Healthcare
Showing 129–144 of 454 results
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Price transparency tools don’t necessarily lead to lower health care costs
Spring 2017
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 469
Abstract: With increasing price transparency in health care, patients have more options than ever for comparing prices. This article discusses a recent JAMA study that looked at the outpatient spending of two national employers offering their workers an online price transparency tool. Researchers found, among other things, that offering a price transparency tool wasn’t associated with lower outpatient spending, even for employees with higher deductibles. The study shows that transparency may have far less impact than widely believed.
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Plan for the long term: Invest in IT
Spring 2017
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 575
Abstract: Wise investments in information technology (IT) can be key to a hospital’s survival — helping it stay on top of changing requirements and ensuring it thrives in the long term. This article explains IT best practices and suggests several strategies for making the most out of IT investments, such as ensuring the IT system is interoperable with existing systems and confirming data ownership within the hospital.
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Could a patient loan program improve your collections?
Spring 2017
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 516
Abstract: With high-deductible health insurance plans becoming increasingly commonplace, many organizations have been dealing with higher collection costs and write-offs. To counter this trend, some hospitals are establishing patient loan programs, thus creating a win-win situation for both hospitals and patients. This article describes the benefits of a patient loan program and notes several options hospitals can consider when developing such a program.
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CMS’s 2017 final OPPS rule adopts revised site-neutral payments
Spring 2017
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 788
Abstract: When the CMS released its preliminary draft of the Calendar Year 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System policy changes, hospitals were alarmed over its proposed site-neutral payments. This article discusses the requirements of the final rule and its implications for hospital billing of outpatient services. The article concludes that the site-neutral payment provisions could make it difficult for hospitals with off-campus PBDs to recover related capital outlays and operational expenses. A sidebar discusses the final OPPS rule’s new measures that affect the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (Hospital OQR) Program.
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Prescription for an ailing practice
Winter 2017
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 451
Abstract: Whether a practice is not doing as well as it should be as a result of poor management decisions or evaporating clients, it’s important to get things on the road to recovery. This brief article notes some reasons a practice might be ailing and offers a series of commonsense solutions to help it thrive again.
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5 ways to plug revenue leakage
Winter 2017
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 620
Abstract: Physicians often lose track of what’s actually going on in their medical practices’ business operations — and when that happens problems can occur. To help plug any potential revenue leaks, this article offers some tips for staying on top of business processes and suggests five steps to take, including educating patients on estimated expenses, auditing computer systems and offering more services.
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What’s the best insurance coverage for your practice?
Winter 2017
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 515
Abstract: All medical practices carry insurance policies to protect them against risk — especially medical malpractice insurance coverage. But this isn’t the only type of insurance many practices need. This article explains several other policies a medical practice should consider taking on, and warns of the potential risk if insurance policies haven’t evolved with the business.
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Bring it on – Adding an associate or partner to your practice
Winter 2017
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 946
Abstract: A practice may consider adding an associate or partner for many reasons — from an increase in practice volume to preparing for eventual sale. But careful consideration of the pros and cons is necessary to ensure there are no regrets down the road. This article looks at some steps to take before making this significant decision, including a thorough analysis of practice goals and how to find a good match.
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Reach for the stars – New CMS ratings system looks at multiple metrics
Winter 2017
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 424
Abstract: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the first of its Quality Star Ratings in July 2016, and many hospitals received the lowest rating. This brief article suggests that low-rated hospitals may be able to improve their standing by familiarizing themselves with the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating system. The system makes it easier for consumers to compare hospitals and interpret complex quality information by summarizing data from 64 existing quality measures into a single rating.
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The new overtime rule: What it means for hospitals
Winter 2017
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 625
Abstract: With the new overtime rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2016, the number of employees who qualify for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act has expanded dramatically. This article explains the impact of the new rule on hospital staff. It also looks at the options hospitals have in determining how to best meet the compensation requirements while balancing budgetary constraints.
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Those amazing shrinking profit margins – 6 strategies for spotting trouble before it starts
Winter 2017
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 745
Abstract: In addition to changing federal regulations, increasingly competitive markets can cause hospital profit margins to shrink. This article lists six strategies for addressing potentially troublesome areas and keeping profit margins growing, including reducing readmissions, adding service lines and checking supply costs. The article suggests that hospitals need to ensure they are operating efficiently and profitably on every level.
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Could you lose your property tax exemption?
Winter 2017
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 769
Abstract: A recent ruling from the New Jersey Tax Court in AHS Hospital Corp. v. Town of Morristown provides a powerful example of how a hospital can lose its property tax exemption if it engages in certain financial practices. This article discusses the pertinent issues of the case and the court’s exemption analysis, noting that the analysis focused mainly on the hospital’s operations rather than the charitable benefits it provided the community. A sidebar looks at recent IRS guidance on how to determine whether executive compensation is reasonable. AHS Hospital Corp. v. Town of Morristown, No. 010900-2007, N.J. Tax Court, 2015
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Inside job – Internal marketing and tracking
Fall 2016
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 395
Abstract: Internal marketing can help retain patients and increase patient referrals. This brief article explains four tracking methods, including recording how new patients heard about the practice and coding marketing materials, that can help medical practices evaluate their return on investment (ROI). The article notes that marketing a medical practice without pinpointing exact goals is like shooting arrows without a target.
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Extend your reach with nonphysician providers
Fall 2016
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 656
Abstract: One way to improve patient services and increase patient satisfaction is to hire nonphysician providers (NPPs) to fill the gaps. There are two primary categories of NPPs: physician assistants and nurse practitioners. This article lists typical services an NPP can provide, including coordinating health education, patient counseling and patient care; performing physical exams; and taking patient histories. In addition to explaining appropriate billing practices, the article notes that, while NPPs aren’t right for every practice, if handled well they can serve both patients’ and physicians’ needs, leading to better allocation of therapeutic resources.
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Getting patients in the door
Fall 2016
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 660
Abstract: Attracting patients is increasingly challenging for physicians. One key to getting patients in the door of a medical practice is to create a marketing plan that incorporates an understanding of the practice’s target demographic and brand identity. This article discusses some marketing tactics for physicians and medical practices to consider and suggests that these efforts probably should cross several formats and platforms to be most effective.
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Working without a net – Coding after the end of the ICD-10 grace period
Fall 2016
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 810
Abstract: After the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 went into effect in October 2015, the CMS created a one-year safety net to give medical practices and physicians some time to get up to speed with the new reimbursement codes. Effective October 1, this grace period will end. This article reviews some steps physicians can take to evaluate their medical practices’ compliance with the new codes and ensure they’re ready to fully implement ICD-10. A sidebar offers tips for accurately documenting cases using ICD-10.