Healthcare Business Management Association - HBMA
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March - April 2008 •
Volume 13, Issue 2
The Digital Medical Office of the Future
Taking Care of Business: The Benefits of EMR (Part 2 of 3)
By Mark Anderson, FHIMSS, CPHIMS
Making the transition to an electronic medical record (EMR) is a major undertaking for any physician office. It involves not only an expenditure of both human and financial capital, but it also requires a fundamental change in the way that a physician office conducts itself. This raises a very simple but profoundly important question: does EMR make sense from a business perspective? Click for more

It's All About the Puck
President's Message
By Ken Goodin, CHBME
As you know, in 2008 HBMA is celebrating 15 years of what some would consider unlikely success. Who would have thought that an association of competitors could thrive? Our founding leaders dared to believe that billing company owners and managers would come together to share ideas and thoughts, to learn from one another, to provide continuing education, to work with Congress and the Administration to educate and achieve "billing friendly" policies for our industry, to collaborate... Click for more

HBMA News
News from Around the World of HBMA
Billing Editors
It's Board-Member Nomination Time! Here's How You Can Join the Team; Certification: Do You Have It? GET IT! USE IT! DISPLAY IT!; In Memoriam, William Joseph DeZonia, Jr. Click for more

Who Owns the Data?
AMA and HBMA Collaborate on a Joint Paper
Billing Editors
When the good times roll, the smiles won't quit. But when the cracks appear, expressions turn grim and relationships can become difficult. That's why AMA and HBMA decided to collaborate on a topic of huge importance to physicians and their billing companies: Who owns the data? Click for more

Report on HBMA's Provider Enrollment Survey
CMS Testing Solution to Lengthy Backups
Billing Editors
As billing companies are painfully aware, Medicare has instructed its carriers to be more cautious and thoughtful in scrutinizing applications for physician enrollment. Unfortunately, while the goal of preventing fraud is laudable, the result has been that carriers have exercised a huge degree of latitude in interpreting and implementing that general guidance. Click for more

HBMA A/R Survey
HBMA News
By Jackie Willett, CHBME
HBMA recently conducted a survey to assess industry performance in accounts receivable (A/R) management. The survey was intended to collect and report data that will help HBMA members identify their days in A/R performance by client, as well as compare themselves to their peers. Click for more

Dollars & Sense
Shortening the Payment Cycle
By Mark Lieberthal, MSB
In any any business, the expression "cash is king" reigns supreme. After all, nothing short of cash will fund the needs of any corporation. Medical billing organizations, including physician-owned practices and clinics, are no exception. Pressure on cash flows from rising malpractice as well as employee labor and health insurance costs make timely collection of receivables more important than ever. Click for more

New Client Start-ups
Operations
By Shawn Keough-Hartz, CHBME
New clients—we all want them. We hope, dream, and pray for new clients. Many of us have similar goals: to grow our business through increased market share, to increase revenue, decrease expenses, and to spread out our fixed costs (overhead) amongst more clients, thereby creating increased profit margins. We need clients. Click for more

Tips from the Trenches
Compliance Advice from Your Fellow HBMA Members
Contemplating Compliance
Annually reviewing and updating your compliance plan are necessary tasks to ensure your processes are effective and compliant with changing regulations, rules, and guidelines. We've asked some of our members to share their hard-won expertise in operational compliance and reveal what really works. Each contributor has addressed one example of a compliance undertaking, how it is done, and how it benefits them and their client. Click for more

MAC Who?
Medicare Replaces Fiscal Intermediaries and Carriers
By Melody W. Mulaik, MSHS, CPC, CPC-H, RCC, PCS, FCS
In our industry, the one thing that we can count on is that there will always be change. One of the major changes currently underway is the implementation of Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). This article will discuss the formation and status of the MAC award process as well as the potential operational impact on billing companies. Click for more

24 Hours Are Plenty
Tips for Accomplishing More Everyday
By David F. Jakielo, CHBME
You hear it all over corporate America: "Do more with less." It's the 21st century buzz term for downsizing and reducing costs. It's also a recipe for stressing out the folks who remain and who are expected to absorb the additional work load. Click for more

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