Keith L. Martin

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."Perhaps the federal government is channeling Maya Angelou in a pair of new initiatives aimed at getting healthcare stakeholders to take a more active role in better care. Or perhaps they prefer another, less articulate, quote to get the point across: "Put up or shut up."

In a decision that will likely come before the U.S. Supreme Court, a Virginia federal court judge has ruled that the government cannot require individuals to buy private health insurance, nor can it punish those who refuse to do so. The ruling was already deemed "misguided" by at least one public health group and, while preliminary, physicians must be wondering what will happen to the influx of previously uninsured patients that were to walk through their doors in the coming years.

Everyone take a deep breath. You won't have to put your foot in the door to stop Medicare patients from coming to see you or consider the move to concierge medicine just yet, as Congress has officially delayed pay cuts for physicians.

A new study says married couples consisting of a physician and a surgeon are perhaps not as cohesive as you may think and the strain of marital bliss comes under even greater pressure when both partners are surgeons.

CMS has now published a 44-page "EHR Core and Menu Measures" document putting a little meat on the bones of their objectives through greater explanation of exactly what they expect you to do in return for proper payment.

Perhaps appropriately at Thanksgiving, a coalition of physicians and medical school students are telling the incoming Republican leadership of the U.S. House to stuff talk of repealing the Affordable Care Act and put bi-partisan squabbling on the back burner.The move is part of an effort to gather 2,500 signatories to an online petition to reach Washington, D.C., when the new Congress takes office.

Physicians nationwide can enjoy their Thanksgiving without having to worry about a 23 percent Medicare cut this year, but the solution from lawmakers may still leave them with some indigestion.

In a recent interview with Physicians Practice, American Medical Association President Cecil B. Wilson puts aside the notion that the group is no longer relevant and when asked if it still represents the majority of U.S. physicians, adds a confident "You betcha."

To err is human. To share it with the world is not, except in the case of surgeon David C. Ring.

When it comes to urging Congress to fix a broken Medicare reimbursement system, the American Medical Association is bypassing another "white coat march" on Washington, D.C., and instead, counting on the power of camouflage and cardigans.

That ticking sound you hear is the giant clock in Washington, D.C., counting down to December 1 when physicians nationwide face a double-digit cut to their Medicare reimbursement. Oh, and that loud sighing you hear….that's from physicians nationwide.

Preparing for the future is never an easy task, especially in the world of healthcare post-reform, but the annual MGMA conference in New Orleans gave practice administrators and others a great set of tips, advice, and information to use to look ahead.

According to our 2010 Physician Compensation Survey, group size can be a big factor in how much you earn. Find out how your income stacks up to that of your peers.

When it comes to creating happier patients, skip the perks in the waiting room and instead focus on boosting the morale of your staff. Here’s how.

Litigation can cost time, money, and even reputations for healthcare providers and their partners. At this year's MGMA annual conference, Michelle M. Skipper of the American Arbitration Association pointed out another solution: alternative dispute resolution.

Looking for great practice management advice but can't get to New Orleans? Let us take you to the annual MGMA conference online.

Patient-centered medical home pilot programs are being conducted across the nation with the goal of providing comprehensive primary care through partnerships. Practices considering embracing part of this collaboration have many factors to consider as to whether they fit into the concept, but strong practice management is key, according to one consulting firm.

In her MGMA session on the internal checks and balances practices should implement to prevent fraud and embezzlement, Susan F. Childs noted that 75 percent of businesses have a risk of theft or embezzlement. Is your practice at risk? Find out how to assess your practice procedures and prevent theft in your practice.

In his MGMA session “Managing Physician Relations for Retention,” Kenneth T. Hertz outlines the importance of maintaining good physician relations for running a productive practice, retaining physicians, and recruiting new doctors, and what the administrator's role is in facillitating physician communication and satisfaction.

Panelists from the "Perspectives on Healthcare Reform" general session at MGMA 2010 discuss their concerns about the Affordable Care Act, accountable care organizations, and the Medicare sustained growth rate (SGR) formula.

When patient records are requested, your staff could unintentionally put your practice at risk of a HIPAA violation. Here's how to handle requests properly.

The Physicians Practice team will be covering the 2010 MGMA Annual Conference in the Big Easy October 24 through October 27. We'll be posting podcasts, videos, and articles, all keeping you up-to-date on the latest sessions, speakers, news, and practice management advice.

Some of the nation's largest media outlets are teaming up for a series of stories detailing drug company "secret" payments to physicians to promote their products. Today, ProPublica, along with NPR, Consumer Reports, PBS, the Boston Globe, and the Chicago Tribune all rolled out stories as part of their "Dollars for Docs" project.

What do "Gulliver's Travels," George Orwell's "Animal Farm," and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" all have in common? No, they are not today's Gold Box deals on Amazon. They are all used to illustrate the failings of the Affordable Care Act by a former president of the American Medical Association.

The use of social media in healthcare is a growing trend and one that often leaves practices with more questions over how best - and sometimes legally - to use these new tools at their disposal. Noting both the expansion of the technology and the lack of resources for doctors, the Ohio State Medical Association is offering some help.

Targeting the "dark legacy" of the AMA and the "profoundly negative, lasting effect on the practice of medicine" as a result of the Obama Administration's healthcare reform, a new medical society is looking to recruit the frustrated and the fed up.

With all the debate about how to deal with pending Medicare reimbursement cuts linked to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, one legislator says the answer is simple: ditch the payment system altogether.

A new report has discovered the "crucial element" to achieve effective, affordable care for Americans in the new world created by health reform: nurses.

A pair of reports this week provides some great insight into today's medical school students, but also some grim news to those pondering a career as a physician.

You are already dealing with a potential Medicare reimbursement drop, pondering your relationship with an EHR, and managing the day-to-day operations of your practice. But what about issues outside of your work life? Well, it seems to come down to dollars, D.C., and danger.