features

34 Terminating a Patient: Is It Time to Part Ways? (PDF available)

Deanna R. Willis, MD, MBA, and Ann Zerr, MD

A standardized approach will help you determine whether your relationship is broken and what to do about it.

42 Make Medical Notes Better and Faster With Macros (PDF available)

Melvin J. Knight, MD

You can use your word processing program to create notes almost instantly - even if you're not a great typist.

49 ICD-9 Changes: It's Time to Tend to Your Superbill (PDF available)

Cindy Hughes, CPC

You've got until Oct. 1 to weed out incorrect codes.

Special Feature: ICD-9 Reference Card

52 Coding "Routine" Office Visits: 99213 or 99214? (PDF available)

Peter R. Jensen, MD, CPC

Before choosing 99213 for routine visits, consider whether your work qualifies for a 99214.

DEPARTMENTS

13 FROM THE EDITOR

New and Improved for You

Leigh Ann Backer

14 Editorial

Ten Hard Questions About the Future of the Specialty

Douglas Iliff, MD

The Future of Family Medicine reports left some key questions unanswered.

22 letters

Taking care of children • Is doing good good enough? • Diary missed already • How to change behavior • Helping patients help themselves • Clarification

26 Coding & Documentation

Cindy Hughes, CPC

Hypertension management • Coding a B12 injection • Biofeedback training • House visits to hospice patients • Billing for initial hospital care • Coding a newborn office visit

28 News & Trends

Bill would prevent pay cuts, launch pay for performance • New law aims to shift culture from blame to prevention • Who are the uninsured? • Drug companies agree to new guidelines on consumer advertising • Web site offers facts about Medicare's new drug benefit • Connecticut docs sue United and Oxford for coercion • Wellpoint settles with physicians for $198 million • Free EHR offered to physicians

59 Practice pearls

Streamline patient registration • Ensure optimal care for obese patients • Enhance team performance • Q&A: Can Medicare be charged more than other payers?

63 FPM QUIZ

Earn 3 CME credits.

68 the last word

Meet Dr. Wonderful

Scott E. Moser, MD, and John Dorsch, MD

This doll tells people exactly what they want to hear.

1 Contact FPM

65 classifieds