A new manager comes to a medical practice with enthusiasm and new ideas. But it’s easy to allow both to get sidelined by a…
RISK MANAGEMENT
$900 million in false billing results in charges against medical practices throughout the U.S.
July 14, 2016 by
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell have announced an…
INSIGHT
Race and religion are tough. Don’t make them tougher
February 12, 2016 by
By Steve M. Cohen bio
Let’s face it: Race and religion can be difficult topics. Next to gender and sexuality, they often comprise a big part of how we see ourselves and, not surprisingly, how others see us.
That’s obviously true today. Disagreements, even violent confrontations, are occurring around the world every day over these very topics. Not surprisingly…
TECHNOLOGY
Get ready for HIPAA breach before it happens
January 22, 2016 by
HIPAA requires you have breach notification policies and procedures to ensure proper handling of a breach of unsecured protected health information (PHI). Do you have breach notification policies and procedures that comply with HIPAA, including the latest changes that went into effect in 2013? Are you training your staff about how to handle suspected breaches? If not, you could end up like Skagit County in Washington, which agreed to a settlement with HHS that includes a $215,000 penalty and a three-year corrective action plan…
COMPLIANCE
9 important dos and don’ts for using social media to promote your practice
December 11, 2015 by
Federal and state laws are implicated when a medical office decides to promote its services, whether through establishing a website for the medical office or participating in forums such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. This article focuses on the do’s and don’ts arising from federal and state laws on advertising and privacy…
COMPLIANCE
Important guidelines for your medical practice website
November 6, 2015 by
When your medical office establishes a website, be sure to set some boundaries and limits for individuals using that website, and give careful attention to the individuals referenced at the site.
To set boundaries for individuals using the site, you should have a terms-of-use policy available on the website which includes disclaimers about the purpose of the site and what users can and can’t do on the site or expect from the site.
For example, according to healthcare Internet technology (IT) lawyer Lisa W. Clark, of Duane Morris LLP in Philadelphia, such disclaimers should include notice to users of the…
READER TIPS
Illinois manager develops unique staff review system that does it all
October 30, 2015 by
An Illinois manager has developed a review system that, besides determining raises, increases communication throughout the office and also promotes teamwork.
The manager terms it a 360-degree evaluation, because everybody reviews everybody – she and the doctors review the staff, and the staff turn around and review them plus their peers plus themselves. And to keep the communication and teamwork open, the reviewing is repeated every six months. It all begins with a staff self-appraisal, which the manager calls the most important part because it holds staff accountable for their performance. They write answers to…
RISK MANAGEMENT
Medical biller sentenced to 45 months in prison for role in $4 million health care fraud scheme
October 16, 2015 by
The medical biller of a Chicago-area visiting physician practice was recently sentenced to 45 months in prison for her role in a $4 million health care fraud scheme.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon of the Northern District of Illinois, Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health, and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) in Chicago and Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Brown of the FBI’s Chicago Division made the…
MANAGING THE OFFICE
Electronic cigarettes: why your practice needs a “vaping” policy now
June 26, 2015 by
Your employment policies address cigarettes, and so you think you have the smoking issue covered. Well, think again. Electronic cigarettes have created new challenges for employers.
Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, first became available in the United States in 2006 and have grown in popularity. Designed to look like cigarettes, they are battery-powered devices, usually made of plastic or metal, that convert liquid nicotine into a mist, or…
YOUR CAREER
Jobs in healthcare plentiful, according to report
April 3, 2015 by
The healthcare job industry showed steady growth last year, with no signs of slowing down in 2015, according to the 2014 Healthcare Jobs Snapshot, a report from Health eCareers, a career hub for healthcare professionals, providers, and associations.
As of January, federal officials reported almost 10 million people had signed up for health insurance or re-enrolled in their existing plans as part of the Affordable Care Act’s state and federal health insurance marketplaces. This decrease in uninsured citizens has significantly increased the demand for…
