The Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the results of 2018, Year 2 under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Bottom line: The total number of clinicians participating declined from 1.06 million to 916,058. However, the success rate of participants was higher with 97.6% earning an upward payment adjustment on their Medicare Part B claims … [Read more...] about MIPS bonuses are easy to earn—IF you can get into the program
Immigration, salary threshold, LGBTQ discrimination, emojis and more
By Mike O'Brien bio Immigration alert—more Social Security "no-match" letters to issue this fall: The Social Security Administration (SSA) just announced its plan to mail a second set of "no-match letters" to employers this fall. These notices request employers to reconcile wage reports and credit employees' earnings to their Social Security records, stating there is … [Read more...] about Immigration, salary threshold, LGBTQ discrimination, emojis and more
Salary threshold increases getting review
By Mike O'Brien bio DOL sends proposed FLSA salary threshold increases to OMB for final review: On Aug. 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor sent its proposed salary threshold rule change to the White House Office of Management and Budget for a final review. This rule would raise the salary threshold for "white-collar" FLSA exemptions (executive, administrative, … [Read more...] about Salary threshold increases getting review
Deadline to submit a MIPS Targeted Review Request is this month
If you participated in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2018, your performance feedback, which includes your MIPS final score and payment adjustment factor(s), are now available for review on the Quality Payment Program website. The MIPS payment adjustment you will receive in 2020 is based on your final score. A positive, negative, or neutral payment … [Read more...] about Deadline to submit a MIPS Targeted Review Request is this month
Why you need an office policy on collecting fees
Most medical practices take time once a year to create new office goals or a business plan and, hopefully, to upgrade their policy manuals. And consideration of collecting on co-pays and deductibles needs to be an integral part of that business plan, according to Michael Glass, a medical consultant with Transworld Systems Inc. (TSI). Why bother with an office policy? The … [Read more...] about Why you need an office policy on collecting fees
Massachusetts practice busted for taking free POCT cups from Millennium
Case: A northern Massachusetts medical practice and Detroit pain clinic became the latest downstream providers to pay the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) a five-figure fine to settle kickback claims in the form of accepting free point of care test cups from now defunct Millennium Laboratories. The settlement amounts: $87,650 and $44,900, respectively, are consistent with … [Read more...] about Massachusetts practice busted for taking free POCT cups from Millennium
Easy ways to make your medical office healthier
A medical practice focuses on patient health and well-being. Yet, too often, the workplace doesn't promote staff health and well-being – and, in fact, detracts from it. Why does it matter? A healthy workplace encourages staff engagement and productivity, which has a direct impact on the profitability of the practice. To evaluate your workplace, and make necessary … [Read more...] about Easy ways to make your medical office healthier
5 essential steps to ensure an effective HIPAA program
By Danika Brinda bio HIPAA Compliance is a term that is often thrown around the healthcare industry; however, I commonly ask myself: Is the meaning of HIPAA Compliance the same throughout the industry? The answer is NO! Walking into a healthcare organization in the last month, the HIPAA Privacy Officer was excited to tell me that they are fully HIPAA compliant and … [Read more...] about 5 essential steps to ensure an effective HIPAA program
New EPA laws ban flushing of opioids & other hazardous pharmaceuticals
On Aug. 21, a new federal rule took effect banning physican offices and other healthcare facilities from flushing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals into the sewer system. If you haven't already done so, you'll need to establish protocols and procedures to ensure compliance and avoid stiff penalties. The new anti-flushing law The new rule is part of an existing piece of federal … [Read more...] about New EPA laws ban flushing of opioids & other hazardous pharmaceuticals
Missouri staff train each other on solving the day-to-day issues
The best staff training, says a Missouri medical office manager, is the training staff give one another. At the OB/GYN office, staff do just that. They hold training sessions for one another on a "when-needed, what's-needed, and who-needs-it" basis. The office has four physicians and 25 staff. There's no set routine. The manager simply schedules an in-service whenever she sees … [Read more...] about Missouri staff train each other on solving the day-to-day issues