Part B News | Physician Practice Perspectives

Prepare for HIPAA security rule now to avoid problems later

07/01/2004

Providers aren't ready to meet HIPAA security requirements, according to a study by the nonprofit accreditation organization URAC. Only three out of the 300 healthcare organizations URAC consulted have comprehensive security measures in place, reports the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report. Act now in anticipation of the April 21, 2005, HIPAA security deadline so your organization won't be left in the dust.

Reach out to referrals and increase patient base

07/01/2004

Without strong personal connections, you're just another specialty practice waiting for referrals. But by using your natural people skills and managerial expertise to enhance relations with family practices, you can turn the occasional referral into a revenue jackpot.

Adapt personnel policies to solve practice problems before they turn personal

07/01/2004

Without personnel policies, you risk confusion at your practice and the loss of an important line of defense against liability charges brought by disgruntled employees.

Concierge care is all the rage, but it could be a billing bust

07/01/2004

If your practice offers or is considering concierge medicine, pay attention to the fraud alert from the Office of Inspector General (OIG). This alert, the OIG's first official statement on concierge services, signifies a potential crackdown on providers who stack extra fees onto Medicare-covered services. This practice amounts to double-billing, and intentional or unintentional, it could cost your practice more than money.

Is your patient schedule your worst enemy?

07/01/2004

Scheduling peaks and valleys cause practices to suffer cash-flow crunches and inventory instability. Morale drops for providers and staff who can't accurately predict business needs or count on a regular lunch break or quitting time. And patients are frustrated that they must wait weeks or months to see their doctors unless they have urgent needs. That's why it may be time to consider a new scheduling system.

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