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Mind legality of firing MD for embarrassing the practice; better to go no-cause

07/12/2021

The recent dismissal of a physician who bothered his employer with a self-published book is a good reminder that providers can affect your practice by their actions outside the office, and that you should be prepared for it in their contract terms.

First in series of surprise billing rules promises big payment, patient info changes soon

07/12/2021

by: Roy Edroso

The first of an anticipated series of rules related to surprise billing is out, and suggests that the government will enforce a low ceiling for out-of-network charges — and require practice physicians to explain to an unprecedented degree what payment options the patient has.

New HITECH amendment rewards good cybersecurity hygiene

07/12/2021

by: Marla Durben Hirsch

Now’s a great time to shore up your cybersecurity practices. A new amendment to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act requires the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to take into account whether your practice adopted “certain recognized security practices” if it investigates your practice for HIPAA compliance. The amendment applies to business associates, too.

More than 8 million patients affected by HIPAA breaches this year

07/12/2021

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Check on your practice’s network and email security protocols. A look at breaches reported by health care providers shows that hacking and IT incidents were associated with the largest breaches in the first six months of the year.

Go to the source when you count review of external notes

07/12/2021

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Question: I understand how to count tests that are ordered or reviewed for office visits. But I’m not sure how to count “the prior review of external note(s) from each unique source.” Does the review of one note from one physician or qualified health care professional (QHP) from a different group or specialty count as one source?

Medicare Advantage takes another bite out of traditional FFS enrollment

07/12/2021

by: Richard Scott

Medicare Advantage enrollment galloped forward at a 10% rate between 2020 and 2021, as the private plan alternative to original Medicare now has lassoed more than four in 10 (42%) beneficiaries.

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