Create a system to go after outstanding balances
Set up a timetable for handling account balances as they reach certain ages. For example, at days, send a letter that asks patients to pay the remainder of the balance... Read More >
FTC announces antitrust settlement with doc groups
In yet another example of how IPAs can get in to trouble, two physician groups separately have settled charges that they violated federal antitrust law by engaging in price-fixing conspiracies... Read More >
How to evaluate pay-for-performance initiatives
When looking at the growing pool of pay-for-performance P P programs, you might wonder how to determine what you re getting into before you sign up. To understand your organization... Read More >
How to report fringe benefits on the W-2
nbsp Taxable fringe benefits include cash bonuses, severance or vacation pay and noncash gifts such as season tickets to sporting events and gift certificates or gift cards. Taxable fringes are... Read More >
Looking for a free copy of QuickBooks Pro 2009? Mark your calendar for December 22!
nbsp Intuit will offer the Windows version of QuickBooks Pro for free at all Staples stores on Monday, Dec. , for one day only. The offer works like this The... Read More >
Medicare Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners Internet-Based Medicare Enrollment Is Available in 34 States
Now there s a better way for physicians and non-physician practitioners to enroll or make a change in their Medicare enrollment information. The Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System... Read More >
Summary of OIG Advisory Opinion 08-22
nbsp From the American Health Lawyers Association www.healthlawyers.org On December , , the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General OIG issued Advisory Opinion - , in... Read More >
Recent IRS comings and goings……
IRS Posts Publication Explaining Individual Income Tax The IRS posted an updated version of Publication , Your Federal Income Tax , to www.irs.gov . The online version has more than... Read More >
Personality traits are key in selecting a physician leader
Increasingly, personality is proving critical in relating to patients and to the many players you must deal with daily in the healthcare game-payers, referrers, employers. When choosing a leader for... Read More >
2009 Final Physician Fee Schedule Makes More Changes Directed at Diagnostic Tests
The Centers for Medicare amp Medicaid Services CMS used the Medicare final physician fee schedule PFS to make additional changes to the complex rules governing diagnostic testing. Among the most... Read More >
Charitable contributions at year end – simple tips to remember
Here are a few simple tips to remember when making your year-end charitable contributions. For IRA owners age or over, you can transfer up to , per year tax-free to... Read More >
OIG Approves Physician-Hospital Gainsharing Deal
nbsp On November , , the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General OIG issued Advisory Opinion - , approving a gainsharing agreement between a hospital, four... Read More >
Senior Part-Time Partners: To Be or Not to Be
A senior member in phase-down should probably give up legal co-owner status. Today s pressures on medical practices call for tough decisions about the future. Business as usual usually won... Read More >
Reminder – New Medicare ABN Form Change
nbsp In case you didn t know it, effective - - a new Advance Beneficiary Notice ABN went in to effect. The new form can be found at www.cms.hhs.gove BNI.... Read More >
Correcting Employment Tax Errors – new forms issued
Starting in , there will be new procedures for correcting errors on employment tax returns. According to information posted to the IRS website at www.irs.gov businesses small article ,,id ,... Read More >
Tips to ensure that payers’ audits are fair and equitable
Payers may insist upon the right to audit providers books and records in a number of contexts and for various reasons. Also, keep in mind that payers frequently retain contracted... Read More >
Future impact of 2009 Medicare reimbursement
Using your CPT frequency report, make a spreadsheet with the following four columns a CPT Code Starting with your highest utilized CPT, working your way down b Medicare Reimbursement Allowable... Read More >
How to have access of 2009 Physician Medicare fee schedule file
Looking to download the 2009 Medicare fee schedule? Here is your link: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/ama/license.asp?file=/physicianfeesched/downloads/RVU09A.zip Read More >
Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Update
CMS has announced that the specifications for the e-prescribing measure, which will be used to determine whether an eligible professional is a successful e-prescriber and may qualify for a percent... Read More >
HIPAA – Displaying thank you letters from patients
Many physician office display thank-you letters from patients or their families on a bulletin board or other type of display in a public area where visitors can read them. So... Read More >
Practical tips to safeguard workstations
Under HIPAA, each organization must perform its own risk assessment to determine, as the preamble says, an appropriate solution to a covered entity s workstation security issues. Start with a... Read More >
Tax tips: Gifts to employees & company parties
nbsp Tis the season to be jolly ..so know these tax rules Nontaxable gifts. Fruit baskets, hams, turkeys, wine, flowers and occasional entertainment tickets, such as to a show or... Read More >
CMS Issues Improper Payment Rates for Medicare, Medicaid & SCHIP
CMS reported earlier this month it protected roughly million of taxpayer dollars as improper payments for Medicare Fee-for-Service FFS decreased from . percent in FY to . percent, or .... Read More >
2009 Standard Mileage Rates Released
The optional standard mileage rates have been released. The mileage rates will decrease from the second half of . Beginning January , , the standard business mileage rate will be... Read More >
Watch who handles your accounts receivables
Staff who handle accounts receivable must know what they re doing. Qualified billers, for example, are worth their weight in gold. Your biller may be an employee with many years... Read More >
Customer service can reduce a physician’s liability
Our experience in working through thousand of malpractice cases, available data, and interviews with top plaintiffs attorneys reveals that communication errors and service lapses usually are what cause plaintiffs to... Read More >
S Corporation Officer’s Compensation
An IRS fact sheet discusses compensation paid to S corporation officers for services rendered, which should be treated as wages and not as distributions or loans to the officers. While... Read More >
Use your manager to assist in recruiting new physicians
Many physicians believe that only they can handle the search for recruiting a new physician, and botch the effort These failures are usually due to two shortages time and attention.... Read More >
Examine new talking points in payer contracts
Many healthcare providers are revisiting the various services they provide and looking to make non-Medicare patients a larger component of their patient mix. That, in turn, puts a premium on... Read More >
Knowing When to Use New Patient E/M Codes
By CPT definition, a new patient is one who has not received any professional services from the physician, or another physician of the same specialty who belongs to the same... 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 >
