Compare your CPT coding to Medicare’s
Medicare recently released its utilization statistics for Part B services that it paid in . You can use these figures to compare your coding patterns to other physicians in your... Read More >
Where to find a HIPAA business associate agreement
Many medical practices and other healthcare entities are not in compliance with HIPAA because they are failing to execute business associate agreements with those individuals who may come in contact... Read More >
Looking for Medicare RVUs
If you need information regarding Medicare relative value units, here is the place to go Click on accept at the bottom of the page and on the next page, scroll... Read More >
The headaches associated with preauthorizations
Want to successfully cut down the amount of time your office staff spends on the phone on obtaining preauthorizations? Try setting up pre-formatted templates since authorization is always done in... Read More >
Success and your people
This is a fact all physician leaders should now know According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the reason people leave their jobs is because they do not feel appreciated... Read More >
Should “crocs” be allowed in a medical office?
Someone recently asked if employees should be allowed to wear crocs footwear in the office. My answer is no. Crocs are not professional for one but they are also easy... Read More >
Does your practice software generate useful reports?
I was catching up on some reading the other day and noticed the following survey question in the MGMA Digest Does your practice management software generate useful financial reports? .... Read More >
CMS issues favorable advisory opinion for development of customized software for physicians
CMS concludes that a hospital s proposal to pay for a customized software interface with staff physicians EHR systems to communicate lab results is not prohibited by Stark Law. Click... Read More >
New estimates on retiree health care savings needs
From Accounting Web.com The nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute EBRI has published a new, more comprehensive set of estimates of the amount of money individuals and couples will need to... Read More >
Are you a leader or a manager (or both)?
The difference between leadership and management per the Harvard Business Review LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT Establishing direction Developing a vision for your organization and creating strategies to achieve that vision Aligning... Read More >
HIPAA and audit log retention
From HcPro s monthly newsletter Briefings on HIPAA nbsp Q Our system generates audit logs that capture all accesses and updates to patient information. What does HIPAA require in terms... Read More >
OTC collections produce a double pay-off
Over-the-counter OTC collection is important to your practice. Consider this Those small, unpaid balances end up on patient statements. Each statement sent by your office costs you anywhere from to... Read More >
Product Watch: HRDirect.com
If you are looking for a repository of human resource materials, check out www.hrdirect.com. One product might catch your eye OSHA Manager software to help you keep track of all... Read More >
Inability to find patients so refund checks can be sent
Question We are trying to refund monies to some of these patients but are unable to locate them, and or they are deceased. How do you handle patient refunds that... Read More >
5 quick tax perks: Put spouse on payroll
Gain these five tax benefits by hiring your spouse as a bona fide employee of your medical practice . Build up tax-favored funds for retirement . Shift taxable income away... Read More >
Getting down to the nitty-gritty details
Get down to the nitty-gritty details of your offer to a candidate in your offer letter. The letter should reinforce your interest in having that candidate be a member of... Read More >
CMS rescinds changes to incident-to billing rules
As reported yesterday by the Medical Group Management Association www.mgma.com On May , the Centers for Medicare amp Medicaid Services CMS announced its decision to rescind a recent transmittal on... Read More >
Billing CPT code 99211
Many coders don t realize that they can bill to report services that clinical staff other than the nurse provides. Any qualified auxillary personnel who are the physician s employees... Read More >
‘Golden Rule’ for designing your physician pay plan
Traditionally, physician compensation formulas attempted to reflect a balance between overall group strength and individual responsibility. So most plans included both productivity pay and equal pay. But life in today... Read More >
DON’T FORGET COMPLIANCE MANDATE FOR LARGE GROUPS DOING BUSINESS WITH MEDICAID
in case you forgot or didn t know, beginning January , , provider organizations and other entities that do an aggregate of more than million of business annually with Medicaid... Read More >
HIPAA: Caller ID and Facility Phone Number
From HcPro s newsletter Briefings on HIPAA nbsp Q Does HIPAA require that we block our facility s telephone numbers from appearing on Caller ID when calling patients, their families,... Read More >
NPI and claim rejections – A 4-FOLD increase
nbsp JUST IN Healthcare industry claims processors and claims-flow watchers report at least four-fold increases in rejected Medicare claims, similar or even higher rejection-rate spikes for Medicaid claims, and a... Read More >
Patient safety self-assessment helps shield practices from liability exposure
nbsp A new patient safety assessment created by the Medical Group Management Association MGMA , the Health Research and Education Trust HRET and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices ISMP... Read More >
How to optimize physician time
To find and eventually minimize wasted physician time, conduct a time motion study on each doctor s practice style. Begin with noting the start time of each identifiable doctor task.... Read More >
Jackson & Cokerโs 2008 Physician Compensation Survey
In the recent Jackson amp Coker compensation survey, of physicians believe they are underpaid Clinical skills, workload, and medical liability don t always equate with what physicians perceive as adequate... Read More >
CMS Bans Use of Physician Signature Stamps; Handwritten or Electronic Signatures Now Needed
Reprinted from REPORT ON MEDICARE COMPLIANCE, By Nina Youngstrom, Managing Editor, nyoungstrom aispub.com It appears that CMS has effectively banned the use of physician signature stamps, which means that orders,... Read More >
Doctors Start To Say ‘I’m Sorry’ Long Before ‘See You In Court’
nbsp By Kevin Sack The New York Times May , nbsp In years as a highly regarded cancer surgeon, Dr. Tapas K. Das Gupta had never made a mistake like... Read More >
Internal control ideas for accounts payable
nbsp The following are a few internal control ideas related to accounts payable administration nbsp Have only a physician sign checks. Pay by invoices, not statement, with a knowledgeable person... Read More >
Today is NPI compliance day
Today, all medical groups and other providers must submit reimbursement claims and other transactions electronic and paper to Medicare and private health insurers with National Provider Identifiers NPIs . If... Read More >
HIPAA: referral to a specialist
From HcPro s monthly newsletter Briefings on HIPAA nbsp Q When a physician from our office refers a patient to a specialist, is a signed medical release from the patient... 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 >
