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Complying with HIPAA

Tammy Worth January 06, 2012

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was created in 1996 to protect patients' health information. Since its inception, health care providers have struggled with the need to protect patient privacy, share information, and keep paper work under control.

Demystifying Medical Codes

Tammy Worth November 23, 2011

For many doctors, coding, documentation and medical necessity are tedious administrative issues they would rather not have to worry about. Here are a handful of tips to correct common coding woes.

Transitioning to Electronic Health Records

Tammy Worth November 16, 2011

No matter how hard they try, health care providers are finding it increasingly difficult to ignore electronic health records, and transitioning from paper charts to computers is not easy. Here are some tips to help work through that process.

CROWNWeb and its Impact on Vascular Access Data Collection

Oniel Delva April 29, 2010

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is evaluating clinical data entered into its CROWNWeb system by participating Phase 2 facilities against that provided by dialysis facilities nationwide.

CROWNWeb: Next-Generation CPM Reporting

Oniel Delva December 22, 2008

For more than four decades, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has had as its mission the advancement of effective, up-to-date health-care coverage and the promotion of quality care for beneficiaries.

MD Recruiting: Finding the Right Fit

May 06, 2008

For nephrology practices bringing a new physician on board and physicians searching for a practice, success ultimately is measured in terms of establishing a long-term relationship that meets the most critical needs of all involved and results in a seamless integration of new clinical staff.

Negotiating HMO and PPO Agreements

Susan E. Charkin, MPH November 01, 2007

When it comes to negotiating a physician agreement with a third-party payer, knowledge is power. There is a direct correlation between your level of success and how well-informed you are about payers' needs, their knowledge, and their bargaining strategies.

Implementing Electronic Records

September 01, 2007

The first part of this article, which appeared in the August issue, discussed the benefits of the electronic health record, how to decide whether it is justified for a particular practice, and how to select and purchase a system. This second part provides guidance for installation and implementation.

Electronic Records Boost Efficiency

August 01, 2007

An electronic health record (EHR) is an electronically stored documentation of a patient's total medical history, including records from all sources—the clinician's office, hospitals, other physicians, and pharmacies. The adoption of EHRs can transform your practice.

Code Correctly for Hypertensive CKD

By Debra Lawson, CPC June 01, 2007

Recent changes in the diagnosis codes for hypertension will affect the billing for CKD patients. Coding for patients with both hypertension and kidney disease presents unique problems.

Your Money

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Read more on
Conservative Investors, Consumer Companies in a Sluggish Economy

Legal Issues

Physician Sued For Failing to Follow Up

A primary care doctor referred a patient with an elevated PSA to a urologist. After a negative prostate biopsy, the doctor did not regularly conduct follow-up PSA testing, and the patient eventually died from prostate cancer.