By Steve M. Cohen bio In the news recently was a discussion about a hospital that established a policy that it would not hire anyone who applied for a job whose Body Mass Index was greater than 30. While that sounds simple, it hides a whole range of issues. As most medical professionals know, a BMI score above 30 means you are considered obese. Although I'm all for … [Read more...] about Discrimination against the obese in the medical workplace
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3 ways to more safely process patient payments and enhance overall security
By Paul Panos bio Today's office managers face security concerns from all sides – from HIPAA compliance to PHI laws. Shouldn't protecting financial data be the last thing on your mind? We've already explored in a previous article how the right payment processing technology can boost a practice's profitability, but it can also enhance a practice's level of security … [Read more...] about 3 ways to more safely process patient payments and enhance overall security
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
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
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
CQM reporting and HIPAA
One reader questioned whether reporting CQMs using the Physician Quality Reporting System and reporting patient level data in the Quality Reporting Data Architecture (QRDA) format would require sending protected health information to CMS in violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The QRDA format does require some identifying information. However, Paula Stannard, a health care … [Read more...] about CQM reporting and HIPAA
‘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
What you need to know about medical marijuana
With medical marijuana now legal in 20 states and Washington, D.C., and legislation pending in 13 other states*, medicinal use of cannabis has very much become a national issue – and of course it's an issue with numerous implications for medical practices and the people who manage them. Richard F. Comenzo is a Massachusetts attorney specializing in medical marijuana laws. His … [Read more...] about What you need to know about medical marijuana
Avoid these 5 common but costly wage and hour violations
What is the most significant – and also uninsured – risk every employer lives with? Wage and hour litigation. That's the one employment law area that EPLI, employment practices liability insurance, will not cover, says attorney Joseph M. Sokolowski, who heads the wage and hour practice group of Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis. Most EPLI policies specifically exclude … [Read more...] about Avoid these 5 common but costly wage and hour violations