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With the value of stocks and other equities at an all-time low, now might be the time to transfer those assets to your heirs in hopes of the value rebounding over the course of their lives.

More than half of all non-referred visits to specialists are for routine or preventive care that likely could have been managed by the patient's primary care physician, according to a recent study.

It appears that I would be exposed to potential liability claims if my locum tenens company terminated business because, in this event, there would be no tail policy.

The challenge: Health plans deny or require pre-authorization for prescriptions of name-brand drugs.

If you'd prefer not to pay for a mystery-patient firm, follow this guide to design your own program.

The federal stimulus bill offers a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers, but there are ways to take advantage of this new tax break even if you already own a home.

Practices that aspire to become medical homes are required to set self-and evidence-based standards for access, communication and clinical care, create and document team-based strategies for achieving these standards, and document movement toward achieving standards.

Senator Max Baucus and another pair of senators have produced two plans to reform America's struggling health care system. How would these plans affect you?

Compare Barack Obama's pre-election and post-election plans for healthcare reform.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has recommended a 1.1 percent increase in fee-for-service payments to physicians in 2010.

The loss-of-chance doctrine provides that even if a patient had less than a 50-50 chance of a full recovery at the time of a physician's negligent act, it is a compensable injury if that negligence deprived the patient of any chance of recovery.

Researchers at Boston Medical Center have found that a single screening question accurately identifies unhealthy alcohol use in primary care patients.

Why won't lenders offer 15-year or 30-year fixed-rate loans on small medical office buildings?

The additional rules obligate physicians to individually notify patients and the local media if there has been a security breach of "protected health information."

What can we do to continue caring for our patients after they've entered a nursing facility, and the nursing facility is denying us access?

I am trying to refinance my home, and my lender says my application is in limbo because my credit is "frozen." What's the deal?

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.

Physicians who visit most of their patients in their homes or nursing homes won't be able to earn the 2 percent bonus for e-prescribing on their Medicare claims, according to the current legislation.

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.