality rankings in perspective
With the growth of transparency initiatives, many health plans have posted not only price information for individual providers, but quality rankings as well. Put these rankings into context for your... Read More >
CMS Enhances Program Integrity Efforts to Fight Fraud, Waste and Abuse in Medicare
CMS recently announced aggressive new steps to find and prevent waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare. CMS is working closer with beneficiaries and providers consolidating its fraud detection efforts strengthening... Read More >
Grassley Says GAO Report Shows Stricter IRS Standards Needed for Hospitals
Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on the report released yesterday from the Government Accountability Office, Nonprofit Hospitals Variation in Standards and... Read More >
Actual physician signature on medical record
Yesterday I received the following question Can you tell me what CMS or Medicare has mandated on physician s signatures in the physician s office for medical records. We thought... Read More >
Traditional banking for physician practices
A practice can obtain two distinct sets of services from most banks Traditional Deposit Services sometimes called Checking or just Account Services and Treasury Management Services. Treasury Management services are... Read More >
HIPAA: Life insurance company requests
From HcPro s free weekly newsletter HIPAA Weekly Advisor check out their premium m monthly newsletter Briefings on HIPAA nbsp Q Life insurance companies frequently request medical records from our... Read More >
OIG Advisory Opinion 08-12
The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services OIG issued Advisory Opinion - , concluding that the processing and submission of insurance preauthorizations for certain... Read More >
Learn to better identify limited benefit plans
Providers treating patients enrolled in limited benefit plans need to be able to identify these products and plan to ensure that they do not get caught between abandoning a patient... Read More >
October Flu Shot Reminder
Flu Season Is Upon Us Begin now to take advantage of each patient office visit as an opportunity to encourage your patients to get a flu shot. It s still... Read More >
Incorporated solo physician – NPI and the 855B
I recently was asked the following question I ve got a solo physician, incorporated, who has always operated under his own Medicare number. He applied for an NPI number when... Read More >
Updated ICD-9 codes
Looking for the latest information on new, deleted, and revised ICD-9 diagnosis codes effective October 1, 2008? Look here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes/07_summarytables.asp#TopOfPage Read More >
Make-or-break factors for workers
Understanding what workers look for can help you hang on to them for the long term. In a survey asking workers to name the factors they value most in deciding... 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 >
