Save the dates for webinars covering hot topics in healthcare |
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Don't miss these upcoming live webinars focusing on hot topics in healthcare!
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021; 12-1pm
Lunch with the Coder: ICD-10 updates for 2022
This year’s ICD-10 diagnostic codes used for discharges and patient encounters are valid only through Sept. 30, 2021. Don't miss this special education opportunity to learn the latest on ICD-10 updates for 2022 that begin soon. Attendees will:
- get official coding guideline updates for fiscal year 2022
- learn about key 2022 coding changes
Presenter: Mary Mallory, CEMC, risk coding education manager, The Physician Alliance
Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021; 8-9am
What practices need to know about upcoming changes to telehealth policies
The Covid-19 pandemic pushed many practices to implement telehealth services for patient care. Practice management and patient care continue to be impacted by greater access and expanded usage of telehealth, changes to regulations, insurance payment policies and patient interests. Attendees will gain valuable information on:
- history of telehealth and how legislative changes to telehealth may affect practices
- temporary changes during the pandemic verses permanent changes that will continue to allow telehealth to evolve
- lessons learned from practices’ quick implementation of telehealth during the pandemic, concerns about unsecure platform usage and more
- Q&A
Presenter: Lori-Ann Rickard, founder and attorney, Rickard & Associates
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021; 12-1pm (Register)
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021; 12-1pm (Register)
Population Health & Quality webinar
Join this informative care management webinar to:
- gain an understanding of quality metrics related to chronic conditions
- understand updates related to BCBSM quality programs and/or initiatives
- gain an understanding of performance reporting and performance improvement
Presenters: Sharon Kraydich, RN, BSN, director of quality and utilization; Ashley Shreve, director of practice transformation, The Physician Alliance
Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021; 12-1pm
Lunch with the Coder: 2022 CPT Coding Updates
CPT coding updates start January 1, 2022. Attend this webinar to learn the latest CPT updates and be prepared for the new year.
Presenter: Mary Mallory, CEMC, risk coding education manager, The Physician Alliance
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New Affiliate Partner offers wealth management services
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The Affiliate Partners program offers a variety of products and services to TPA members. Discounted prices and special offers help practices improve business performance while reducing overhead costs. Services, such as financial planning and physician mortgage program, also support personal needs.
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Cyber Liability Insurance
Legal Services
Medical Answering Service
Medical Debt Collection
Medical Malpractice Insurance
Mortgage & Banking Services
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Office Supplies & Solutions
Payroll/HR Services
Practice Marketing Services
Telephone Solutions and Services
Vaccine Purchasing Program
Wealth Management
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Improving 'appropriate pharyngitis testing in children' metric |
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Pharyngitis (strep throat) is a prominent cause of outpatient care in children. This viral or bacterial infection is a common diagnosis among children 5-15 years old and yet rare in children less than 3 years old. With viral pharyngitis, cases resolve without needing antibiotic treatment.
As a quality improvement measure, The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) encourages appropriate testing for children ages 3 and up with a diagnosis of pharyngitis. This is also a quality metric with room for improvement among TPA primary care physicians. With viruses being the common cause of strep throat in all ages, proper testing would help reduce unnecessary over-prescribing of and use of antibiotics in children.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “pharyngitis causes 11 million pediatric ambulatory care visits annually and group A Streptococcus(GAS) is the etiology in only 15% to 37% of those visits.” And “antibiotic overuse for pharyngitis, which can promote the development of antibiotic resistance, may result from non-indicated GAS pharyngitis testing in patients who are likely colonized with but not infected with group A Streptococcus.”
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4 considerations for medical benefit renewals |
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Practices that offer medical benefits to employees should consider the following information to help reduce costs and provide good benefits.
Keeping current carrier vs. switching carriers
Practices are usually content with their current benefits carrier because the long-term relationship ‘works for them.’ However, another carrier may offer significant cost savings in premiums and coverage. Just because a carrier has a well-known network that employees are comfortable and familiar with may not be the sole reason to stay with them.
Changing deductibles, co-pays or office visit amounts
Considering a change in deductibles, co-pays, or office visit amounts to keep or lower your premiums? This method is chosen most often to reduce costs, whether staying with or switching your carrier. Choosing this route will most likely stabilize renewal costs in premiums. But be aware these changes may affect medical benefits. Give advance notice of changes in costs and coverage to employees using company medical benefits.
Impact to current and future employees
When traversing the benefit renewal map, consider possible effects on not only current employees, but also future talent. According to a recent study by Society for Human Resource Management, health care benefits are most important to a company’s workforce. Benefit levels are the second item looked at after the pay rate for incoming employees.
Implementing a pre-tax Section 125
One of the quickest ways to reduce costs is to implement a pre-tax Section 125. This allows contributions on employee premiums to come out pre-tax, saving them 20%-40% of premium contributions. When a Section 125 is put in place, employees immediately see higher take home dollars in their paycheck. Also, because they miss the FICA hit on taxes, the employer does not have to pay this matching tax, saving 7.65%.
Source: DynamicHR, an Affiliate Partner of The Physician Alliance, is a single source provider of payroll processing, human resource management, workers compensation and medical benefits offerings. Contact Andrew Tafel at atafel@dynamichr.com for information and TPA member discounts.
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The latest healthcare news |
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Featured Affiliate Partner: TELEPHONE SOLUTIONS & SERVICES: Edge Solutions can provide your practice's telecommunication needs at a discounted rate! Services include telephone and fax services, security equipment, paging systems, and more. SUMMER SPECIAL OFFER: sign up with hosted voice services and receive FREE installation and professionally recorded auto day, night and a special greeting for only $29.95 (normally $89.95). Offer good through 9/30/2021.
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