February 26th 2024
Your weekly dose of wisdom from the Physicians Practice experts.
October 25th 2023
MGMA Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, Anders Gilberg, discusses some of what’s the organization is anticipated in the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule.
August 23rd 2023
Collecting money from patients is an ongoing challenge that has only worsened with high-deductible health plans.
July 31st 2023
May 22nd 2023
Communication Crucial to ICD-10 Success
To truly be ready for the ICD-10 transition, start your communications now: with your physicians, your staff, and your tech vendors.
Understanding Blue Shield's Narrow-network Plans
The rules for being an out-of-network provider with California's new healthcare exchange plans just changed. Here's what you need to know.
Five Ways to Improve Patient Collections
Effective patient collections are becoming more critical to the financial health of your practice. Here are several strategies to help your practice get paid.
Communicate Medical Practice Policies to Reduce Errors
Keeping your team informed of administrative policies will help keep billing and collection errors in check.
Collection Tips: Copays, Deductibles, and No-shows
A practice administrator shares his approach to collecting patient copays, deductibles, and payment for canceled or missed appointments.
ABCs of Coding Vaccine Administration
Reporting vaccine administration can be tricky. Practices should review most recent updates and be aware of differences between commercial and federal payers.
5 Common Medical Practice Denials and Remedies: July 2014
RemitDATA's Aaron Hood explores the most common unexpected denials at practices nationwide, with a special focus on psychiatry and neurology.
Documenting Uncertain Diagnoses: Tips for Physicians
In the outpatient setting, physicians should never assign a diagnosis unless that diagnosis has been confirmed by diagnostic testing, or is otherwise certain.
Hospitals Receive a Reprieve from CMS Recovery Audits
In a new ruling, CMS agrees to partially pay pending hospital claims in exchange for withdrawal of claims appeals.
Physicians: Follow the Money to Your Future
Confused about how the healthcare system is going to change? Let's follow the money to find the answers, starting with recent news from CMS.
Using Virtual Cash Deposit in Your Medical Practice
Do your staff members go to the bank each night, to make a cash deposit? Do you worry about their safety? Here's how to make that chore a thing of the past.
Updating Your Medical Billing Policies
Updating and writing down your billing process provides multiple tools for you and your staff, and helps ensure payment success the first time.
Obtaining Prior Authorization: 3 Success Strategies
I have a 95 percent success rate when attempting to gain “approval” for medically needed testing. Here are some of my success strategies.
Medicare Moves to Replace Modifier 59
Not only should your practice prepare to use new modifiers by Jan. 1, you might also experience even greater scrutiny of future modifier 59 claims.
The Evolution of Charge Capture Technology
Charge capture has evolved, from paper to PC to PDA and now to mobile applications, providing physicians with better access to patient data.
Sample Patient Payment Installment Plan
When You Send Patients to Collections
Do you have a set policy for sending your delinquent patients to collections? By implementing a clear policy, you have a greater chance of collecting on those accounts.
5 Common Medical Practice Denials and Remedies: June 2014
RemitDATA's vice president of product management, Aaron Hood, explores the most common unexpected denials at practices nationwide, focusing on endocrinology.
Getting Money in the Door: Streamlining Patient Collections
Small unpaid claims can add up to big problems for your medical practice. Here's how to find the best partner to collect what's owed for your medical services.
The 'Ethnocentrism' of Physicians is a Threat to Patient Care
As physicians, we have fundamentally failed to clearly communicate to patients what we do, what we cannot do, how we do it, and why it costs what it does.
The ICD-10 Delay: A Checklist to Get Back on Track
Though you may have taken a break from ICD-10 planning and prep when news of the delay first broke, it's time to get back to work.
Using Modifier 24: Understand the Rules of the Game
Reviewing the definitions of modifiers first will ensure that applying a modifier goes from a game of chance to a sure thing.
A Physician's 8 Ways to Boost Patient Payment Collections
Here are some strategies my medical practice has developed to get those unpaid patient balances off our books.
Knowing Why Claims Are Being Denied Will Help You Get Paid
Performing an audit on your denials will provide a clear picture of where you need to focus your attention in the billing process.
CMS Proposal Eliminates Global Periods, Could Boost Primary Care Demand
If a CMS proposal goes into effect, primary-care providers are likely to be called on more often to provide follow-up care (primarily, evaluation and management services).
Explain Your Financial Policy Upfront to Patients
Having a very well written financial policy isn't enough. It's all about staff training and verbal explanations to patients.
Sample Payment Policy for Medical Practices
One way to ensure patients understand your payment requirements is to ask them to sign a payment policy. Here's a sample policy to consider adapting for your practice.
Why Online Patient Bill Pay Can Save Your Medical Practice Time, Money
Americans have changed how they manage their household finances, and medical practices must adjust accordingly.
Medical Liens Could Hurt Your Payer Mix
If your practice accepts medical liens as part of your payer mix, it's a good idea to have a specific follow-up plan in place.
5 Common Medical Practice Denials and Remedies: May 2014
RemitDATA's vice president of product management, Aaron Hood, explores the most common unexpected denials at practices nationwide, with a focus on radiology.