Winter 2006 Newsletter articles
Point of Care Dispensing: Does It Make Sense For Medical Practices?
Writing prescriptions and handing out drug samples to patients is routine for physicians, but many doctors assume that dispensing prescribed medications
for a profit could represent an ethical conflict.
[read full article]
Physicians’ Incomes Fail to Keep Pace with Inflation
The real incomes of U.S. physicians fell between 1995 and 2003, with primary care physicians faring the worst, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC), a nonpartisan policy research organization.
[read full article]
TIPRA Extends Savings
A $70 billion tax cut package, the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act (TIPRA), became law on May 17, 2006. At the center of this legislation is the extension of lower long-term capital gains and dividend rates through 2010. In addition, this measure provides AMT relief.
[read full article]
Summer/Fall 2006 Newsletter articles
Charitable Giving—Diagnosing the Rules
When contemplating making a significant gift, the charitably inclined are well advised to exercise some foresight. Similar gifts made in different ways will yield remarkably different results.
[read full article]
Bridging the Cultural Divide in Your Practice
As the country becomes more ethnically and linguistically diverse, the challenges facing physicians in delivering quality care to all patients, regardless of cultural background, are mounting.
[read full article]
A Successful Cafeteria Plan Provides “Just Desserts”
Given the fierce competition for experienced nurses and other qualified health care professionals, it is essential that medical practices offer attractive employee benefits packages.
[read full article]
Spring 2006 Newsletter articles
Transitioning: What Will You Do Next?
Old doctors don’t die…they just transition. It’s no joke. Whether you call it transitioning, phasing out or just winding down, there are plenty of reasons why a physician might want to slow down — but not quit working. [read full article]
Practice Killers: The Lowdown on What Can Bring A Practice Down
Medical and dental practices self-destruct on a regular basis. In most cases, the problem is poor decisions —“practice killers” — made by well-meaning partners.
[read full article]
Winter 2005 Newsletter articles
Are You Ready For The New Healthcare Consumer?
They’re coming, and they have questions (and demands). They are the newly minted crop of healthcare consumers.
[read full article]
The Fine Art Of Point-Of-Service Collection
With patients footing more of their healthcare bills these days, it’s safe to assume that there may be a little foot dragging when it’s time to pay. Now, more than ever, it's vitally important to collect as much as you can at the time of service.
[read full article]
Is Liability Lurking In Your Sample Cabinet?
There could be trouble lurking among all those blister packs in your office sample cabinet. For your patients' safety, and to minimize your potential liability, it's important to develop policies and procedures for storing, tracking and dispensing pharmacy samples.
[read full article]
Fall 2005 Newsletter articles
Going Paperless: Is EMR Right For You?
Large medical groups and integrated delivery networks have certainly embraced Electronic Medical Record (EMR) technology.
[read full article]
Yes, But Is It HIPAA-Compliant?
Implementing an EMR solution certainly includes the need to address HIPAA security regulations.
[read full article]
Ancillary Services: Expanding Reach And Revenue
Facing stagnant earnings and increasing challenges with managed care payers, more and more physicians and dentists are tapping into new revenue streams.
[read full article]
Summer 2005 Newsletter articles
Bringing Extenders Into The Practice? Watch Your Liability
As you consider staffing levels at your practice, consider this: Nurse Practitioners and Physician’s Assistants can be a real boon to your practice.
[read full article]
Staffing Up: How To Get The Right People Doing The Right Things
There’s a concept making some noise in world of human resources.
[read full article]
Does Your Compensation Plan Meet Stark Regulations?
Under federal laws on self-referral (Stark I and II), it’s illegal to refer Medicare or Medicaid patients to outside labs or other facilities in which the doctors have a direct or even indirect financial interest.
[read full article]
Other Practice Strategy articles:
Asset Protection: Start With These Six Tried-and-True Strategies
Let’s take a look at some solid strategies to protect your hard-earned assets.
[read full article]
Although most financial experts agree that it makes more sense to buy a home than rent an apartment, the pros and cons of office ownership aren’t quite so clear-cut.
[read full article]
Medical/Dental Practice Value Enhancers
There are plenty of reasons to sell a medical or dental practice — retirement, as part of a vertical/horizontal growth strategy, etc. But whatever the reason for selling, you’ll want to start enhancing the value of the practice long before you even dream of setting a price.
[read full article]
ASM Issues Legislative Priorities for New Congress
The Alliance of Specialty Medicine (ASM), a coalition of 14 national medical specialty societies representing more than 220,000 physicians, has wasted no time in setting its priorities before President Bush and the new Congress.
[read full article]