May 17th 2024
According to ophthalmologists at the Colorado University School of Medicine, discussing mental well-being is a key part of effective treatment and improving care for patients.
Practices honored for efforts to prevent fraud, mistakes
May 1st 2004Three ophthalmology practices have been awarded the third WilliamE. Rose Jr. Pinnacle Award for managing outstanding offices.The awards were presented Saturday during the opening general sessionof the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) Congress onOphthalmic Practice Management.
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Meeting secure e-mail requirements just got easier
May 1st 2004Protecting patients' privacy has always been a top priority for physicians and staff alike, but now it is mandatory. By April 14, 2005, practices must have taken the necessary steps to comply with Title II of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, which pertains to privacy of health data.
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Practices can provide staff benefits that won't cost a bundle
April 15th 2004If you want to offer your employees health insurance, a break on the cost of child care, or other benefits that you cannot afford to fund fully, consider installing a Section 125 Cafeteria plan. This setup allows your employees to pay for certain expenses with pre-tax salary dollars.
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Your receptionist lets you know that a Dr. Smith is on the phone, and he's checking the references of Jane Miller, a former staffer. You and your employees are thrilled that Jane no longer works for you. She was chronically late, sloppy, rude to patients, and was about to be fired when she quit, ostensibly for family reasons, about a year ago. "What should I tell him? Do you want to talk to him?"
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Where there's a will, there's a way for estate planning
April 1st 2004Marriage does receive favorable treatment under the tax code after death. Generally, an estate may claim an unlimited deduction for the value of all property that passes from a decedent to the surviving spouse upon death. So, a basic "I love you" will, where all property is left to the spouse outright upon death,allows the estate to pay no tax.
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Pay attention to documentation as audit activity continues
April 1st 2004Dorado, Puerto Rico-Physicians need to take a proactive approach to patient chart documentation as audit activity continues under the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program, established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, said practice management expert Donna M. McCune, CCS-P, COE.
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Patient safety, reimbursement, liability top issues in 2004
April 1st 2004Dorado, Puerto Rico-Physician reimbursement, professional liability, and patient safety are at the top of the advocacy agenda for 2004 for the American Society of Cata-ract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), as well as other physician specialty groups that are all part of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine.
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Find out what's hot in frames to add to your inventory
March 15th 2004At this time many of you will be attending or about to attend the American Association of Dispensing Ophthalmologists (AADO) 10th Dispensing Ophthalmology Conference March 25 to 28 at International Vision Expo East, New York. Your participation in the largest optical and educational show can be even more beneficial if you take the time to prepare in advance.
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On the agenda: reimbursement, veterans, and children
March 1st 2004This year, as with every year, fairreimbursement for all ophthalmologists tops the American Academy of Ophthalmology's (AAO) agenda in Washington, DC. The academy expectsto build on the success achieved withthe "Medicare Prescription Drug andModernization Act"-which replaced an expected 4.5% reduction with a 1.5% increase in Medicare fees in 2004 and 2005-by working to achieve a permanent fix to the reimbursement formula so future Medicare rates are reasonable and patient access to care is secure.
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Pennsylvania becomes 16th state to cover TTT
February 15th 2004Mountain View, CA-The Medicare Part B Carrier for Pennsylvania has announced it will allow reimbursement to ophthalmologists performing transpupillary thermotherapy treatment (TTT) of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and certain intraocular tumors.
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Post-cataract eyewear sees important changes in 2004
February 15th 2004Dispensing ophthalmologists face many challenges in opening and maintaining profitable optical dispensaries. Considering the volume of cataract surgery many ophthalmology practices are performing for their aging patient base, setting up the dispensary for delivery of post-cataract eyewear can be a major challenge. It's not so much in the fitting and dispensing of the eyeglasses, but in completing the proper paperwork both within the dispensary and filing with Medicare for reimbursement of claims.
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Ambulatory center payments urged to match hospital costs
February 15th 2004Washington, DC-The Medicare Payment Assessment Commission (MedPAC) will recommend that Congress revise the payment system for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) so it falls in line with payments for similar procedures performed at a hospital.
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QLT lowers verteporfin cost after CMS cuts reimbursement
February 15th 2004Toronto-QLT Inc. is temporarily lowering the price of verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis and QLT Inc.) by $55 after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lowered the amount for which it would reimburse physicians.
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B&L finishes purchase of new fluoroquinolone
February 15th 2004Rochester, NY-Bausch & Lomb has completed the purchase of InSite Vision's ISV-403 compound for the treatment of ocular infections. Bausch & Lomb gave InSite Vision an undisclosed cash sum and reimbursement of certain product development expenses. In exchange, InSite Vision will give Bausch & Lomb a percentage of future product sales in all licensed countries.
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Coding exam, training CD part of JCAHPO initiative
January 1st 2004San Francisco-The American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE) and the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) will jointly develop and offer the ophthalmic coding specialist examination and title.
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Ophthalmic market poised for upswing
December 15th 2003Marblehead, MA-As the year draws to a close, U.S. ophthalmologists are taking an assessment of where things stand in their practices and in the world around them. Many are finding comfort in the knowledge that the ophthalmic market continues to hold its own in an uncertain economic climate, said Kenneth P. Taylor in an independent analysis of the vision-care sector.
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Hone listening skills to gain patients' trust, boost capture rates
November 15th 2003Patients considering refractive surgery are understandably nervous about undergoing procedures on their eyes. A physician who can listen to their concerns and address them all will gain their trust and their business.
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