AMA Wire

Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012

Practice News

AMA webinar explains how to navigate self-referrals

Physicians can view a newly archived AMA webinar to learn how to navigate the complex rules that govern physician self-referrals, known as the "Stark law." Sign in to access the webinar.

Presented by an experienced health law attorney, the webinar features practical examples and case studies to illuminate what this often-confusing law permits and prohibits regarding referrals for Medicare patients.

The webinar explains how the Stark law defines key terms and how to safely develop business arrangements involving referrals. This presentation covers the types of financial arrangements physicians can pursue, which arrangements they should avoid and penalties that can be assessed for violations of the law.

Physicians also can take advantage of the AMA's new "Stark Law Rules of the Road" toolkit, which offers guidance on safely referring and determining how the law might apply to individual physicians.

Resource sheds light on online software applications

Adopting online software for the physician practice offers such benefits as low start-up costs, hassle-free updates and upgrades, and easy access. But how can physicians know whether such software is a good fit for their practice?

An AMA resource helps physicians evaluate the advantages, challenges and requirements of using online software applications. The resource discusses different operation models, including cloud computing and application service provider software, and provides a handy checklist of questions that can help physicians determine whether one of these models should meet their unique practice needs.

Additional resources to help with the selection of new practice management system software are available in a toolkit from the AMA and the Medical Group Management Association. Physicians and their staff also can join the AMA's Paperless Practice Group (free registration required) to participate in ongoing discussions about practice automation.