Practice Management Articles

Administration/HR Tips on Selecting a Reputable Billing Company  Customer Service: The Real Competitive Edge  Managed Care Audit Tips and Checklist  Part-Time Work and Job Sharing  Motivating your Employees Keeping Negativity In the Workplace At Bay	Billing How Your State Insurance Commissioner Can Help  Going For the Gold Financial Management Basics Medicare Publishes Billing Edits to Reduce Payment Errors
Clinical Distribution of Sample Medications in the Practice Setting Health Care Quality Standards	Coding ICD-10 Where is it? When is it?  Close "E"ncounters of the Third Kind Incorrect use of Modifer 25 & 59 The Facts About Consultations"What You Need To Know"  Understanding Physician Supervision Levels Inpatient vs. Critical Care Consult Inpatient vs. Critical Care Consult
Collections Timely Tips for Collections  Finance Charges & Sending a Patient to Collection Making Collection Calls the Right Way Letter to the Editor Patient Collections: Retaining Patients, Even When They Owe	Legal & Compliance Reimbursement. Compliance. Overpayments. Auditing The Watchful Eye of the Government – Understanding The Office of Inspector General Work plan Are You "STILL" in Compliance With the "Hazard Communication Standard"? What You Don’t Know About OSHA Can Hurt You New Red Flag Rules to Target Identity Theft New Standards, Versions and Code Set for Electronic Transactions Begin January 2012. Will You Be Ready? Do The New Red Flag Rules Apply to Your Practice? What you need to know about this fast-approaching deadline
Management E-Prescribing plus PQRI could mean 5.5 percent Medicare pay boost in '09 "E" and Earn: Electronic Prescribing Goes Live in '09 Physician Marketing: Educating Current and Potential Patients PMI Certified Professional Shares Tips for Successful Office Management	Miscellaneous Did I Hear What I Think You Said?  Managing When the Stress Doesn't Go Away What Am I, A Machine? Part 1
Patient Relations CUSTOMER SERVICE: The Other Medical Specialty	Reimbursement Dude - Where's My Money?

"E" and Earn: Electronic Prescribing Goes Live in '09
Maxine Inman Collins, MBA, CPA, CMC, CMOM, CMIS

Very few businesses are immune to the financial impact of an economic downturn. While many practices closely examine spending in the new year, some are already beginning to see improved revenue with programs such as E-Prescribing and PQRI. As President Obama has said, the trend toward electrifying health care records will help improve efficiencies in health care. Practices can take advantage of incentives now by getting on board this year. In fact, scheduled reductions in reimbursement are outlined for physicians who are not e-prescribing by 2012.

From 2009 to 2013, Physicians could earn bonuses based on the total covered professional services provided during the one year reporting period(s). The following is a schedule of the bonuses that could be earned each year the Provider meets the requirements:

• 2009-2010: 2.0 percent of total allowed charges successfully submitted for each year.
• 2010-2012: 1.0 percent of total allowed charges successfully submitted for each year.
• 2013:  .5 percent of total allowed charges successfully submitted for the year.

There are possible limitations that could apply for individuals not submitting at least 10 percent of total allowed Medicare charges that could have been submitted for the period and/or for failing to submit an adequate number of claims electronically.

In addition, the Center has provided a schedule of reductions in the Fee Schedule for Providers who are not e-prescribing by 2012 as follows:

• 2012: 1. 0 percent reduction
• 2013: 1.5 percent reduction
• 2014: And each subsequent year - 2.0 percent reduction
• The Secretary can issue Hardship Exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

The government appears to be pretty serious about the implementation of this new program. Don’t miss out on these additional funds if you have the opportunity to economically implement E-Prescribing in your practice. It not only improves medical record documentation, many experts also believe that electronic prescribing is a safer way to order/dispense medications.