Time to verify your patients' eligibility and benefits for 2018 With the new year soon upon us, physicians are urged to be diligent in verifying patients' eligibility and benefits to ensure they will be paid for services rendered. The beginning of a new year also means that both calendar year deductibles and visit frequency limitations reset. And, with open enrollment, patients may even be covered by a new payor. The new year also brings a host of other challenges that could affect your ability to be paid: On January 1, 2018, Health Net Federal Services (HNFS) will ... December 28, 2017 General Running a Practice, Eligibility 0 0 Comment Read More »
Save the Date: MGMA annual conference is October 8-11 The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is hosting its annual conference on October 8-11, 2017, in Anaheim. The conference, geared toward all levels of medical practice leadership, will offer attendees a multitude of tools and resources to help guide them to success including: Using structural tension leadership to help lead your organization through change. Analyzing the types of conversations that leaders must have to compel teams to rise above stress and disagreements to better serve patients. Distinguishing possible physician-held risk ... September 25, 2017 General Management, Running a Practice 0 0 Comment Read More »
Survey shows physicians feel unprepared for the business side of medicine A recent LinkedIn survey found that many physicians feel that their clinical training does not adequately prepare them for the reality of the business side of a career in medicine. The survey, conducted in early February, asked 511 physicians about their professional goals and the non-clinical skills that they believe are most essential to their careers. Three-quarters of respondents indicated that non-clinical business skills are more important than they were in the past because of how deeply and rapidly the health care industry is changing. More than two-thirds said their career ... August 8, 2017 General Running a Practice 0 0 Comment Read More »
Updated payor profiles for 2017 now available The California Medical Association’s (CMA) Center for Economic Services is publishing updated profiles on each of the major payors in California including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, CIGNA, Health Net, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare/Noridian and Medi-Cal. Each profile includes key information on health plan market penetration; a description of the plan’s dispute resolution process; and the name and contact numbers for medical directors, provider relations, and other key contacts. Don’t waste your time searching the internet for this information – members can download CMA’s Payor Profiles free of charge ... August 1, 2017 CMA, Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Medicare Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Health Net, Insurance, Medi-Cal, Medicare, Noridian, Payor, Payor Profiles, Running a Practice, UnitedHealthcare 0 0 Comment Read More »
Time to verify your patients' eligibility and benefits for 2017 The beginning of a new year brings with it changes to your patients’ eligibility and benefits. Physicians are urged to be diligent in verifying each patient’s eligibility and benefits to ensure they will be paid for services rendered. The beginning of a new year also means that both calendar year deductibles and visit frequency limitations reset. And, with open enrollment, patients may even be covered by a new payor. Don’t get stuck with unnecessary denials or an upset patient. Do your homework before the patient arrives by obtaining updated ... December 21, 2016 General, Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Medicare Running a Practice, Eligibility 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA publishes MACRA preparation checklist On April 16, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), changing the health care financing system in the most significant and far-reaching way since the program's inception in 1965. To help physicians understand MACRA payment reforms, and what they can do now to start preparing for the transition, the California Medical Association (CMA) has published an important checklist titled, “MACRA: What Should I Do Now to Prepare?” The checklist is available in CMA's MACRA resource center at www.cmanet.org/macra. There you will ... August 8, 2016 CMA, Medicare Practice Resources, Running a Practice, MACRA, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
