Medical Office Manager

Health care reform

How the right payment technology can improve profitability at your practice

By Brent Warrington  bio Medical practice profitability is a regular concern for practice managers. Now the Affordable Care Act has perhaps shined a brighter light on what it takes to stay in the black. What's more, insurance companies are under pressure to manage costs and grow revenue, sometimes resulting in lower payments to physicians for patient visits, services, … [Read more...] about How the right payment technology can improve profitability at your practice

CQM reporting and HIPAA

One reader questioned whether reporting CQMs using the Physician Quality Reporting System and reporting patient level data in the Quality Reporting Data Architecture (QRDA) format would require sending protected health information to CMS in violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The QRDA format does require some identifying information. However, Paula Stannard, a health care … [Read more...] about CQM reporting and HIPAA

‘Meaningful use’ can safeguard big money for your practice

Have you been participating in Medicare's or Medicaid's electronic health records incentive program? If not, you are leaving money on the table—or in the government's bank. Incentive payments still available could total up to $24,000. But that's not all you're missing by not achieving meaningful use of certified electronic health records (EHR) technology (CEHRT). "Starting in … [Read more...] about ‘Meaningful use’ can safeguard big money for your practice

How the new OIG 2014 Work Plan affects your medical office

The OIG, Office of Inspector General, oversees Medicare and Medicaid enforcement and highlights areas of focus in its enforcement efforts in a Work Plan. The 2014 Work Plan was released at the end of January and contains some items of note for medical practices. Some items are new and others have been on the OIG Work Plan in prior years and are a continuing project. The … [Read more...] about How the new OIG 2014 Work Plan affects your medical office

How the Affordable Care Act affects your medical office policies and practices

You’ve heard a lot of talk about Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). There are a lot of changes for healthcare delivery that affect medical offices. But are you up to date on how ACA affects your office as an employer? The ACA imposes new obligations on employers. Some of these are already in effect and are continuing obligations you should be … [Read more...] about How the Affordable Care Act affects your medical office policies and practices

Model Tool: Links for more on Office of the Investigator General Workplan

Why you need this list of links: The OIG, Office of Inspector General, oversees Medicare and Medicaid enforcement and highlights areas of focus in its enforcement efforts in a Workplan. The 2014 Workplan was released at the end of January and contains some items of note for medical practices. How this list of links helps you: Some items are new and others have been on the OIG … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Links for more on Office of the Investigator General Workplan

Resource List: Find the help and information you need free on government websites

Why you need this resource list: Employers have obligations to their employees under the Affordable Care Act. How this resource list helps you: This list will help you find sources of information about your obligations to employees under the Affordable Care Act. How to use this resource list: Go to any of the links listed for further information about the Affordable Care Act. … [Read more...] about Resource List: Find the help and information you need free on government websites

Government issues NEW resources to help ensure safety of electronic health records

Continuing to encourage the use of electronic health records, on January 15, 2014, HHS issued new resources to help providers address Electronic Health Record safety. HHS’s Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued the Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) Guides. These SAFER Guides are tools such as checklists and … [Read more...] about Government issues NEW resources to help ensure safety of electronic health records

Editor watches staggering changes in medical office management

By Susan Crawford Founding Editor Dear Readers: Medical Office Manager’s first issue came out in November 1987. And now after 26 years as your editor, I have retired. This is a good time to look at the issues and conundrums you as manager have faced during all that time and to congratulate you on a job well done. The changes have been staggering. You have kept up with them … [Read more...] about Editor watches staggering changes in medical office management