Posts by Morgan Parker
Government Shutdown and CMS
Last week, I received an email from a long-term practice asking my thoughts on the government shutdown. In a nutshell, here is what is said: Dr. _____ is concerned about the Medicare shut down and what we should do to prepare in regard to payments. Do you have any suggestions on this? Do we get money up…
Read MoreAnother Year, Another Raise?
Last week I spoke with an office manager about a long term employee (4 years- yes, that’s long term now. . . ) who was “up for a raise.” The manager opened the conversation by describing the employee’s recent outburst during a staff meeting where she stormed out of the office. The cause of the outburst; the practice recently moved…
Read MoreNot All are Keen to Modern Technology
Seems like an obvious statement, right? But it’s true and could be negatively affecting your schedule and your patients’ trust. For years now we have been utilizing automated systems for patient reminders, newsletters, and other practice communications and it has been a tremendous help. For one, automatic reminders have freed up staff to care for patients…
Read MorePayer Related Changes and Updates that Can Negatively Affect your Income
Recently, a few of my practices have experienced major delays in payment due to payer system changes and updates. To be specific, one that had been billing under an individual NPI (for ten plus years) to Blue Cross learned that this was no longer acceptable and had to be changed to the group number. Shortly after receiving this information…
Read MoreMaking Less by Working More
The insurance “game” has ever changing “rules” and is more and more difficult to play… well, play well. There are no “cheats” to get to the next level. The only certainty in dealing with insurance carriers is clearly stated while you wait on hold; “Approval is not a guarantee of payment.” Years ago (almost a…
Read MoreNarrow Your Cash Offerings
Have you ever visited a DSW Shoe Store or a restaurant with a nine page menu and felt overwhelmed by too many options? Me too. Podiatrists may also be providing patients with too many options. Last week I was creating an in-office dispensing training for a multiple provider practice, and I asked the manager to take a…
Read MoreNew Hire Warning Signs
I previously wrote a Pro Tip about not allowing employees to overstay their welcome (referring to “golf carts that came with the house” – if you don’t know what that means go back and give it a read or listen to the webinar recording from last week “Pro Tip Favorites”). Today, I’m writing about the opposite, new hire warning signs,…
Read MorePatient Education
Patients retain approximately 25% of what you (doctors) tell them. Don’t take it personally, it’s probably not your fault (although you go through the heel pain spiel so many times a week, your delivery may begin to resemble Ben Stein’s teaching in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). So, how do we get our patients to retain more of…
Read MoreCheck Patient Statements
In recent meetings with practices and billers, the need to review patient statements before they are mailed or emailed have become increasingly evident. With insurance companies reimbursing less and rejecting and denying more (for a plethora of absurd reasons), it is imperative that we make sure the balance our patients are seeing as their responsibility, actually is. What…
Read MoreBandaids Don’t Fix Bunions
My husband and I just bought a new house (not new, but new to us) and were excited to get settled and make a few cosmetic changes. For those who know me personally you probably guessed that painting was high on my list. For those who don’t, let’s just say that when I sell a home…
Read More