Practice Management

Certain private payers are denying codes for prostate and renal biopsy, and strong documentation will be required to ensure you get paid for your services.

Urology Times looks back on the top health policy and practice management stories of 2014, including coverage of the Affordable Care Act and changes in reimbursement.

There is no specific limit to the number of times you can charge a –59 modifier. However, what and how you charge for multiple stones on the same side of the urinary tract is confusing, say Ray Painter, MD, and Mark Painter in their "Coding Q&A" column.

If your estate is substantial and you're concerned about the federal estate tax bill your heirs will pay, there's a way you might be able to use your house to remedy the situation. It may be as simple as giving away your home or as complex as knowing the mechanics of an estate-planning tool called a qualified personal residence trust.

In this article, Robert A. Dowling, MD, discusses some of the benefits, challenges, and evidence surrounding the patient portal.

Other products discussed in this article include a prosthesis for underactive bladder, a prostate cancer test, and an erectile dysfunction drug.

The 529 plan allows you to remove wealth from your estate while you steadily accumulate assets to help educate children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and even yourself, if you're planning to go back to college.

In this article, Ray Painter, MD, and Mark Painter provide some facts about the 2015 Medicare fee schedule and share some insights on how its changes will impact your practice in the New Year.

The claim alleged negligence in injuring the right ureter with a retractor during the original operation, and also claimed that the physicians were negligent in opening the bladder when removing part of the left ureter without performing a biopsy first.

Other products featured include a 16-slice CT scanner, new generic testosterone gel, prostate cancer risk calculator, and more.

As the health care market matures, consolidation will occur throughout the system, including within medical groups, says Steven M. Berkowitz, MD.

As owner and president of Shift Happens, a Chicago-based consulting firm, James Feldman is not a physician. But he learned some valuable, if not difficult, lessons about practicing medicine from his physician father.

A panel comprised of a highly experienced health care consultant and two group practice leaders finds that large group practices are likely to be one of the few entities allowing urologists or other specialists a refuge from the current chaos in the American health care system.

In this article, Robert A. Dowling, MD, reviews the challenges of implementing active surveillance in a practice as well as ways to surmount these obstacles.

Other cases discussed in this installment of "Malpractice Consult" include chronic testicular pain following vasectomy and a claim that a spinal tumor should have been found during treatment for post-vasectomy urinary problems.

In this "Coding Q&A" column, Ray Painter, MD, and Mark Painter answer several reader questions involving billing for multiple stones, including replacements for the –59 modifier, use of CPT code 50590, and NCCI guidelines and multiple stones.

In this article, Robert A. Dowling, MD, discusses what you need to know about EHRs and patient safety.

When faced with the difficult prospect of changing one’s normal style of living, the major factors to consider are age, interests, finances, and of course, health issues and concerns.

Other products featured include a testosterone gel, exercise program to strengthen male pelvic muscles, and a book about prostate cancer diagnosis and management.

In this article, Robert A. Dowling, MD, discusses practical aspects of a work flow analysis in your office, including its relationship with health information technology and some helpful resources and tools.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed changes to Medicare payment cover the Physician Quality Reporting System, value-based payment modification, potential relative value unit changes, targeted codes, and a change in global for future years, among other items.

When considering purchase of a disability insurance policy, it’s important to have an exact understanding of the language being used in the policy.

In malpractice cases that involve the occurrence of a known complication during a procedure, the issues usually raised are informed consent for the procedure and the timely recognition and appropriate treatment of the complication.

Other questions addressed in this installment of "Coding Q&A" include understanding the Physician Quality Reporting System and avoiding being denied payment for lab tests based on medical necessity.

By their very nature, financial markets rise and fall constantly, with an ever-present potential for gain or loss. The key is to have a plan in place in advance of large market selloffs or large market increases.