HIPAA and patient portals
I recently wrote an article about the importance of physician offices having a patient portal and how to implement such a portal. An attorney wrote me the following email reminding... Read More >
Coding for ICD-10-CM: More of the Basics
In this MLN Connects video on Coding for ICD- -CM More of the Basics, Sue Bowman from the American Health Information Management Association AHIMA and Nelly Leon-Chisen from the American... Read More >
Are you living your medical practice mission statement?
Many physician medical practices havve a mission statement. A mission statement will incorporate what your practice core values and goals are. It doesn t have to be long, doesn t... Read More >
Reminder about charitable contribution documentation
This is a reminder that individuals and businesses making year-end charitable contributions of several important tax law provisions and the substantiation requirements to deduct the contributions. Some of the reminders... Read More >
Medicare “Complying With Medical Record Documentation Requirements” Fact Sheet — Released
The Complying With Medical Record Documentation Requirements Fact Sheet ICN was released by CMS and is now available in downloadable format. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on... Read More >
Is your physician practice in HIPAA compliance with your business associates?
nbsp Under the HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule published last January, the deadline for compliance with the new HIPAA rules was essentially Sept. , . However, there was an exception built... Read More >
CMS to require use of new 855R Medicare enrollment form
nbsp The Centers for Medicare amp Medicaid Services CMS recently finalized a new R form, which is used to reassign an individual physician s Medicare billing privileges to an organization.... Read More >
Webinar: Effectively Marketing Your Ancillary Services
nbsp Medical practices, just like other businesses, have the opportunity to grow their business in a number of service lines and product or service offerings. As more physicians and clinics... Read More >
The future: Be open to the development of new and innovative relationships with your colleagues
nbsp Here are some random thoughts I have regarding small medical practices and their future I believe small practices will continue to lose any ability to negotiate rates with payers.... Read More >
Simple steps to improve time-of-service collections in your physician office
Be sure to verify insurance before the visit. Be sure to identify any outstanding balances, the co-pay amount, or a co-insurance deductible status. If a high dollar procedure is to... Read More >
“Incident to” and the Initial Visit – Evaluation & Management (E/M) Service Guidelines
Overview of Novitas Solutions Medical Review Department Findings The Novitas Solutions Medical Review MR Department has observed a continued trend of the utilization of non-physician practitioners to perform initial office... Read More >
Are you spending too much time “doing” the work instead of “managing” the work
Are you too busy to take a hard look at your operations to be able to make the changes needed to make the impact your physician practice needs to be... Read More >
Good physician practice customer service focuses on all these things
nbsp In the time it takes you to read this blog, many of your patients will be asked a question about what doctor they use .why they like or dislike.... Read More >
ICD-10 Resources for Small Physician Practices
nbsp CMS has released three new resources to help small physician practices prepare for ICD- . These resources also provide Continuing Medical Education CME and Continuing Education CE credits to... Read More >
Cybersecure your physician medical practice
nbsp The Office of thte National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has a web-based security training module on its website entitled Cybersecure Your Medical Practice. This is a great compliance... Read More >
Don’t forget importance of your practice management system
Your practice management system is your healthcare practice s pathway to the revenue stream. Your biggest dollar investment is probably your practice management system although now, your EHR and IT... Read More >
Do you realize it’s all about the “front end”?
With the current trend of higher deductibles and co-pays, health care practices need to evaluate their current self-pay patient portion strategies and make needed adjustments. There is a growing need... Read More >
Dear Doctor – Are you ready for retirement?
nbsp Are you a physician who finds himself or herself in a position where you are facing future retirement with not nearly enough money to have the retirement you would... Read More >
High deductibles and your physician practice’s collection policy
nbsp One thing we are all seeing is the of high deductible insurance coverage. High deductibles have always been around the difference is this ..volume. In most practices, the volume... Read More >
Is your physician practice using a portal to communicate with your patients?
nbsp Patient portals as a way of communicating with and to patients is now becoming more popular with patients and physicians. While patient portals require no small amount of IT... Read More >
CMS Launches $840 Million “Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative”
nbsp On October , , CMS announced it would begin accepting applications for its Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, a four-year initiative authorized by the Affordable Care Act. The new Initiative... Read More >
Is a physician’s stamped signature acceptable?
No, stamped signatures are not acceptable. Medicare requires that services provided ordered be authenticated by the author of the order or medical record entry. Only handwritten or electronic signatures are... Read More >
Continual improvement a must for physician practices
nbsp Physician practices are under pressure to cut costs, improve delivery, focus on patient satisfaction, comply with regulations, use EHR s expertly and make money. Not to mention treat patients... Read More >
Compliance auditing tips for physician practices
Ever wonder which physicians should be audited to make sure your physician practice is and stays in compliance with the myriad of billing and coding rules out there today? Here... Read More >
Helping the managers lead others in your physician medical practice
Managing for the first time can be a massive undertaking for most people, especially when the transition is external rather than internal. Being the new guy or gal on the... Read More >
Poor customer service at a physician office
I really get pissed at poor customer service in a physican medical practice like the following post on Facebook- thank goodness he or she didn t call out the actual... Read More >
2014 Report on U.S. Physicians’ Financial Preparedness: Employed Physicians
nbsp A new, in-depth report from AMA Insurance shows that employed physicians now comprising percent of all American physicians have their own set of personal financial challenges, in part due... Read More >
A few random HIPAA compliance tips for physician practices
Check EHR login information Look at employee trails left in the computer logs to get a feel for when employees are trying to access something they shouldn t. This goes... Read More >
ICD-10-CM Coding and Reporting Guidelines Available
The ICD- -CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting is now available on the ICD- -CM and GEMs web page and also on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... Read More >
Cardiology group settles Stark Law complaint
nbsp On August , , the Department of Justice DOJ announced the settlement with the New York Heart Center, which has nine physicians and serves central and northern New York.... Read More >
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Accounting and Tax Services Litigation Support Managed Care Consulting Managed Care Contract Negotiations Medical Practice and Healthcare Entity Valuation Medical Practice Assessment Medical Practice Brokerage Medical Practice Embezzlement Consulting Medical Practice Management Medical Practice Merger Advice Medical Strategic Planning Newsletter Personal Financial Planning Oversight Physician Compensation Models Physician Compliance Physician Financial Management Services Retirement UncategorizedAbout Reed Tinsley, CPA
As a top advisor to physicians, I help increase practice profits by delivering hands-on, expert medical accounting/tax support, practice counsel, and revenue-building strategies. Read More >
