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PHYSICIANS, ESPECIALLY those in office-based practices, are adopting electronic health records (EHRs) more readily than they are exchanging health information with other providers or engaging with patients electronically. Those findings [...]

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. "Behind the Curve," which discussed a connection between race-based cognitive propensities and achievement; "Is Affirmative Action Doomed?," which focused on the state of affirmative action programs in the U.S.; "Look Who's Talking," which dealt with race relations in the country.

The article discusses how a medical practice can overcome the financial challenges of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Topics covered include looking for ways to boost revenue and reduce expenses while communicating with patients and staff, adopting telemedicine and rehearsing telehealth visits, and addressing such visits' demographic and technological challenges. Also noted is the possible revival of ancillary services.

The article highlights the decline of doctors in private practice, with many opting for hospital employment due to higher payment rates and the need to manage regulatory burdens and access resources.

Farmington, MO -- Reimbursements for ophthalmic practices are declining steadily while costs are going ever higher, leaving practices scrambling as never before to find new sources of revenue and ways [...]

Dallas -- Ophthalmic practices face many challenges to keeping their day-to-day operations running smoothly, but human resources issues are among the biggest concerns, said Steven R. Robinson, COE, OCS, a [...]

New Orleans -- Hiring a new physician is one of the most important and difficult steps an ophthalmic practice can undertake. Good planning can make the process smoother and help [...]

Incline Village, NV -- The aging of the vast baby-boom population will make eye care a growth industry during the coming decades. As a result, many ophthalmology practices will need [...]

The article discusses the challenges facing physicians in view of knowledge empowerment of patients. It notes that patients are aware of their medical care, insurance co-pays, what is involved in procedures,and what is involved in rehabilitation after procedures. It adds that growing numbers of patients are also using the Internet to research and comment on the quality of individual doctors, practices and hospitals.

The article reports on medical practice management. Topics discussed include the author's views on how to defeat physician burnout; how it is possible for doctors to enjoy their work; how doctors in independent practice can carve out more time for patients; and barriers to finding, or rediscovering, joy in medicine. INSET: ACP TRIES PEER COUNSELING TO REDUCE BURNOUT.

The article offers information about Medicare's new medical billing code for chronic care management (CCM) in the U.S. It features solo primary care doctor Melissa Lucarelli, who considers using CCM codes, which involves a great deal more than just billing for services physicians are already providing, as well as building a CCM patient base.

The article discusses the development of Merit-based Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS) which is a payment program of Medicare that covers most small and solo medical practices that took effect in 2017. It mentions that the MIPS was created as part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Renewal Act of 2015. It notes the importance of doctor-patient communication in improving quality metrics.

The article discusses the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) that reformed the medicare payment causing primary care doctors to opt out of Medicare in favour of direct pay practice models. Topics discussed include less direct pay practices' gross revenues than fee-for-service, comments from Larry Bauer of the Family Medicine Education Consortium Inc. (FMEC), on overhead costs for direct pay practices and physician Marty Schulman, regarding the pressure on them. INSET: DIRECT PAY OBSTACLES.

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. "The Southern Coup," which focused on the values and attitudes of Southern Americans; "Witch Hunt," which focused on the Amirault trials; "The Escape Artist" which reviewed the book "Walt Whitman's America: A Cultural Biography," by Walt Whitman.

Presents letters to the editor about political reporter Michael Kramer and his wife, Judge Kimba Wood.

The article discusses the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) passed by the U.S. Congress, which would require physicians to demonstrate high-quality care for patients. It mentions that the proposal would lead to 90% reduction in solo practices which is crucial to reducing healthcare costs, providing tips for MACRA compliance and the response of physician societies to the act, like the American College of Physicians.

The article focuses on the reports of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the overdoses related to prescription opioids and the opioid dependence among primary care patients. It mentions that deaths due to prescription painkillers and the doctors are finding alternative ways to help patients manage chronic pain. It also mentions that physicians should prescribe opioids other than for cancer treatment, and palliative and end-of-life.

The article focuses on overcoming patient nonadherence. The hurdles doctors face in obtaining that engagement are treatment for high cholesterol were neither taking medication nor making any changes to their diet or lifestyle. The data available regarding the costs of nonadherence indicate that they are substantial.

The article looks at how the attitudes, experiences, and aspirations of physicians belonging to the millennial cohort or those born in the 1980s or 1990s are shaping the future of U.S. medical practice. It discusses millennials' characteristics including their familiarity with computers and other forms of technology, greater emphasis on work-life balance, and willingness to question authority and existing procedures. It also cites millennials' use of social media and relations with patients.

The article evaluates several electronic health record systems which include products developed by Medent, eClinicalWorks, Allscripts, Care360, and NextTech.

The article discusses strategies employed by independent physician practices for overcoming the challenges of electronic health records, insurance payment restructuring and government reporting mandates. It takes note of the considerations for forming business alliances with independent physician associations and other practices while avoiding the trend established in the 2014 Physicians Foundation Survey of American Physicians of shrinking independent practices.

The article focuses on a new rule wherein Medicare is reducing its payments for services and procedures at many hospital-owned outpatient departments, bringing them closer to what it pays physicians in independent practice for the same services and procedures. It highlights the incentive facility fees created for hospitals to acquire independent medical practices reduces competition in the healthcare system and leads to higher costs for insurance companies and patients

The article explores the health care reimbursement and payment changes and the potential hurdles to patient health management that primary care physicians face in 2015. Topics discussed are the opportunities and challenges for physicians in the areas of chronic care management, telemedicine, codes of practice, PQRS program, Medicaid, Medicare Shared Savings Program, private insurer payment, and the sustainable growth rate (SGR) for Medicare provider payment.

This article reports on the decision of the U.S. health insurance program Medicare to include a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Code-99490 in its 2015 Physician Fee Schedule. Topics discussed include the significance of this code to medical practices managing care for patients with multiple chronic diseases, the services a practice must provide in order to bill Medicare for chronic care management services under CPT code 99490, and the billing requirements for CPT code 99490. INSET: CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT OF THREE AILMENTS COULD SAVE MEDICARE....