Practice Finance

SGR should be repealed, bipartisan proposal says

A proposal to repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula for Medicare, part of the so-called "Gang of Six" bipartisan compromise to end the debt-ceiling impasse, drew immediate praise from physician groups. That wasn't the only proposal that could benefit physicians, however. Read more to find out about others. » More

Practice Management

Bundling could reduce Medicare costs at your expense

With all the activity surrounding the creation of accountable care organizations, nearly slipping under the radar has been the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's provision requiring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to create, by January 1, 2013, a 5-year pilot program to bundle payments for episodes of care that include hospitalizations. That cost-saving measure could come at the expense of you and other primary care physicians. » More

Liability & Risk Management

OIG to combat fraudulent billing with IT

Government investigators are trying to develop new information technology tools to combat Medicare fraud—which can occur through misuse of electronic health records—and other forms of fraudulent billing. Here's information on how some of those technologies will try to detect fraud before it even occurs. » More

We want to hear from you

We're looking for readers who would like to share their experiences

If you're leveraging mobile technology––laptops, a smartphone, and iPad or tablet computer––inside and outside of your practice, we would love to talk with you for an article we're working on; please email Editor-in-Chief Tara Stultz at [email protected]

Did your practice space undergo a major makeover? If you're interested in sharing your experience–plus before and after photos––please send a note to [email protected]

Technology

Risks of mobile medical applications impel regulation

With the explosion in mobile medical applications, a growing number of apps effectively convert smartphones and tablet devices into mobile medical devices, such as ophthalmoscopes or glucose monitoring systems. Now, the FDA is proposing ways to regulate that trend, which may affect remote monitoring of patient conditions. » More

Health Law & Policy

Do Medicare panels threaten doctor-patient relationship?

Opponents claim that the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will ration care reimbursed by Medicare and interfere with a physician's ability to determine appropriate treatment for an individual patient. Administration officials, however, say the panel of experts is a necessary "backstop" to keep Medicare solvent. Read more about recent congressional testimony and decide if the IPAB will mean "devastating consequences" for healthcare, as the subcommittee chairman warned. » More

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