Medical Office Manager

Increasing profits

Watch for your MIPS participation status letter

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reviewing claims and letting practices know which clinicians need to take part in MIPS, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. MIPS is an important part of the new Quality Payment Program. In late April through May, practices will get a letter from the Medicare Administrative Contractor that processes Medicare Part B … [Read more...] about Watch for your MIPS participation status letter

3 legal protections to include in your patient debt collection agency services contract

Outsourcing can be an effective way to overcome patient collection challenges. But it can also backfire if the collection agency you contract with uses illegal, unethical or insensitive collection tactics. One of the keys to managing these risks is to include proper legal protections in your services contract. This article covers the three legal protections you should include … [Read more...] about 3 legal protections to include in your patient debt collection agency services contract

Machine learning and healthcare: Improving outcomes through predictive analytics

Machine learning is a part of everyday life for most Americans, from navigation apps to Amazon's omniscient purchase recommendations. But in healthcare, the use of machine learning has so far been limited to niche science projects in large and academic health systems—those able to afford the highly skilled data scientists and dedicated teams required to turn their data into … [Read more...] about Machine learning and healthcare: Improving outcomes through predictive analytics

Nearly $100 million awarded to help small practices succeed in the Quality Payment Program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded approximately $20 million to 11 organizations for the first year of a five-year program to provide on-the-ground training and education about the Quality Payment Program for clinicians in individual or small group practices of 15 clinicians or fewer. CMS intends to invest up to an additional $80 million over the … [Read more...] about Nearly $100 million awarded to help small practices succeed in the Quality Payment Program

CMS extends 2016 PQRS EHR submission deadline

CMS is extending the submission deadline for 2016 Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) data submission for the Electronic Health Record (HER) reporting mechanism. Individual eligible professionals (EPs), physician quality reporting system (PQRS) group practices, qualified clinical data registries (QCDRs), and qualified EHR data submission vendors (DSVs) now have … [Read more...] about CMS extends 2016 PQRS EHR submission deadline

Don’t know what MACRA will require of your practice? You’re not alone

According to a recent survey conducted by Kareo, a provider of clinical and business management software for independent medical practices, 84% of independent physicians and staff aren't sure what MACRA's Quality Payment Program (QPP) will require of their practice. Despite this uncertainty, most of these same physicians expect to participate in it to the best of their … [Read more...] about Don’t know what MACRA will require of your practice? You’re not alone

Putting patients over profits: Who do consumers see as champions of the healthcare industry?

Harris Poll recently surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18+ to gauge consumers' attitudes toward the healthcare industry. The results are somewhat disheartening. "We are in the midst of a healthcare maelstrom," said Wendy Salomon, vice president of reputation management and public affairs at Nielsen. "Consumers see no safe port, no place where their interests are truly … [Read more...] about Putting patients over profits: Who do consumers see as champions of the healthcare industry?

Notice from CMS: Attest to 2016 Program Requirements by February 28

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Registration and Attestation System is now open. Providers participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program must attest to the 2016 program requirements by February 28, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. ET in order to avoid a 2018 payment adjustment. The EHR reporting period was any continuous 90 days between January 1 and December 31, … [Read more...] about Notice from CMS: Attest to 2016 Program Requirements by February 28

By following strict procedures, New York office has ‘a stellar year’

A three-physician New York City surgery practice had a stellar year. It attributes its success to the fact that everybody follows strict and detailed procedures. Procedures produce efficiency, says Veronica L. Mogerman, administrator at Manhattan Surgical Associates. And efficiency means the office operates at top capacity and staff give patients top quality service, which … [Read more...] about By following strict procedures, New York office has ‘a stellar year’