Practice Management

Doctors not yet credentialed can bill for services in some states.

Dealing with patient phone calls after hours is no easy task. Protecting yourself from liability in these cases takes good communication skills and thorough documentation.

Long viewed as an unaffordable luxury, physician midlevels, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, can improve patient care-and your practice's bottom line.

Medical Economics spoke with physicians from five of the 32 practices that participated in an AAFP demonstration project that focused on a new model of patient-centered care.

One of my staffers is periodically rude to patients and sloppy with paperwork. I've spoken to her about it several times but she keeps backsliding. I'd like to fire her. How do I protect myself in case she tries to sue me?

Two physicians' time may not be combined to make up the 30-74 minutes of critical care required to bill a 99291.

Advance payments are available to practices in need of financial help until claims processing issues are resolved.

Some billing locations require nine-digit zip codes for payment.

Multiple procedures utilizing the same code can result in a lower rate of payment.

Four practice management consultants describe strategies they've found most effective in helping their clients collect what they're owed by third-party payers.

A summary of current articles that pile on your desk

How do I dismiss a noncompliant patient from my practice?

Can I charge for a new-patient visit at a new practice if I saw the patient at my previous practice?

I treat many high-risk patients, what's the best way to limit my liability for those who are noncompliant?

Joining a new practice doesn't require a new National Provider Identifier.

Services that have never been covered by Medicare don't require an ABN modifier in order to bill the patient.

We are having difficulty getting paid for visits that occur on the same day that procedures are done in the office, even though we are using modifier 25. Any suggestions?

Can we reward valued patients with gas cards, or does that violate governmental regulations?

Malpractice insurance rates dipped by an average of 4 percent across the country in 2007, but in primary care specialties, the cost of insurance continued to be one of the highest practice expenses.

From minor setbacks to worst-case scenarios, disaster planning is vital to the survival of your practice.

Primary care physicians spent fewer hours on professional activities last year than in 2006.

Primary care reimbursement rose substantially last year, but not all primary care specialties benefited.

I applied to get credentialed with another managed-care company but haven't yet received final approval. May I start seeing their enrollees anyway?

I plan to charge a fee for filling out forms for physicals, disability, and family medical leave. Would this policy run afoul of health plan regulations or any other rules?

Our collection agency says that due to HIPAA regulations, it no longer can contact a patient directly if his check bounces. Instead, we must charge the amount back to the patient's account as an unpaid balance and turn the account over for collections. Is this true?