Ed Finkel

At least 21 states now have passed or considered bills to protect physicians who choose not to fulfill American Board of Medical Specialties requirements for Maintenance of Certification

Online outlets provide savings, but physician buy-in remains varied

While physicians should be circumspect about “firing” patients in most types of cases, they are well within their bounds to dismiss patients who are violent, verbally abusive or use their trusted doctor-patient relationship to feed drug addictions.

While medical offices typically have good cause to dismiss patients who are violent or abusive, doctors and healthcare attorneys say they should be (and generally are) more circumspect in other types of frustrating but ultimately resolvable situations.

Patients pay fees for bundle of services instead of-or in addition to-going through insurance

Attractive to early- and late-career physicians as well as those with nomadic streak

The government wants physicians to identify overpayments, but many say the responsibilities remain unclear.