Physicians are no more likely than other people to want to think about what happens next. The question of who takes over for a doctor due to death, disability or retirement has legal, medical and personal implications and requires planning to ensure the succession goes smoothly. “Succession planning is like an advance directive for the…
The ACR Insurance Subcommittee (ISC) regularly engages with insurance companies to discuss concerns raised by ACR members and advocate for appropriate coverage and payment policies. The ISC has gotten off to a busy start in 2017, working on a variety of patient access and reimbursement issues. Two recent issues the ISC has taken action on…
Overcoding is a common term used when discussing fraud and abuse in reporting procedures and services not supported by the actual work performed. Alternatively, undercoding—or failing to report the full extent of services or procedures provided—is an equally unsound practice and a compliance risk. In the world of quality reporting, undercoding can have damaging effects…
WASHINGTON, D.C.—What do treating hand osteoarthritis (OA) in the primary care setting, high financial strain and risk of depression in patients with lupus, prolonged sitting and cardiovascular disease, and sex-specific treatment after total hip arthroplasty have in common? They were all topics presented during a session titled ARHP I: Exemplary Abstracts at the 2016 ACR/ARHP…
The ACR is committed to advocating for appropriate coverage and payment policies. The volunteer members of the Insurance Subcommittee (ISC) lead this effort by representing the ACR and its membership to the insurance industry. The ISC engages payers to ensure their policies are clinically appropriate and promote patient access to high-quality care and treatment. The…
Receipt of an unsolicited communication that a sweepstakes award has been won may con some people (especially, but not limited to, those underprivileged or undereducated as to legalities), but can’t fool all of the people all of the time. The names of the organizations and products involved are often marketing tool inventions, which imply special…
Bees’ natural instinct to promote health of whole colony could inspire healthcare professionals to work together toward common good
A reader questions whether insurers’ practice of promoting medications has undermined physicians’ ability to provide quality patient care
Physicians will need to enforce stricter policies, procedures to collect patient co-payments, deductibles
Highlights in 50-year timeline of national healthcare legislation, proposals, and policies since the Social Security Act was adopted in 1965