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How approval hassles for ordering tests or prescribing drugs can get in the way of caring for patients.

Most physicians have incredibly hectic work lives filled with people (the sheer number of patients seen daily), conditions (the vast amount of diagnoses made per week), and stories (the close calls, exciting cases and thrills of practicing medicine), so it seems only natural physicians have a lot to blog about.

The calendar may say the ICD-10 transition is long gone, but practices still will likely feel its repercussions in 2017 in terms of payer requests, denials and the new code set’s influence on value-based care. Looking to next year, practices should start being proactive with these coding opportunities now to consider how the following five factors will impact documenting, coding and billing for care

Nearly two years after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched CPT code 99490, many physician practices, especially smaller ones, are still hesitating to launch chronic care management (CCM) programs.

As physicians continue to maneuver through the electronic health record (EHR) maze, they'll soon start to see more oversight from Uncle Sam.

Family members and caregivers need to be involved as part of the treatment team for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

High-tech approaches to chronic care can help COPD patients avoid hospital visits through better management of their condition.

Patients with stable COPD already using supplemental oxygen should discuss continued use with their physician.

The CAPTURE questionnaire along with a peak flow test could assist primary care physicians with severe COPD diagnosis.

House calls may be making a comeback as a way to cut costs and provide better quality care for the elderly and chronically ill.

The growing shortage of primary care physicians, which is projected to reach 35,600 by 2025 according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, is creating extraordinary competition among healthcare organizations seeking to hire internal medicine doctors.

An accurate diagnosis and knowledge of appropriate non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies are vital to successful COPD management.

Undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has a substantial impact on healthcare costs and utilization, according to two experts.

Looking past 2017, Medicare physician payment reform will have a ripple effect on areas including health IT and the future of independent practice.

With 2017 fast approaching, physicians are taking a hard look at their practice operations to gauge the effects of Medicare payment reform.

Analysis to identify and mitigate risks should follow patient data, according to experts.

Physicians face challenges in preparing systems for the move to value-based reimbursement, including what it will mean for electronic health record systems.

Telemedicine can provide an avenue for cardiologists and other physicians to participate in the shift to value-based care, said Sarah Sossong, MPH, at the 2016 AHA Conference.

The inclusion of frailty in the assessment and management of cardiovascular disease patients is a “no brainer, said Daniel E. Forman, MD, at the 2016 AHA Conference.

Primary care physicians should consider combining health education with interventions like counseling and tailor patient approaches, said Benita Walton-Moss at the 2016 AHA Conference.

The election of Donald Trump may mean an era of empowering physicians and is reason for optimism.

The use of mobile health applications and other technologies have promise to connect patients to physicians, but there is more work to be done, said Maulik D. Majmudar, MD, at the 2016 AHA Conference.

Improvements in risk factor modification and advances in the medical management of cardiovascular disease are truly affecting mortality rates, said Barry Franklin, PhD, in a presentation at the 2016 AHA Conference.

“Major limitations undermine the clinical utility” of the risk score calculator, said Steven E. Nissen, MD, at the 2016 AHA Conference.

Ifa bill introduced in Congress passes into law, paying directly for primary care will be a lot easier to do.

“We should be doing everything we can to manage blood pressure better in women in the acute stroke setting,” Cheryl Bushnell, MD, said at the 2016 AHA Conference.

Electronic health records may be the key to improving medical care and health outcomes for cardiology patients, said Marc S. Williams, MD, at the 2016 AHA Conference.

Researchers in Pennsylvania are using genetic information to identify patients’ risk for familial hyercholesterolmia, said Michael F. Murray, MD, at the 2016 AHA Conference.

The growth of smartphone usage is giving physicians new ways to stay connected with patients and improve their care, and evidence shows that communication outside of the office setting is acceptable and can help improve outcomes.

Running a physician practice is a lot different-and substantially more challenging-than it used to be.