New federal standards designed to streamline electronic insurance claims are instead slowing them down, hurting physician cash flow and pushing some practices into financial distress.

Susan Turney, MD, the president and chief executive officer of the MGMA, urged HHS to postpone enforcement of the HIPAA Version 5010 standards for electronic claims and other billing transactions such as requests for claims status until at least June 30. In the meantime, physicians and insurers should be allowed to do business electronically based on the earlier Version 4010 standards.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758037

Ann Miller RN MHA

Recruiting physicians to rural hospitals is a perennial struggle. However, some organizations are winning over physicians with an array of incentives and board support.

http://www.trusteemag.com/trusteemag_app/jsp/articledisplay.jsp?dcrpath=TRUSTEEMAG/Article/data/01JAN2012/1201TRU_coverstory&domain=TRUSTEEMAG

Ann Miller RN MHA

Physicians meeting criteria in 2011 to earn federal electronic medical record incentives will have more time before the Dept. of Health and Human Services requires them to satisfy tougher standards for attaining additional bonuses.

The move is being viewed by physicians and health policy observers as a goodwill gesture by the Obama administration toward EMR early adopters. Doctors and hospitals who currently meet stage 1 meaningful use criteria would be able to vie for bonuses for an extra year under the same requirements, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on Nov. 30. These bonus recipients would not need to upgrade their EMR systems to comply with stage 2 standards until 2014, instead of 2013 under the initial plan.

Source: Charles Fiegl, AM News (12/12/11]

As a doctor, your brand is what defines you as a medical professional and influences how you are perceived by your office, patients, colleagues, hospitals and healthcare facilities, insurers, and other stakeholders.

But, building a brand name, like building a house, is an evolving process that doesn’t happen overnight — but it can be destroyed overnight.

Take care.

Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA
[Editor-in-Chief]

Moderator: Cynthia Bouthot: MA, President, Collaborative Innovation Group.

Dis-Agree: Shahid Shah MS: CEO Netspective; blogger http://www.HealthCareITGuy.com, and HIT “Thought-Leader” for the ME-P.

Agree: Joseph Kvedar MD: Director, PartnersCenter for Connected Health.

Get Ready to Rumble!
http://healthcare.partners.org/streaming/CCH/symposium2011/Plaza/PlazaThursday01.html

Assessment
Mr. Shah is the author of Ch 13 [Interoperable eMRs for the Small to Medium-Sized Medical Office] in the book: Business of Medical Practice [3rd edition], edited by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA CMP™ http://www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com

Prof. Hope R. Hetico RN MHA CMP™
[Co-Editor]

The proverbial statement, “You only get one bite at the apple” couldn’t be truer than when negotiating a Physician Employment Agreement.

Whether you’re the head of a medical practice inviting an experienced physician to join the group, or a resident contemplating a Letter of Intent, fair and effective negotiations are paramount to establishing a long-term working relationship.

This chapter was very helfpul to me in that regard.

Dr. Jason Maller