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CMS: August launch of PECOS surrogate program will let others enroll providers

08/12/2013

Practice staff will have a legal way to complete physician enrollment using the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) as CMS rolled out its long-awaited surrogate program for use by the end of August.

Proposed changes to PQRS reporting likely to add costs, burdens for practices

08/12/2013

by: Scott Kraft

CMS proposals to require reporting of more Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures for 2014 are likely to add complexity for practices looking to avoid potential payment penalties. Many practices already are struggling to report PQRS measures, experts tell Part B News.

5 tips to keep wait times short, improve patient-satisfaction scores on CG-CAHPS

08/12/2013

by: Karen Long

Shorten the time patients spend waiting in the reception area and exam room to improve patient satisfaction, which could be part of your Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures.

OIG: Can’t compensate GPO members with stock if patients don’t benefit

08/12/2013

by: Roy Edroso

A group purchasing organization (GPO) proposed to get creative by rewarding its members with equity instead of fee shares. OIG shot it down, and experts suggest it was because they suspected the GPO of trying to profits at the expense of patients and CMS.

MAC, private payer communication could mean a race to your bank account

08/12/2013

by: Scott Kraft

You risk getting buried under an avalanche of repayment demands now that Medicare administrative contractors (MACs) and secondary and supplemental payers are communicating more actively and effectively than ever with claim audit results.

Benchmark of the Week: Less than half of docs ‘always’ see patients within 15 minutes of appointment

08/12/2013

by: Karen Long

Patients are waiting longer than 15 minutes for their appointments at physician practices, and that can affect patient-satisfaction scores.

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