If your medical practice is located within the disaster-struck states of Louisiana, California or Oregon you may be eligible for a payment adjustment. In response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designation of Hurricane Laura and the California and Oregon wildfires as national disasters, CMS has determined that the automatic extreme and uncontrollable … [Read more...] about Clinicians in three disaster-struck states get MIPS break
Topics
Disinformation endangers your company, not just democracy
By Doug Striker bio Did you hear about the rumor that COVID-19 was spread by mobile devices using the 5G network? It sounds so insane and far-fetched that no one would believe it, right? I mean, how in the world would a virus travel through a cell phone frequency band, into a cell phone or tablet, and then out of the device into a person’s body? But thanks to social media, … [Read more...] about Disinformation endangers your company, not just democracy
Our employees may stage a Thanksgiving rebellion
By Lynne Curry bio Question: I overheard a breakroom conversation last week and learned several employees were planning to get together with extended families for Thanksgiving. One employee was letting another know that if she didn’t “have any place to go,” she could join their family gathering. I honestly couldn’t believe this given the uptick in COVID-19 in our community, … [Read more...] about Our employees may stage a Thanksgiving rebellion
New deadline of Dec. 13 to update APM Incentive billing info
Is your office among the clinicians that need to verify Medicare billing information by Dec. 13 in order to receive payments? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Payment Program website includes 2020 Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive Payment details. To access information on the incentive amount and organization paid, clinicians and surrogates … [Read more...] about New deadline of Dec. 13 to update APM Incentive billing info
How HR regulations could change under Biden administration
By Mike O'Brien bio Employers may be wondering how a Biden administration will affect workplace laws. Prior to the election, Biden’s campaign website gives some clues as to his priorities in this area. Biden lists the failure to pay minimum wage and overtime pay, forcing off-the-clock work, and misclassifying workers as problems resulting in billions of dollars a year in wage … [Read more...] about How HR regulations could change under Biden administration
Can we use a contact tracing app to protect our business and employees?
By Lynne Curry bio Question: Every morning we conduct wellness checks on our employees as they arrive at work, but worry that some employees don’t monitor physical distancing when not at work. We’re barely hanging on as a practice, but all it would take is one employee getting COVID and infecting our other employees to shut us down. We have heard apps can provide real-time … [Read more...] about Can we use a contact tracing app to protect our business and employees?
COVID-19 vaccine: Find out how to prepare
It's time for medical providers to make sure they are ready to administer the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available. Read the enrollment section of our COVID-19 provider toolkit to see if you need to take action now: Many Medicare-enrolled providers don’t have to take any action until a vaccine is available—make sure your provider-type enrollment is all set Some … [Read more...] about COVID-19 vaccine: Find out how to prepare
Do employers owe employees paid sick leave when they self-quarantine?
By Lynne Curry bio Question: After I spent a weekend bar hopping, I felt remorseful, and self-quarantined so I wouldn’t bring COVID into my workplace and make others ill. I also took a COVID test and luckily tested negative. Since my employer had moved everyone back on-site, I couldn’t work remotely and labeled my time off as sick leave. I just got my paycheck and apparently … [Read more...] about Do employers owe employees paid sick leave when they self-quarantine?
How to Create a Legally Sound Substance Abuse Policy
Bottom Line on Top: Make it all about fitness for duty, rather than zero tolerance Although it may sound good, zero tolerance may not be the best foundation on which to build a legally enforceable workplace substance abuse policy. This is especially true in states that have legalized recreational marijuana. The reason drug and alcohol use and impairment in the workplace cannot … [Read more...] about How to Create a Legally Sound Substance Abuse Policy
The workplace in 2020: political talk, COVID-19 violence, executive order
By Mike O’Brien bio Don’t forget labor relations rules when employees talk politics at work During this month’s contentious election season—with a highly polarized American electorate—many employers may be grappling with problems arising from workplace political discussions. Research by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has indicated that more than a quarter … [Read more...] about The workplace in 2020: political talk, COVID-19 violence, executive order