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While leaders of the AMA, AAFP, and American College of Physicians all support Obama's goals and what he's done so far, no one is underestimating the tremendous political hurdles-or the potential for opposition from segments of the physician community.

In a large medical practice, who typically fills out disability and Family Medical Leave Act forms for a patient?

The number of family medicine residencies offered to U.S. medical school seniors and other applicants dropped to 2,535 this year, down from 2,636 in 2008.

Can I buy part-time malpractice insurance due to the fact that I see so few patients?

We're trying to find a way to get through the tough times right now, and I have read a little about accounts receivable factoring. What do you think about this?

The type of monitoring device affects the selection of the CPT codes used to report the service.

Several states have recently launched medical school loan reimbursement programs for primary care physicians, and more may be on the way.

Out of balance

Though a little optimism never hurts, it is a fool's bet that politicians alone can fix what's wrong with our system.

My bank's personal financial statement form asks if I have any contingent liabilities or obligations. What does that mean?

The question on many people's lips is whether the stock market has reached bottom or whether there is still a ways to go before we get there.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, self-referral laws prohibit a physician from referring patients to an entity for a designated health service if the physician (or immediate family member) has a financial relationship with the entity.

Professional courtesy cannot be used as a "reward" or "incentive" to physicians, their families, or office staff for referring patients to you.

How should we bill care provided by a physician who doesn't have her credentials yet?

I've heard that malpractice insurers often revoke your tail coverage if you volunteer outside of the state in which you're insured. Is that true? What should I do about tail coverage?

I am in the process of a divorce, and one of the issues that has arisen is the value of my medical degree and my "enhanced" earnings as a result of it. How would such a valuation be calculated?

Is it better to give away half of my $1 million retirement plan or keep the entire plan and give $500,000 of other assets?

Two of my employees have asked for in-service distributions from our practice's 401(k) plan. While still employed, is a participant able to receive a distribution?

I recently lost a relative and was appointed executor of her will. My attorney advised me that I am entitled to take an executor's fee and that this is deductible by the estate. Does it make sense to take an executor's fee?

I made a personal loan to an employee, and then she quit. Can I withdraw the funds from her retirement plan account?

California's "Octomom," octuplet mother Nadya Suleman, has certainly raised questions about a physician's duty to patients and society.

Something has gone awry to create an environment that leaves well-intended physicians victimized when government audits reveal their software systems have allowed-even facilitated-submission of non-compliant and potentially fraudulent claims.

The $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which promises potential incentives of as much as $64,000 for physicians who adopt an electronic health record system, may have spawned a new cottage industry: EHR selection consultants.

More physician leaders have adopted information technology tools, such as electronic medical records and e-prescribing, than five years ago, but they are generally unsatisfied with the products available.

One out of every eight physicians has been inactive for at least a year in the state in which he is licensed, and most states do not require such physicians to undergo competency tests or retraining when they return to active practice, according to two studies at the University of Michigan.

In what's being touted as a potential game-changer for health information technology, Wal-Mart is entering the business of electronic health records.

The vast majority of Medicare care-coordination programs of chronically ill Medicare patients showed no significant cost savings or health improvements, according to a study published last month.

The danger of EHRs; When you are the patient