August 26th 2024
"Generative AI technologies may play a valuable role in providing prompt, accurate responses to routine patient questions––potentially alleviating patients' concerns while freeing up clinic time and resources to address other complex tasks," says Michael Scott, MD.
Urologists protest CMS cuts to in-office imaging fees
December 1st 2006Washington-Changes in federal policy that could hinder urologists' ability to provide in-office imaging services to patients appear to be on the way, threatening to toss another punch at physicians already confronting hefty Medicare fee schedule reductions in 2007.
Take control of your accounts receivable
December 1st 2006Managers and the billing departments of most urology practices strive to get the money off the books and into the bank, but managing accounts receivable continues to be a daunting task that absorbs a fair amount of resources. This article offers a few practical tips that will make managing accounts receivable a lot easier.
Reimbursement cuts, malpractice top urologists' concerns
December 1st 2006National Report-With another year of Medicare payment cuts looming in 2007, declining reimbursement is no surprise as the number one current concern among practicing urologists, according to an exclusive survey from Urology Times and its sister publication, Contemporary Urology. Changes in reimbursement are followed closely by malpractice, office overhead, pay for performance, and increasing regulations as the top five issues that urologists are extremely or very concerned about, the first State of the Specialty survey found.
Costs and profits: What urologists need to know
November 1st 2006It is not enough to maintain control over the profitability of your practice. In order to gain control, you need to know the cost of each procedure you perform in the office, the reimbursement from each of your payers, and the profit margin for each service you offer your patients.
CMS proposes cuts to urology procedures performed in ASCs
October 1st 2006Washington-On Aug. 8, 2006, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a proposal to reform the Medicare ambulatory surgical center payment system beginning Jan. 1, 2008, and the news for urology appears to be mixed.
Surgeon's specialty influences sling outcomes
August 1st 2006Atlanta-Results of a Medicare claims analysis of women undergoing a sling procedure for stress urinary incontinence have revealed a significant variation between gynecologists and urologists in their approach to patient evaluation and the outcomes after surgery. However, further study is needed to understand the factors underlying those differences, researchers from UCLA said at the AUA annual meeting here.
Tenet Healthcare, federal agencies reach settlement
July 20th 2006Tenet Healthcare Corp. has reached a broad settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies following investigations into Tenet's receipt of certain Medicare outlier payments before 2003, physician financial arrangements, and Medicare coding issues.
CMS offers a carrot to physicians implementing EHRs
July 1st 2006Washington-Physicians who embrace a new federal initiative to establish a uniform system of interoperable electronic health records will be eligible for increased payments under the pay for performance policies being established at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Penile prosthesis patients tend to be older than before
June 1st 2006Atlanta-The population of patients being treated with a penile prosthesis for erectile dysfunction is evolving, with the average patient now being older and having more medical comorbidities compared with less than 20 years ago, according to the results of a nationwide epidemiologic study reported at the annual AUA meeting here.