Physicians News Health news for doctors and patients.

An opinion released by the Office of Inspector General raises significant questions regarding the validity of common payment mechanisms under Physician Practice Management contracts.

The majority of residents in their first year of training will join an established private practice, work for an HMO or be employed by a health institution or system. Here’s how they can scrutinize the major provisions found in a typical contract.

Given ample reason to be concerned about their documentation and coding habits, physicians need to examine the strengths and weaknesses of various products and services available to expedite those tasks. Documentation efficiency aside, one might also contemplate how useful these systems are to actual patient care.

To determine if you have a surplus in financial accumulation, you must quantify your goals of financial independence and ensure that your wealth is protected against financial independence predators.

The development and expansion of credentialing programs will define, measure and monitor quality indicators that relate to physician performance. Physicians will find patients, employers, government, the media and MCOs demanding quality and increasing their expectations of care.

Non-physician advanced practice providers have often been inappropriately utilized, leading to disappointing enhancements in a practice’s revenue and low physician confidence in their performance. How can physicians correct this deficit?

The scope of federal and state fraud and abuse enforcement efforts are steadily increasing nationwide, confronting providers with criminal, civil and administrative sanctions. A well-designed compliance plan can deter improper conduct and can identify it before much damage can be done.

Medical groups commonly enter into independent contractor relationships with specialists, billing for their services through reassignment of Medicare benefit payments. But physicians must ensure that their reassignment practices do not run afoul of HCFA’s intent to enforce prohibitions against some forms of reassignment

A recent study has proven that variable annuities remain a popular and wise choice.

A well conceived and managed service for which patients pay cash can add thousands of dollars a year to your bottom line. Consider several issues in order to develop such a service that is both responsible and beneficial to you and your patients.