By Dr. Steve M. Cohen Once upon a time, medical offices could count on such a solid, even lucrative income stream that some minor problems, even considerable costs, could be accepted. That's not been true for a long time. Increasingly complex and intrusive regulation, rising insurance costs, and an increasingly litigious environment are now accompanied by reduced and delayed … [Read more...] about Office efficiency, profit often depend on surprising issues
Increasing profits
Model Tool: Sample patient letters – missed appointment
Why you need this model tool: Missed patient appointments affect scheduling and negatively impact practice revenue. Therefore, you want to let patients know that the practice takes missed appointments seriously – and you want to put it in writing. How this model tool helps you: Here are two sample letters that will help you communicate with patients; the first is for a first … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Sample patient letters – missed appointment
Medical practice staffing trends
Effective medical office management requires staying abreast of staffing trends. With this in mind, Medical Office Manager takes a look at the trends most likely to impact your practice. Physician shortage According to projections by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the United States faces a shortage of more than 90,000 physicians by 2020 and 130,000 … [Read more...] about Medical practice staffing trends
Colorado practice cuts costs by hiring IT staffer
Manager Arlene Zimmerman had an IT cost awakening when the computer went down. She called in the vendor's tech support and paid $100 to find out the computer was simply unplugged. "I told myself 'never again!'" says Zimmerman, who manages four-physician Colorado Springs Family Practice in Colorado Springs, CO. So she started on a path of building up as much IT support as … [Read more...] about Colorado practice cuts costs by hiring IT staffer
For payment plans, credit cards on file mean payments on time
For any patients on a payment plan, having a credit card on file is just good business, says a New Jersey practice administrator. Automatic card payments are the only way an office can be assured of getting the agreed-upon amount at the agreed-upon time. The practice administrator uses that approach for a dermatology practice and also for a second practice she manages as a … [Read more...] about For payment plans, credit cards on file mean payments on time
Health care spending grew in 2014, with more dollars going to brand drugs
Spending on health care for the privately insured in the United States grew at a steady rate over the past five years, increasing 3.4 percent in 2014, finds a new report from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI), a nonpartisan research organization. Use of health care services continued to fall in 2014, while prices for all categories of services continued to rise. Despite a … [Read more...] about Health care spending grew in 2014, with more dollars going to brand drugs
CMS changes will bridge old and new models of chronic care management
New approach can mean substantial revenue increases for health care providers The prevalence of chronic conditions presents one of the greatest risks to the U.S in terms of population health and well-being. However, many serious conditions such as hypertension or hyperlipidemia can be successfully managed if the patient follows a clearly documented treatment plan. To that … [Read more...] about CMS changes will bridge old and new models of chronic care management
The balance between kindness and good business: getting your patients to pay their bills
A 2014 survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) finds that collecting balances due from patients is the seventh most "intense and applicable challenge" for the members surveyed. And no wonder. According to a 2014 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average yearly deductible in the United States has more than doubled in the last eight years, … [Read more...] about The balance between kindness and good business: getting your patients to pay their bills
How to get paid for filling out patient forms
To charge or not to charge? Medical offices don't value their time as much as they ought, according to the office manager for a family practice in Pennsylvania. And one area that's woefully undervalued is the time spent filling out patient forms for things such as disability verification and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). That's time consuming for both doctors and … [Read more...] about How to get paid for filling out patient forms
Does your office need a ‘medical scribe’?
In an effort to focus more on patient care and less on the clerical aspects of the job, physicians are increasingly turning to medical scribes. If you're not familiar with the term "medical scribe," you'll definitely want to read on. In many ways, a medical scribe is a new spin on a longtime position. For decades, physicians have dictated notes into a tape recorder, relying on … [Read more...] about Does your office need a ‘medical scribe’?