Rheumatology practices with laboratory testing facilities in their offices can offer important benefits to patients and physicians. During their care of patients with musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases, rheumatologists may order many tests, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, synovial fluid analysis, complete blood count, fecal occult test, and urinalysis. While the prompt receipt of test results and the capability to evaluate specimens in the office directly improves efficiency, it is important to remember that offices must be certified to perform laboratory testing, particularly high-complexity tests such as the analysis of synovial fluids.
Fraud and Abuse: What’s the Difference?
Each year, fraud and abuse cost the Medicare and Medicaid programs billions of dollars. What is the difference between fraud and abuse? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services define fraud and abuse as two different offenses…
National HMO Class-Action Case Settled
The latest development in the healthcare class-action settlement will affect approximately 900,000 physicians (and some major state medical societies) who may be eligible to receive compensation from the settlement – as long as they file a claim. The case has been called “historic” by those representing both physicians and insurance companies.
What Gets a Good Rheumatologist Sued?
Pitfalls to avoid and habits that protect you from malpractice suits
Consultation or Referral? That Is the Question
One of the most troublesome coding decisions is determining whether a visit is a consultation or a referral. To avoid the hassle of incorrect coding, one must first understand the difference between a consultation and a referral.
Enhanced Opportunities at the 2007 Meeting
The AMPC is using more translational components as a way of increasing the basic scientist’s interaction with clinicians, he explains. In keeping with this, the meeting will offer sessions on osteoclasts, implications for the development and treatment of osteoarthritis, T-cell subsets, and a year in review – all of which will be of interest to both the clinician and the basic researcher.
Let’s Talk Tech
As microchips permeate medicine, our new council will spearhead electronic initiatives
A Day in the Life of Marilee Philips, RN
Marilee K. Phillips, RN, is a little out of breath and losing her voice. She’ll excuse herself several times as we talk to clear her throat, but she won’t ask to reschedule. She doesn’t want to say it, but there’s probably no other time to do this interview. In fact, she managed to squeeze it in just before a nursing meeting she’ll have to race to. In the circus of rheumatology, she’s the juggler.
New ACR Strategic Plan Approved
On May 11, the ACR leadership approved a revised strategic plan for 2007–2009 that will guide the College’s work and determine the path the organization will take. The plan has a direct effect on the way the organization serves its members because ACR committees develop and implement programs and services based on the priorities it outlines.
Profiling Providers: Is Your Practice Ready?
Medicare may start profiling physicians as soon as mid 2008. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) develop a profiling system to identify physicians with inefficient practice patterns. At a House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health hearing, Herbert Kuhn, acting deputy administrator of the CMS, said that identifying inefficient physicians, or “profiling,” would involve comparing the number of tests ordered by a physician for certain types of patients with the number ordered by colleagues in cases with the same outcome.
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