Practice Management

The good news: Health cost growth has slowed down so much in recent years that it's increased at the lowest rate since the government began tracking it 50 years ago.

If you don't report quality data this year through the federal government's Physician Quality Reporting System program, you will be docked 1.5% of of their Medicare reimbursements in 2015.

Under economic stress, it might be difficult not to focus on dollar signs when searching for a professional opportunity as a physician, but it's also important to focus on finding a positive work environment.

The healthcare system needs more primary care physicians, and at least two new schools are trying to answer that call.

Doctors who are fed up with the state of today's electronic health records technology have some new friends in a group of six Republican senators.

As patients begin to spend more of their own money on their healthcare, they are also increasingly looking to rating systems to help select providers.

Physicians, beware: If you're making patients wait more than 20 minutes before seeing you for an appointment, you could be at risk of losing those patients.

A new study in JAMA Internal Medicine by researchers from Johns Hopkins University suggests that that number could be reduced-at least a little bit-by making physicians aware of the cost of each test they order.

The hospitals and group practices that are looking to hire doctors are recruiting with a sense of urgency.

Primary care professors reported a median compensation of $203,777, compared with $291,101 for specialty professors, according to a survey from the Medical Group Management Association.

The American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards have released a policy paper to help physicians protect patient interests and be professional in online settings.

The latest installment in Medical Economics' Business of Health series examines the societal costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and how physicians can address them in their practices.

Your reimbursement likely will be tied to outcomes soon. Some experts say that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) penalties for not participating in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) signal that the pay-for-performance trend is not fading away-likely will be adopted by private payers.

The American Medical Association has filed a brief in federal court in support of a Georgia law that was created to curb “unfair business practices” by companies that pay medical bills.

Now is the time for all physicians to come to the aid of themselves, their professions, and their patients.

The government wants to accelerate health information exchange and “build a seamless and secure flow of information to help transform the healthcare system” this year.

This issue's question focuses on the recent crack down on modifier 25 claims and what it could mean for your practice. Find out the answer to this pressing question.

The law regarding self-referral, or the Stark statute, can be a bit mystifying. Find out how to ensure that you remain compliant.

Physicians and consultants share advice on communicating electronically with patients.

A recent decision on a lawsuit over 'out-of network' payments carries potential repercussions for reimbursement rates. Discover how your practice may be affected.

Newer Technology has introduced its next generation Power2U AC/USB wall outlet, which it says is the first patented and UL listed device to blend into any wall as a standard power outlet.

RemitDATA has launched ClarifyMD, a subscription service for practices that provides comparative analytics and consulting advisory services.

According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, health information is not individually identifiable if it does not identify an individual and if the covered entity has no reasonable basis to believe that it can be used to identify an individual.

In the report “Professionalism in the use of social media,” the American Medical Association offers advice for physicians.

Privacy, security, professionalism remain top priorities as use of e-messaging, patient portals, and social media grows.

In an attempt to get past politics and ideology, a group of researchers recently published a report in Health Affairs that examined the health systems in Canada, England, France and Germany for insights on how the United States could better control costs.

Selected comments from a thread discussing whether or not primary care doctors should do locum tenens work in New Zealand. Comments are taken from the subreddit /r/medicine on reddit.

The American College of Physicians has unveiled new booklets and DVDs designed to help patients and physicians manage pre-diabetes, gout, obesity and weight loss, and Alzheimer's disease.

President Barack Obama's proposed 2014 budget includes roughly $300 billion in Medicare savings, reforms to the sustainable growth rate, and cuts to graduate medical education.

There's only problem with CNN"s recent attention-grabbing article on physician practice bankruptcies: We have no idea if its basic premise is even true.