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?"
Marriage 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.
Dorado, 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.
Dorado, 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.
At 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.
"Self-sacrifice usually contains an unspoken demand for payment."
Less is considered more when it comes to eyeglass frames. From semi-rimless to rimless, the key is a minimalist approach. Rimless mountings are one of the fastest-growing eyewear styles in the marketplace.
This 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.
Washington, DC-The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) once again plans to expand its coverage for ocular photodynamic therapy (OPT) with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis Ophthalmics).
Mountain View, CA-Add Mississippi to the list of states whose Medicare administrators will pay for transpupillary thermother-apy (TTT) treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Mountain 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.
Dispensing 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.
Washington, 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.
Toronto-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.
Rochester, 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.
Anaheim, CA-Evidence-based medicine is at least a partial solution to many of the dilemmas facing today's ophthalmologists.
San 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.
Mountain View, CA-Iridex Corp. has started a laser reimbursement support program in the United States to offer physicians assistance on laser-related coding issues.
Washington, DC-The New Year brings with it a new chapter in fair reimbursement for physician Medicare fees.
Marblehead, 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.
Patients 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.
Fairfax, VA-The American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) has entered into an agreement with Ingenix to co-publish the 2004 edition of the Coding Companion for Ophthalmology, along with the 2004 Ophthalmology ICD-9-CM and CPT Fast Finders.
It has been 3 years since the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)offered physicians the opportunity to create a customized practice Web site with Medem, the physician network founded by the academy and six other medical societies.
Wilmette, IL-More intensive staffing and better preparation can reduce various aspects of procedure time associated with cataract procedures performed at ambulatory surgery centers.
Washington, DC-If the proposed 2004 Medi-care Fee Schedule goes into effect January 1, ophthalmologists are likely in for more belt-tightening. The 4.2% cut in physician fees called for in this recently published rule may come as no surprise to many in the ophthalmic community. However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and other physician-provider groups are lobbying for provisions to address what they see as a flaw in the sustainable growth rate formula.
Ten years ago, I wrote an article on inventory management for an educational magazine. The article began like this: Everyone agrees times are tough and yet there are optical retail shops that are seeing stronger sales than ever. Do they have a crystal ball? Or are they simply working smarter?
Loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.2% (Alrex, Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals and Pharmos Corp.), the so-called "safe steroid" approved for treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, appears to be living up to its billing, according to several ophthalmologists who prescribe the drug for a range of ophthalmic allergies.
Editor's Note: In last month's "Dispensing Solutions" column, Pamela B. Fritz left off with a discussion on space allocation for the MD dispensary (see Ophthalmology Times, July 15, 2003 issue, Page 42). There are several other considerations in determining proper space allocation.
Parsippany, NJ-Safilo Group will add several Liz Claiborne Inc. licensed eyewear brands to its line up-becoming the sole manufacturer for all Liz Claiborne-branded eyewear and sunwear collections-with the acquisition of Outlook Eyewear.
Washington, DC-New legislation introduced by two House committees in mid-June will not include a proposal to cut Medicare payment rates for ambulatory surgical center (ASC) services.