401(k) Tips Available on IRS Website
The IRS has developed tips on how to identify, correct and avoid common errors in administering 401(k) plans. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/401k_mistakes.pdf Read More >
Proposed 10.1% cut in Medicare payments – Ouch
nbsp The Centers for Medicare amp Medicaid Services will cut Medicare physician payment . percent unless Congress intervenes. MGMA is partnering with the American Medical Association AMA and national medical... Read More >
Is the end of physician owned hospital near?
I am here is Las Vegas speaking at the AICPA National Healthcare Conference tough job but someone has to do it The keynote speaker, a prominent attorney in Washington DC,... Read More >
Medicare final rule announces 2008 physician fee schedule
nbsp The Centers for Medicare amp Medicaid Services CMS today issued a final physician payment rule designed to improve accuracy of Medicare payments and give physicians and health care professionals... Read More >
Conspiracy Case Brought by Specialty Hospital Against Hospitals and Insurers Will Proceed to Trial
A U.S. district court judge in Kansas has found that sufficient evidence exists for -bed Heartland Spine amp Specialty Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas, to proceed with its antitrust lawsuit... Read More >
Use telephone policies to reduce malpractice liability
Many malpractice claims are linked to patient dissatisfaction and communication lapses. Therefore, telephone triage, telephone advice, prescription refills, and after-hours calls can be areas of risk for office practices. Practices... Read More >
The world is changing–fast–and medical groups will need to adapt
nbsp MGMA Extreme Challenges Rick Johnson, for HealthLeaders News, Oct , The world is changing fast and medical groups will need to adapt, says James Canton, PhD. He kicked off... Read More >
Allocate malpractice insurance cost directly to doctors
nbsp Worried that a financial crisis will find its way into your practice? Worried about rising malpractice premiums? nbsp If you practice in a group that doesn t already allocate... Read More >
Five steps to help uncover false information on employment applications
nbsp As many as percent of applicants for all types of jobs make unjustified claims, exaggerate or omit important information on their resumes or applications. When checking references and verifying... Read More >
OIG Advisory Opinion on private ambulance service
From David Harlow s healthcare blog The OIG posted an October advisory opinion regarding private ambulance service support for county expenses incurred in connection with prehospital care and transportation provided... Read More >
Anesthesia Services Fees: 2007 Survey Results
For you anesthesia people out there, the ASA published the National Managed Care Conversion Factor http www.asahq.org Newsletters - pracMgmt .html in the July issue of their newsletter and on... Read More >
FMLA and pregnant employees
Can an employer count leave taken due to pregnancy complications against the weeks of FMLA leave for the birth and care of an employee s child? Yes. An eligible employee... Read More >
IRS: Cell phones provided to physicians and employees by the medical practice
In an information letter addressed to U.S. Representative Dennis Moore, an IRS Branch Chief discussed the proper tax treatment of employer-provided cell phones. An employer can exclude the value of... Read More >
Consider creating your own physician policy manual
The larger the medical group, the more likely you are to have a staff manual but just as important is having a written physician policy manual as well. As practices... Read More >
Are your employees HIPAA trained? – a real life example
The following was posted on a listserv yesterday which begs the question Are your practice employees trained in all facets of HIPAA? Have you provided them with the appropriate education... Read More >
Speaking of retirement planning-2008 Pension Plan Limitations
The IRS announced cost-of-living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations for pension plans and related amounts for . Some amounts change due to cost-of-living adjustments, while others are Code-required changes. For... Read More >
Planning for retirement – are you?
Only of adults know that they shouldn t spend more than of their retirement savings a year to avoid running the risk of outliving their nest egg this according to... Read More >
RVU – RBRVS – RVP – What are these?
Here is a question that was recently posed We have fee schedules based upon a of Medicare, multiples of RVUs, multiples of RVPs and multiples of RBRVS. I will be... Read More >
One easy way to improve front desk collections
Sometimes a patient will check out and want to pay cash for their appointment however, all the patient has are big bills to pay with. If a patient is willing... Read More >
2008 Social Security Wage Base
The Social Security Administration announced that the social security wage base will be , , an increase of , from the wage base of , . As in prior years,... Read More >
9 digit zip code needed to get paid by Medicare?
Medicare Payment Hold Zip Code Requirement Affects Providers in States The post is taken from a AHLA listserv post by Louise Joy, a healthcare attorney in Austin, Texas. As she... Read More >
Physician practice mergers – let the process begin
Well it looks like the process is starting ..I m getting more and more calls and inquiries from physicians that want to merge their practices together. I think physicians, especially... Read More >
Be sure to code out all physician services rendered
I am a preacher that all medical practices should code out and bill all services that are rendered per the CPT code book, unless of course such coding is not... Read More >
Consider these points before enforcing restrictive covenants
Restrictive covenants are a fact of life in most employment agreements. But having one and enforcing it when an associate or partner leaves to set up a competing practice are... Read More >
George Clooney and HIPAA???
From a recent blog post by Peter Lucash George Clooney HIPAA Violation Actor and heartthrob George Clooney was involved in a motorcycle accident in northern New Jersey about three weeks... Read More >
Beware encouraging unwanted physician behavior
If the concept of income division itself is flawed, one aspect is most troubling A group s formula may adversely influence physician behavior. Traditionally, groups sliced up the income pie... Read More >
Document petty-cash expenditures
For smaller expenses, such as lunch for the office, miscellaneous supplies, and unexpected minor expenditures, many offices maintain a petty-cash drawer or box. This system can work very well if... Read More >
Intangible amortization when buying/selling of a medical practice
Tax Treatment of Goodwill, Covenants, and Consulting in Medical Practice Transactions When buying or selling a medical practice, goodwill and coventant not to competes may be including in the purchase... Read More >
Online EIN application now available
Taxpayers can now request an employer identification number EIN through a Web-based system that instantly processes requests and generates EINs. The EIN application on www.irs.gov is interactive and asks questions... 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 >
