Legal

The Senate has passed a one-year patch to the Sustainable Growth Rate formula and a one-year delay to the implementation of the ICD-10 coding system.

Though physician organizations have been vying for an ICD-10 delay, many in health IT say that it is time to implement the coding system in spite of legislation that may push it back until October 2015.

Despite staunch opposition from physician advocates, the bill, which was introduced on Wednesday, will move to the Senate in an effort to pass the legislation before the current SGR fix expires on March 31.

Legislation crafted to patch the controversial sustainable growth rate formula for another 12 months would also delay the transition to ICD-10 until October 2015.

With the March 31 deadline to enroll for insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s healthcare exchanges approaching, the Obama administration still faces an uphill battle both to persuade the uninsured to obtain coverage and educate the country about what’s in the law.

President Barack Obama is proposing increased funding toward medical school programs for internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine in his 2015 budget proposal.

While the American Medical Association is fighting to reverse the financial risk to physicians over the controversial 90-day premium grace period in the Affordable Care Act, it just released a series of resources to help doctors if confronted with policy jumpers.

Physicians can improve cash flow at their practices by financing their accounts receivable, but practices should use diligence before accepting terms

New MOC standards are intended to make the certification process easier and less costly, but physicians say they don't go far enough.

How can physicians begin to leverage the 247 million Americans who using healthcare mobile applications?

The goal of expanding health information exchange networks was to help providers exchange patient data safely, but not all networks are created equally.

A reader calls the maintenance of certification process "outrageous and ridiculous."

Several states are considering variations on “any willing provider” laws that would make payers accept broader provider networks.

Being able to exchange patient health information electronically with other providers comes with legal obligations you need to be aware of.

Audio, video and photography features on mobile devices have caused troubling incidents related to the unauthorized dissemination of information about patients and practices. While it’s impossible to completely prevent unapproved recordings, steps can be taken to minimize the risks.

Physician employment contracts with hospitals or healthcare systems can be unpredictable. Physician must look closely at compensation, impacts of new payment models, termination clauses, and restrictive covenants.

Even modest improvements in continuity can lead to substantial savings.

In an effort to crack down on narrow network plans and broaden patient access to physicians, the Obama administration has proposed tougher restrictions for health plans on the federal exchanges, beginning in 2015.

Legislation that will change Medicare’s SGR passed through the House of Representatives on Friday, though an amendment that delays a penalty for the individual mandate of the ACA is causing Democrats to oppose the bill.

U.S. News & World Report released its rankings for the best U.S. medical schools for primary care.

Physician comments will be used in designing a model for the transformation of a clinical practice, CMS says.

A new website created by CMS aims to help practice owners come up with a plan to implement ICD-10.

Designed to increase the transparency of financial relationships in the healthcare industry, the Sunshine Act requires the collection and reporting of certain financial transactions to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Only credentialed medical assistants are permitted to enter medication, radiology, and laboratory orders into the EHR to count toward meeting the Meaningful Use thresholds under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive programs.

A reader writes that he has been recertified four times and met his continuing medical education requirements, so he should not be required to do maintenance of certification again.

A reader explains the meaning of "nonprofit" as it applies to hospitals.

K.J. Lee, MD, writes to clarify his proposal for a payment system that would reward physicians for improving patients' outcomes.

A reader says the maintenance of certification process does nothing to help patients.

A reader says maintenance of certification exam did not cover the day-to-day medical issues she confronts in her practice.

The overall health of the population enrolled in the exchanges may be determine whether the exchanges succeed, many experts believe.