Coding for a nurse-patient encounter
A patient encounter with a nurse does not mean you can automatically bill using code 99211.
The best new software for your PDA
It wasn't too long ago that many of us toted around a cell phone, pager, PDA, and a laptop-a veritable RadioShack holstered at our waists. Now most of these devices can be consolidated into a single cell phone.
Letters: Readers comment on Medical Economics stories
Be your own boss.
Q&A: Buying into a medical practice
This is a good example of why buy-ins should be negotiated in advance.
Q&A: Can we refuse new Medicaid patients?
Most states do give physicians discretion on whether to accept new Medicaid patients, just as you have the right to decide whether to take on new patients who aren't receiving public assistance.
Q&A: When patients request 'frivolous' letters
Generally, the cost of writing letters is not included as a covered service under managed care contracts.
Q&A: Who should receive a deceased employee's benefits?
My nurse recently died and her beneficiary designation form states that her retirement plan assets should go to her former spouse. Since she completed the form years before her divorce, should I honor it?
PHRs can boost efficiency, but also hold malpractice risk
Since personal health records could be the wave of the future, it is important to understand their risks and benefits.
Q&A: First-time homebuyer credit documentation
Although I filed my 2008 return, the IRS subtracted the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit and sent me a letter requesting additional information. Does the credit still exist?
State roundup: New Jersey unveils managed care contracting bill
A look at state legislation affecting primary care doctors.
Q&A: What's a cafeteria health plan?
Adopting a cafeteria plan will allow you and your employees to not only pay health insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis, but also unreimbursed medical expenses, dental expenses, eye care, and pharmaceuticals.
Q&A: When patients refuse to provide social security numbers
Patients are not required to provide their social security numbers, even if your practice asks them to do so.
American Well to offer online visits nationwide
After securing agreements in two states earlier this year, Boston-based physician-visit website American Well has announced plans to expand its services nationwide.
Improve patient communications with voicemail and e-mail
E-mail and voicemail are excellent and convenient means of dealing with prescription renewals, appointment reminders, and other standard administrative tasks.
Study: Half of younger uninsured are voluntary
Almost half of all uninsured U.S. citizens younger than 65 earn enough to afford health insurance but voluntarily don't purchase it, according to research by a Washington, D.C. think tank.
How to code sports physicals
The sports physicals you'll perform for many of your young patients before they go back to school can be done at the same time you do regular well visits.
Viewpoint: What doctors can learn from airlines
In light of the current economic recession, patients must realize that many doctors will begin to charge for goods and services that up until now have been free and taken for granted.
Electronic claims could save healthcare system billions, report says
A new report from UnitedHealth Group says the U.S. healthcare system could reduce costs by $332 billion over the next 10 years if healthcare providers update their technology.
Canada falling behind EHR goal
After spending eight years and $1.6 billion, Canada has made little progress toward its goal of implementing electronic health records by 2010, according to a recent report.
Medicare proposal would simplify PQRI
Medicare is proposing a rule that would simplify reporting requirements for the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program and the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and set the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2010.
Physicians often fail to share bad test results with patients
Physicians fail to tell patients about abnormal results in one out of every 14 medical tests, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
EHR "deinstallation" trend hits Phoenix
Though the Phoenix area has seen a high adoption rate for electronic health records, it also is the first region to experience a "deinstallation" trend, a recent report says.
Global investing can have a domestic feel
Given the perceived long-term consequences of the U.S. borrowing so much money, should you consider moving funds out of U.S. equities to international equities?
Q&A: How to pay an employed physician
Paying based strictly on RVUs often results in a physician who is far more concerned about production than about quality or effectiveness of patient care.
Sometimes a placebo is the way to go
About half of American doctors say they regularly give patients placebo treatments, usually over-the-counter analgesics or vitamins that won't really help their conditions.
Q&A: When you suspect an employee of stealing
I'm afraid one of my employees is stealing from my practice. What should I do regarding legal action against him?
Misreading Obama
Q&A: How to protect yourself from rising inflation and interest rates
How can I protect my financial plan from the risk of rising inflation and interest rates?
Q&A: Use unit time when coding for prolonged services at nursing facility
Codes for nursing facility typical times are designed to parallel hospital inpatient codes.
Health reform plan won't fix Medicare physician payment system
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said that current reform efforts will not likely include a permanent fix to the Medicare fee-for-service physician payment system.
