Ericka L. Adler, JD

A visit from the authorities does not necessarily mean that you have been or will be accused of anything improper, but it can hurt your reputation and your business.

The privacy rules created by HIPAA can seem cumbersome but every practice should evaluate its operations to make sure it is compliant.

When terminating a patient from your practice, the most important thing to do is avoid a claim of patient abandonment.

Physician practices are like marriages. …Like any marriage, however, it’s important to enter into the relationship thoughtfully, with flexibility and some humility.

In my experience, it’s often the staff that has been with the practice the longest, and on whom the practice most relies, who pose the greatest threat.

Most physicians are aware that ethically they should not pay those in a position to refer to their practice, nor should they accept gifts from providers to whom they refer patients. However, physicians may not realize that giving and receiving gifts may actually be illegal under numerous laws.