Practice Finance

Compensation up slightly but practice margins are ailing

Compensation in primary care practices edged up about 2.6% in 2010, a smaller increase than in the previous year but still slightly more than specialty practices, a recent survey found. Overall, however, the news was far from good—many practices were operating at a loss. » More

Practice Management

ACOs can pay off with time, pilot project indicates

Accountable care organizations (ACOs) can be financially rewarding for participating physician groups, but it may take longer than expected, if the results of the physician group practice demonstration apply. Read more to find out when the risks actually resulted in rewards. » More

Liability & Risk Management

PCPs highly likely to face malpractice suits but
not to pay claims

Family medicine practitioners have a lower probability of being sued for malpractice than most specialties but still have at least a 75% chance of facing a lawsuit before typical retirement age, according to a new study. The good news? More than three-quarters of all claims resulted in no payments. » More

We want to hear from you

The way you see it

We're looking for readers who would like to share their experiences and observations about important issues facing primary care—payer issues, ACOs, EHRs, patient relations, malpractice, and more. Let us know what's on your mind by submitting a 600-word article on any challenge that you are facing, especially if you have an innovation or solution that might help other doctors. We will pay an honorarium to you should we publish your article. Submit your article for consideration to Editor-in-Chief Tara Stultz at [email protected]

Heath Law & Policy

Physician feedback reports need revamping, GAO says

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs to make substantial changes in methodology and distribution before physician feedback reports can be considered meaningful, actionable, and reliable for individual physicians as well as groups, according to the Government Accounting Office (GAO). The reports indicate how practices are meeting criteria that will ultimately determine their Medicare reimbursement. » More

Technology

PCPs lead way with increasing EHR adoption

Physician practices are steadily adopting electronic health records (EHRs), according to recent reports, and primary care physicians are leading the pack. More than 40% of practices now use EHRs, with more than 2,200 already having attested to meaningful use. Who are they and how did they do it? » More

Practice Management

Half of office-based U.S. physicians work with
'physician extenders'

About half of all office-based U.S. physicians were in practices employing so-called "physician extenders," with primary care physicians being more likely to work with them than medical specialists, according to a government report. » More

Tools

Digital Edition