By Ed Sealover – Reporter, Denver Business Journal, November 2, 2018 Andrew Graham said that acknowledging retention and dealing with labor pressures unique to small companies should come before recruiting HQ2 or the Winter Olympics. Read article
Dermatologists have a variety of new tools to help them be better doctors. Systems with mole detection are just one example. Another tech development that deserves consideration is Dermascopy, since there is general consensus that a dermascope can improve the quality … Read More
Outsourcing your medical billing is a huge decision with far-reaching implications. Making the jump from in-house billing and coding to an outside company comes with a number of pros and cons: Pros of Using a Medical Coding & Billing Services … Read More
A new survey from InstaMed, Trends in Healthcare Payments Eighth Annual Report: 2017, indicates it isn’t just the cost of medical bills that has patients upset — it’s the hassle involved in paying for their healthcare. In fact, the situation is … Read More
Blockchain and bitcoin are like peanut butter and jelly — but the use of blockchain technology is not limited to cryptocurrencies. A blockchain is a digital ledger, where changes made to data and who made them are publicly, unalterably recorded. … Read More
Choosing a medical billing services company is one of the most important decisions you can make for your medical practice, clinic, group or hospital. How quickly claims are processed and how much money is collected on each claim can dramatically … Read More
There’s never a dull moment in the world of healthcare, especially lately. Earlier this month, rumors flew of a possible Walmart takeover of Humana. Analysts weren’t surprised; the takeover seemed likely given Amazon’s rumored foray into healthcare and the fierce … Read More
While there are many benefits to adopting an EHR for your medical practice, in our experience, many practices are not given the full picture of how adopting an EHR will change their practice internally and from a patient-facing perspective. We’ve … Read More
Our CEO Andrew Graham was recently interviewed for Phreesia’s blog, talking about how to manage that beginning-of-the-year cash crunch. The post below originally appeared on Phreesia. When it comes to cash flow during the first few months of the year, … Read More
EHRs have been touted as a way of bringing greater administrative efficiency into medical practices, but do EHRs lower billing costs? In short, no. According to a recent study from JAMA, EHRs do not lower administrative costs associated with billing. … Read More
Opponents figure that they pretty much killed the Affordable Care Act in December when they ended the individual mandate. They may be right. The mandate – the part of the ACA that required Americans to buy health insurance or face … Read More
The value-based payment reform is well underway, yet there seems to be little agreement in the field of how best to move forward, according to a new survey from Leavitt Partners. The survey assessed physicians, employers, and consumers in issues … Read More
Since the adoption of MIPS in 2017, there’s been some debate over whether MIPS does what it intends to do, which is reward providers for the value of their care and for positive patient outcomes. This month, the Medicare Payment … Read More
There’s little doubt 2017 was a crazy year on the healthcare front. We witnessed multiple ACA repeal attempts, the removal of the individual mandate, and a bunch of huge healthcare mergers. From where we sit, it doesn’t look like 2018 … Read More
The last word we’d usually use to describe the holiday season is “restful”; many of us are rushing around to buy last-minute gifts, making travel plans, and trying to get everything wrapped up at work before 2018 hits. Let’s change … Read More
After Thanksgiving, it might be tempting to coast through Christmas and New Year’s and into 2018. Like many other temptations, this is one to resist. We’ve shared in our last few posts how you should be preparing for billing and … Read More
Sometimes it’s hard to resist the lure of a slick sales pitch, and the podiatrist founder of The Colorado Clinics for Foot and Ankle, Erik Ouderkirk DPM, found he just couldn’t when he was approached by a national firm selling … Read More
In our last blog post, we talked about what you need to do in Q4 to evaluate your cash flows and get your house in order for 2018. Of course, we know a practice’s success is affected by much more than … Read More
The new year might not be here yet, but it’s quickly approaching, which makes these last few months of 2017 an excellent time to start strategizing for the year to come. It’s never too early to think about improving your … Read More
By Andrew Graham CEO, Clinic Service It’s hard to deny that it is becoming increasingly challenging to be an independent practice. Increasing regulation and decreasing reimbursements are putting a financial strain on independent practices. Enter private equity. Private equity has entered … Read More
By Michael Kuehn, Vice President of Clinic Service Doctors appear less satisfied with the healthcare sector as a whole according to the results of Physicians’ Practice’s 2017 Great American Physician Survey. Since we work with docs and their staffs everyday, … Read More
Selling your practice to a large hospital system or another practice can be an exciting, and scary, step for you and your practice. There are so many things to consider when selling your practice, and one that often falls to … Read More
Did you know that 80% of all medical bills contain mistakes? Even worse, $68 billion in lost healthcare spending can be attributed to medical billing mistakes, according to Kaiser Health. According to a recent article from Medical Economics, the problem … Read More
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), and it’s the perfect time to educate your patients about the importance of vaccines. We know what you’re thinking: I totally get the importance of vaccines for my patients, but vaccines aren’t all … Read More
With a little over half of 2017 in the rear-view mirror, how are you doing when it comes to changes in MACRA and MIPS? According to a recent joint survey from KPMG and the American Medical Association, doctors are struggling … Read More
Choosing a medical biller is one of the most important decisions you can make for your medical practice or hospital. How quickly claims are processed and how much money is collected on each claim can dramatically affect not only your … Read More
When you think about the words “compassion” or “kindness,” you probably think first about your clinical care. While bedside manner is critical, the clinical setting isn’t the only aspect of your practice where kindness belongs. What about your billing department? … Read More
Effective communication is the foundation of a positive and healthy physician-patient relationship. When this relationship is strained, patients often hold back from asking questions or sharing opinions, and end up less involved than they could be in making their own … Read More
CMS declared 2017 a transitional year for Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) compliance, which would mean 2018 payments would not be affected by that year’s performance. This flexibility will most likely disappear in 2018, and those practices that … Read More
Just over two years ago, CMS adopted a new service code to improve payment and access to chronic care management (CCM) services for Medicare and dual eligible beneficiaries who have two or more serious chronic conditions. Unfortunately, many doctors don’t … Read More
You don’t have to bleed green to enjoy the fun festivities that take place on St. Patrick’s Day. Take a look at this list of ICD-10 codes that are perfect for the shenanigans that occur on March 17. T65.6X1 – … Read More
Is employee turnover at an all-time high? Is morale down? It might be time to evaluate your company’s culture. Studies have shown that a positive workplace culture leads to increased productivity, better employee morale and the ability to keep skilled … Read More
Financial pressure and the hassles of getting paid by insurance companies threatens the existence of independent physician practices. At this point, it’s estimated that only about 1 in 3 doctors remains in private practice. The trend intensified between 2012-2015, when … Read More
Faced with tremendous uncertainty about the future of the U.S. healthcare system, doctors stress levels are at an all-time high. Unfortunately, the combination of chronic stress and depression can lead to exhaustion, cynicism, and ineffectiveness – otherwise known as physician … Read More
The first major step in dismantling the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has already been achieved. A final vote of 51-48 paved the way for Obamacare to be replaced as early as next week. Today, the newly formed budget … Read More
Before choosing a new doctor, many healthcare consumers do their due diligence and spend time researching a doctor and/or practice online. By reading online ratings and reviews, they’re forming an opinion of your practice before they even set foot in … Read More
The weather outside is turning frightful and it’s that time of year when accidents and injuries are plentiful. Here are 10 funny ICD-10 codes to help you get through winter and the mayhem of the holidays. Y92.59 – Injury at … Read More
Under a Trump presidency, no one knows exactly what changes to regulation are heading our way. However, with healthcare reform being a top priority, we do have a few predictions for what lies ahead under this administration and how these changes could impact … Read More
With the presidential election appearing to tighten up down the stretch toward November 8, there has been renewed questions about what would happen if Donald Trump were elected and attempted to make good on his promise to repeal Obamacare (also … Read More
Do you have a position in your office that seems to be a revolving door, in constant need of replacement? Is employee turnover a continuing challenge for you as you try to run a successful medical practice? Maybe it’s not the … Read More
We are fools for articles on physician work/life balance because at the end of the day, that’s what we strive for at Clinic Service. By solving physicians’ billing challenges, we hope to give them a shot a good life outside … Read More
Earlier this month, CMS announced that it’s creating a tiered approach that allows physicians and other clinicians more flexibility in reporting data in the first year of Medicare’s new quality payment program, which is set to start Jan. 1, 2017. … Read More
Do you feel like you’re spending more time at a desk than with your patients? You’re not alone. In a recent study, observers documented how U.S. physicians from four different specialties (family medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, and orthopedics) spent their … Read More
We love our four-legged friends at Clinic Service! This week, we are honoring our canine friends in our blog to celebrate with National Dog Day. Can dogs replace medicine? Perhaps not. However, there are countless emotional and physical perks of spending … Read More
Many agree that the Summer Olympic Games are one of the most exciting sporting events in the world. From Michael Phelps to the “Final Five,” it’s easy to get swept up into Olympic fever [ICD-10 Code: R50.9]. Get into the … Read More
A new survey by Deloitte finds nearly 50 percent of physicians report being unaware of MACRA, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. While this isn’t shocking news, it does mean these doctors are going to miss out financially if they, … Read More
Despite a smooth transition to ICD-10 with relatively few technical glitches, there have been questions about the accuracy of the coding. ICD-10 Monitor recently published results from a survey they compiled and analyzed data from 300 coders at 50 health … Read More
Right off the bat, we’ll admit this is a shameless pitch for coders and aspiring coders to consider Clinic Service when looking for their next job. We are always looking for bright minds to join our team! We loved Job … Read More
There are countless reasons to love the summer… barbecues, pool parties, fireworks. But the warmer months have their drawbacks too. To help you prepare for the medical mishaps, we compiled a list of ICD-10 codes for summer. You forgot to … Read More
Your patients (and potential patients!) are savvy about finding information about your medical practice online. A study by Pew Research Centers, found that found that 80 percent of people look online for health information. Patients are evaluating their care options the … Read More
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will add nearly 1,900 new diagnosis codes and 3,651 hospital inpatient procedure codes to the ICD-10 system in fiscal year 2017. Nearly 500 code titles will also be revised. The additions … Read More
Dominique Pulliam is a happy camper, so she’s not one to complain. You have to really press her to learn that her previous work environment at a home infusion therapy company, “just didn’t feel like a good environment for me.” … Read More
Andra Edwards went to work for Clinic Service 25 years ago, and she liked the company so much she bought it. Wait, that’s not Andra’s story, that’s Victor Kiam’s tale of how he ended up buying Remington Shavers. Despite that, … Read More
Earlier in the month, Medscape released its 2016 Physician Compensation Report, which surveyed more than 19,000 physicians across 26 specialties. Physicians reported their total compensation for providing care. For example, employed clinicians reported their salary, bonus, and income from profit-sharing … Read More
As we expected, the new Medicare Risk Adjustment Factor is bringing increased scrutiny by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). News came earlier this month that the hospital provider Humana is facing allegations on this front. The … Read More
The Zika virus, a flavivirus spread by infected mosquitoes, has recently made its way to the U.S. (including two confirmed cases in Denver) from travelers returning from infected areas, such as South America. So far, there haven’t been any locally … Read More
The implementation of ICD-10 allows us to capture “drug underdosing” for the first time, which can provide insights on hospital readmissions. This new data could prove invaluable as reimbursement models shift toward accountable care. What is underdosing? Underdosing occurs when … Read More
Let’s face it, Valentine’s Day is not all candy hearts and roses. Before the holiday of love approaches, let’s brush up on some ICD-10 codes that could send the enamored straight to the doctor’s office. And yes, believe it or … Read More
ColoradoCare, the Single Payer ballot measure Coloradans will vote on this fall, represents a real threat to physician practices. Many physicians and other industry types I speak with admit to being a little flat-footed on the issue. “It won’t pass, … Read More
While reading Physicians Practice magazine online, we tripped across a good, if a bit negative, blog written by a practice-based medical biller. The blog is titled “A Look At The Average Day of a Medical Biller.” While not trying to, … Read More
It’s the beginning of a new year. How is your practice doing financially? More and more practices are discovering that by outsourcing their medical billing, they can increase revenue, cash flow and efficiency. With the implementation of ICD-10, it’s vital … Read More
What would a New Year be like without a new acronym to learn? MIPS stands for Medicare’s Merit Based Incentive Program System now scheduled to begin in just three years (2019). Before you take another sip of eggnog, you … Read More
The days are shorter, there’s a nip in the air and there’s a good chance you might run across one of these ICD-10 codes this holiday season: W34.110 Accidental malfunction of BB gun You finally received the coveted Official Daisy … Read More
Having to choose between multiple health care plans can be a daunting task. Now that health insurance open enrollment season is underway, it’s very likely that many of your patients are anxious about what they should do on the coverage … Read More
The Denver media has shown a renewed interest in emergency room (ER) charges in the wake of articles in the Denver Post highlighting the growth of free-standing ER facilities popping up all around the Denver metro area, and patients accidentally … Read More
After several postponements, ICD-10 is finally in full effect and thus far, the general consensus is that it is healthcare’s Y2K – talks of power outages and rioting in the street were nothing more than a fearful prediction. In reality, … Read More
There’s a battle brewing in New Jersey around the issue of out-of-network billing by providers. Aetna has sued half a dozen New Jersey providers for alleged gross over-billing of Aetna patients who went out of the insurers network for care. … Read More
In less than a month, ICD-10 goes into effect. Is your practice ready for ICD-10? If not, Clinic Service is still available to assist you. Darla McClung, Clinic Service’s resident ICD-10 expert, shares what we’ve done to get ready for … Read More
The Client An orthopedic practice with two surgeons and a physician's assistant. The Challenge The practice was utilizing a billing firm that was a relying on a billing module built into the practice's electronic health records (EHR) system. The arrangement … Read More
The rise of high-deductible health plans is one of the major health care trends to take place since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (also known Obamacare). This trend not only affects patients, but it also has a direct … Read More
Work smarter, not harder to keep your practice running as efficiently as possible: Delegate! Don't perform tasks that don't require an doctor. Examine your activities frequently, and get staff input about ways to do them more efficiently. Delegate as many … Read More
Obamacare is here to stay, or at least for a good bit longer. It became official with last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of nationwide subsidies called for in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While controversial, Obamacare has … Read More
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives proposed the implementation of a ICD-10 “grace period” to help physicians and healthcare providers transition from ICD-9 into ICD-10. Within the proposed two-year window under H.R. 2652, healthcare providers’ coding errors would not … Read More
When you first started your own practice, you likely did everything yourself. What you have built is impressive, but as your practices has grown it is clear that is time to seek professional help with the financial aspects of your … Read More
Navigating the complicated health care financial system can be a nightmare since the smallest misstep can cost thousands of dollars. Pass along these simple tips to your patients to help them avoid paying unnecessarily high fees. Tip #1 – Don’t … Read More
With declining Medicare reimbursements, the impending ICD-10 transition in October, and growing patient responsibility for payments, physicians are increasingly concerned about how they are going to get paid. Here are five tips to help you maximize your revenue cycle: New … Read More
We're proud to announce that we are a "Top Workplace" for the third year in a row! The Top Workplaces list is published annually by the Denver Post. “We are honored to have been selected for the award, especially since … Read More
There’s been a lot of buzz in the industry around bundled payments since it has potential to transform the current healthcare system through payment reform. So what is payment bundling? Also known as episode-based payment, payment bundling is the reimbursement … Read More
What is ICD-10? International Classification of Disease tenth revision (ICD-10) is a system of coding created by the World Health Organization that notes various medical records including diseases, symptoms, abnormal findings and external causes of injury. Next October 1, 2015, … Read More
What does your practice’s denial rate look like? If it is higher than 4 percent, you need to take action. By implementing these simple steps, you can help to avoid billing mistakes and denied claims. Verify Insurance Not verifying insurance … Read More
Are you feeling the pinch now that the federally funded Medicaid primary pay bump has expired? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Many primary care doctors in Colorado who see Medicaid patients this year will get a fee cut averaging … Read More
When outstanding patient balances grow out of control, your practice may feel there’s no option but to place them in the hands of a collection agency. However, turning an account over to collections should only be used as a last … Read More
In a continuation of the seesaw we’ve seen before, hospitals are slowing their acquisition of clinical practices. What’s behind the slowdown in what was a red-hot arena just one year ago? First, hospitals are rediscovering how difficult it can be … Read More
How can we end the year without noting healthcare trends as we head into 2015? The earth might fall off its axis without such observations! Here are my predictions: EHR Systems Love ‘em or hate ‘em (and I know there … Read More
The good news is that Affordable Care Act (ACA) has expanded health insurance to millions of Americans. The bad news is that medical practices are struggling with newly-insured patients, many of whom have very low insurance literacy. The practices report … Read More
Medical practices of all sizes must make decisions that not only are for the betterment of the services provided to patients, but also for the financial health of the practice. One such decision to be made is if outsourcing to medical … Read More
Surgeons spend years developing the skills they needs to perform complicated surgeries. Their intelligence is admirable. Their dexterity is amazing, and their knowledge can be awe-inspiring. A patient needs to believe these things about the man or woman who will … Read More
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives approved the "Keep Your Plan" Bill, which is an amendment to the Affordable Care Act. The controversial amendment essentially lengthens the ACA's transition policy, allowing insurers to continue selling coverage that does not … Read More
If you wonder whether you employ too many or too few clinical staff in your medical practice, you’re not alone. Many physicians share this concern and don’t know how to assess what the right number is for their practice. Fortunately, there are … Read More
You’ve made it through medical school. The grueling hours, the demanding schedule, the memorization…and the debt. According to an article in Bloomberg, even former Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke’s son can’t escape the rising mound of debt associated with his … Read More
The face of healthcare has changed. With the new Affordable Healthcare Act, many small private practices have been inundated with new patients clamoring to get in and be seen. Physicians are trying desperately to keep up with the demand, and … Read More
Health care reform has ignited much debate on health care costs and how compensation should be calculated for services. Physicians and insurers alike have strong opinions about the value-based and quality-of-care metrics put in place by the Affordable Care Act. … Read More
Changes are happening in every area of healthcare, including mobile technology and devices. Tom Barnett, VP of Health Information Technology at NorthShore University HealthSystem, speaks of the need for a 'structured approach' in his article on the HIMSS (Healthcare Information and … Read More
As doctors many of you dreamed of helping the sick, the needy and the poor because it is the right thing to do. After surviving the crucible that is med school, many of you emerged with mountains of debt and … Read More
A recent study from Pew Research sheds light on just how patients are using the Internet when making health care decisions. Seventy-two percent of Internet users said they have researched health information online within the last year. One in five Internet users … Read More
Medical practice management has seen so many deadline shifts in health care news lately, we wanted to make sure your office didn't miss the one that hasn't changed. Under the Physicians Payment Sunshine Act, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers will be … Read More
Healthcare IT is undergoing a revolution. Electronic Health Records, ICD-10, Meaningful Use incentives and the list goes on. However, patients and providers alike are expressing concerns about security. A new study shows those concerns are warranted. The study revealed that … Read More
Medical practice management has many challenges. Detecting a patient with a prescription drug addiction is one of the most concerning. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates 1.9 million Americans abuse prescription opioids. Even more alarming, overdose deaths attributed to opioids have quadrupled since … Read More
When announcements about Medicare reform come out, physician office managers usually cringe. Typically, it means more red tape, paperwork and staff time. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced reforms last week that will actually save money … Read More
The most important aspect of Meaningful Use is accurate data; therefore medical practice administrators must have efficient reporting processes established when it is time to submit for Meaningful Use. The end of the 2nd reporting quarter, for those who are in their … Read More
Flat rate billing is a pricing strategy used by businesses in several industries. You may be passing up this strategy for your practice because you're not sure it applies to a medical practice, however flat rate billing can be applied … Read More
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is making monumental changes to health care. As hospitals and providers seek to meet the demands of the legislation, many are adding social workers to their team. The ACA encourages a “team-based” approach to health … Read More
There have been hints of a delay for some time now, but several have reported it is a definitive happening. No, this doesn’t refer to ICD-10, but ICD-11. According to The World Health Organization (WHO), site: The 11th version, ICD-11, is … Read More
America’s aging population is fitter and living longer. New healthcare technologies are being developed to keep pace with seniors desire to live at home as long as possible. Several healthcare technology providers are testing new products to help them achieve … Read More
While this post is written mainly from the consumer’s point of view, it shows the need as well as the effort that is underway to prevent Medicare fraud. It requires a joint effort the part of both the patient and … Read More
The importance of efficient medical billing, changing healthcare regulations and new medical coding rules is something we are always mindful of at Clinic Service. Ongoing learning is core to our business. We pass new information along to our clients so … Read More
The transition to ICD-10 is one of the largest technical implementations the health care industry has seen in decades. With the October 1 deadline approaching, many physicians are struggling to ensure their office is in compliance. The American Medical Association … Read More
The coverage of preventive care is one of the biggest changes under the Affordable Care Act. The legislation requires that all preventive services classified as an A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force be covered by insurance … Read More
Under the Affordable Care Act, states were mandated to expand Medicaid. However, the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot be forced to adopt the expansion. As a result, only about half the states have expanded their Medicaid programs. Colorado is … Read More
First a little history: It was back in 2009 when Robert Klepinski wrote his article “A Quick HIPAA Check for Medical Device Companies,” hospitals and doctors were familiar with HIPAA regulations. It was definitely a new and growing concern at … Read More
Medical practice management seems to be going through some of its most challenging times. Keeping up with compliance issues created by the Affordable Care Act has become top priority for most medical practices. That's why the news announced last month about … Read More
If you thought 2013 was a transitional year for health care, sit tight. Health care professionals and analysts predict 2014 to get even rockier as the Affordable Care Act becomes fully implemented. According to HealthLeaders Media Council, here are three buzzwords … Read More
It’s essential for medical practitioners to regularly run certain billing reports in order to diagnose the health of their practice and track key performance indicators like revenue cycle numbers or whether claims are being paid on time. In turn, this … Read More
In today’s healthcare industry, running a practice is art is as much art as it is science these days. With increased regulation, paperwork and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, having a top-notch medical billing staff is going to be vital … Read More
As the healthcare moves into the digital world, some physicians are setting up systems that allow their patients to pay bills online, and with good reason. Online medical billing can increase compliance with paying medical bills on-time and is often … Read More
Medical billing and coding errors can cost physicians and their practice thousands of dollars each year. But there are a few simple tips to reduce and even eliminate billing and coding problems. 1. Review billing and coding processes and see … Read More
Reimbursement rates for contracts obtained through the ACA exchanges have not yet been determined by almost all payers. The insurance companies have not set their reimbursement rates because they don’t know how many people they will have to cover from … Read More
Technology has changed the face of medical practice management drastically over the last few years. Many physicians are using laptops, smartphones and tablets to better serve their patients. In fact, mHealthNews reported that nearly three-quarters of all physicians in the U.S. use their … Read More
Hiring a medical practice consultant is a smart decision for practices looking to produce greater business efficiency, productivity or profitability through improved revenue cycle management; but when should you hire a consultant instead of doing the work yourself? Three of the … Read More
Anyone who listens to the news and reads the various articles written about recent events in the world of medicine cannot help but be aware of the very intense feelings on each side of the aisle. The quote below was … Read More
In a new proposal, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is looking to gain better control of certain staffing and emergency room overhead costs known as facility fees. Currently hospitals operate under a controversial policy that gives them … Read More
A recent federal audit revealed a large amount of inaccurate records in Medicare's two main enrollment systems. Provider Enrollment, and Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) showed an inaccuracy rate of 58 percent, while National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) was 48 … Read More
Effective October 1, 2014 there is a change coming to medical coding and billing. The medical coding and billing codes that have been used to report medical diagnoses and inpatient procedures for the last forty years, ICD-9 codes, are being … Read More
You and some colleagues have decided the time is right for your group to start your own medical office. All of you have had the hospital experience, and you’ve had enough. Your group wants to provide healthcare services without all … Read More
The implementation of ICD-10 has many medical practices scrambling to learn a new code set and integrate it into their medical recordkeeping and billing processes. Increasingly, medical offices are turning to medical coding and billing software to help smooth the transition from … Read More
At Clinic Service we are continuously looking for the latest medical practice management and technology updates to help you run your medical practice. As such, we made it a point to review the CMS, AHRQ, ONC and HHS series of announcements that were released … Read More
The American Medical Association (AMA) just released its National Health Insurer Report Card. The results show the increased demand on physicians’ offices to be bill collectors. The report examines how the complex health care arena places financial burden on patients … Read More
The VA and its network is using a tool that is helping many patients who live in rural areas, and this practice idea could be applied by any medical practice that services rural areas with little access to health care … Read More
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) recently announced a second round of its Health Care Innovation Awards, grants that will be awarded to health care providers who propose clinical models for medical practice management that improve care while … Read More
Some may remember the home visit made by the family doctor that became a practice of the past. Then came the phone consultations where the patient called in with a question and the doctor or his nurse called back. … Read More
The American Medical Association (AMA) believes in the importance of ongoing improvements in medical practice management and offers an online course to provide physicians with information about redesigning their workflow with the use of health information technology. While the course is aimed … Read More
What happened to the claim? Did the whole claim get paid? Is it going to be rejected? When will the claim be paid? If you have been asking yourself these questions frequently, then it seems you are ready for … Read More
The healthcare industry is facing major changes over the next several years – most notably, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA, which takes effect in 2014. PPACA's benefits include free access to preventative and routine care, coverage … Read More
Due to the Sequestration, there are mandatory changes that will be taking place on April 1st of this year. In a March 8, 2013 CMS bulletin, they go into detail regarding just what is involved. Novitas Solutions also provides … Read More
An estimated 30 million new patients will be entering the health care system in the next year. How will practice administrators accommodate the staggering influx of people and logistical changes? The healthcare industry is facing major changes over the next … Read More
Physicians must do everything they can to collect fees from patients at the time of their appointment. This sounds pretty obvious, right? Well that does not mean it is easy. Patient out-of-pocket fees account for a third of a practice's … Read More
As a new medical practitioner, you have entered the post-university, real-world existence with all the enthusiasm and optimism that comes with the many thrills of starting your own clinic. You are excited to get started and ready to make a … Read More
The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Disease tenth revision (ICD-10) was rolled out back in 1992. It has been used in the United States to report mortality only, but its mandated use is around the corner and the compliance … Read More
Physicians Foundation named eroding physician autonomy as one of the top five issues to impact physicians and patients in 2013. Many independent practices are facing multiple pressures including decreasing reimbursements, increasingly complex regulations and burdensome medical billing codes. One of … Read More
The Affordable Care Act is set to expand coverage to a projected 32 million Americans. The primary mechanism for this expansion – and the one that is thus far not widespread in the American health care system except in limited … Read More
The diagnosis of a problem is only one aspect of the patient experience at your medical office. Other aspects of patient experience include factors that your practice managment team may not typically consider. You need to look at the medical … Read More
The problem of frequent emergency department users has been an ongoing discussion within the medical community for years; this has been an escalating problem in the health care system. As more studies indicate the need to redirect these patients into … Read More
After perusing year-end news releases, the staff at Clinic Service has compiled a list of high-profile concepts that will likely be at the center of debate about best medical practices in 2013. In no particular order, they are: 1. “As … Read More
The Denver Post recently ran an editorial that got our attention and the attention of many in the medical practice management field. In “A failed checkup for digital records,” the Post spotlighted an important but touchy issue: Medicare fraud fears … Read More
When it comes to finding the information they need, consumers almost always turn to the web. Whether it’s Angie’s List, Yelp, Amazon or the all-important Google, people want to know if they’re getting a good deal or not. Today good … Read More
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has been met with both anxiety and relief in the medical community. Opinions about the legislation differ greatly. While pieces of the law have raised concerns, the bottom line is that the … Read More
Outsourcing medical billing and other medical office business is a decision many physicians face. Medical professionals have invested years, maybe even decades, learning, practicing, and becoming experts in their specialty. As a physician, your role is to provide quality care … Read More
With only a few days until the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election, the future of Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a hot topic. If Obama is re-elected, the ACA is undoubtedly here to stay. However, is Romney is elected, Obamacare is … Read More
Electronic medical records change the dynamics in how you handle your emergency situations. In fact, in only a few minutes, you can have the patient’s medical record before you via computer, smartphone, or tablet. Your answering service can provide you … Read More
It's one of the most irritating parts of being a Physician, regardless of how busy your practice is. Your time is important to you and when patients fail to come to appointments, it causes problems for you as well as … Read More
Medical offices are in a state of change and fluctuation these days. The Affordable Health care Act of 2009, popularly known as "Obamacare" has caused those reliant on medical insurance to take pause. Also, the upcoming election and with it … Read More
You may be the best looking doctor in town with the most attentive manner and the longest list of degrees on your wall. However, if something as routine as your medical billing services creates a headache for your patients, the … Read More
The latest headlines say that doctors think medicine is on the wrong track and that the government is largely to blame. The reports state that 83% of doctors are considering quitting over the Obamacare regulations. The Doctor Patient Medical Association, … Read More
Changes are coming on quickly and Practice Managers are feeling the heat. John Cummins, for HealthLeaders Media, on June 22, 2012, wrote about the growth of healthcare costs. “The average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by commercial insurance … Read More
Keep the patients you have and allow your relationships with your patients be the motivating factor for word of mouth advertising. Get your whole team involved from Practice Managers, to Physicians, to RNs, and even your medical billing staff. One … Read More
Tired of your patients coming into the office with their self-diagnosis from the web? More and more, consumers go to the Internet to get questions answered and to seek advice. But the information available is often generic and sometimes insufficient … Read More
A major EHR (Electronic Health Records) network would be needed if the merger noted below goes through. It would include New York University’s Langone Medical Center, and Continuum Health Partners network that has both Beth Israel and the two St. … Read More
In an article on the AMA website, 'Take Charge of Your Data', it is stated that there is some concern within the AMA when it comes to how health insurance companies are making payments to the physicians. These concerns and … Read More
Electronic Health Records (also called Electronic Medical Records) are changing the Healthcare industry by providing better records access for physicians and patients. Medical practice managers in larger cities have already seen the amazing impact of EHR software on patient heath, … Read More
Years ago, the concept of a doctor or any medical professional using social media in a professional capacity would have been outlandish and unthinkable. However, as time progresses, patients are demanding different avenues of contact between themselves and their physicians. … Read More
ACO's Summit (Accountable Care Organization) offers Medical Practitioners, Medical Office Managers, and Medical Billing staff the opportunity to learn from leaders and overcome profit barriers. The National Accountable Care Organization Summit takes place June 6-9, 2012 in Washington DC. Medical … Read More
The medical office of today has changed dramatically in recent years. The standard of medical care is often put under a microscope, no mistakes are allowed. The same is true for the back office of a medical practice. It must … Read More
As with the general public, the use of electronic communications among physicians, including medical billing services has picked up steam over the last several years. For starters, the number of physicians who use the Internet has increased. According to a … Read More
One of the challenges to physicians in private medical practice is attracting and retaining quality employees. An independent practice may be in competition with a large healthcare system for candidates, and at face value, the large system may appear to … Read More
As physicians transition to electronic health records (EHR) a recent breach of Utah's Medicaid data server by hackers raises questions for over 780,000 Utah recipients—and people in other states. While officials attribute the breach to human error–the failure of a … Read More
Medical Practice management is changing. Have you noticed the old jokes about doctors making house calls are not heard as often? Heck, how many people now really know what a house call was? Truth be told, many. The point being … Read More
Physicians are the primary drivers of electronic medical records (EMR/EHR), but who makes decisions regarding the exchange of information between doctors and hospitals? Mary Shedden’s article in the March 25th edition of The Tampa Tribune, “Hospitals, doctors vie to create … Read More
When information jumps from paper to electronic records, security risks at are the forefront of users' minds. Back when we used bank books to track cash withdrawals, someone would have to physically get a hold of your bank book to … Read More
Somewhere along the way you made the decision that you wanted to be a doctor and use your talents to help people. You didn’t spend all those years studying medicine expecting to end up spending most of your time as … Read More
In the Medical Industry, there are still a lot of non-believers out there; people who fight the idea that EMR software helps medical practices. Even if you venture to suggest the financial incentives when used properly, you’ll get pushback: excessive … Read More
As a physician, you encourage your clients to seek knowledgeable and specialized help for their health care needs. As a physician, you deserve the same specialized care for your practice. Medical billing services become more and more complicated every year. … Read More
Healthcare business planning is often the last thing a physician has in mind during a busy day. However, it is the day-to-day business planning practices that will make the office run smoothly and profitably. Whether it is an office of … Read More
How do you run a profitable, thriving medical practice when the economy is down, healthcare is changing rapidly towards unknown waters, and operational costs increase? Surprisingly, the answer might be simpler than you think. There are some simple things you … Read More
We have talked a lot about EMR on this blog; from buying to selecting to using. We’ve also talked somewhat about what happens after you buy an EMR product. A lot of companies talk about how easy their own EMR … Read More
Last week, Health Leaders posted an article from Kaiser Health addressing the new medicine model: healthcare in retail. Wal-Mart is looking at how to incorporate general care into their retail centers. Wal-Mart previously changed the game by adding $4 generic … Read More
The worries about implementing ANSI 5010 by January are piling up. Last month, the Medical Group Management Association has asked for a contingency plan for those physicians not ready for the ANSI 5010 deadline in January 2012. What about those … Read More
What does it mean when business managers, lawyers and consultants talk about incorporation? Incorporating a medical practice means weighing the pros and cons. It can mean a difference in taxes, liability and costs. Finding someone who can give advice on … Read More
Physicians go into the medical field to practice medicine. Medical school does not cover topics like hiring staff, finding a good office location, getting referrals or setting up billing systems. Most doctors would probably admit that they never even wanted … Read More
When looking at software for following the new regulations, it is important to understand if the software is compliant with new health regulations. But for many people, understanding basic technology to make a sound decision when selecting software or outsourcing … Read More
Medical billing can be thought of as numbers and codes; paperwork and forms. But correct medical billing can prevent monetary issues for families, and difficult accounting issues for medical practices. Both sides benefit by feeling successful ; the patient feels … Read More
Great news! We are thrilled to announce that Clinic Service is a finalist for the “Best Places to Work in Denver”, sponsored by the Denver Business Journal. We will know our official “rank” at the awards banquet on November 18. … Read More
Billing and collections. It sounds straight-forward, routine even. Something that is done in thousands of medical offices with qualified professionals. Most physicians themselves have a general understanding of how the medical billing process works: Enter patient information into an EHR … Read More
…and it’s not necessarily good. I’m sure many of you have seen the story in the local news about the Denver based billing company that has been accused of conducting several unethical business practices. We can’t assume guilt as I … Read More
With the January 1, 2012 implementation deadline for ACOs approaching quickly, many practice groups hustle to be ready, some believe they are, and some don’t know where to begin. For many small medical practices, planning for an ACO falls on … Read More
On March 31, 2011 the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) released the proposed guidelines for an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), a subprogram of the Medicare Shared Savings Program, Section 3022 of the Affordable Care Act. The CMS currently … Read More
The deadline for qualifying for the ePrescription (eRx) incentive monies and for determining whether or not penalties will be levied in 2012 arrives at the end of June! Is your practice ready? And if not, is there still time to … Read More
In this next blog, I’d like to bring you back to VP Michael Kuehn’s presentation, Hiring and Motivating a World-Class Staff. In part one, How to Hire: Know the Job, we brought you the first portion of Michael’s recent presentation … Read More
As you’re searching for the perfect electronic medical record (EMR) to fulfill either your office’s needs or simply trying to achieve meaningful use standards, you have many aspects of your business and the potential EMR to consider. You can use … Read More
How to Hire the Right Person for the Job “I don’t have seminars, I have workshops,” Michael Kuehn, Vice President of Clinic Service said as he handed out pieces of paper to the participants; “I’m going to make you all … Read More
Continued/Part III: Question #3: Am I facilitating my practice with the new technology or does it force me to restructure my time-tested operations to fit it? Answering this question requires that you have already answered other; this transformation will be … Read More
Continued/Part II: Question #2: How do I implement an EMR, and should I delegate this process to someone else? Some related questions in determining how your practice comes to implement an EMR are: should we do it in stages or … Read More
Introduction Technology. We love it when it works for us–and hate it when it doesn’t. In the world of healthcare, the hottest tech buzzword has been the big ‘EMR’, coupled of course with ‘Meaningful Use.’ And this update is not-likely … Read More
It’s Official—Clinic Service C-Suite EMR is Now Complete EMR Meaningful Use Certified! Clinic Service Corporation’s SaaS (software as a solution) EMR, C-Suite (or C-Sweet!) is officially Meaningful Use Certified as of April 20, 2011. The Office of National Coordinator for … Read More
In his article from March 30, 2011 “Meaningful Use Authority maps the Path to Stage Two in Speech to Health IT Summit” Frank Irving outlines Dr. Tang’s speech addressing the timeline for qualifying for ARRA Medicare/Medicaid payments. In short, there … Read More
In our last blog we outlined the nuts and bolts of the overwhelming changes facing physicians. But the question remains: What does this really mean? What should I expect and what should I ignore? No single blog entry can cover … Read More
As time progresses and the mandatory implementation of Stage 2 of Meaningful Use criteria looms closer, many physicians are still trying to grasp what exactly Meaningful Use is, and how to fully comply with Stage One. A bit of history … Read More
In private practices, doctors have the distracting and unfortunate need to understand the underlying operating practices of their business model. Unfortunately, most do not—at least to an adequate degree. Accounting practices make this even more difficult by obscuring the ‘lifeblood’—if … Read More
Congratulations on your successes in 2010. We have weathered multiple threats of Medicare SGR reduction, been dizzied by EMR rhetoric, and endured the politics of health reform. Regardless of these external factors, you continued to provide great care and drive … Read More
Something amazing happens when I meet with our Doctors. Most often when I am asked to help, it is to discuss matters of financial return, coding unknowns, patient account problems, reimbursement confusion, or some other very important matter relating to … Read More