Legal

Physicians need to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of screening tests and procedures with patients and document the discussions in their records to protect themselves if they are sued for medical malpractice.

Two federal appeals court rulings on the Affordable Care Act's insurance subsidies create more confusion surrounding the healthcare law

Gains occur across age groups but are greater in states expanding Medicaid coverage

The HIMSS Electronic Health Records Association is urging CMS and ONC not to make the same mistakes with meaningful use as it did with meaningful use 2.

A reader calls maintenance of certification an example of academic medicine exerting control over practicing physicians.

Kaiser Foundation examines factors affecting program outlays

Fighting with payers over prior authorizations costs millions of hours in lost productivity, but there are ways to improve your chances of winning the battle.

Fighting with payers over prior authorizations costs millions of hours in lost productivity, but there are ways to improve your chances of winning the battle

A medical director for a major insurance company discusses prior authorizations, and how physicians and payers can work together

Interstate licensure compact could lessen the burden on physicians seeking licensure in multiple states, promote the use of telemedicine and ease the physician shortage

Additional telehealth services would also be covered

As stakeholders across the country debate the religious, gender and political implications of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby, one physician advocacy group worries that the decision ignores the practice of evidence-based medicine.

Bill would prohibit dropping doctors during open enrollment periods

Two U.S. senators are asking CMS to investigate

A reader notes that maintenance of certification boards are being required for credentialing.

Survey finds widespread recognition of problem, but many are reluctant to discuss with patients

Successfully transitioning to an accountable care organization entails weighing the advantages and drawbacks of the model as well as careful long-term planning.

Achieving stage 2 attestation requires staff cooperation and help from your EHR vendor.

Marketing activities may help to bolster revenue, but they must also be HIPAA compliant. Here are the legal issues to consider when marketing your practice.

New study ranks U.S. last in most performance metrics, but ACA may bring improvement

When President Barack Obama promised that most healthcare insurance plans available on the federal exchanges would be the price of a cellphone bill, he wasn’t too far off base.

Mehmet Oz, MD, cardiologist and host of the "Dr. Oz Show" testified before a U.S. Senate committee Tuesday concerning false claims from the advertisement of weight loss supplements, but ended up being the center of criticism.

About half of the health plans offered on the insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are narrow network plans, according to a recent report released by the McKinsey Center for U.S. Health System Reform.

Paper outlines vision for “learning health system,” making data accessible and useful to providers and patients

Apology laws aren’t as important as you may think when it comes to situations in which physicians have to explain, or apologize for something unexpected. However, as healthcare becomes more transparent, sometimes statements of sympathy can be beneficial.

A reader writes that doctors who passes specialty board exams should be referred to as "diplomates."

Employees frequently file discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims in response to being fired. Here's how employers can avoid these types of claims.

Though 6 million new patients have enrolled for Medicaid coverage due to expansion of the program, media reports say that nearly half of those enrollment applications have yet to be processed.

Newly appointed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell will face several challenges upon entering office, as she is tasked with the continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Study of VHA facilities shows costs of transition not balanced by savings