Modifier needed for services performed before hospital admission
This month's question asks about the use of modifiers for services performed before a hospital admission. Find out the answer to this pressing coding question.
Primary care in transition
Medical Economics asks doctors what the future of primary care looks like.
Viewpoint: Is competition the answer?
Medical Economics readers discuss whether competition and the free market will really help the healthcare system.
The future potential for primary care
Is it possible that the repots of the "death" of primary care might be exaggerated?
Training, preparation are key to smooth EHR adoption
What are the keys to an easy EHR adoption?
How assistance can ease EHR transition
You don't have to handle EHR implementation on your own. Learn how one doctor depended on others to achieve meaningful use.
Viewpoint: What will healthcare look like in the future?
It's time to take a look at the state of healthcare.
What's next for health information technology?
Change is the one constant in health information technology. What does the future hold?
Primary care and the keys to its success
Despite the news of primary care's decline, reports seem to indicate that primary care skills are gaining in value.
Owning a car usually costs less than leasing
Thinking about leasing a car? Discover why owning outright might make more financial sense.
How to create EHR workflows that increase productivity
Find out how well-designed EHR workflows can help productivity.
Perspective: Healthcare reform and the future of medicine: a med school dean shares his views
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, discusses the Affordable Care Act, primary care, and the state of the healthcare system with Medical Economics Editor-in-Chief Lois A. Bowers, MA.
Doctor must confront problem employee
Have an employee who is key to your organization but only works well with a few people in the practice? See what you should do.
Buying out practice partner isn't required
You don't necessarily need to buy out a retiring partner.
EHRs may limit productivity
Worried about how EHRs are going to affect your productivity? Find out what other physicians are saying about the issue.
Use of personal health records improves prevention, study says
Use of personal health records improves prevention, study says.
Cast a wide net when searching for a new associate
Been a while since you hired a new associate? Here's what you need to know about finding the right person.
'Good guy' lease provision can benefit practice
Has your landlord offered you a 'good guy' clause in your lease? See how such provisions can protect you in the future.
How to deal with EHR implementation
Afraid to face the inevitability of EHR Implementation? See the best ways one doctor dealt with it.
CMS extends ICD-10 implementation until late 2014
Implementation of ICD-10 has been delayed until October 1, 2014, according to new rules published today in the Federal Register.
Medicare RAC project targets prepayment claims
Primary care doctors who are ensnared in one of the new RAC project's reviews could see a 75-day delay in payment.
500 primary care practices to get monthly per-patient payments in new initiative
A new initiative led by the federal government will pay 500 participating primary care practices a $20 monthly per-patient care-management fee – and in many cases more.
Increasing immunization rates focus of new initiative
Internists in five states will be part of an American College of Physicians/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention effort to create a 3-year, evidence-based program to increase adult immunization rates.
Are 'invisible' tasks making the primary care workload unsustainable?
Invisible tasks associated with non-face-to-face patient care are threatening to make the workload of primary care physicians unsustainable, a new study says.
Healthcare data breaches affected 10.8M Americans in 2011, double prior year
Theft was the No. 1 cause of data breaches, accounting for 52% last year. Unauthorized access accounted for 19%. Just 6% of breaches happened due to hacking.
Why some medical schools don't teach students how to use EHRs
A lack of educational mandate is one reason that many medical schools do not teach their students how to use electronic health record (EHR) systems, even though use of the systems is increasing in the practice of medicine.
HHS moves to streamline electronic payments for physicians
The government is trying to make it easier for you to submit claims payments to insurance companies electronically. Find out how your practice can benefit.
Home-based care gets trial run
Does primary care provided at home improve outcomes for chronically ill patients? Practices participating in a new study will help reveal any benefits.
Study: Low reimbursements keep doctors from accepting new Medicaid patients
Nearly one-third of you aren't accepting new Medicaid patients, but increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to Medicare levels could go a long way toward overcoming that reluctance, according to a new report.
Wellpoint ranked worst health insurance company in hospital survey
Wellpoint took last place in a controversial survey of hospital executives’ opinions of big health insurance companies.