issue07-2015

Feature | Learn to walk the compliance tightrope, or prepare to pay significant penalties. Ultimately, compliance will improve your processes, safeguard you from trouble, protect your patients and their data, reduce your legal exposure, and help you sleep better at night.

Practice Central | You won’t be thrown in prison if your documentation is simply sloppy and spotty as opposed to criminally misleading, but the Feds can still make your life extremely difficult and demand enough in recoupments to put you out of business. To fly under the government’s radar, pay close attention to your documentation.

Practice Central | Investing in your employees is more than cutting a paycheck. It requires devoting time, energy, and thought into what you want them to do. If they are not performing the way you envisioned, you have a part in that equation.

Coding Keys | Shortcuts and cheat sheets are appealing—and they can be helpful—but there is no substitute for a thorough understanding of ICD-10. If you take the time to get proper training, you can become fluent before the October 1, 2015, implementation date.

Money Management | Since few compliance programs come with provisions to help offset their cost, tax laws are often the only avenue of potential savings. Grasp onto these limited opportunities to soften the blow where you can.