Performance scores for 2017 QPP claims data are now available -- FPM
If you used claims to submit 2017 quality data for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, you can now find out how you did.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/performance_scores_for_2017_claims_data.html
What’s your Medicare quality report score? Find out here. -- FPM
Access your annual Physician Feedback report and Quality and Resource Use Report to find out if you'll receive a payment adjustment in 2018.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/new_medicare_quality_report.html
ICD-10-CM vaping coding guidance -- FPM
The CDC has issued supplemental ICD-10 guidance to help physicians submit claims for services provided to patients with vaping-related lung injuries.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/vaping_coding_guidance.html
Still time to request review of your MIPS final score -- FPM
If you believe Medicare has made an error in your 2019 MIPS payment adjustment calculation, you have only a few more weeks to request a targeted review.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/requesting_MIPS_targeted_review.html
What does "24/7 access" to care really mean? -- FPM
Providing chronic care management services comes with numerous requirements, including 24/7 access to care. But the definition of that access is confusing.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/access.html
Think 99214 if you see these problems or procedures -- FPM
The risk component of medical decision making is more subjective and can be difficult to identify, so here’s what to look for.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/99214_presenting_problems.html
Four ways to target blood pressure control -- FPM
Four steps to get your patients on the path to better blood pressure.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/blood_pressure_control.html
A simple communication technique to increase patient satisfaction and empowerment -- FPM
Quickly obtaining a patient's psychosocial information can improve the physician's connection with the patient. The BATHE technique can help.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/bathe_technique.html
Four ways to manage stress and prevent burnout as an employed physician -- FPM
Employed physicians face unique stresses in practice as they often lack autonomy and influence. Here are four ways to protect your well-being.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/burnout_employed_physicians.html
Considering direct primary care? Here are five tips to get started -- FPM
Interest in DPC was growing even before the pandemic took a chunk out of fee-for-service revenues. If you’re among those interested in the model, here are five tips for making the switch.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/dpc_online_resources.html
Provide employee criticism the right way -- FPM
Providing employees with critical feedback can be difficult. One physician shares how he does it, and how to increase the likelihood that the worker listens.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/employee_criticism.html
Chaperoned exams: How to get the conversation started -- FPM
If your practice doesn’t have clear policies and procedures regarding chaperoned exams, or if they aren’t consistently followed, it may be time to revisit this important subject.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/chaperoned_exams.html
How to respond when an employee makes a mistake -- FPM
The challenge of responding to employee mistakes is finding a way that not only holds people accountable for their actions but also provides a supportive environment in which they can learn.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/employee_mistakes.html
Five reasons you can’t get things done in your organization -- FPM
Author Peter Senge offers several laws that govern organizational behavior. Five of them are particularly apropos to physicians who are trying to build something new within their organizations but facing resistance.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/five_laws_of_organizations.html
Unconventional career advice: a physician reflects on her dad -- FPM
With Father’s Day approaching, one family physician looks back on her father’s words of wisdom that inspired her quest to become a doctor.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/fathers_day_advice.html
The trait physicians need during times of uncertainty -- FPM
The best response in stressful times isn’t to ramp up urgency but to practice patience.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/essential_physician_trait.html
Don't forget the immunization administration code -- FPM
To get paid for the costs associated with administering vaccines, including staff time and supplies, be sure to report a code for the administration.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/immunization_administration_codes.html
How to respond to mid-air medical emergencies -- FPM
There are laws designed to encourage physicians to help if a medical emergency develops on a commercial flight.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/good_samaritan.html
Six ways to make your practice more efficient and your patients more satisfied -- FPM
Tips for making sure patient phone calls are returned, appointment scheduling is user-friendly, insurance changes have been logged, and more.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/improving_practice_efficiency.html
Three principles for improving patient satisfaction with service -- FPM
Practices can focus on improving these three areas to boost patient satisfaction with the quality of their care.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/improving_service.html
Setting up an outdoor clinic for COVID-19: key steps -- FPM
If you haven’t treated patients with suspected COVID-19 in your parking lot yet, it may only be a matter of time. Four steps can help you get started.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/outdoor_clinic.html
Motivational interviewing: four steps to get started -- FPM
Motivational interviewing is a brief counseling technique that can be effective at helping patients overcome reluctance and make behavioral changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. The OARS acronym highlights four essential aspects.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/motivational_interviewing.html
Billing for multiple skin procedures: three steps -- FPM
If you perform more than one skin procedure for the same patient on the same day, follow these three special billing rules to get the correct payment.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/multiple_skin_procedures.html
A simple way to build trust with young patients -- FPM
Doing this one thing during a visit can get pediatric appointments off to a good start by showing kids you care about them and respect them.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/pediatric_patient_trust.html
Safely treat respiratory illness during flu season -- FPM
Outdoor patient care has become less feasible in many parts of the country as cold weather sets in, but there are several ways to increase safety while providing respiratory care within clinic buildings.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/safe_respiratory_patients.html
Physician autonomy: the missing ingredient for motivation at work -- FPM
Research suggests that professionals are primarily motivated by three things at work: purpose, mastery, and autonomy. But for most physicians, self-directing their work is a struggle because their organizations don’t make it easy. Here’s what groups should do.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/physician_autonomy1.html
Six simple symptom diaries to help your patients help you -- FPM
Patients who keep track of their symptoms or activities can make diagnosis and treatment much easier. These examples of patient diaries can get you started.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/symptom_diaries.html
Six documentation tasks your team could be doing -- FPM
Team documentation has been shown to improve patient outcomes and physician satisfaction. Here are six documentation tasks you can delegate.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/team_documentation.html
One item that makes documentation easier during a telehealth visit -- FPM
Telehealth visits have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s hard to document a visit on a computer while you’re also using it to communicate with a patient via video.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/telehealth_documentation_setup.html
A brief method for triaging patients during a pandemic -- FPM
When the leaders of Eglin Family Medicine Residency Clinic in Florida opened an outdoor clinic in their parking lot in response to COVID-19, they established a triage process for deciding which patients would be sent there, as opposed to being seen virtually or inside the clinic.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/triaging_pandemic_patients.html
Tips for talking to reluctant patients about vaccines -- FPM
You can’t convince every patient of the value of vaccines, so focus your efforts and follow these tips.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/vaccine_reluctancy.html
How to cultivate a warm handoff for patient referrals -- FPM
Both you and your patients can benefit when referrals are characterized by a warm handoff. Focus on these three key elements.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/warm_handoff.html
Cigna to stop paying for consultation codes -- FPM
Cigna is set to stop paying CPT codes for consultations provided to their customers. Here's how to avoid losing that revenue.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/cigna_stops_paying_consultation_codes.html
CMS Primary Care Initiative provides new payment models -- FPM
The Primary Care Initiative announced by CMS will give family physicians new payment streams aimed at increasing value-based care.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/CMS_Primary_Care_Initiative.html
Coding for wound care: Is your EHR leading you astray? -- FPM
Remember these tips for properly coding three common types of wounds.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/coding_wound_care.html
Medicare rolls out new cards to another group of states -- FPM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has started mailing new Medicare cards to beneficiaries who live in Wave 5 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/Medicare_cards_wave_5.html
Next wave of new Medicare cards rolls out -- FPM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has started mailing new Medicare cards to beneficiaries who live in Wave 6 states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/Medicare_cards_wave_6.html
Use this database to answer questions about Medicare noncoverage -- FPM
CMS offers the searchable Medicare Coverage Database to help physicians know when Medicare does not cover a specific service, requiring an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/Medicare_coverage_database.html
Medicare resolves beneficiary entitlement date errors -- FPM
CMS has fixed an issue with beneficiary entitlement date errors that caused improper claim denials and is reprocessing affected claims.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/medicare_errors_fix.html
Time is running out to transition to new Medicare numbers -- FPM
Effective Jan. 1, 2020, you must use Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) when billing Medicare, regardless of the date of service.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/medicare_identifiers_changing.html
Oct. 2 represents key 2017 MIPS deadline for some physicians -- FPM
If you or your practice plans to participate fully or partially in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System in 2017, and you plan to report 90 consecutive days of data for the year, then Monday, Oct. 2, is the last day you can begin.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/MIPS_90_days_deadline_Oct_2.html
Wait times coming down for physician visits -- FPM
Physician offices in the U.S. have cut visit wait times for patients by five minutes in the past year, according to a new survey.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/mgma_survey_wait_times.html
Got an idea to reduce physician burden? CMS wants to hear it -- FPM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has opened a request for information, looking for ways to reduce paperwork and allow physicians to spend more time on patient care.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/reducing_physician_burden.html
New Medicare card lookup tool gets update -- FPM
Even if your Medicare patients haven't yet received their new ID cards, you can lookup their beneficiary identifier online.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/New_Medicare_card_tool_update.html
Properly documenting time in E/M visits -- FPM
Most evaluation and management (E/M) services are selected based on the level of history, exam, and medical decision making documented in the note. But if counseling, coordination of care, or both dominate the visit, CPT instructs physicians to select a code based on time.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/properly_documenting_time_in_E-M_visits.html
UnitedHealthcare to expand payment for after-hours primary care -- FPM
UnitedHealthcare says it will begin on Aug. 18 paying for CPT code 99051, which recognizes the value of primary care practices improving convenience to patients by being open additional hours.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/UHC_code_99051.html
How to code a screening test vs. a monitoring test (and why it matters) -- FPM
At annual exams, patients often expect that any tests ordered will be considered preventive and covered 100 percent by their insurer. To avoid confusion, make sure you follow this ICD-10 rule.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/screening_vs_monitoring.html
Use 30-day window to review what Physician Compare says about you -- FPM
Beginning, Oct. 18, CMS is giving physicians 30 days to preview the information about them on Physician Compare before publicly releasing it online.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/review_what_Physician_Compare_says_about_you.html
Five tips to build resilience -- FPM
Building resilience can help you quickly recover from the pressures that cause burnout.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/cultivating_resilience.html
Updated tool lets physicians lookup 2018 MIPS eligibility -- FPM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has updated its Merit-based Incentive Payment System Eligibility Lookup Tool to inform physicians if they must report for the program in 2018.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/Updated_tool_lets_physicians_lookup_2018_MIPS_eligibility.html
University of Southern California program wins 2017 FPM Award for Practice Improvement ...
The University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine has won this year’s FPM Award for Practice Improvement.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/USC_program_wins_2017_FPM_Award_Practice_Improvement.html
A five-step approach to documenting uncertain diagnoses -- FPM
Disciplined note construction is critical to effective communication between physicians and may also contribute to clearer medical decision making.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/documenting_uncertain_diagnoses.html
Four bad habits you need to break when it comes to email -- FPM
To reduce the intrusion of email into your daily work life, stop doing these four things.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/email_bad_habits.html
Six EHR documentation tips to save you time -- FPM
To reduce your work after clinic, consider ways to make the documentation process more efficient so that you can complete most (if not all) of this work during the visit. Here are six tips to get started.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/ehr_documentation_tips.html
FPM at 25: Our favorite articles and covers from the last 25 years -- FPM
For the last 25 years, FPM has published practical, authoritative, peer-reviewed articles devoted to better practice, healthier patients, and a rewarding career. To mark this milestone, we’ve picked 25 of our favorite articles from the archives.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/fpm_anniversary.html
Five steps to diffusing difficult emotions in the exam room -- FPM
Ignoring a patient’s negative emotions, such as rudeness, defensiveness, or anger, can hinder the healing process and complicate the doctor-patient relationship.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/emotions_in_the_exam_room.html
Five ways to fight system-induced distress before it causes burnout -- FPM
A multilevel approach to resisting a health care system that relies on overworking physicians to make up for its own inefficiencies.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/fight_system_distress.html
Unhealthy family dynamics in the exam room: how to respond -- FPM
When family members complicate a patient visit, consider these five questions to get to the root of the problem and respond appropriately.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/family_dynamics_in_the_exam_room.html
Why being humble can make you a better leader -- FPM
Physician leaders do not necessarily need big, self-confident personalities to attract and inspire their teams. Here are some reasons why some humility can go a long way.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/humble_leader.html
ICD-10 coding for patients with hypertension and heart failure -- FPM
Here’s how to code for heart failure when it is not caused by your patient’s hypertension.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/hypertension_heart_failure.html
One simple question can uncover medication nonadherence -- FPM
Finding instances of medication nonadherence means asking patients more than just if they took their medicine.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/medication_nonadherence.html
Five changes that will affect physician payment and productivity in 2020 and beyond -- FPM
There are new codes for online digital E/M, blood pressure monitoring and other common services.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/medicare_update_2020.html
When a newborn is not a new patient -- FPM
In most cases a newborn is considered a new patient under CPT rules for purposes of coding and documenting an office visit. There’s one exception, however.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/newborn_new_patient.html
Patients will soon have expanded rights to read your clinical notes: how to make them ...
Next year, the 21st Century Cures Act goes into effect, giving patients the right to immediate electronic access to their health records. Here are four tips for writing patient-friendly notes in an open notes world.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/open_notes.html
Need more time? Train a nurse closer to wrap up patient visits -- FPM
Training a nurse to finish patient visits can make your practice more efficient and improve patient outcomes.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/nurse_closer_steps.html
Drowning in paperwork requests? Try redirecting these three types -- FPM
Having to fill out paperwork for patients you haven't treated or diagnosed can be a burden. Follow this advice for sending that work where it belongs.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/paperwork_requests.html
One way to increase physician autonomy and job satisfaction -- FPM
Physician autonomy is crucial to fostering job satisfaction and a culture of continuous quality improvement and creative problem solving. Unfortunately, physician autonomy is shrinking in many health care organizations. Here's one solution.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/physician_autonomy.html
Three tips to optimize care for refugee patients -- FPM
Family physicians are well positioned to care for refugee patients. Three tips can help.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/refugee_care.html
Screening for childhood trauma history -- FPM
Several screening tools can help you identify patients whose health may be affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/screen_for_aces.html
A tool for calculating the right-sized patient panel -- FPM
Here's a five-step method for right-sizing your patient panel.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/right_sized_patient_panel.html
Three big benefits of small talk -- FPM
Making time for a few seconds of friendly conversation at the beginning and end of each patient visit may be more productive than you’d think. Here are three benefits of making small talk with your patients.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/small_talk.html
How to get sedentary patients to exercise -- FPM
This Maryland-based practice created a special area trail guide to help patients get out of their house and get walking.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/sedentary_patients.html
The secret to better communication with patients? Talk less -- FPM
Instead of overloading patients with information they won’t remember, focus on communicating just three things your patients need to know.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/three_things_patients_need_to_know.html
Five ways to partner with urgent care centers -- FPM
As more patients turn to urgent care, physicians will need to find ways to make their relationship with urgent care centers more productive. Here's how.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/urgent_care_centers.html
What a waiting room liaison can do for your office -- FPM
An existing staff member might be able to take on these duties to keep your waiting room clean and running smoothly.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/waiting_room_liaison.html
Add some fun to your practice -- FPM
Patients often come to your practice feeling anxious, hurt, or afraid. Adding some levity can help put them at ease, and it can help your stressed-out colleagues as well.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/workplace_fun.html
Family physician pay goes up, satisfaction with pay goes down -- FPM
An annual survey of physician compensation shows a healthy gain for physicians. How do you compare?
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/2019_compensation.html
Anthem plans to shorten timely filing limit for claims -- FPM
Anthem is notifying practices that they may have less time to timely file patient claims.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/anthem_timely_filing_window.html
CMS offers help for identifying 2019 MIPS payment adjustments -- FPM
These codes will help physicians understand which Medicare payments in 2019 are affected by their MIPS scores.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/2019_MIPS_payment_adjustment_codes.html
Medicare finalizes physician fee schedule and Quality Payment Program for 2020 -- FPM
Highlights from the 2020 Medicare physician fee schedule include new codes for chronic care management and principal care management.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/2020_physician_fee_schedule.html
MIPS feedback reports for 2018 now available -- FPM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released reports showing how physicians fared during the 2018 Quality Payment Program performance year.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/2018_QPP_Feedback_Reports.html
Compensation is up for family physicians -- FPM
Family physicians saw their annual compensation increase an average of 5 percent over last year, reflecting an industrywide rise in physician pay.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/Compensation_is_up_for_family_physicians.html
Ring in the New Year by submitting your 2018 MIPS data -- FPM
CMS has officially opened the data submission period for MIPS eligible clinicians who participated in Year 2 (2018) of the Quality Payment Program.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/How_to_submit_2018_MIPS_data.html
In a small group? Combine with others now to participate in MIPS -- FPM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says physicians in solo or small group practices have until Dec. 1 to formally notify Medicare that they are participating in a virtual group. These groups make it easier for small practices to participate fully in MIPS.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/in_a_small_group_combine_with_others_now_for_MIPS.html
Medicare looks to contract directly with physicians and suppliers -- FPM
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is investigating a new payment model that would directly contract with Medicare providers and suppliers.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/Medicare_looks_to_contract_directly_with_physicians.html
Medicare payments for lab tests to change in 2018 -- FPM
Does your office perform lab tests for Medicare beneficiaries? The amount of Medicare reimbursement your office receives for those tests is likely changing, and not positively.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/Medicare_lab_payments_to_change_in_2018.html
New MBI to appear on remittance advices -- FPM
As part of the ongoing switch to the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is including the new MBI number on all Medicare remittances.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/New_Medicare_Remittance_Advices.html
HHS taking applications for Primary Care First alternative payment model -- FPM
The bundled services model will offer performance bonuses of up to 50%, with downside risk of just -10%.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/primary_care_first.html
CMS: health plans can't force you to take virtual credit cards -- FPM
Physicians who have been confused or concerned about health plans wanting to use virtual credit cards to pay them for patient care are learning they have more say in the matter than they thought.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/virtual_credit_cards_and_eft.html
How to respond if a teen patient’s parent wants access to records -- FPM
If the parent of an adolescent patient contacts you or your staff wanting to know why the teen visited your practice, the teen patient’s information must be kept private if any of these situations apply.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/adolescent_patient_privacy.html
Three steps to coding for Medicare wellness visits -- FPM
The Medicare annual wellness visit and the initial preventive physical examination provide a number of benefits to patients and physicians. Follow these suggestions to get properly reimbursed.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/coding_wellness_visits.html
Dealing with disruptive minor patients -- FPM
Being direct with the patient and family so they understand the decision can help bring closure and discourage further bad behavior and retaliation on social media websites.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/disruptive_minor_patients.html
Is your EHR slowing you down? -- FPM
No one got into medicine for the typing. Here are ways to speed up your use of electronic health record systems.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/ehr_tips.html
One time-saving task your nurse can do at the end of every visit -- FPM
Expanding the role of nurses and medical assistants in your practice can help you be more efficient. Here’s one time-saving task they can start doing at the end of every patient visit.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/end_of_visit_task.html
Six exercise apps to get your patients moving -- FPM
To help your patients get more exercise, recommend these six highly rated mobile apps.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/exercise_apps.html
The best way to handle medical misinformation -- FPM
The key? Don’t get defensive or drawn into a debate with your patients. Instead, briefly state the facts and then move on with the rest of the visit.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/medical_misinformation.html
Seven essential skills for leading up -- FPM
Leading up is essential to garnering the resources and support physicians need to do their jobs well. Seven skills can help.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/leading_up.html
Make your EHR more efficient -- FPM
In your frustration with your electronic health record system, don’t overlook ways to make it more efficient. These eight tips can help.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/improving_EHR_usability.html
Five signs of possible medication diversion in your practice -- FPM
The misuse by patients of prescription medications, especially controlled substances, is a major problem for primary care physicians. Look for these signs of potential medical diversion.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/medication_diversion.html
Three qualities of a patient satisfaction survey that's helpful, not harmful -- FPM
Patient satisfaction surveys have become commonplace, but if they aren’t conducted properly, they can do more harm than good. Look for these three qualities in your next survey.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/patient_satisfaction_survey.html