Opinion

The United States faces an unenviable paradox: the healthcare sector is an important source of job growth and economic output, but healthcare costs-now comprising nearly one fifth of economic output-are dramatically higher than those in other developed nations, and continue to rise.

Awareness of, and preparation for, coming changes should begin now, according to Robert Doherty, senior vice president for governmental affairs and public policy with the American College of Physicians.

The cloud revolution has many wonderful advantages such as lower costs, faster ROI and more powder in the hands of customers. However, when using cloud services your company data is no longer hosted on your physical IT infrastructure so there are some new legal and technical issues that have to be addressed.

Physicians in New York state have put away their pen and paper method of prescribing in exchange for electronic scripts-many just in time to meet the state requirement.

Authors discuss research, evidence behind CDC’s latest recommendations.

As a primary care physician, my responsibility to my patients goes beyond just caring for their physical well-being. My obligation-professional and ethical-is to treat the whole person and that means attending to their mental health as well.

The U.S. healthcare system is struggling to address the healthcare needs of country’s growing elderly population, which increases by one person every eight seconds.

The lack of patients’ mental health data is a microcosm of a larger provider-sharing problem, say authors.

With value-based payment rising, sharing behavioral health information will become more critical in coordinating patient care.

A substance gleaned from the shells of crustaceans may hold the key to harnessing the power of the immune system to create new vaccines against diseases.

Time of day may be the key to improve vaccine efficacy, particularly in populations with poor immune responses according to a new report.

HHS’ Office of Civil Rights is offering an email series in response to a rise in ransomware attacks on vulnerable healthcare organizations.

A new report indicates electronic transactions can help physicians preserve two precious commodities: time and money.

When Curtis Story, MD, a solo primary care physician in Port Charlotte, Florida, first heard that Medicare would begin paying physicians for offering patients chronic care management (CCM), he was optimistic that the additional revenue would bolster his practice for work it was already doing. But more than a year later, he has yet to bill for CCM.

In the average medical practice, the burden on physicians to meet differing quality measurement standards set by payers is substantial. Commercial health plans, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and state Medicaid managed care plans all have different metrics for evaluating quality care.

some of The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations cause confusion among patients and physicians and lull them into a complacent attitude toward preventive care.

Recertification is all the buzz in the latest edition of Your Voice.

Managing populations presents challenges to small practices that require innovation and careful planning.

The rise of electronic health records that don’t always work well can lead to liability risks if managed incorrectly.

Fee-for-service medicine is on the way out. That may be hard to believe if most of your income still comes from such payments, which reward physicians for the volume of services they provide. But it’s clear that payers are increasingly emphasizing reimbursement methods that reward value, rather than volume-and that that transition is accelerating.

What role should physicians have in states where assisted suicide is allowed?

A lot of the questions and answers I see in Coding Insights involve “medical necessity.” Who defines this? How does this directly impact payments?

In today’s evolving healthcare system, physicians are changing practice settings more often than ever.

Employees give up some control but gain freedom from paperwork along with new career opportunities

Physicians are some of the hardest working individuals in the country. Years of rigorous training culminate in long hours at the practice. Even physicians can overlook the importance of protecting their ability to earn a living. When something as trivial as a sprained wrist can prevent a doctor from completing their daily tasks, disability insurance becomes a real consideration.

New certification option grew out of review begun three years ago.

While largely viewed as an unpleasant experience, a little bit of contract negotiation can go a long way for improving a physician’s future.

If you are thinking of changing EHRs or changing practices, there are several lessons to consider to make your transition a success.

For years, physicians have solely held the keys to health information, hoarding precious knowledge from patients because it make them feel powerful, says Daniel Sands, MD, MPH, FACP.

Adopting some elements of the patient-centered medical home model is key, says ACP president.