Practice Management

The author discusses participating versus nonparticipating status with Medicare and opting out.

The requirement for physicians to report quality data electronically would be delayed for at least a year under rule changes proposed recently by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

EHRs may be breathing new life into the mobile personal health record market. The mobile format encourages development of applications that allow patients to manage chronic diseases, make appointments, and perform other tasks.

The interim final rule was released in early July by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and is available for comment until September 6. It requires insurers to use uniform transmission formats and standardized forms when they request information or provide patients' claims and coverage information to doctors.

A recent CDC blog seeks to educate Americans on how to prepare for emergencies in a unique way. This physician suggests patient education should also be interesting as well as interactive, effective, and presented in multiple formats (instead of solely providing medical handouts).

The author learns that the value of close communication between doctor and patient-whether through words, appearances, or movements-has no price, no measure of productivity.

Learn how to back up your practice management data using a cloud-based storage service.

Award staff bonuses based on behaviors you want to encourage.

Although it may seem easier to add ancillary services that can be performed in the office, new revenue sources from outside activities offer some advantages.

Learn how to run a better staff meeting.

These practice management pearls are intended to help fill in the gaps of being a better businessperson.

Letters discuss writing kind notes, working "part time," and the justice system here and abroad.

More than 70% of primary care and multispecialty practices are on the path to becoming Patient-Centered Medical Homes, according to a new study, and some new technology is helping them gather the patient information they need to achieve that status. Learn about some products that can help your practice conduct affordable patient surveys.

More than 90% of medical practices responding to a recent survey said that it would be ?very? or ?extremely? burdensome to meet the requirements of the proposed ?accounting of disclosures? rule. Read more to find out what several associations are suggesting in place of that rule.

What does it take to achieve a high level of brand equity? Focus, hard work and consistency.

According to a New York Times article, individuals, arranged by the federal government, were to pose as new patients, calling physicians' practices up to three times to ask for expedited appointments.

Physician alignment is the most serious obstacle to forming accountable care organizations, according to a new study.

Physicians saw patients less often last year, and fewer patients began drug therapy for chronic conditions, according to a report.

One reason to have an office manager in a medical office is to have someone to whom patients - and staff - can complain without interrupting the doctor.

The author resolves to practice medicine on her own terms.

Letters discuss empathy, partners in care and lifestyle changes and prescribing practices.

These practice management pearls are derived from Medical Economics' readers and editorial board members and reflect years of experience.

More and more physicians are choosing to incorporate their practices.

Modifier 33 has created much confusion in the coding and billing world. Learn why.

If you open your own pharmacy, determine whether it would be profitable.

The authors dispute a recent New York Times' article assertion that the reason for physician shortage is related to the female gender.

Learn how health information exchanges can benefit physicians in paper-based practice.

How to update your practice management system.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave physicians a break in its recently proposed rule on meaningful use requirements for electronic health records (EHRs). The revision would allow eligible providers (EPs) to ?continue to report clinical quality measure results as calculated by certified EHR technology by attestation? through 2012. Previously, CMS had required eligible providers (EPs) to start submitting quality measures electronically to CMS next year.

Overwhelmed by changing reimbursement models, emerging regulations and adopting new technology? You?re not alone. Respondents to a recent survey said four of the top five ?considerable or extreme challenges? they face relate to these operational issues.Three of the most troubling issues for practices had not even been on practice group leader?s radars in previous years.