Legal

Many practitioners store, administer, or dispense controlled substances in the office, but they may not be aware of legal requirements concerning the safeguarding and record-keeping of these drugs.

Healthcare professionals should consider whether the benefits of FDA-approved testosterone treatment is likely to exceed the potential risks of treatment.

Hospitals across the United States are merging and purchasing physician practices at a faster clip than they have in decades. While some experts believe the pace of acquisition is not sustainable, the economic forces driving hospital consolidation is also driving up the cost. For employed physicians, that could mean employment trouble. For independent groups, it could signal opportunity.

When hospitals acquire independent medical practices, they will now often reclassify the practice as an outpatient facility. Doing so allows them, under Medicare rules, to add a separate facility charge to a patient’s bill.

The number of young adults enrolling in exchange health plans may be less important than the overall health of all new enrollees.

The debate over the necessity of annual mammograms continues as a recent study suggests that the screenings for breast cancer do not reduce the number of deaths from the disease.

The costs to medical practices for implementing ICD-10 have been grossly underestimated, according to a recent study.

Close to 1.1 million signed up in January, data show

Congress has agreed on legislation to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. But the changes not only affect physician reimbursements. The proposed legislation also overhauls current incentive programs, establishing the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System.

The vast majority of practices have done nothing to get ready for ICD-10 or are only "somewhat ready."

A reader says that the business pressures of running a medical practice makes it no longer enjoyable.

A reader proposes alternatives to the need to obtain insurance company preapprovals for treatments and procedures.

A reader says that doctors today are under too much scrutiny and have too many requirements placed on them.

A reader writes that the ongoing controversy over maintenance of certification requirements echoes another episode in American medicine a century ago.

Will reimbursement data on individual physicians lead to better healthcare or leave doctors exposed?

Like it or not, ICD-10-CM is coming in October, which means medical practices are going to have to code and document their physicians’ patient encounters with more detail and complexity, or they won’t get paid. To help physicians prepare, we highlight some examples of ICD-10-CM coding in action.

The Sustainable Growth Rate replacement bill passing Congress today would guarantee .5% Medicare reimbursement increases for five years while new payment models are developed and phased in. But medical groups remain cautiously optimistic.

HHS Secretary says additional states will recognize the financial benefits of making Medicaid more accessible to their residents.

More doctors are using electronic health records, but the growth is faster in some states and practice sizes than others.

President Barack Obama skimmed the surface of the Affordable Care Act during his sixth State of the Union speech, while physicians, nurses, educators, and thought leaders in the healthcare industry weighed in on the country's challenges.

Reader opinion: A reader writes to disagree with a proposed pay model designed to reward quality.

Allowing nurse practitioners to expand their scope of practice will make healthcare more efficient and reduce physician burnout.

A reader recalls an experience as a youth when his relationship with healthcare providers made a difference.

Reader opinion: Malpractice lawsuits haunt physicians forever, regardless of the outcome.

A new survey reveals that American healthcare consumers are reluctant to make changes that would bring about the lower healthcare costs they say they want.