The adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) among dermatologists is hitting a stumbling block - namely, the onerousness of final "meaningful use" rules recently released by the federal government. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) recently released guidelines for earning government incentives for implementing the paperless systems.
Mid-level caregivers are taking on an ever-larger role in dermatologic care. According to professional organizations, about 11,500 board-certified dermatologists practice in the United States. In addition, there are about 3,000 dermatology physician assistants and 1,650 nurse practitioners working in dermatology offices - or the equivalent of about one mid-level dermatologic caregiver for every 2.5 dermatologists.
Implementation of the Red Flags Rule by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which would require doctors and other businesses to take specific steps to minimize identity theft, has been delayed until a federal appeals court rules on a lawsuit by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Experts say a few clear rules will help physicians effectively engage patients via social media. They advise making a plan and writing a policy that delineates privacy and other requirements. Avoid postings that sound like sales pitches, and don't "friend" your patients.
Two years ago, Dr. Reputation noticed a slowdown in his practice, which he attributed to the poor national economy. Recently, however, other dermatologists have reported an upturn in their schedules. One day, a loyal patient tells Dr. Reputation that a popular physician grade website gives Dr. Reputation a failing grade. Can Dr. Reputation sue to find out the methods used by the website?
Dermatologists may be able to breathe a sigh of relief over the final rules for the government's electronic health record (EHR) incentive program released July 13 - but only a small sigh. Although the rules are hardly light reading, understanding them and putting them into operation is essential to successful participation in the government's bonus payment program for EHRs.
One of the most difficult lessons that I have had to learn since entering private practice four years ago is that patients want to have their say. In fact, sometimes this is the main reason for the office visit. If we do not understand the full motivation of the person seeking our care, we may fail that patient in a very profound way.
Although setting up a cosmetic practice requires commitment and creativity, such practices can help insulate dermatologists against the impact of a sluggish economy, an expert says.
Although many dermatologists have not yet embraced social media - such as the wildly popular Facebook - for their practices, others are finding that these tools can provide a targeted, cost-efficient and increasingly useful channel for connecting with patients, experts say.
Dr. Bill's practice sees more than 1,000 patients a week, most covered by some version of medical insurance. The practice outsourced its billing to a billing company, which takes a small percentage of each paid patient bill as its method of payment. Recently, a disgruntled patient sued Dr. Bill, alleging illegal fee splitting.
All physicians are familiar with the concept of the Hippocratic Oath, a 2,500-year-old promise to uphold professional ethical standards. I have not reviewed the oath since I recited it at my graduation from medical school in 1985, but it came to mind as I faced a monthly red budget statement despite a full-capacity schedule with limited staff support, and low Press Ganey satisfaction scores about lengthy waits for appointments and service.
As teledermatology gains acceptance throughout the healthcare field, dermatologists must ensure that they and their residents are comfortable with this technology, according to one expert.
Dermatology practices across the country report a higher percentage of missed appointments than in the past. You may consider appointment no-shows a nuisance, but patients missing appointments may have a greater impact than you or your staff realize. Every appointment no-show is a revenue drain and a missed opportunity to contribute to your bottom line.
There is little doubt that every physician in the U.S. has an opinion on the recent healthcare legislation and its impact on medical care in this country. What is less clear is whether or not most physicians understand the tax ramifications of the new law.
If you've been on the fence about purchasing an electronic health record (EHR) for your dermatology practice, it's time to make your move. The federal government has pledged billions of dollars to finance the automation of medical practices. Also working in your favor now are the advances in the technology behind these sytems; today's systems are much better than what you could find just 12 or 18 months ago.
The newly passed federal healthcare legislation mandates changes that will impact dermatology practices to greater or lesser degrees, depending on practice size, patient base and other factors. But dermatologists say they're most concerned about what the legislation omits: an explanation of how the new Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board will function, and a fix for Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula.
A six-month plan to forestall Medicare reimbursement cuts yet again - a proposal pending in the Senate at press time - is the latest in a series of delays that continues to leave dermatologists and other physicians frustrated.
One of the main rallying cries for passage of healthcare reform legislation was to improve access to healthcare for the 47 million (or 32 million, depending on which source you happen to read) Americans who previously didn't have health insurance. Legislation that corrects this obvious shortcoming of our healthcare system is certainly welcomed. However, does this law accomplish that goal?
Dr. Eczema has a very large dermatology practice and performs studies on new treatments for a variety of dermatoses. Recently, one of the pharmaceutical companies with which Dr. Eczema works contacted his research nurse to ask her to provide a copy of all of this electronic data, which she does. A former research patient finds out and has an attorney inform Dr. Eczema he will sue for a HIPAA violation unless he settles with his client for $100,000.
As reimbursement declines and overhead rises, dermatologists can't afford anything short of a perfect billing and collections process. Successful billing outcomes depend on many factors, and entrusting the entire process to someone else without appropriate oversight simply isn't smart business.
The biopsy is a major revenue source for dermatology practices, emphasizing the need for correct biopsy billing practices. Dermatology practices tend to make mistakes in two key areas: basing their billing on intent, and in misrepresenting services.
As an attorney and a consultant to thousands of physicians across the country, we are constantly astounded by the attitudes of physicians regarding the sale of their medical practices. Most often, we hear the complaint that doctors do not feel they can sell their practice for any significant value.
The recession is reminding dermatologists about the importance of excellent service, savvy marketing and a personal touch, experts say. They share lessons for riding out the recession.
Credentialing a new doctor with third-party payers (including Medicare) is a tedious but necessary process. Even small mistakes can result in setbacks - even worse, application denials - all of which can rob dermatology practices of precious revenue, experts say.
Could e-prescribing be a boon to the operation of your practice? Or is it one more layer of bureauracy the federal government is trying to lay on physicians? On Call wondered whether dermatologists are using e-prescriptions, and if so, whether they actually like them.
