IRS hobby loss rules
Many physicians have sideline business activities but are these activities true active trade or businesses? The IRS has posted a factsheet to its website at http www.irs.gov irs article ,,id... Read More >
Physician Groups Earn Performance Payments CMS Announces
nbsp CMS announced that all physician groups participating in the Physician Group Practice PGP Demonstration improved the quality of care delivered to patients with congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease... Read More >
IRS Revises 2008 Form 990 Instructions
The IRS released revised instructions for filling out the redesigned Form Return of Organizations Exempt from Income Tax , which must be filed starting with tax year filed in ,... Read More >
Advice on physician advice calls
Only the physician or an appropriately trained and qualified clinical support person, following written advice protocols that the physician approves, will give advice over the telephone. If possible, the physician... Read More >
Payer report cards a useful in managed care negotiations
In contract negotiations, payer report cards should be used as discussion points. The contents of the payer report card can be useful for contract language revisions and potential reimbursement considerations... Read More >
OIG Advisory Opinion 08-09 released
The OIG reiterated its position regarding gainsharing, but this time in the context of two new medical specialties orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery. After reviewing the arrangement established by the requestors,... Read More >
Tackling a new denials management hurdle
With all of the changes in health insurance products today, eligibility and benefit determination are more important than ever. Your staff s ability to make accurate assessments regarding eligibility and... Read More >
Revised Medicare Guide to Rural Health Services
The CD-ROM version of the revised Medicare Guide to Rural Health Services Information for Providers, Suppliers and Physicians April is now available from the CMS Medicare Learning Network. This guide... Read More >
Ideas to better manage consumer-directed health plans
If you re going to participate in a high-deductible plan, set aside time when your front office, billing, and collections staff can meet, and ask to have a plan representative... Read More >
How to take your practice’s pulse
Even with all the available data you might have at your fingertips, you may occasionally find yourself feeling uneasy about your practice s overall health. Diligence and early diagnosis make... Read More >
When are physicians going to get it – merge your practices
Why are physician practices continuing to feel the pinch and pain associated with the business side of medicine without doing something about it? There is a lot of complaining out... Read More >
5 practical tips on paying part-time employees
nbsp Many physician practices pay for part time labor, especially family members. Here are a few tips on paying part time employees nbsp . Withhold FICA on part-timers and retirees... Read More >
Get everyone on the same page
nbsp Many conflicts among partners and staffers really result from poor communication. To keep squabbles at a minimum, make certain each doctor and staffer understands your practice s overall goals... Read More >
Consider these four factors in negotiating talks
nbsp Case mix index This metric takes into account how sick patients are when they come in to your physician office and it can have a dramatic effect on your... Read More >
Should you have a standby line of credit in place?
The recent Medicare payment scare that put fear in to the souls of physician practices, along with continued variations in the timing of payer reimbursement, reminds me to remind you... Read More >
FICA Student Exception Applies to Medical Residents; Court Orders Refund of $2.5 Million
Court Orders . M FICA Refund for Medical Facility s Student Exemption A U.S. district court has ordered the government to refund . million in FICA taxes paid by a... Read More >
HIPAA is serious business to the federales
nbsp The Department of Health and Human Services HHS and Providence Health amp Services have entered into a Resolution Agreement that includes a payment to HHS and corrective action plan... Read More >
Replacing good employees
We all know how expensive it is to replace good employees, which is why employee retention should be a top priority for all physician medical practices. The costs to replace... Read More >
THE art of apology – when and how to seek forgiveness
How can you manage your malpractice risk more effectively? The role of risk management is not to eliminate all risk but to anticipate and manage risk. Introduction. Mistakes happen. What... Read More >
Product watch – payroll processing
Most physician practices using ADP or Paychex for outsourced payroll processing. If you are looking for another good alternative, which also offers a time clock service, check out Your HR... Read More >
Be patient during cross-training
Patience during the training period is essential. Processes might slow slightly while employees become comfortable with their new roles. But remember, any delays are only temporary Cross-training represents an investment... Read More >
Making your compensation pay plan work
If you are looking to change your physician compensation formulary, try to take an objective approach to analyzing and possibly renovating your formula. Remember that compensation plans that work should... Read More >
Medicare will start offering incentives to physicians for e-prescribing in 2009
CMS will begin providing financial bonuses to physicians who e-prescribe and reduce payments to physicians who fail to e-prescribe in January, . Click here to read the full article on... Read More >
A benefit of wave scheduling
Many practices use wave scheduling to take advantage of the well-known management principle that people generally produce more efficiently by repeating the same process. Don t make the mistake of... Read More >
IRS Issues More FAQs on Health Savings Accounts
IRS Notice - addresses new questions and answers on health savings accounts HSAs . Topics include eligibility, high deductible health plans, contributions and distributions, prohibited transactions and establishing an HSA.... Read More >
Make sure you know the overtime pay rules
nbsp The number of small businesses facing overtime lawsuits has exploded. Fortune magazine The recent rewrite of federal overtime laws was supposed to make it easier for you to avoid... Read More >
OIG Issues Advisory Opinion 08-08
From the health law department at King Spalding www.kslaw.com On July , , the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General OIG issued a favorable advisory opinion... Read More >
New book on medical practice start ups
Greenbranch Publishing has just published a book entitled The Medical Practice Start-Up Guide. For more information, follow this link: http://www.greenbranch.com/images/greenbranch/medical_practice_start_up_guide/index.html Read More >
Most drugs will see increases in price paid by Medicare
nbsp A majority of drugs will be paid with higher prices under Medicare s average sales price ASP payment system for the third quarter of beginning July . At the... Read More >
Motivate your team
A recently read an article by Bill Catlette and Richard Hadden called Motivation through Mission. Their key concept is, People don t perform in an inspired manner without a big... 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 >
