By Nick Hernandez bio Medical practices often find themselves trying to keep pace with advancements in technology, but keeping up is easier said than done. Investment in technology places heavy demands on capital resources. As a result, administrators are exploring alternative sources of capital beyond customary bank loans. When you buy equipment and finance it with … [Read more...] about Choosing the right medical practice technology lease
Increasing profits
Now available: 2017 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals, Schematron, and sample files
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the 2017 CMS Quality Reporting Document Architecture Category III (QRDA III) Implementation Guide (IG) Version 1.0 (7/07/2017) for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals (EPs) Programs with Schematron and sample files. This version replaces the 2017 CMS QRDA III IG for Eligible Clinicians Reporting … [Read more...] about Now available: 2017 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals, Schematron, and sample files
AMA launches campaign to maximize physician success in MACRA
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) promises to reshape how Medicare pays physicians under the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Yet, a survey of 1,000 practicing physicians who have been involved in practice decision-making related to QPP shows that fewer than one in four physicians feel well prepared to meet its requirements in 2017, according to a … [Read more...] about AMA launches campaign to maximize physician success in MACRA
3 mistakes that cause medical practice change initiatives to fail
By Nick Hernandez bio Good is rarely good enough, and opportunities for improvement are never lacking. Unfortunately, the success rate of major change initiatives in medical practices is often low due to poor management of the change. Physician leaders and practice managers should expect and accept disruption and resistance to change, and never lose sight of the fact that … [Read more...] about 3 mistakes that cause medical practice change initiatives to fail
Patient referrals: an untapped source of new revenue
Medical practices sometimes mistakenly believe that patient referrals don't matter. However, like customer referrals, patient referrals are an important—and often untapped—source of new business. There are multiple ways to make sure your practice is encouraging referrals. Here are several areas where you should focus. Family members and their friends Perhaps the most … [Read more...] about Patient referrals: an untapped source of new revenue
3 guidelines for building your medical practice’s budget
By Nick Hernandez bio It is once again time for medical practices to be working on their operating budget for the next calendar year. Unfortunately, too few practices actually take the time to create a meaningful budget, instead seeing the endeavor as complex and time-consuming, and usually resulting in something that won’t be used. Creating and following a budget involves … [Read more...] about 3 guidelines for building your medical practice’s budget
How to determine your MIPS participation status
Are you unsure of your participation status in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)? Clinicians can now use an interactive tool on the CMS Quality Payment Program website to determine if they should participate in the MIPS track of the Quality Payment Program in 2017. To determine your status, enter your national provider identifier (NPI) into the entry field on … [Read more...] about How to determine your MIPS participation status
The four elements of successful operational planning
By Nick Hernandez bio Physicians are well aware of the need for planning. Indeed, they devise clinical plans on a daily basis as they formulate the best way in which to care for a patient. However, when is the last time you spent time working on operational planning for your practice? Many physicians or practice administrators reading this will be thinking, "Who has the time … [Read more...] about The four elements of successful operational planning
Watch for your MIPS participation status letter
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reviewing claims and letting practices know which clinicians need to take part in MIPS, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. MIPS is an important part of the new Quality Payment Program. In late April through May, practices will get a letter from the Medicare Administrative Contractor that processes Medicare Part B … [Read more...] about Watch for your MIPS participation status letter
3 legal protections to include in your patient debt collection agency services contract
Outsourcing can be an effective way to overcome patient collection challenges. But it can also backfire if the collection agency you contract with uses illegal, unethical or insensitive collection tactics. One of the keys to managing these risks is to include proper legal protections in your services contract. This article covers the three legal protections you should include … [Read more...] about 3 legal protections to include in your patient debt collection agency services contract