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Camp SHINE Gives Boost to Weight Management Patients Childhood obesity has become a common health issue for many children and adolescents, putting them at risk for long-term problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, and psycho-social issues... Read More
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Health Insurers Tackle Deluge of Changes Reform Regulations Are Kicking In Already Healthcare reform requires changes of all stakeholders, but probably none more so than third-party payers, usually portrayed as wearing the black hat in this ongoing drama. In fact, President Obama hasn’t hesitated to cast insurers in the role of characters more worried about money than patient care. SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
Physicians Will Need Time to Adapt to the ICD-10 Code "People are used to getting code updates every year with our CPT codes and ICD-9 codes," says Donna Stariha, director of the billing services division at MediSYS. "So for a lot of people, they mistakenly feel this change to ICD-10 is just another change like that." But that's like equating ripples in a bathtub to storm-tossed swells on the ocean. Jane Ehrhardt |
Lax Reimbursement Practices Leave Money on the Table For the lack of a single billing code modifier, a specialty practice lost reimbursements equaling 16 percent of their gross income in their first year. "When we refiled the claims for that one doctor, it recovered $8,000 within four weeks," says Judy Campodonico, director of operations with MRG Management Services. Jane Ehrhardt |
Children Most Vulnerable to Effects of Gulf Oil Spill The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is unprecedented in size and scope. As a result, there may be extraordinary levels of chemical exposure to those who live in the affected areas. Children are especially vulnerable. Ann B. DeBellis |
Poison Control Centers Important to Our Communities Every eight seconds, someone calls a poison center. These centers, located throughout the United States, are saving lives everyday and saving money by eliminating unnecessary health care expenses. In Alabama alone last year, the Regional Poison Control Center saved $16 million in uninsured costs, private insurance, and Medicaid just by answering the telephone. Ann B. DeBellis |
Creating Thinking Adds Fulfillment to Bullock's Practice His Passion for Preventive Care Transforms his Patients' Lives Using just his waiting room, Gary Bullock, DO, MPH, helps patients transform their lives, while replenishing some of the fulfillment that managed care had drained from his practice. Jane Ehrhardt |
Proposed Changes to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Enforcement Rules On July 14, 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published proposed changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the Federal Register ("Proposed Rule"). These proposed changes are part of the enactment of the Health Information Technology and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), which was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Kelli Fleming |
Don't get caught by expiring tax provisions Ten years ago, Congress passed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. That Act provided a number of income, estate and gift tax changes that were put into effect, or scheduled changes to become effective in the years ahead. Many of the changes that took effect under EGTRRA 2001will expire on December 31, 2010, unless Congress enacts new laws or passes extensions. If EGTRRA 2001 expires, taxpayers will face several significant changes. Gerard J. Kassouf, CPA |
CMS Proposes Stark Law Changes to Require Written Notices for Select Imaging Services On June 25, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the proposed 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule (the "Proposed Rule"). Among its revisions are the proposed regulations implementing Section 6003 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) amending the In-Office Ancillary Services exception (IOAS) to the federal physician self-referral law, commonly referred to as the Stark Law. The proposed regulations, when finalized, will take effect on January 1, 2011, along with the rest of the Proposed Rule. Judd Harwood |
The Literary Examiner - "Critical Care" by Theresa Brown Author Theresa Brown was an English professor who taught writing at Tufts University when she began to feel an internal nudge toward a new career. In the new book Critical Care, she tells about her switch from pen to patient. TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER |
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Bad News About Youth Boosts Elders' Esteem
Title: Bad News About Youth Boosts Elders' Esteem Category: Health News Created: 9/2/2010 11:04:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 9/2/2010 11:04:48 AM Posted Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:00 am CDT
| | Weight Loss Pill Meridia Raises Heart Attack, Stroke Risks
Title: Weight Loss Pill Meridia Raises Heart Attack, Stroke Risks Category: Health News Created: 9/2/2010 11:01:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 9/2/2010 11:01:05 AM Posted Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:00 am CDT
| | Michael Douglas and Throat Cancer FAQ
Title: Michael Douglas and Throat Cancer FAQ Category: Health News Created: 9/2/2010 10:56:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 9/2/2010 10:56:02 AM Posted Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:00 am CDT
| | Sex Not on Most New Moms' Minds
Title: Sex Not on Most New Moms' Minds Category: Health News Created: 9/2/2010 10:44:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 9/2/2010 10:44:51 AM Posted Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:00 am CDT
| | Health Tip: When Something's Stuck in Your Eye
Title: Health Tip: When Something's Stuck in Your Eye Category: Health News Created: 9/1/2010 10:10:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 9/2/2010 Posted Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:00 am CDT
| | Health Tip: Don't Drive After Drinking
Title: Health Tip: Don't Drive After Drinking Category: Health News Created: 9/1/2010 10:10:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 9/2/2010 Posted Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:00 am CDT
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