By Steve M. Cohen bio Although human behavior covers a huge range, it can often be categorized into several general areas. One of these categories is "opportunistic" and could even be described as predatory. With this kind of behavior, the individual sees an opportunity to take advantage of a person or a situation and then does so. For example, I overheard two … [Read more...] about Office predators can take many forms
Compliance
ICD-10: from transition to full implementation—and the first round of updates
The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, which took effect October 1, 2015, has significantly impacted health care providers. An entirely new set of codes as well as expansion of codes for greater specificity are now required. ICD-10 is a completely different system. The code set has been expanded from five positions (first one alphanumeric, others numeric) to seven positions. … [Read more...] about ICD-10: from transition to full implementation—and the first round of updates
Why the new Massachusetts law matters, regardless of where your practice is located
Massachusetts recently signed into law An Act to Establish Pay Equity, S.2119, which takes effect on July 1, 2018. The new law prevents wage discrimination based on gender. The law includes several noteworthy changes related to the employment process, but perhaps the most significant is that it prohibits employers from requiring applicants to provide their salary history … [Read more...] about Why the new Massachusetts law matters, regardless of where your practice is located
What every office manager needs to know about ‘at-will’ employment
What does at-will employment mean? It means that either the employer or the employee can end the relationship at any time and for any reason or for no reason at all – unless there is a contract for a term of employment. So why should a manager be concerned about that? Because most states say yes, there can be an implied contract of employment and no, that contract doesn't … [Read more...] about What every office manager needs to know about ‘at-will’ employment
Is your practice aware of significant changes to Medicare’s MACRA program?
A transformative law is on track to fundamentally change how physicians and other clinicians are reimbursed under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), but half of recently surveyed physicians have never heard of it, according to the "Deloitte Center for Health Solutions 2016 Survey of U.S. Physicians." The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) … [Read more...] about Is your practice aware of significant changes to Medicare’s MACRA program?
Avoid these 3 deadly age discrimination traps
Age discrimination has become today's big employment law issue. And it's because people live longer than in the recent past and also work longer. Some work longer by choice; others have seen their retirement funds obliterated and are forced to continue working. It's yet another danger spot managers need to watch. Older job applicants and employees have strong protection under … [Read more...] about Avoid these 3 deadly age discrimination traps
Do you have a practice bully?
By Lynne Curry bio At first you hear rumblings, and then they turn into a rockslide. If you have a practice bully, a domineering charge nurse, an it's-all-about-me IT manager or a physician so aware of the dollars he brings to your clinic that he could not care less about those he rides roughshod over, you've got a problem. What happens if you don't address a … [Read more...] about Do you have a practice bully?
What we have here should never be a failure to communicate
By Steve M. Cohen bio I may be showing my age, but it's likely you've at least heard the line from "Cool Hand Luke": "What we have here is a failure to communicate." A prison boss first uses the phrase, then the hero, Luke, repeats it at the end of the film. Moments later, Luke is killed in dramatic Hollywood fashion. If you need to update this mentally, picture … [Read more...] about What we have here should never be a failure to communicate
How to avoid talking politics with your boss and coworkers
Many folks agree, in theory, that it's wise to avoid talking politics with your colleagues. And yet this contentious election season it seems almost impossible to escape from distracting, annoying, and sometimes upsetting political commentary—even at work. Beverly Jones, executive coach and author of the book, "Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO," advises workers to … [Read more...] about How to avoid talking politics with your boss and coworkers
Exempt employee salary rules just changed: are you ready?
By Paul Edwards bio Medical practice owners and office managers are about to face a tough transition. The minimum salary at which an employee may qualify as "exempt" from overtime pay has just been changed to $47,476 per year by the Department of Labor—and by December 1, 2016, all businesses must comply. What's changing, and why? Under the old Fair Labor Standards … [Read more...] about Exempt employee salary rules just changed: are you ready?