Please be aware of these important 2021 Performance Year deadlines. Quality Payment Program Exception Applications Window Closes Soon! December 31, 2021 is the last day to file ALL exception applications. In order to file an exception, you will need a HARP account. This is available through the QPP (Quality Payment Program) website. (https://qpp.cms.gov/login) Filing for … Continue reading "2021 MIPS Exception Application Deadlines"
Contact lenses create perfect vision for tens of millions of Americans, but make sure you know the rules for using them correctly According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 45 million Americans wear contact lenses. Like eyeglasses, contact lenses help correct refractive error sin the eye by adding or subtracting focusing power … Continue reading “Contact lens safety: What you need to know”
Take care of patient data — HIPAA violations can cut into your practice’s bottom line You need to worry about more than just revenue when it comes to running your eye care practice. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires compliance with patient data safety protocols, and enforces fines and violations for those … Continue reading "Are you guilty of any of these common HIPAA violations?"
Ensure your certifications are correct so you don’t miss out on CMS payments Certification is a big deal when it comes to selecting an electronic health record (EHR) provider. Certification is a standard you can use to gain a level of confidence about specific electronic health record functions. While certification does not guarantee that you … Continue reading “Does your EHR have the right certifications?”
Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances becoming a standard across the country EPCS is increasingly becoming a standard across the United States, and if your state does not yet require it, chances are it will soon. It’s important to be aware of this rule and know how it will impact your practice and your patients. EPCS: … Continue reading "Which states require EPCS?"
Is your ophthalmology as profitable as it can be? Numbers alone can only offer so much insight, but comparing your practice against widely agreed-upon benchmarks can show your industry position and point out areas for improvement. Here are five benchmarks that allow you to compare your numbers to your peers, courtesy of Derek Preece, a … Continue reading “5 Key Benchmarks That Make or Break Your Ophthalmology Practice”
Improvement activities are hard to pick and complicated to track. There are no dashboards set up to monitor your progress, track if you’re meeting the requirements, or to help find out if you’re doing enough activities. The measure titles can be a little misleading and the documentation requirements are often a mystery to practices. Each … Continue reading "Cinderella Improvement Activities"
On July 13, 2021, CMS released its Quality Payment Program’s 2022 Proposed Rule, and while it is increasingly clear that CMS intends to move forward with their plan to eventually replace traditional MIPS with MIPS Value Pathways (MVP), there are changes to existing MIPS measures to be aware of. Comments are being accepted on the … Continue reading “CMS Releases the 2022 QPP Proposed Rule – Here’s What You Need to Know”
The COVID-19 pandemic placed many challenges on both patients and medical practices. Patients were hit hard financially with many losing their jobs and their health insurance coverage. At the same time, practices saw a decrease in patient volume and revenue. Healthcare organizations needed to quickly adapt to the new “normal” by increasing the use of … Continue reading "Patient Payment Collection Strategies For Long-Term Success"
To participate in the Cost category of MIPS, you just submit your claims…the rest is out of your hands. Or is it? The measures are different, the scoring is complex, the attributions and how they are processed can be pretty confusing but you have more control than you think! The Cost category does not have … Continue reading "Decoding the Cost Category"
How much are cancelled appointments and no-shows costing you? Nothing is worse than being stood up — especially when it affects your bottom line. Patient no-shows are a longstanding thorn in the side of many eye care practices and can hurt your bottom line, snarl your operations, and result in negative health impacts to the … Continue reading “Your Complete Guide to Patient No-Shows”
3 Options That Decrease Wait Times, Shorten Turnaround, and Maximize Efficiency In today’s competitive climate, many doctors are content to have a steady stream of patients each day. However, failure to implement a structured appointment system could mean missing out on revenue. Clinical management expert and AAO presenter Zachary Cain notes that an effective scheduling … Continue reading “What Scheduling Strategy is Right For Your Practice? 3 Options”