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Practice Management Operations

Health Information Technology-Stimulus Incentive Funds

(see also Health Information Technology below)

WSMA Practice Operations Policies & Procedures

Topics (topic headings listed alphabetically)

WSMA Practice Operations – Tools, Policies & Procedures

The WSMA continues to hear from physicians and practice staff on their need for tools, policies and procedures to assist them with meeting their operational requirements. To help our members in addressing these issues, the WSMA is pleased to offer the WSMA Policies and Procedures Compendium.

These free materials are available to our members in a Word format so that you can customize these materials to your practice. All of items listed below are member password protected Word files.

For more information or questions, contact Michelle M. Lott, CPC at (206) 441-9762 or 1 (800) 552-0612 or via email.

The Health Care Economics Department of the Washington State Medical Association provides this information with the express understanding that the information is of a general character. You should not rely solely upon this information when dealing with business operational matters specific to your practice, and you should seek professional and legal advice from retained consultants and legal counsel as is appropriate.

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Closing a Medical Practice - handout

While there are no formally stated rules for closing a medical practice, there are several important items which should be considered and planned in advance. The list below (available as a download) is not comprehensive, but the Washington State Medical Association believes it will be helpful.

To download the list, click here [PDF].

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Coding and Office Staff Certification Guidance

To assist in the process of becoming a Certified Coder or Medical Billing Specialist, Click here [PDF].

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Electronic Health Records/Electronic Medical Records: Practical Guidance for Physicians and Managers

The WSMA receives frequent inquiries from physicians' offices regarding electronic medical records. To assist in that process, the WSMA has prepared the following guidance.

Click here [PDF] to download Electronic Health Records/Electronic Medical Records: Practical Guidance for Physicians and Managers.

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Email: Secured Services for Physicians' Practices

HealthyEmail is a physician outreach program that offers a sophisticated, secure email communication tool to all U.S. physicians and their office staff. The program also includes the promotion, education, and support necessary to ensure awareness, adoption, and satisfaction by the physician community. The goal is to diminish the complexity, provide a level of standardization, and address security risks associated with inappropriate email communications.

www.healthyemail.org

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HIPAA Transactions CD Training Tool: What you need to know

The new requirements imposed by HIPAA legislation have dramatically altered the process for submitting EDI claims, as well as your process for collecting health related data within your practice. So it is important that clinical and non-clinical and non-clinical staff understand those requirements and what steps you'll need to take to comply with HIPAA regulations.

To help you meet those goals, the WSMA, in collaboration with Dr. Joe Nichols of Care Delivery Consultants, is offering this comprehensive CD-based educational program. This CD will provide you with the necessary understanding of these important new concepts and functions.

WSMA and WSMGMA members can purchase this thorough and convenient-to-use CD for $225. The rate for non-members is $325. To download the [PDF] order form, click here, or contact Michelle Lott at the WSMA at (206)-441-9762 or via e-mail at mml@wsma.org.

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Internal Billing Audit for Physicians' Practices

Through a cooperative effort with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the AMA's Private Sector Advocacy has developed this brochure. It encourages physicians and their office staff to carefully examine claims that are submitted to health plans for inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the submission and payment processes.

To download, click here. [PDF]

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Healthcare Information and Management Systems Certification

This noncredit certificate program is designed to meet the educational needs of the entry to mid-level IT staff member. The program includes courses that effectively integrate industry expertise with cutting edge research and was developed in collaboration with the University of Connecticut College of Continuing Studies, the School of Business Administration and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

The entire certificate program is offered online to accommodate the busy schedules of working adults.

For more information on the Healthcare IT Certification Program. Click here.

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Medicare Compliance Guidance for Small Practices

Medicare is taking strong action to combat fraud and abuse of the system in key areas. In an effort to assist small practices with this task the Department of Health and Human Services has published compliance guidance for small practices.

For the Compliance Guidance, click here. (http://oig.hhs.gov/authorities/docs/physician.pdf)

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Pay For Performance (P4P) Programs: Useful References and Websites

American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org/ama

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
www.cms.hhs.gov

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) www.jcaho.org

Leapfrog Group
www.leapfroggroup.org/leapfrog_compendium

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
www.medpac.gov

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Physician Compensation

The WSMA periodically receives inquiries from physicians regarding compensation levels. To assist in that process, the WSMA has prepared the following list of resources.

Caution should be exercised when attempting to use any such data. One key question to consider: Are the data representative? Findings drawn from a survey with wide geographic sampling may not be representative of actual local marketplace conditions. For example, a national survey may not have received an ample number of responses to be truly representative of conditions in a defined geographic area, be that a multi-state region, a particular state, or areas within a state.

Data are also time-sensitive, that is, the older the data, the higher the potential that the data may not be representative of current economic conditions.

Users of such data should always consider local marketplace dynamics as a primary economic influence, and use data as a guide rather than as absolute measures.

For more information on Physician Compensation, click here. [PDF]

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Practice Informatics Resources for Physicians' Practices

Click here to download resources.

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Prescriptions – Tamper Resistant Paper/Pads

Starting July 1, 2010, all prescriptions written in Washington state must be on Washington state Board of Pharmacy approved tamper-resistant prescription paper or pads (TRPP).

Links:

Washington State Board of Pharmacy

 

 

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University of Washington Health Informatics and Health Information Management Certification and Degree Programs

The University of Washington offers several programs for individuals seeking to work with health information management, health data systems and patient records in the health care industry and is designed to develop skills necessary to administer information technology systems in the health care environment. Certificate recipients are eligible to take the American Health Information Management Association national certifying examination. The Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Health Information Management (HIHIM), prepares students for the Registered Health Information Administrator (R.H.I.A.) national certifying examination of the American Health Information Management Association.

For more information on the UW Certificate Program in Health Informatics and Health Information Management. Click here.

For more information on the UW Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Health Information Management (HIHIM). Click here.

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