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
Five factors that affect patient satisfaction -- FPM
Research shows that physicians can increase patient satisfaction rates by improving the way they interact with patients in five key areas.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/improve_patient_satisfaction.html
Three ways to be a better, humbler leader -- FPM
Follow these three steps for becoming a humbler, more effective leader.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/humility_in_leadership.html
Which quality measures should you report? -- FPM
Under MIPS, you might think you should report quality measures where your performance is best, but consider these four factors as well.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/quality_measures.html
The key to getting beyond blame -- FPM
When behaviors such as blame, accusation and finger-pointing surface, improvement efforts are doomed.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/blame.html
A Practical Approach to Screening for Social Determinants of Health -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - Screening patients to understand their social context is the gateway to addressing barriers and improving health.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p7.html
Developing Standing Orders to Help Your Team Work to the Highest Level -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - Use this seven-step plan to create protocols that improve efficiency and reduce physician workloads.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p13.html
Coding & Documentation - May-Jun 2018 -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - ICD-10 coding for hypertension and diabetes | Physician certification of diabetic shoes | Umbilical cauterization
Family Practice Management : Coding & Documentation
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p33.html
Deprescribing Unnecessary Medications: A Four-Part Process -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - With too many patients taking too many unnecessary medications, deprescribing has become a required skill for primary care physicians. Here’s how to go about it.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p28.html
Screening for Social Determinants of Health: An Opportunity or Unreasonable Burden? -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - Socioeconomic and environmental factors are the largest contributors to patient health, so is it our duty to address them?
Family Practice Management : From the Editor
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p3.html
It's Not Hard to Be Humble: The Role of Humility in Leadership -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - Here’s how to keep ego from getting in the way of effective teamwork.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p25.html
Five Mobile Apps for Mindfulness -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - Recommend these apps for patients interested in incorporating mindfulness into their care plan.
Family Practice Management : SPPACES: App Reviews
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p21.html
How to Be Happy in Practice for 30-Plus Years -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - These eight lessons can help you avoid burnout and enjoy medicine.
Family Practice Management : The Last Word
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p40.html
What Needs to Change to Make Deprescribing Doable -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - Polypharmacy constitutes a real patient-safety issue. Recognizing that is the first step toward change.
Family Practice Management : Opinion
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p5.html
Making Sense of MACRA: Questions to Ask Your Employer -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - This supplement guides employed physicians to learn more about their practice’s Quality Payment Program strategy.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p17.html
Practice Pearls - May-Jun 2018 -- FPM
Jun 1, 2018 - Improve your spiel about unnecessary antibiotics | Manage your online ratings | Ease the switch to a new EHR system | Make staff more aware of data security
Family Practice Management : Practice Pearls
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0500/p34.html
A one-stop shop for Medicare documentation requirements? -- FPM
CMS plans to list all the documentation that’s required for Medicare payment in one central location - the new Provider Documentation Manual.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/Medicare_provider_documentation_manual.html
Eight ways to stay happy in practice -- FPM
A solo physician discusses the steps he has taken to avoid burnout and remain engaged in his practice for 43 years.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/happy_practice.html
Three questions to ask before implementing a change in your practice -- FPM
To make sure a change you’re considering will actually make things better in your practice, ask three essential questions
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/change_questions.html
The seven characteristics of functional work relationships -- FPM
Researchers point to seven characteristics that health care organizations should foster among physicians and staff.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/work_relationships.html
A creative solution for helping more patients get the mental health care they need -- FPM
When referred for counseling by their physician, patients may avoid scheduling an appointment because of logistics, stigma, cost, etc. To remove these barriers, one primary care practice tried a new approach.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/mental_health_barriers.html
How to find a patient's new Medicare number -- FPM
Starting next month, you’ll be able to look up your Medicare patients’ new Medicare number through the secure web portal of your Medicare Administrative Contractor.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/finding_a_new_Medicare_number.html
How to document newly diagnosed hypertension -- FPM
If a patient’s elevated blood pressure has developed into hypertension, your documentation should clearly describe the basis for the new diagnosis.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/properly_documenting_hypertension.html
Avoid mistakes when coding for preventive medicine services -- FPM
Selecting the appropriate code will hopefully facilitate payment for preventive services and reduce some unpleasant questions from patients.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/avoiding_mistakes_preventive_coding.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
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
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
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
Five mobile apps to help patients with anxiety and depression -- FPM
Here are five mobile apps you can recommend to patients with anxiety and depression.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/anxiety_apps.html
Staffing -- FPM Toolbox
Apr 27, 2018 - Download tools to help you clarify staff responsibilities, provide feedback, and more.
Family Practice Management : FPM Toolbox : Staffing
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/toolBox/viewToolType.htm?toolTypeId=28
A checklist of quality measures to help you succeed in value-based payment -- FPM
This checklist of quality measures can help you improve quality and succeed in value-based payment.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/quality_measure_checklist.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
How to confront an impaired physician colleague -- FPM
When a physician is suffering from addiction, depression, or another impairment, here's how to confront or intervene.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/impaired_physicians.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
How to know when to bill for both preventive and added services -- FPM
When a patient brings an additional complaint to a preventive visit, here's how to know whether it qualifies as a separate service and get paid for your work.
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/billing_for_preventive_and_added_services.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
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
An efficient workflow for alcohol misuse screening -- FPM
Screening adult patients doesn’t have to be time-consuming, and the service is often billable, particularly when the results lead to a brief intervention.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/alcohol_misuse.html
How to communicate bad news to your patients -- FPM
Family physicians are increasingly responsible for giving patients and their families devastating news. A systematic approach can help you feel more confident and reduce your patients’ suffering.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/delivering_bad_news.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
Do your diagnosis codes capture your patients' severity of illness? -- FPM
Accurate diagnosis coding may have a positive effect on your payment in the future as more payers move to risk-adjusted payment models.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/diagnosis_coding_for_risk.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
Seven tips for mastering the art of medicine -- FPM
To foster more consistent practice of the art of medicine, physicians should adopt these seven behaviors.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/art-of-medicine.html
Huddles: jump start your practice today -- FPM
A few minutes spent in a morning huddle preparing with your team for the day’s schedule can improve your efficiency.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/huddles.html
More Medicare money potentially headed to you -- FPM
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 is requiring Medicare administrative contractors (MACs) to reprocess practice claims, which could mean some physicians will see a boost in reimbursement
Family Practice Management : Getting Paid : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/gettingpaid/entry/More_Medicare_money_potentially_headed_your_way.html
How to immunize against burnout -- FPM
Although nearly two-thirds of family physicians report symptoms of burnout, Philip Kaplan, MD, FAAFP, says he still finds joy in going to the office after more than 40 years in practice.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/burnout-immunization.html
How to respond to patients’ misconceptions about antidepressants -- FPM
You can play a vital role in dispelling myths and illuminating your patients’ decision making regarding antidepressant treatment.
Family Practice Management : Quick Tips : FPM Home
https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/misconceptions_about_antidepressants.html
Encouraging Health Behavior Change: Eight Evidence-Based Strategies -- FPM
Apr 1, 2018 - Using these brief interventions, you can help your patients make healthy behavior changes.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0300/p31.html
Diagnosis Coding for Value-Based Payment: A Quick Reference Tool -- FPM
Apr 1, 2018 - Use this cheat sheet to identify diagnosis codes that are weighted for risk adjustment.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0300/p26.html
Is Your Diagnosis Coding Ready for Risk Adjustment? -- FPM
Apr 1, 2018 - As payment models change, diagnosis coding is more important than ever. Here’s how to be sure your codes capture your patients’ severity of illness.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0300/p21.html