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Feb 2008
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Apr 2008

MARCH 2008

Table of contents

Articles

CommunicationPatient CarePatient SatisfactionCPT: Care Plan Oversight CodesEnd of Life Care

Discussing End-of-Life Care With Your Patients

Jerry L. Old

The conversation may not be easy, but your patients will be grateful.

Stark StatuteReferral and ConsultationGroup Practice

Stark III: Refinement Not Revolution (Part 1)

ALICE G. GOSFIELD

Find out how the latest round of self-referral regulations affects your practice.

Information TechnologyClinical Process ImprovementChronic Care

Beyond EHRs: How Technology Can Help You Treat Chronic Illness

Paul J. Heinzelmann, Joseph C. Kvedar, David C. Kibbe

New tools may soon connect you to your patients at home.

CommunicationPatient SatisfactionPatient-Centered Care

Have You Really Addressed Your Patient's Concerns?

Ronald M. Epstein, Larry Mauksch, Jennifer Carroll, Carlos Roberto Jaén

These simple strategies will help you structure the medical encounter to ensure that you and your patient are on the same page.

From the Editor

JournalsInternet

Changes Coming to FPM online

Robert Edsall, Editor-in-Chief

The FPM Web site will soon be redesigned in more ways than one.

Opinion

Information TechnologyElectronic Health Record (EHR)

e-Nirvana: Are We There Yet?

Christine A. Sinsky

Health information technology may revolutionize care … someday.

Letters

Service QualityEfficiencyElectronic Health Record (EHR)

Baumol's disease

Jay R. Jackson

Baumol's disease

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)CPT: Pathology and Laboratory CodesHealth PlansOverheadReimbursementMedicare

Do we need Medicare?

letter

News & Trends

CPT: Office/Outpatient CodesCPT: Hospital Inpatient and Observation CodesCPT: Preventive Medicine CodesHealthcare SystemPractice EntitiesCare Settings / LevelsCompetition

NEWS & TRENDS

United Healthcare to pay same-day E/M claims retroactive to Aug. 27 | Californians can complain online about insurers | One key NPI deadline passes, another approaches

Coding & Documentation

CPT: Office/Outpatient CodesCPT: Surgery CodesTime-based CodingDocumenting Medical NecessityCommunicationPatient AdherenceDoctor-Patient RelationshipsOffice managementStaff Motivation and Retention

CODING & DOCUMENTATION

Cindy Hughes

Coding a brief service for urinalysis | Preoperative testing | Teaching patients to administer injections | Chronic venous stasis ulcers

Practice Pearls

ToolAppointments and SchedulesInternetMedicareAccounts ReceivableBilling and ClaimsDrug Therapy

PRACTICE PEARLS

Oded Zmora, Rich Sagall, Kent J. Moore

Encourage patient payments at time of visit | Use online tools to identify drug seekers | Simplify refill requests | Charging Medicare for a missed appointment

The Last Word

Job SatisfactionIndigent CareDoctor-Patient Relationships

Looking Out for Others

William E. Cayley, Jr.

What do you do when serving others becomes drudgery?

Resources

CME Quiz (AAFP members and print subscribers only)

Disclosure: All editors and editorial advisory board members in a position to control content for this activity, FPM journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.

Advertising: Career Opportunities (PDF)

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