Coding Questions?
Coding for Incomplete Procedures; Film Review; Figuring out Medicare Denials

Dealing with Demanding Dan
Cardiologist David Mokotoff remembers a patient who was demanding, abrasive, and obnoxious — and whose estate sued him for malpractice. The doctor’s biggest regret: That he hadn’t done better by old Dan.

Editor’s Note: Death by Bureaucrat?
Maryland’s state insurance commissioner recently toyed with the idea of reclassifying retainer-based practices as a type of insurance. Shaking your head, too? Read on to see what our executive editor has to say.

Getting Paid for Mouse Calls
Insurers are slowly figuring out how to pay for online consultations. The time has come to get on the bandwagon.

Patient Privacy — The New Threats
As healthcare changes, so do patient confidentiality issues. Insurance companies aren’t the only ones demanding to see patient charts: lawyers, auditors, and even employers want a peek. Here’s our guide to navigating privacy issues.

Physicians Practice Pearls: Look Out for Hidden Fees
If you accept credit cards, and you should, you’ll want to be aware of these hidden fees that card processors charge.

Renegotiating Payer Contracts
Trying to get a better deal from a payer? Hey, don’t laugh: It’s possible. But you’d better know your strengths and watch your language while at the negotiating table.

Solved! Denied Again
What do you do when your claims keep getting denied by the same payer, seemingly without explanation?

Speed Training
Getting a new staffer on board is only the first step to easing your office’s work load. It’s just as important to train her properly, lest she become more a liability than an asset.

The Administrator’s Desk: The Power of Paperless
Not ready for an EMR? No problem. Start with baby steps to reduce your paper.

The Bigger Picture: Love Lost
A settlement has at last been reached in a long-fought lawsuit between physicians and insurers. But the outcome of the so-called Love case is at best a modest win for doctors.

The Great Practice Makeover: Undue Burden
A busy internal medical practice learns to push back at payers’ administrative requirements.

The List: 8 Patient Education Web Sites Worth Recommending
Your patients are going online to get their health questions answered. Might as well point them to sites they can trust. Here’s a good start.

The Tech Doctor: Appointment Reminders
Autodialing machines can be a nuisance, but using them for appointment reminders is a cheap, easy way to reduce no-shows.

TrendSpotter: Ready for Another Unfunded Mandate?
We hate to say it, but there’s a big one coming: ICD-10. The new coding system will not take effect until 2013, but it’s still going to cost you. Here’s the scoop.

Your Money: Do You Have Enough Insurance?
What kinds of insurance do you need — and how much? We answer the eternal questions.