Physicians Practice Management News & Advice
Medicare Payment Bill Becomes Law
The Senate has voted 70 to 26 to override the president's veto of the Medicare Improvement Act for Patients and Providers (H.R. 6331). This action follows a successful override vote earlier today by the House of Representatives.
First, it reverses the 10.6 percent payment cut that went into effect on July 1 and halts the 5.4 percent cut scheduled for Jan 1, 2009.
Second, Congress addressed a severe operational deficiency in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Currently, Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans are not required to establish traditional provider networks. This has created tremendous beneficiary confusion and provider distrust. H.R. 6331 makes significant improvements to the program by eliminating the ability of PFFS plans to "deem" physicians where there are two or more MA plans in an area beginning in 2011. This change in the law is the direct result of MGMA's two-year grassroots campaign to revise unfair MA contracting policies.
Physicians' Services Summary
Sec. 131. Physician payment, efficiency, quality incentives.
Blocks pending cuts scheduled under the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula through December 31, 2009; provides a 1.1% update for 2009; extends the physician quality reporting initiative (PQRI) through December 31, 2010 while increasing the PQRI bonus to 2.0% for 2009 and 2010. Makes improvements to the PQRI, including a requirement for the endorsement of measures by a consensus-based, standard setting entity and permits group practices to report, using a sampling methodology, on measures targeting high-cost, chronic conditions. Requires the Secretary to provide confidential feedback to providers regarding their resource use and to submit a plan to Congress regarding transition to a value-based purchasing program for physicians.
Sec. 132. Incentives for electronic prescribing.
Provides positive incentives for practitioners who use a qualified e-prescribing systems in 2009 through 2013. Requires practitioners to use qualified e-prescribing system in 2011 and beyond. Enforcement of the mandate achieved through a reduction in payments of up to 2% to providers who fail to e-prescribe. Prohibits application of financial incentives and penalties to those who write prescriptions infrequently, and permits the Secretary to establish a hardship exception to providers who are unable to use a qualified e-prescribing system.
Websites for Your Practice!
Is your practice utilizing the use of an efficient website?
It is time to review the look and uses of your website. In today's electronic world your website can be used for more than just a billboard. According to an article in the July 2008 MGMA Connexion, medical practice websites allow patients to make appointments, request for medication refills, pay bills online and provide information on most ask questions by patients.
Depending on your budget, how detailed your website may vary, however, the addition to some of these services to your website could reduce staff cost and overhead cost creating a return on your investment.
For more ideas on how a website can assist your practice contact us at consultant@thepmgroupsc.com
SPECIAL EDITION
Retirement News for Employers
Answers to Roth 401(k) Questions are Here!
Please read the following Newsletter:
Retirement News for Employers - Special Edition
Protect your office from Identity Theft!
Are you and your staff doing all they can to protect personal records in your office? Computer systems in your office that are accessible from outside sources such as internet hackers, break-ins or unauthorized staff are very vulnerable to identity theft!
Many experts in computer security recommend the following seven steps to ensure that your computers and the electronic records they store remain safe from disaster or intruders
- Protect your desktops and laptops. If you do only three things to protect your computers, you will be safer Update your software regularly. Visit your software program's website often and download any updates available. Updates respond to newly perceived threats and are essential for continued protection of your program. Install antivirus software on every computer. Once you install it, be sure to update it regularly. Many of these programs will update themselves automatically and will prompt you to order a new version when your subscription is about to expire. Set up firewalls. If your computers are always on (as many are with new broadband connections for high-speed operation), hackers can more easily gain access to your computers or network. To keep them out, install a firewall to block all unwanted traffic to your machines. This will keep individual computers in your network invisible to the outside and can hide electronic addresses stored in your computers.
- Secure your data. Establish a regular system of data backup. It's best to have two backups for every need. Rotate them to be sure you always have the latest data available. Do daily backups and consider a weekly summary backup. These backup media should be stored offsite (such as a safety deposit box or at home). Don't rely on an on-site fireproof safe, as fire can melt most media.
- Limit Internet use. Establish a policy and enforce it. It should restrict employee access to the Internet or block access to unacceptable sites. E-mail also can be dangerous. Instruct employees only to open e-mail from known addressees and even then, to beware of counterfeit correspondents and contaminated enclosures.
- Protect your network. Many of us now rely on the ability to access our computer network from remote locations. This may be a business necessity and it may improve your productivity, but it poses a security risk that you need to monitor closely. Be sure to use a strong password system that changes passwords regularly, and be especially careful about allowing wireless access.
- Manage your computers with a server. Managing all your desktops and laptops from a server actually will reduce the risk of having your security efforts sabotaged and will improve the efficiency of your operation. Using a server can facilitate timely and efficient updates throughout your system. It also allows you to establish preferred configurations for applications you use and can even allow you to monitor employee use of your systems.
- Protect your servers. You can take all the previously mentioned steps to protect any servers you use. But note some extra steps you can take to secure servers: Keep servers in a safe place. Keep them in a locked room with no windows. Lock the machine case to prevent access.
- Control the keys to the room and the server case to further limit access.
- Record the serial numbers of the servers and mark the case with your company logo or other identifier.
- Secure databases. Many companies rely on specialized computer programs to run accounting programs, track inventory, and manage business contacts. These programs are typically set up on a server accessible to many employees. Thus, you have both wide access and critical information mixed together. This dangerous combination mandates the most careful management and control.
Treasury, IRS issue indexed amounts for HSAs
Maximum contribution levels for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and out-of-pocket spending limits for high deductible health plans (HDHPs) that must be used in conjunction with HSAs have changed, according to new guidance issued by the Treasury Department and the IRS. These amounts have been indexed for cost-of-living adjustments for 2006. For 2006, the maximum annual HSA contribution for an eligible individual with self-only coverage is $2,700. For family coverage the maximum annual HSA contribution is $5,450. Catch-up contributions for individuals who are 55 or older is increased by statute from $600 to $700 for 2006. Both the HSA contribution and catch-up contribution apply pro rata based on the number of months of the year a taxpayer is an eligible individual, and, with respect to the catch-up contribution, the number of months of the year that the taxpayer is age 55 and over.
Article was posted on CCH Human Resources Management Daily Document Update
National Provider Identifier (NPI)
Message from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Starting May 23, 2005, all health care providers can apply for their National Provider Identifier (NPI). The NPI will replace health care provider identifiers in use today in standard health care transactions. All Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) covered entities except small health plans must begin using the NPI on May 23, 2007; small health plans have until May 23, 2008. For additional information, and to complete an application, visit https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov on the web. It is important to note that the Medicare program is not accepting the NPI in standard transactions yet. Explicit instructions on time frames and implementation of the NPI for Medicare billing will be issued later in 2006. Other health plans with whom you do business will instruct you as to when you may begin using the NPI in standard transactions.
Also, an instructional web tool, called the NPI Viewlet, is now available for viewing at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/npi/npiviewlet.asp and under "HIPAA Latest News" at www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2 on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) website. This tool provides an overview of the NPI, a walkthrough of the application, as well as live links to the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System's (NPPES) website where the learner can apply for an NPI. This tool is designed for all health care providers. In the near future, you will also be able to access the viewlet at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov
THIS BULLETIN SHOULD BE SHARED WITH ALL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND MANAGERIAL MEMBERS OF THE PROVIDER STAFF. NO COST COPIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM OUR WEB SITE AT www.riverbendgba.com
Please refer any questions to our office at (877) 296-6189.