On national forums that focus on assessing physicians, such as RateMDs.com, the comments cascade around the clock, reflecting patients' feelings about their ­doctors. The statements roll down the website with immediacy: This doc was "the best" (18 minutes ago!); that one was "very rude" (14 minutes ago!). The authors are anonymous, but the subjects of their commentary are sometimes identified, albeit only with a last name.

Physicians see their patients one-on-one, but what happens behind closed doors can quickly become open to debate on the Web, with patients telling all, if they want. It's a free market of ideas and conversation, and it's a reminder that there are some things a physician, or anyone, can't take too personally. Then again, when you consider that your professional reputation and livelihood are at stake, you might decide to go to court.

The nation's medical schools are on track to boost enrollment 30% by 2016, but they may not have residency slots available for all of their new graduates, the Association of American Medical Colleges  reports.

In 2011, the University of Michigan Health ­System found it extremely worthwhile in cost savings and ­patient satisfaction when physicians apologized for doing something wrong.

In medical cases, apologies don't make the malpractice issue go away, nor do they necessarily prevent such litigation. But efforts like the University of Michigan's are worth spotlighting because they are attempting to reduce malpractice litigation, not just through scattered health systems, but on a statewide stage.

Three in four healthcare organizations had to find temporary physicians at some point in the past 12 months because they couldn't find permanent physicians, according to a survey of more than 100 healthcare organizations conducted by Irving, Texas-based Staff Care. The survey also found that 41% of healthcare organizations are currently looking for temporary physicians.

Find an accountable care organization (ACO) that allows your physicians to maintain autonomy or you might wind up making dramatic changes without receiving the desired savings, experts say.  Whether you like it or not, ACOs and other new payment models represent the future of Medicare as it gradually shifts from volume-based to performance-based payment. 

Practices that refill and order durable medical equipment (DME) for patients will have more paperwork to complete and send to suppliers if CMS finalizes its proposal in the 2013 Medicare physician fee schedule. Non-physician practitioners (NPPs) can conduct the face-to-face visit, the order won’t get approved without a doctor’s sign-off.

Familiarize yourself with the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) in the second half of 2012 to prepare for 2013 reporting and avoid the 1.5% penalty in 2015 based on 2013 data. You’ll also receive a 0.5% Medicare payment increase for successfully reporting in 2013 and 2014.

The biggest concern in a recently released HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on Medicare E/M coding trends – finding that certain physicians consistently bill higher E/M levels than their peers – is that it mirrors what we see in client audits all the time.

Palmetto: AQ modifier errors on the rise, check updated HPSA locations. Some states had a 100% error rate for provider use of the AQ modifier (Physician providing a service in a health professional shortage area [HPSA]) in the first quarter of 2012, Palmetto tells Part B News. During most quarters, that figure is 25%.

This chart examines physician interest in accountable care organizations (ACOs) and patient-centered medical homes. Data are based on more than 2,500 physician responses to a survey conducted this year that was published in the 2012 Medical Practice & Attitude Report by Jackson Healthcare, a healthcare staffing company in Alpharetta, Ga. Respondent interest, separated by practice type, classifies physician interest level by four categories: participating in an ACO or medical home in 2012, considering participating, not participating or considering and doesn’t know.