**************************************************************************** PRACTICE GUARDIAN NEWS... April 1, 1999 ***************************************************************************** ³For Health Care Practitioners, Professionals, Practice Managers and Manufacturers" ******************************************************************************* Published and Written by Michael J. Berry, Consultant/Liaison & Best Selling Author of "Collections Made Easy!² Free - Subscribe today! ........mjbconsult@yahoo.com Forward a copy to a friend or associate.... ******************************************************************************* NEW! HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS AND SERVICE REVIEWS Informative product and service reviews with added discounts and practice incentives from healthcare¹s best. -Subscribe today to Practice Guardian Healthcare Reviews! $25 yearly membership. ORDER TODAY! http://www.monti.net/~michael/order.html ******************************************************************************* INDEX ****************************************************************** TOP CHOICE REVIEWS.... Medical Group Management Association The Pocket Guide to Clinical Coding MECQA - Healthcare Provide Report- TOP PRODUCT - O.S.O.M. Strep A test SPECIAL FEATURE Healthcare Financial Management Association. ASSOCIATION TOP CHOICES Intregrated Health Association - Northwest Physician Magazine TOP HEALTH CARE WWW. SITES MD Sites Dental Site Medical/Dental Site CLASSIFIEDS SUBCRIBE TO PRACTICE GUARDIAN NEWS UNSCRIBE ******************************************************************** TOP CHOICE Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) http://www.mgma.com The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) stands alone as the number one resource for practice management. If you are looking for quality and informative health care answers on the internet, look no farther than the new MGMA web site. The new and improve site is designed for easy navigation and quick reference. The new "Practice Solutions Section" offers columns on practice management, recruitment, legislation news, integration/mergers, information technology, human resources, governance and leadership and general management from leading professionals in the industry. A complete site search can also direct you to all available services and resources. A new product, ICON (Interactive Career Opportunity Network), is the latest addition to the MGMA page offering physician recruitment information and resources. If you are looking for a new practitioner this site can ease the search process, solve your current needs and reduce costs. The site offers endless informative and educational resources including access to the MGMA Library for quick answers to your most pressing question(s) by email, up-to-date listings on all training and seminars in your area , expert advice and on-site consultation, an upcoming on-line course offering, and immediate updates on health care government regulations. The resource guide is an excellent source for books, software and publications to meet your every need. Recommendations to other world wide web sites and health care vendors are also available. Z-Mail is the latest way to keep your practice informed. Join a wide variety of on-line discussion forums and email discussion lists to receive information on speciality societies, general announcements, government healthcare updates, PSPA software and up-in-coming events. In all, you can reduce your time spent on the internet by visiting this site. It offers a unique information resource for all health care professionals and practitioners. For more information on membership, credentialing, existing programs and opportunities contact the MGMA Service Center toll-free at 1-888-608-5602. ********************************************************************** Rebel Records Inc. M. Trayser Dunaway, MD. Pocket Guide to Clinical Coding. http://www.rebrecords.com Are you looking for a quick E&M coding guide? You might want to pick up a copy of M. Trayser Dunaway, MD, (4 X 7), ³Pocket Guide to Clinical Coding.² The guide is practical, inexpensive and one of the best practice management picks for 1999. Coding is never easy. Learning rules and regulations are crucial to your success and maximizing your reimbursements. This guide is an excellent information source for any practitioner who needs a quick reference. It also corresponds to all recent HCFA changes and regulation standards. The guide primarily focuses on how coding works, risk assessments, modifiers, management option and medical decision making tables, Evaluation and management, CPT, multi and single system exams. It contains fill in the blank sections for easy documentation and overall management. The new edition also includes a hospital coding primer, of interest to hospitals and physicians. The key to increasing reimbursements is using the right code. Using the wrong code can result in loss of thousands of dollars even on a single procedure. This easy to use guide can not only be carried in your lab coat but can provide peace of mind when evaluating and diagnosing your patient. Inexpensive and reliable the 1999 edition is available for $14.75 (shipping and handling are included if payment is sent with order). Discounts are available for associations, groups, health systems or anyone looking to purchase more than ten copies. The Pocket Guide to Clinical Coding can be purchased directly from Doctor Dunaway at (803) 425-8555 or by visiting his web site at http://www.rebrecords.com *************************************************************************** MECQA Article Release Date: April 1, 1999 MECQA Healthcare Provider Rating Reports Beginning April 1, 1999 MECQA (Medical Cost and Quality Assistance) adds Healthcare Provider Rating Reports to its web site. Consumers are asked to fill out a Patient Satisfaction Survey on their dentists, physicians,outpatient facilities, hospitals or insurance companies, and in return are given a listing of the top 25 providers in their State. After 1000 surveys are collected in a State, consumers will be given the option to further refine their queries by specialty group (e.g., Family Practice,Orthopedics, etc ). It is recommended that new users viewing reports select the State of Arizona, where most of the surveys have been submitted. MECQA gives Employer Groups enhanced evaluation tools to better understand the quality of services purchased from healthcare providers. Employee comments and feedback regarding quality of care issues can be quantified on MECQA, enabling benefit managers to respond with information and recommendations rather than speculation. For example, a patient who is unhappy with a long waiting period at their doctor s office can use the Provider Rating Report to find a doctor with better waiting time survey results. Also, the benefit manager can ask for more responsive services, negotiate for lower premiums or claim penalties for sub-standard care. MECQA also provides medical and dental benchmark fees for thousands of procedures, primarily based on Medicare reimbursement rates. These discounted rates are what insurance companies use to negotiate hospital and physician fees. If cost is important to you, this online feature is an easy way to learn about competitive rates by code, category or description. Several other MECQA educational features are just a click away. Users can scroll through provider profiles, view feedback in the form of comparative columnar and graphical reports, review comments of patients regarding their providers, look up related definitions, use the Patient and Provider Fee Agreement Form, and much more. Harvard Business School Press recently published the book Net Worth, by authors John Hagel, III and Marc Singer, which highlights the internet phenomenon of infomediary , especially the urgent need for consumer healthcare information, and names MECQA as a popular site for satisfying that need. If there is a need to better understand these issues, connect to the cost and quality realities of healthcare at http://www.mecqa.com . Benefit consultants interested in representing MECQA to their clients are asked to contact the VP of Sales at sales@mecqa.com. ****************************************************************************** It's that time of year again - Strep throat season is in full swing.  Group A Streptococcus is one of the most important causes of acute upper respiratory tract infection.  As with any illness, early diagnosis and treatment is a must in order to reduce the severity of symptoms and further complications for the patient.  For physicians, conventional identification procedures for Group A from throat swabs involved the isolation and subsequent identification of viable pathogens by techniques that require 24 to 48 hours or longer. Not any more.  Introducing the new O.S.O.M. Strep A test, which detects either viable or nonviable organisms directly from throat swabs, providing results within 5 minutes.  With ratings of 96% for sensitivity and 98% specificity, this test is very accurate.  As a CLIA '88 Waived test, it can be used in any practice.  With its convenient compact packaging allowing you to run 50 tests, including +/- controls and a built in workstation, room temperature storage and a two color test results, this Strep A rapid test is a must!  And for P.G.N.viewers, this kit is discounted to $90 per kit (only $1.80 per test!).  For more information, please visit http://www.adi-medical.com  To receive your discounted rate, please order on-line at https://www.adi-medical.com/Secure/order_online_pgn.htm or call 1-800-730-0018 and ask for Tom Tullio (mention this ad.) ************************************************************************ SPECIAL FEATURE ************************************************************************ Healthcare Financial Management Association (HCFMA) http://hfma.org The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is the nation's leading personal membership organization for more than 35,000 financial management professionals employed by hospitals, integrated delivery systems, long-term and ambulatory care facilities, managed care organizations, medical group practices, public accounting and consulting firms, insurance companies, government agencies, and other healthcare organizations. HFMA celebrated its 50th anniversary on September 30, 1996.  HFMA was initially established as the American Association of Hospital Accountants by 16 hospital accountants who recognized the need for a unique membership organization to address the needs of their profession.  Over the years the Association's membership has evolved to reflect the healthcare industry's diversity.  Today members' positions include chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller, patient accounts manager, accountant, information management specialist, consultant, and other professionals who seek excellence in the financial management of integrated health systems and other healthcare organizations. HFMA, through its chapters, regions, and National office, helps members meet challenges by providing professional development opportunities, influencing healthcare policy, and communicating information and technical data. Centering on Members Upon joining HFMA, members automatically become a member of one of 70 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico.  Chapter involvement provides members with local education programs and leadership opportunities.  Each chapter has its own elected officers and directors.  The average chapter serves 400 members, with actual sizes ranging from 40 members to 1,600 members.   Nationally, an elected 17-member Board of Directors and an elected and appointed group of 27 members form councils and committees to provide guidance on timely issues, review Association programs, and collect feedback from members. The Managed Care Forum, Chief Financial Officers Forum, Compliance Officers Forum, and Patient Financial Services Forum are member-centered and member-driven groups, with leadership roles taken by a forum chairman and advisory group.  These forums provide their members with specialized education, information, regulatory updates, and opportunities for discussing specific concerns. Offering Responsive Education Education is HFMA's focal point.  HFMA chapters, regions, and the National office offer hundreds of educational programs each year.  Subjects include current financial management issues in integrated delivery systems, managed care, medical group practice management, patient accounts management, information systems, and more. HFMA's educational programs give financial management professionals the opportunity to update skills and knowledge, meet colleagues, and professionally renew themselves.  Education programs are delivered in a variety of formats, including one, two, and three day seminars, hour-and-a-half audio teleconferences, audio cassettes, and self-study programs.  HFMA's largest educational event is the Annual National Institute, held each June, which provides more than 2,000 healthcare professionals with the opportunity to attend more than 80 sessions. HFMA fosters personal and career growth by offering certification in accounting and finance, managed care, and patient financial services.  More than 2,000 members have earned these certifications, which are recognized as standards of excellence in the industry. Representing the Profession HFMA has created a source for the information, data, and knowledge that healthcare finance managers need to be successful in their careers.  Called the HFMA  Knowledge Network®, this service gives immediate access to a staff of well-trained, qualified healthcare finance experts.  These staff members act as consultants, fact finders, and resource navigators to HFMA members.  The Knowledge Network® can be accessed by calling (800)252-HFMA, and selecting option 3, or through HFMA¹s Web site www.hfma.org. HFMA produces technical summaries, position statements, and staff analysis; builds coalitions with other healthcare organizations; and strives to educate a broad spectrum of policy makers. Additionally, HFMA provides accounting and financial reporting guidance.  HFMA's Principles and Practices Board, consisting of recognized leaders in the field, formulates in-depth statements for the healthcare community about financial management practices and accounting principles. Communicating Information HFMA addresses information and communication needs of members through both print and electronic media.  Healthcare Financial Management (HFM) is the peer-reviewed monthly magazine of the Association and the industry's principal publication devoted to financial management issues.  HFMA, along with McGraw-Hill Healthcare Education Group (formerly Irwin Professional Publishing), publishes reference books, textbooks, and study guides. Other publications include newsletters for specific member groups such as Patient Accounts, for business office and patient financial services professionals, and  Notes from National, for chapter volunteers and leadership.  HFMA Express News covers the top healthcare financial management news and analysis each week.  The newsletter is in a convenient, two-page format, and is delivered by fax or e-mail to subscribers. In addition, HFMA members can chat with their colleagues nationwide, participate in live online discussions and get their questions answered by the HFMA Knowledge Network® experts, all with just a few keystrokes.  These services are available through HFMA=s Web site www.hfma.org. Studying the Industry Healthcare executives look to HFMA to provide information concerning the future of the profession.  The Association conducts studies that encompass both members and non-member professionals and examines such issues as compensation and performance management programs, scope of job responsibilities, and job migration trends. HFMA's New Subsidiary Offers Training HFMA rolled out a new subsidiary in 1998-HFMA Learning Solutions, Inc. ®.This new company combines instructional design expertise with HFMA technical knowledge to create standard and custom learning programs. For More Information In addition to the National office in Westchester, Illinois, HFMA has an office in Washington, D.C., located at 1301 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20036. Media interested in more information should contact Terry Arya at (800)252-HFMA (4362), ext. 362 or via e-mail tarya@hfma.org.  Other inquiries regarding HFMA membership should be directed to (800)252-HFMA (4362), press option 2. ****************************************************************** THE INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION (IHA) http://www.iha.org The Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) is a 32-member, statewide leadership group of California health plans, physician groups, and healthcare systems, plus At Large members from the academic, business/purchaser, and consumer sectors. IHA is interested in policy development, public dialogue, and special projects associated with the continuing evolution of integrated health care and managed care. IHA¹s web site (http://www.iha.org) provides a variety of different content areas. Most of IHA¹s policy positions regarding Medicare risk financing, graduate medical education, risk adjustment, and external review of health plan denials are posted on the site (http://www.iha.org/polpos.htm) and updated regularly. Information on major IHA reports on a proposed new regulatory framework for managed care (http://www.iha.org/regfrmw.htm) and on whether managed care requires a new code of ethics http://www.iha.org/hopcrtc.htm is included on the site, as is a report on various Consumer Feedback Loopsm projects (http://www.iha.org/feed.htm). A popular part of the site is a listing of conferences across the country dealing with integrated health care and managed care http://www.iha.org/conf.htm including price and contact information. IHA lists a variety of web links http://www.iha.org/links.htm, both for its members and for other health care sites of interests and offers visitors an opportunity to register in the guest book http://www.iha.org/guest.htm and request a complimentary copy of IHA¹s educational packet on managed care. For more information, contact the site or Beau Carter, IHA Executive Director, at 45 Quail Court, Suite 302, Walnut Creek, CA 94596,telephone (925) 746-5100 and e-mail bcarter@iha.org. ******************************************************************************* Northwest Physicians Magazine. http://www.nwphysician.com Northwest Physician Magazine is a quarterly publication read by 30,000 physicians, top-level health care decision makers in hospitals, clinics,and health organizations as well as medical suppliers and services vendors throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. These health care professionals look forward to articles written by experts in their field on a wide range of topics to include: practice management, risk management, health care reform, managed care, medical ethics, law and medicine, finance and investment, regional healthcare legislation, physician recruitment and career opportunities and profiles on medical personalities and organizations In print since 1994, this regional publication is considered a 'must read' for physicians and their support staff. Subscribing to Northwest Physician Magazine is only $26.95 a year and can be done by calling 1-800-697-6241 or emailing at md@nwphysician.com. ******************************************************************************* TOP HEALTH CARE MD SITES ****************************************************************************** Health Seek.com http://www.healthseek.com Award winning health care community site for profesionals, patients and consumers. Highlights the best health care sites on the internet..Top rated site well worth your next visit. ******************************************************************************* Drug InfoNet http://www.druginfonet.com/ Comprehensive drug information site Features up to date pharmaceutical releases and quality www. resources. A must for any practitioner, consumer or researcher. ******************************************************************************* .MD www.domains.md Unique healthcare internet service which offers practitioners and professionals the opportunity to replace your existing internet address (.com .net etc) with the new .md cyber domain Improve your image and professional identity on the internet. ******************************************************************************* TOP DENTAL SITES ******************************************************************************* Dental Telecommunications Network http://biz.onramp.net/Den-Tel-Net/ Clinical dental site for all specialities with excellent articles and professional resources. Features current dental news, medical and dental search and discussion board. Worth your next visit on the internet. ******************************************************************************* Dental Cyberweb http://www.netsville.com/dental-web/ Top rated site with a lot to offer. Informative directory designed to exchange clinical information, techniques and resources worldwide. Site created by Doctor Robert Doty. ******************************************************************************* TOP MEDICAL DENTAL SITE ****************************************************************************** Healthlink.Net http://www.healthlinks.net/ Top rated and well designed professional directory. Excellent links to health care practitioners, professionals and vendors. Offers a variety of categories to meet your internet needs. ******************************************************************************* RECOMMENDED NEWSLETTERS & PUBLICATIONS ********************************************************* ³In Confidence² Published Bimonthly by: American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Questions contact: Ms. Jennifer Carpenter. RRA Professional Practice 312-787-2672 919 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1400 Chicago, Illinois 60611-1683 Yearly Subscription: $90 ($75 with membership) Focus Point: Health Information, Patient Privacy & Information System Security http://www.ahima.org ³The Health Care Collector² Published Monthly by: Aspen Publishers Questions contact: Editor, Gene Lass 414-796-1380 FAX 414-796-1552 email- gene.lass@aspen.publ.com 205 Bishop¹s Way Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005 Yearly Subscription: $197 Focus Point: Collections ³The Credit Connection² Published Quarterly by: Wisconsin Clinic Credit Managers Association (WCCMA) Questions Contact: Support Services - Deen Clinic Ms. Teresa Addison, Editor 608-250-1121 1808 W. Beltline Highway Madison, Wisconsin 53725 Yearly Subscription: $35 Focus Point: Medical Collections, Accounts Receivables, Federal & State Regulations. ³American Medical News² Published weekly by: American Medical Association (A.M.A.) Questions contact: A.M.News Staff 312-464-4429 515 North State Street Chicago, Illinois 60610 Yearly Subscription: $99 (Free with AMA Membership) Focus Point: All Medical/Socioecomonic Issues. ³Physican¹s Marketing & Management² Published monthly by: American Health Consultants Inc. Questions contact: Ms. Lisa Gandy Wargo Managing Editor, 404-282-7436 3525 Piedmont Road N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30305 Yearly Subscription: $209 ($259 for Institutions) Focus Point: Medical Management ************************************ National Associations ************************************ American Medical Association (A.M.A.) 515 North State Street Chicago, Illinois 06010 (312) 464-5000 http://www.ama-assn.org American Dental Association 211 East Chicago Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611 (312) 440-2500 http://www.ada.org Medical Group Management Association 106 Inverness Terrace East Englewood, CO 80112-5306 (303) 799-1111 FAX (303) 643-4427 http://www.mgma.com American Academy of Pediatrics P.O. Box 927 Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60009 (847) 228-5005 http://www.aap.org American Academy of Family Physicians 8880 Ward Parkway Kansas City, Missouri 64114 (816) 333-9700 http://www.aafp.org ******************************************************************************* PRACTICE GUARDIAN CLASSIFIEDS ************************************************************************* CRITICAL CARE SYSTEMS http://members.aol.com/jeffmarx/CCS/info.html Universal Vital Signs Interface Box automatically collects and deciphers data from a variety of bedside monitoring instruments made by various manufacturers(invasive and non-invasive cardiac monitors, respirators, infusion pumps,etc.) Delivers data to hospital information systems (its own PC software or software already in use). Has FDA approval to market. Company is in financial distress, looking to sell its technology (and engineer) to a major player. ****************************************************************** Quit Wasting Your Time! You KNOW Ezines are where you need your ads. But getting all the info you need about rates, circulation, deadlines, rules, payments, takes SO much time! The Directory of Ezines is your solution. Finally, everything you need to place your ads where they REALLY work. It's quick, it's easy, it's up-to-date and it's all immediately accessible! Go to: http://www.lifestylespub.com ***************************************************************************** Visit Sunset Mall For The Best Shopping Bargains ! http://www.sunsetmall.ca ******************************************************************************* Health Care Consulting Tune up your practice for the Millenium. On site evaluations for collections, accounts receivables and patient relations from the best selling author of ³Collections Made Easy!² email today for more information mjbconsult@statcity.com ******************************************************************************* PRACTICE GUARDIAN NEWS Practice Guardian News is published monthly by Michael J. Berry, Consultant, 742 E. Canary Lane, Monticello, Indiana 47960. Send all inquiries to Mr. Michael J. Berry, Consultant & Author at (219) 583-4234/FAX (219) 583-3015/E-Mail mjbconsult@email.com Yearly individual memberships $25. The subjects and written examples in this newsletter are for general use only. The publisher and author do not accept any responsibility or liability in regards to misuse or misinterpretation. A qualified attorney should be consulted in all matters concerning practice management. Unscribe mjbconsult@statcity.com Copyright 1999, Michael J. Berry, Consultant. *******************************************************************************