Malpractice insurance rates drop to 30-year low
Medical malpractice liability premiums are at a 30-year low and claims have dropped 45 percent since 2000, according to a recent study.
How to avoid malpractice liability in cross-coverage arrangements
For a solo practitioner or a small group practice, cross-coverage arrangements are like oxygen: Without them, there is no life-that is, no weekends, no evenings, no vacations, and no holidays.
Retail clinics expand services
Take Care Clinic, a subsidiary of Walgreens, announced plans to step up its services offered-including dermatology procedures-at all 345 in-store medical offices.
New CPT codes for iron injections
There is a new, specific code to use when primary care physicians administer an injection of iron.
Q&A: An exit strategy for retiring doctors
I'm starting to consider an exit strategy for when I'm ready to retire from my practice. What do I need to know about handling the sale of my building, tax planning, retirement options, etc.?
Insurers slow to reimburse for group visits
Third-party payers have been slow to adapt to group medical visits, meaning billing can be difficult.
Revamping your practice's retirement plan
Now may be the time to review your original goals for having a retirement plan, then evaluate whether your plan is meeting those goals.
Viewpoint: What do patients think about doctors' use of technology?
Patients are more satisfied with their doctors' use of technology when doctors took the time to explain what they were doing with it.
Q&A: Madoff revisited?
It is extremely important that you receive proof that there are accounts holding your plan assets.
Medicare's 2010 pay plan favors primary care doctors
Primary care physicians with Medicare patients could see a 6 to 8 percent payment boost from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2010.
One-third of doctors' offices don't accept credit cards
One in three physicians' offices does not accept credit cards-a 5 percent increase from 2008, according to a recent survey.
Coding for a nurse-patient encounter
A patient encounter with a nurse does not mean you can automatically bill using code 99211.
The best new software for your PDA
It wasn't too long ago that many of us toted around a cell phone, pager, PDA, and a laptop-a veritable RadioShack holstered at our waists. Now most of these devices can be consolidated into a single cell phone.
Letters: Readers comment on Medical Economics stories
Be your own boss.
Q&A: Buying into a medical practice
This is a good example of why buy-ins should be negotiated in advance.
Q&A: Can we refuse new Medicaid patients?
Most states do give physicians discretion on whether to accept new Medicaid patients, just as you have the right to decide whether to take on new patients who aren't receiving public assistance.
Q&A: When patients request 'frivolous' letters
Generally, the cost of writing letters is not included as a covered service under managed care contracts.
Q&A: Who should receive a deceased employee's benefits?
My nurse recently died and her beneficiary designation form states that her retirement plan assets should go to her former spouse. Since she completed the form years before her divorce, should I honor it?
PHRs can boost efficiency, but also hold malpractice risk
Since personal health records could be the wave of the future, it is important to understand their risks and benefits.
Q&A: First-time homebuyer credit documentation
Although I filed my 2008 return, the IRS subtracted the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit and sent me a letter requesting additional information. Does the credit still exist?
State roundup: New Jersey unveils managed care contracting bill
A look at state legislation affecting primary care doctors.
Q&A: What's a cafeteria health plan?
Adopting a cafeteria plan will allow you and your employees to not only pay health insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis, but also unreimbursed medical expenses, dental expenses, eye care, and pharmaceuticals.
Q&A: When patients refuse to provide social security numbers
Patients are not required to provide their social security numbers, even if your practice asks them to do so.
American Well to offer online visits nationwide
After securing agreements in two states earlier this year, Boston-based physician-visit website American Well has announced plans to expand its services nationwide.
Improve patient communications with voicemail and e-mail
E-mail and voicemail are excellent and convenient means of dealing with prescription renewals, appointment reminders, and other standard administrative tasks.
Study: Half of younger uninsured are voluntary
Almost half of all uninsured U.S. citizens younger than 65 earn enough to afford health insurance but voluntarily don't purchase it, according to research by a Washington, D.C. think tank.
How to code sports physicals
The sports physicals you'll perform for many of your young patients before they go back to school can be done at the same time you do regular well visits.
Viewpoint: What doctors can learn from airlines
In light of the current economic recession, patients must realize that many doctors will begin to charge for goods and services that up until now have been free and taken for granted.
Electronic claims could save healthcare system billions, report says
A new report from UnitedHealth Group says the U.S. healthcare system could reduce costs by $332 billion over the next 10 years if healthcare providers update their technology.
Canada falling behind EHR goal
After spending eight years and $1.6 billion, Canada has made little progress toward its goal of implementing electronic health records by 2010, according to a recent report.