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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Practice Support

Subcategories:Billing/CodingEMRsFacilityInsuranceQuality Assurance/ImprovementTechnologyWorkforce

ALERT: 2010 ICD-9-CM/CPT Code Changes

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As of January 1, physicians can no longer bill the inpatient/outpatient consultation evaluation and management (E/M) codes for Medicare patients. E/M codes for new or established patients should be used as appropriate.

Join the Electronic Health Information Exchange Community

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Effective and efficient health information exchange has the potential to revolutionize rheumatology practices by simply delivering necessary patient information where and when it is needed in a complete and logical format. The list of its potential benefits—including streamlined administrative processes, efficient communication, and reduction of redundant testing—is limited only by the willingness of physicians to implement clinical and administrative technology and modify workflow to accommodate electronic processes.

Tips for Conducting a Market Analysis

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Given the weakened economy, today’s rheumatology practice must be proactive, understand the market in which it operates, and plan for the future. Conducting a competitive market analysis is a critical first step toward the financial success of any medical practice.

Is Improving Your Career One of Your Resolutions?

Cynthia M. Piccolo  |  

Another New Year’s has just passed, and if you’ve opted for one of the typical resolutions, you’ve decided to lose weight, exercise more, or quit a nasty habit like smoking. If you’re one to make resolutions, have you considered adding a career-related resolution to your self-improvement goals for the new year? Most of us spend a significant portion of our lives at work, so it makes sense.

Hiring Billing Staff

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One of the most important things in a medical practice is hiring billing staff. This task may sound easy, but it’s not. In today’s medical environment, knowing even basic things to look for when hiring billing staff will help you establish a practice that runs successfully.

Reach Beyond the Digital Walls of Your Practice

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How much time and money do you spend trying to find information about your patients? Are you frustrated by the difficulties in obtaining patient medical records, test results, lab reports, radiology results, and insurance eligibility from organizations across state lines, down the street, or even across the hall? Do you ever order redundant tests simply because you are unable to access the results of tests ordered by another member of the care team?

Billing for Time

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When counseling or coordination of care dominates the encounter between the physician and the patient and his or her family, time may be considered the controlling factor to qualify for a particular level of E/M coding.