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3 MIN READ

Standing together, physicians welcome and lead change: AMA CEO

“The American health care system evolves at a pace that would not have seemed possible not too long ago,” AMA Executive Vice President and CEO James L. Madara, MD, said in his address Saturday at the 2015 AMA Interim Meeting.

Leadership
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3 MIN READ

5 Medicare payment policy updates you need to know for 2016

With the release of a nearly 1,360-page final rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the policies that will govern physicians’ Medicare payments in 2016. From the comprehensive list of updates, we’ve identified five particularly noteworthy changes you should know.

Medicare & Medicaid
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3 MIN READ

EHR meaningful use doomed unless Congress steps in

Congress just received an urgent call to action from physicians: Unless lawmakers intervene in the federal electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use program, physicians likely will abandon the program completely.

Medicare & Medicaid
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3 MIN READ

How to free up more than 1.5 hours in your work day

Preparing the necessary clinical information for a patient visit is time-consuming—and for physicians, time is precious. Leveraging the skills and training of practice staff can cut down on the amount of time you need to dedicate to patient rooming and discharge, allowing you more time for direct patient care.

Sustainability
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4 MIN READ

Framework evaluates top 20 EHRs—and they don't quite measure up

Electronic health record vendors must test their products for usability. A new comparative evaluation employs a framework with a 15-point scale to compare the design and testing processes for optimizing EHR usability. The top 20 products were reviewed.

Digital
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4 MIN READ

What physicians need to know about the new EHR regulations

New regulations outline requirements for the electronic health record meaningful use program for Medicare. Find out what physicans need to know about some of the most important changes that will affect a medical practice.

Medicare & Medicaid
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5 MIN READ

5 contracting keys for success in an alternative payment model

Physician practices across the country are weighing a variety of payment models presented by commercial payers. If you’re trying to determine whether these models, which are meant to improve patient care while lowering overall costs, will work for your practice and patients in the long run, don’t miss these key factors.

Payment & Delivery Models
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4 MIN READ

Supreme Court to weigh insurer payment transparency

Health insurers are fighting a state law that would create transparency for physicians and patients when it comes to health insurance payments. A case before the Supreme Court of the United States will determine whether a technicality will stand in the way of reform efforts and keep the insurance payment process cloaked in mystery.

Claims Processing
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4 MIN READ

Physicians teach their secrets to success

Finding time to develop new ways to improve practice efficiency takes away from time spent with patients. The AMA’s STEPS Forward website offers interactive educational modules that help physicians address practice challenges using proven solutions other physicians have developed and implemented in their own practices.

Sustainability