FEATURES

19 Working With Insurers: A View From the Dark Side

Lee Buttz, MD, MBA

An insider explains what you can do to ensure that the services you provide are actually covered by your patients' insurance. (PDF available)

25 How We Improved Our Practice and Our Bottom Line With a New EMR System

Bradley M. Block, MD

This four-physician practice has good reason to be enthusiastic about new technology. (PDF available)

31 Your Practice On Hold: Planning for a Leave of Absence

Ann Evensen, MD, FAAFP

Developing a leave plan can help your partners and your patients feel more comfortable with your time away. (PDF available)

35 A New Approach to Making Your Doctor-Nurse Team More Productive

Peter Anderson, MD, and Marc D. Halley, MBA

With proper training and delegation, your team can see more patients, deliver better care and feel more satisfied at work. (PDF available)

following page 16

This section is included in copies mailed to AAFP members and FPM paid subscribers. For more information, see http://www.aafp.org/fpm/bonuscontent.

A1 CME Quiz

Earn 4.75 CME credits.

A3 Eight Steps to a Chart Audit for Quality

Barbara H. Gregory, MPH, MA, Cheryl Van Horn, RN, and Victoria S. Kaprielian, MD

A simple chart review can help your group answer the question on everyone's mind: "How are we doing?" (PDF available)

DEPARTMENTS

10 from the editor

Decline and Fall

Robert L. Edsall

Is it time to call in hospice for the health care system?

11 message from the aafp

A Whole New Format for FPM

Michael D. Springer

Starting in November, you'll be able to thumb through the newest issue of FPM - on the computer.

12 opinion

Paging Dr. Colombo: When Physicians Become Instruments of the Law

James Glazer, MD

What do you do when the law and your Hippocratic Oath come into conflict?

14 letters

Playing by the E/M rules • Learning about the RUC • Another approach to clinical decision making • Closing the divide

43 Coding & Documentation

Cindy Hughes, CPC

Modifier 25 with E/M and injection codes? • Preoperative physicals • House calls and private payers

44 practice pearls

Advocating for Medicare payment reform • Promote your office with an electronic marquee • Use a virtual reminder system to prompt follow-up care • Manage ingrown toenails to prevent surgery • Introduce care team members by name

50 the last word

The Paper Chase

Bobby J. Newbell, MD

Technology was supposed to eliminate paper in our offices, so what happened?

9 CONTACT US

45 CLASSIFIEDS