P.J. Cloud-Moulds

Recent clarifications on HIPAA liability underscore the importance of maintaining protected health information and taking precautions when working with third parties.

When annual reviews for practice employees come around, having measurable metrics in place will make the meeting go more smoothly. Here are some ideas.

Making a few simple changes to your cash-handling procedures can potentially save your practice thousands of dollars

It’s so important to step back, get off the emotional rollercoaster, and find perspective when it comes to monthly data.

You don’t know how much money you have in the bank. What if I told you, you can calculate a projection of your inflow for this month?

Instead of funneling a bunch of capital into your practice on a monthly basis, how about cleaning up your DSO?

Taking a serious look at your worth and value might have your head spinning, but it’s worth it.

Identify those small, insignificant areas of lost revenue; you'll be surprised how quickly these areas will add up.

It's the time of year to update your fee schedule. Do you know where to find your contracted rates?

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to review the annual goals you made last year at this time.

The cost of doing business in healthcare continues to rise as reimbursements continue to drop. How do you keep your staff happy and feel like they are valued?

If you aren't giving your front-office staff kudos on a daily basis, you need to look closer at how they schedule your patients.

With year-end coming up fast, now is the time to assess your business practices. Here are some thoughts.

Did you know that your insurance payers have very specific rules that you are required to follow? Don't leave money on the table.

Knowing and understanding your payer mix is critical in your business operations, and overall inflow.

What would you say if I told you that the billing department should be the heart of your business?

Are you celebrating and thanking your staff on a daily basis? If not, you could be creating a negative working environment.

A practice consultant takes some time out to visit various practices, learning of communication gaps and training needs.

What is going on in healthcare right now has the potential to really affect your practice. Be ready and brace yourself for changes.

When was the last time you provided your staff customer service training? If it's been more than a year, it's time to set up training again.

Knowing you practice's accounts receivable is critical, and knowing how to manage it is key to your bottom line.

Helping to identify how to set up a successful process is the next step beyond settling for simply meeting industry benchmarks.

Continuing education for admins is just as important as it is for clinical staff. 'It's imperative they keep up with healthcare's ever-changing environment.

A healthcare professional takes time to address some of the misconceptions patients may have when they present for care.

Providers, preparing yourself for upcoming credentialing and revalidations is important. Don't forget!

Do you have fail-safe measures in place that alert you when a payer is withholding your payments? If not, it's time to make a plan.

By thoroughly understanding your payer contracts, you take a step towards insuring timely and accurate payments.

If your office has a healthy, but morally damaging rumor mill, it's time to take steps to limit the damage.

When preparing for a meeting, be sure that you are confident and knowledgeable in your material, and that your delivery is positive.

A New Year brings us the reality of some insurance plans not being compliant to new changes and never seen before denials.