JUNE 2006

Four questions will help you identify which new drugs represent real advances in patient care.

A voice-recognition system can automatically insert the correct ICD-9 codes into your dictated note.

These tips can save you time and frustration when dealing with health plans.

After repeatedly sending the same accounts to collection, this practice created a new policy to resolve the problem of patients who don't pay.

Protect yourself with these tips from a family physician who has successfully defended his care and that of other physicians.

You know it's really good advice if you want to hear it again.

FPM letter

CMS proposes edits of more than 10,000 CPT, HCPCS codes | Small but growing numbers of physicians drop health plans | Colonoscopy guideline could aid FPs seeking privileges | United tests program to pay patients' share of medical bills | Who has the best job in America? | &quot…

99211 for a blood pressure check | OB care before and after a C-section | Counseling when the patient is not present | Diagnosis codes for Medicare's initial exam

Identify patients who need a checkup | Remember to consider 99214 | Reconsider records requests | Create an electronic filing cabinet | Build staff morale

If a shirt and tie are too formal and jeans and a T-shirt are too casual, what's a doctor to do?