Practice Management

The courts sided with North Carolina physicians over claims that UnitedHealthcare wrongly and systematically denied medical claims. Perhaps the tides are changing?

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is not an expert on diabetes, but he's telling patients he is a better resource than their own physician.

A new study published in the Annals of Family Medicine shows that healthcare information technology is not helping providers with the aspects of care coordination they need most.

Medical Economics is proud to unveil the honorable mention entries in our 2015 Physician Writing Contest. We believe the essays exemplify what connecting with your patients is truly about, and demonstrate the levels of heart, determination, and empathy you strive to bring into every exam room, every day. Thanks for reading.

As a result government incentives, new care standards, and the demands of a more technologically sophisticated society, use of patient portals is becoming increasingly commonplace. But physicians must be aware that the specific functionalities of the portal directly impact the risk management strategies that must be employed by the practice to protect itself from liability.

Denials may evoke dismay, frustration and even resentment for your business office, but they can actually be harnessed to improve the performance of your practice. It all starts with identifying the specific denial and the reasons for it.

Electronic health records (EHRs) promised to revolutionize healthcare delivery. In some respects, they have. But for physicians deluged by patients, EHRs have yet to fulfill their lofty promises and, in many cases, have added considerable strain to the daily workload of physicians. In this article, physicians discuss with Medical Economics how EHRs should-and must-improve to reach their potential.

For patients to receive high quality care, healthcare providers must find ways to work together and ensure continuity of care between primary care physicians, specialists and hospitals. For a variety of reasons, continuity of care has not worked as advertised, but many physicians have ideas for how this collaboration can be improved.

Physicians can take steps, ranging from documentation training to taking out a line of credit, to keep their practice financially healthy during the transition to ICD-10

From a daily Starbucks to a high-end BMW, spending to the point of inadequate savings is dangerous to your financial health.

Conducting an internal review of your practice's work using RVUs can help predict, and perhaps ward off, a compliance audit. Here's how.

Primary care physicians often complain that the benefits of using electronic health record (EHR) systems are outweighed by the costs of implementing the technology and meeting government meaningful use (MU) standards. But a new study suggests that in at least one area-reducing adverse drug events-EHRs are having an impact.

Physicians are highly unsatisfied with the maintenance of certification process and question its efficacy, according to an exclusive reader poll

Saving for the future and enjoying the present are two impulses that rarely go hand-in-hand. With Americans living longer, many worry that they may run out of money while still alive. Plan on averages, assumptions, and make a strategic plan in the years prior to retirement. Steven Podnos, MD, CFP offers advice on balancing saving for the future and paying for the present.

Medical Economics is proud to unveil the honorable mention entries in our 2015 Physician Writing Contest. We believe the essays exemplify what connecting with your patients is truly about, and demonstrate the levels of heart, determination, and empathy you strive to bring into every exam room, every day. Thanks for reading.

Answers to reader questions about the proper usage of Modifier 59, getting paid for vaccine administration, and more

Independent physician practices can start increasing their cash flow and reducing their bad debt immediately-and they don’t need fancy software or renegotiated reimbursement agreements to do it. All they need is to have some simple systems in place.

For employed physicians seeking more autonomy and control over their careers, moving towards independent practice can be a viable option

Physician practices are undergoing major structural and economical change due to shifting healthcare policies and demands, so it is important to address these changes head-on with the tools necessary to be successful

Underlying much of the controversy surrounding MOC is the question of how much-or even whether-the process as currently structured actually improves physician performance and/or patient outcomes.

The simmering controversy over requirements for maintenance of certification (MOC) and accompanying physician unhappiness with theAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), long confined to the medical community, burst into public view in March.

Medical Economics Editorial Advisory Board members weigh in on the effectiveness of MOC

Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of heart arrhythmia. Follow these tips to help communicate with patients with atrial fibrillation.

Many physicians regard patient portals as just another hoop they have to jump through to get their electronic health record (EHR) incentives and/or avoid Medicare penalties. But that view can be short-sighted, consultants say, if practices neglect portal services that are attractive to patients.

Currently, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes. Follow these patient management tips to help control costs and treat patients.

While most physicians may use only one or two codes, it is important to code properly to reflect the condition accurately and ensure appropriate reimbursement

Prepare yourself for the potential of malpractice cases by maintaining good relationships with your patients and by following thorough rules.

Edward Zurad, MD, FAAFP, a solo family practitioner in rural Pennsylvania, found himself one of four defendants in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The plaintiff was not one of Zurad's regular patients. The case was not settled out of court. Zurad shares his experience in being sued and being acquitted by a jury.

A step-by-step examination of a malpractice suit in which a patient claims to be suffering from multiple myeloma and asked for opioids. When it is revealed the patient lied about the need for opioids, the physician assistant changed the medical records before a lawsuit.