features

19 Breaking Even on Four Visits Per Day (PDF available)

Brian R. Forrest, MD

Spurning health plan contracts enabled this practice to dramatically reduce overhead and fees while improving access for the uninsured.

27 Huddles: Improve Office Efficiency in Mere Minutes (PDF available)

Elizabeth E. Stewart, PhD, and Barbara C. Johnson, PhD

Daily gatherings of your care team can help you meet daily challenges.

30 How to Manage Difficult Patient Encounters (PDF available)

Sharon K. Hull, MD, MPH, and Karen Broquet, MD

These strategies will help you turn problematic encounters into productive ones.

37 Measuring for Medicare: The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PDF available)

Bruce Bagley, MD

The new initiative from CMS can add a little to your bottom line and prepare your office for future reporting programs.

43 A Report Card for 32 Payers: Not Making the Grade (PDF available)

Brandi White

In this survey of physicians' experiences, payers fall short.

DEPARTMENTS

10 from the editor

'Grade Your Payers': Solo Docs Speak Up

Robert L. Edsall

If you're not feeling their pain, is it just because you're anesthetized?

11 opinion

Do We Need Primary Care?

Douglas Iliff, MD

Here are six reasons to answer in the affirmative and to believe that the status quo is ripe for revolution.

13 letters

Optimizing vaccine administration • Maximizing workflow with an EHR • Saving the best for last

15 news & trends

Senate committee investigates insurers' hard-sell tactics targeting seniors • Payment on medical malpractice claims approach $4 billion

16 Coding & Documentation

Cindy Hughes, CPC

Preventive and problem-oriented services at the same visit • Pulmonary function testing • House calls for Medicare patients

50 practice pearls

How to handle overpayments from insurers • Stay on top of documentation • Use a template to improve your documentation • Welcome your patients back to your practice • Show appreciation for other departments

55 FPM QUIZ

Earn 3.25 CME credits.

60 the last word

Balancing a Personal Life With OB Care

Sarina Schrager, MD, MS

Family physicians can deliver babies and have a life, but not without setting some guidelines.

57 CONTACT US

58 CLASSIFIEDS