Medical Office Manager

Compliance

Terminating entry-level employees may cost you the most

By Steve M. Cohen  bio I recently spoke with two different clients who were planning to terminate entry-level, relatively "inexpensive" people. I asked them what they meant, and each client indicated that the employee's annual salary was around $40,000. When I asked if they wanted my help structuring the exit of these two, they both considered that my services were … [Read more...] about Terminating entry-level employees may cost you the most

Some good explanations on the tough spots offices encounter with the FMLA

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) continues to pose a lot of questions for a lot of readers. Here are some Medical Office Manager has received plus some general information on the law. The answers are provided by Vanessa G. Nelson, SPHR, CLRL of Expert Human Resource Consultants in Flint, MI. The FMLA applies to offices with 50 or more employees and allows up to 12 … [Read more...] about Some good explanations on the tough spots offices encounter with the FMLA

$800,000 HIPAA penalty for dumping medical records

A healthcare organization whose employees left boxes of medical records unattended on the driveway of a physician's home has to pay an $800,000 settlement. Parkview Health System has agreed to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil … [Read more...] about $800,000 HIPAA penalty for dumping medical records

If you have to terminate, do it right

By Steve M. Cohen  bio Terminating an employee is not easy, but with a few missteps or bad luck, it can become a disaster. Workplace disruptions, lawsuits, and even violence can be byproducts of poorly executed terminations. Most business owners and managers move to dismiss employees for good reason, but the process is so full of potential for bad results that it deserves … [Read more...] about If you have to terminate, do it right

Three layers of protection: a handbook, candid reviews, and progressive discipline

To avoid the risks of employment law claims, an office needs three layers of protection, advises employment law attorney Peter T. Mavrick of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. One is a handbook, one is a procedure for progressive discipline, and the third is candid reviews. With those three elements in place, the office is safe from just about any type of EEOC claims. Here’s what each … [Read more...] about Three layers of protection: a handbook, candid reviews, and progressive discipline

CMS proposes new deadline for “meaningful use” reporting compliance

Recently, Medical Office Manager told you about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) electronic health records (EHRs) incentive programs and meaningful use requirements. Now, CMS has released a proposed rule that would alter the timeline for meaningful use reporting. Washington, DC, health care attorney at Alston & Bird, Paula Stannard, a former Health and … [Read more...] about CMS proposes new deadline for “meaningful use” reporting compliance

Is your practice eligible for Medicaid incentive payments?

Certain professionals can alternatively pursue meaningful use incentive payments from the Medicaid program, which is run by the state Medicaid agencies. Eligible professionals for Medicaid include doctors of medicine and osteopathy, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, dentists, and physician assistants in a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic led … [Read more...] about Is your practice eligible for Medicaid incentive payments?

Beware these 2 deadly employment law traps

Beware. The government has stepped up its efforts to protect employee rights. Two areas of particular interest to medical offices are disability discrimination and retaliation against protected activities such as discussing wages and work conditions. The agencies involved are the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the National Labor … [Read more...] about Beware these 2 deadly employment law traps

‘Meaningful use’ can safeguard big money for your practice

Have you been participating in Medicare's or Medicaid's electronic health records incentive program? If not, you are leaving money on the table—or in the government's bank. Incentive payments still available could total up to $24,000. But that's not all you're missing by not achieving meaningful use of certified electronic health records (EHR) technology (CEHRT). "Starting in … [Read more...] about ‘Meaningful use’ can safeguard big money for your practice