CokerConnection

The Value of an Employed Physician Co-Authored by Max Reiboldt, CPA, Managing Partner/CEO, and Aimee Barrett, Staff Consultant

Traditionally, the forces incentivizing and driving hospitals and physicians have been somewhat at odds, and realistically, they still are today. Nonetheless, the dynamics within the healthcare industry are compelling physicians and hospitals to work more closely and the number of those that are aligning is growing. Many hospitals have concluded that they must join with their physicians in specific alignment strategies which ultimately are realized in definitive structures. These structures run a full continuum, from the more autonomous relationships relative to managed care networks including IPAs, PHOs, etc., to the most fully-aligned model, which is employment.

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Performing a Space Capacity Analysis in the Medical Office By Christine Ingram, MS, Manager

One of the biggest challenges many of us have in the medical practice is the appropriate utilization of our clinical space. Maximizing our space and meeting the demands of growing volumes can often lead to frustration. When expanding our physical space is not an option, how do you then expand capacity?

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Thriving in a Slowing Economy By Yong Zhang, MAcc, Staff Consultant

The credit crisis and the tight debt market have brought the U.S. economy into a down turn. Many contend that the economy is either already in a recession or headed toward one. Healthcare is typically known as somewhat recession-proof; however, inevitably the slowing economy will have a number of negative effects on physician practices.

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Cardiology Workforce Issues By David Shaw, Principal/COO

The conventional wisdom at the end of the 20th century was that the United States was training too many specialists, including cardiologists. According to two new studies, the projected demand for cardiologists and cardiology inpatient services is expected to be greater than the average of all service lines.

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Credentialing-A First Priority-Not an Afterthought By Cindy Cox, MSM, CPC, Senior Consultant

Is your practice giving credentialing the attention it really needs or is it an afterthought? Unfortunately, many practices do not make credentialing a top priority. Some of the ramifications include claim denials, reduction in revenue, and a significant inflation in adjustment rates. In order to ensure this does not happen to your practice, you must make certain the process for credentialing is efficient and without loop holes.

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Sorting Through the Coding Conundrum By Jeannie Cagle, RN, BSN, CPC, Manager

This month, our coding question and answers focus on telephone consults and screening cardiovascular tests.

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April Legislative Briefing By Mark Reiboldt, Director of Special Projects

The key recent health policy question on most providers' minds is what will happen with the ten percent cuts to Medicare reimbursements scheduled to take place July 1. Since the beginning of 2008, policymakers and healthcare activists have been working toward a solution to prevent these cuts, as well as 5 percent cuts scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2009. These cuts are a part of Medicare's predeiction of 40 percent cuts in reimbursement to physicians by 2016.

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A Doctor's Dream Comes True....