Submitted Line(s) Items With a GZ Modifier: Auto Denial of Claim
nbsp In case you haven t heard, CMS is establishing an automated edit to deny Part A and B claim line s items that contain a GZ modifier. The GZ... Read More >
What is your physician office visit payment policy
nbsp There should be one policy and one policy only for all medical practices To collect monies owed by patients at the time of their office visit. This policy needs... Read More >
BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT – BEST PRACTICES RATHER THAN “BEST EFFORTS” – Part II
nbsp After the initial analysis and determination of primary objectives, the next step is to review the existing written policies and procedures for that process. If such documentation doesn t... Read More >
BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT – BEST PRACTICES RATHER THAN “BEST EFFORTS” Part I
Similar to the mid to late s, medical practice management today has begun to be dominated by mergers, affiliations, and other external strategic initiatives aimed, ideally, at enhancing economic potential... Read More >
Dear Doctor – Get Your House in Order
nbsp Improve billing and collection activities Start doing financial benchmarking Improve your billing processes Improve receivables management process Improve CPT coding Critical in a fixed fee environment this is where... Read More >
Product watch – medical practice credentialing software
CACTUS Software is a credentialing software package for provider and physician management. CACTUS Software has been the industry leader in credentialing software design and development since . For more information,... Read More >
Dear Doctor – How To Hire And Fire Your Attorney and Accountant
nbsp Here s the straight scoop on hiring an advisor, along with honest coaching on how to terminate an attorney or CPA relationship. There s no magic approach except to... Read More >
Medicare application & billing for a new NP
A physician hires a new nurse practitioner. The practice sends the provider application to Medicare to obtain a Medicare provider number for the NP. Because the NP was not physically... Read More >
Example language for base salary plus incentive compensation based on single, stated threshold amount
This language may be used when, in addition to a base salary, a physician employee will receive incentive compensation in excess of an incentive threshold, which is a single, stated... Read More >
Internal Controls in a Medical Practice – Part II
nbsp Prenumber all patients encounter forms, or Superbills, and make sure they are accounted for on a daily basis Accounting for the Superbills i.e., charge tickets used daily generally is... Read More >
Internal Controls in a Medical Practice – Part I
nbsp Every medical practice must implement specific internal controls to protect it from revenue loss and potential employee embezzlement. Although there will never be a guarantee that employee embezzlement, fraud,... Read More >
Physician practice accounts receivable management – Part II
A good indicator of how well the office is collecting its accounts is the percentage of receivables that is more than days old. If the percentage is unusually high, something... Read More >
Physician practice accounts receivable management – Part I
You should look always be looking out to see if the accounts receivable are getting older. This is called bracket creep. If the accounts are getting older, the office may... Read More >
AMGA Releases ACO How-To Book
nbsp The American Medical Group Association AMGA released on Feb. a book on healthcare integration that provides guidance on how to lay the groundwork for a successful accountable care organization... Read More >
Hospital acquisition of a physician practice – the process
Based on my experience, the following is the typical process on how a hospital goes about acquiring a physician practice these days is there anything you would add or revise?... Read More >
The RACs are coming, the RACs are coming….
nbsp Frank Cohen recently completed a RAC survey of physician medical practices. Of those responding, were subject to a RAC audit sometime in the past. Of these, nearly stated that... Read More >
Medicare’s physician compare website
nbsp CMS announced on December th a new feature to enhance its Physician Directory tool, called Physician Compare, which expands and updates the existing Healthcare Provider Directory. The new site,... Read More >
Other Ways to Reduce Overhead Costs – Part II
nbsp Physicians everywhere are looking for ways to trim their overhead. However, most have found that there is not much else they can do. Here are a few additional ideas... Read More >
Other Ways to Reduce Overhead Costs – Part I
Physicians everywhere are looking for ways to trim their overhead. However, most have found that there is not much else they can do. Here are a few ideas you might... Read More >
Medicare immunization billing update
nbsp Effective for dates of service on or after October , , Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System HCPCS codes Q , Q , Q , Q , and Q will... Read More >
Importance of integration within any physician practice merger
nbsp Integration within a medical group practice is fundamental. A minimum amount of integration is required to be considered a group practice under Stark and Federal antitrust laws. Generally, a... Read More >
Expense reimbursements: 2 options for physician employers
Like any business, reimbursements to physician medical practice employees for business-related overnight lodging and meals are generally handled in ways . under an accountable plan or . under a nonaccountable... Read More >
AMA reminds physicians to be on the lookout for embezzlement
nbsp The American Medical Association recently reported that medical office embezzlement is common at medical practices, and experts say the risk is especially high at the beginning of the year.... Read More >
Remaining questions for ACOs
According to Congressional Quarterly CQ , Donald M. Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, acknowledged this week that federal officials will have to sort through complicated... Read More >
OIG Offers Free Compliance Training Seminar
The Office of Inspector General OIG for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is offering a series of free, half-day compliance training sessions for local health care providers,... Read More >
Review Your Personnel Manual From A Legal Standpoint
nbsp While not intended as a legal document, your personnel manual may have the force of an employment contract. Review it to be sure it won t cause unintended problems.... Read More >
Medicare incentive payment program for primary care services
Section a of the Affordable Care Act provides for an incentive payment for primary care services furnished on or after January , , and before January , , by a... Read More >
Ways to Derail Your Physician Practice Strategic Planning Retreat
nbsp As I ve talked about until I m blue in the face, all physician medical practices need to plan their future. One way to do this is to have... Read More >
Incentive compensation based on Relative Value Unit generation by physicians
nbsp Physician employers may want to use Relative Value Unites RVU to measure productivity and incentivize employed physicians. Relative value scales are used by Medicare to determine the fee for... Read More >
Strategic planning for physician practices
As you likely know, there are many changes occurring in the health care marketplace. These changes are coming to pass very rapidly and this in turn is forcing many practicing... Read More >
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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 >
