By Dr. Steve M. Cohen The challenge of government regulation for owners and managers is tough enough, but it can often be increased when multiple issues are overlaid to create something even worse. I had a client who faced a good example. The office had an employee who was personally offensive. Combined with his poor hygiene, he was often inappropriate and even creepy. Not … [Read more...] about Workplace issues complicated by combinations
Compliance
Is your practice an OIG enforcement target in 2015?
The Office of Inspector General (OIG), which oversees Medicare and Medicaid enforcement, has issued its 2015 Work Plan highlighting the compliance risk areas that it will target in its review and enforcement efforts. You will see some familiar topics, which the OIG also included in last year's plan, such as chiropractic services, place of service reporting, physical therapy, … [Read more...] about Is your practice an OIG enforcement target in 2015?
Avoid these 5 deadly employment law traps
When someone is fired and can't get hired elsewhere, a claim against the former employer is an attractive way to generate more than a little income. Here are five danger spots where managers need to exercise special care. 1 Give me a reference and I won't sue Don't give a bad-news departing staffer a good reference in exchange for an agreement not to sue. The nightmare … [Read more...] about Avoid these 5 deadly employment law traps
Model Form: ABC Medical Office use of social media for pre-employment screening
Why you need this assessment: Information collected about individual job applicants is considered personal information subject to privacy laws, regardless of whether the information is publicly available online. You need to consider these privacy risks you face before using social media sites like Facebook to gather personal information about job applicants. How this … [Read more...] about Model Form: ABC Medical Office use of social media for pre-employment screening
The demise of sexual harassment: don’t bet on it
By Steve M. Cohen bio With issues such as bullying and workplace violence making the headlines, it might seem as if sexual harassment is no longer a major workplace issue. Don't bet on it. Sexual harassment continues to exist, and it's going to be a major workplace issue for as long as people are people. That's not to excuse insensitive or outright aggressive behavior, but … [Read more...] about The demise of sexual harassment: don’t bet on it
CMS Medicare physician fee schedule for 2015 Final Rule released
The Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule was published November 13, 2014. It provides not only new payment rates but also changes to Medicare payment policies. Here is a summary of some changes that could affect your medical office. Telehealth services. Specific telehealth services must be included in the list of Medicare telehealth services and meet other conditions for … [Read more...] about CMS Medicare physician fee schedule for 2015 Final Rule released
HIPAA audits looming and small practices far from compliant
A recent survey on HIPAA compliance within small practices and billing companies, conducted by NueMD, a provider of cloud-based medical practice management software for small practices, and The Daniel Brown Law Group, a firm specializing in health care law, finds medical practices and billing companies are struggling to comply with regulations under the Health Insurance … [Read more...] about HIPAA audits looming and small practices far from compliant
Human rights: the scoop on state and federal monitoring
By Steve M. Cohen bio Office managers can be excused for pulling their hair over government regulations, but here are some you shouldn't overlook. Every state has a human rights commission that is tasked with investigating charges made by employees against their employers in issues of fairness. The federal government has its own human rights commission that … [Read more...] about Human rights: the scoop on state and federal monitoring
Is firing employees for medical marijuana discrimination?
All seven of the courts that have confronted this issue in the past decade have ruled that employers can enforce zero tolerance drug policies to fire employees for lawful use of medical marijuana. Here’s the rundown: 2013: COLORADO (Federal Court) What Happened: Brewery employee with hepatitis C, fired after testing positive for marijuana, claims use was legal under … [Read more...] about Is firing employees for medical marijuana discrimination?
Office handbook: danger in saying too much or too little
While most offices have an employee handbook, few realize the responsibilities and even dangers it creates. A handbook ensures that both employer and employee understand the full picture of the employment. It tells what the office expects of the employee in terms of behavior, and it tells what the employee can expect of the office in terms of salary, benefits, and so … [Read more...] about Office handbook: danger in saying too much or too little