By Mike O'Brien bio DOL sends proposed FLSA salary threshold increases to OMB for final review: On Aug. 12, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor sent its proposed salary threshold rule change to the White House Office of Management and Budget for a final review. This rule would raise the salary threshold for "white-collar" FLSA exemptions (executive, administrative, … [Read more...] about Salary threshold increases getting review
Managing staff
Why you need an office policy on collecting fees
Most medical practices take time once a year to create new office goals or a business plan and, hopefully, to upgrade their policy manuals. And consideration of collecting on co-pays and deductibles needs to be an integral part of that business plan, according to Michael Glass, a medical consultant with Transworld Systems Inc. (TSI). Why bother with an office policy? The … [Read more...] about Why you need an office policy on collecting fees
Massachusetts practice busted for taking free POCT cups from Millennium
Case: A northern Massachusetts medical practice and Detroit pain clinic became the latest downstream providers to pay the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) a five-figure fine to settle kickback claims in the form of accepting free point of care test cups from now defunct Millennium Laboratories. The settlement amounts: $87,650 and $44,900, respectively, are consistent with … [Read more...] about Massachusetts practice busted for taking free POCT cups from Millennium
Easy ways to make your medical office healthier
A medical practice focuses on patient health and well-being. Yet, too often, the workplace doesn't promote staff health and well-being – and, in fact, detracts from it. Why does it matter? A healthy workplace encourages staff engagement and productivity, which has a direct impact on the profitability of the practice. To evaluate your workplace, and make necessary … [Read more...] about Easy ways to make your medical office healthier
5 essential steps to ensure an effective HIPAA program
By Danika Brinda bio HIPAA Compliance is a term that is often thrown around the healthcare industry; however, I commonly ask myself: Is the meaning of HIPAA Compliance the same throughout the industry? The answer is NO! Walking into a healthcare organization in the last month, the HIPAA Privacy Officer was excited to tell me that they are fully HIPAA compliant and … [Read more...] about 5 essential steps to ensure an effective HIPAA program
Missouri staff train each other on solving the day-to-day issues
The best staff training, says a Missouri medical office manager, is the training staff give one another. At the OB/GYN office, staff do just that. They hold training sessions for one another on a "when-needed, what's-needed, and who-needs-it" basis. The office has four physicians and 25 staff. There's no set routine. The manager simply schedules an in-service whenever she sees … [Read more...] about Missouri staff train each other on solving the day-to-day issues
The ABCs of Provider Compliance: A necessity in today’s healthcare climate
The word "compliance" constitutes one of the most under-estimated forces of change in healthcare today. Kathleen Hessler, RN, JD, CHC, CHPC, Director of Compliance & Risk, Simione Healthcare Consultants, says, "It may be a buzz word in many organizations, but compliance typically means different things to the board of directors or executive team than it does to the managers … [Read more...] about The ABCs of Provider Compliance: A necessity in today’s healthcare climate
Separate room for schedulers calms front office chaos
A few years ago, a North Carolina pediatric practice realized that the front desk is not the best place to check people in, make return appointments, and schedule new appointments – all at the same time. With staff constantly having to answer phones, the area was too busy and too noisy to give waiting patients the attention they deserved. People were waiting in line only to … [Read more...] about Separate room for schedulers calms front office chaos
Social media is a double win for your medical practice and your career
Digital media specialist Brittney Overstreet says social media has given word-of-mouth marketing—the oldest marketing tool—unanticipated strength that can dramatically boost your medical practice or effortlessly destroy it if you don't know how to manage it. Social media, defined as the online method for sharing information with an audience, is used by many patients to … [Read more...] about Social media is a double win for your medical practice and your career
How to conduct fair and effective performance reviews
It may be the most common target for Dilbert cartoons, but the performance review is an ethical obligation for a manager. Every employee in every job setting wants to know two things: What do you expect of me? and How am I doing at meeting your expectations? A manager has an obligation to answer those questions, says Dick Grote, a management consultant specializing in … [Read more...] about How to conduct fair and effective performance reviews