Practice News

Online resource center helps you manage your practice

The AMA's online Practice Management Center provides practical guidance to help physicians run their practices smoothly and efficiently. From managed care contracting and claims management to new payment models and patient satisfaction, the online Practice Management Center serves as a kind of virtual practice consultant, offering physicians guidance when and how they want it.

The Knowledge Center provides access to a wide variety of information. A library of archived webinars hosted by practice management experts offer advice on key topics, including how to use CPT® modifiers, file complaints against unfair payer practices and select a new practice management system. The Knowledge Center's resources and answers to frequently asked questions make it easy for physicians and their staff to find assistance with specific issues at the moment they need it.

The online center also offers extensive guidance to help doctors streamline their practice and participate in new payment models. Physicians can learn how to automate such time-intensive tasks as verifying a patient's eligibility, securing prior authorization from a health insurer and checking on the status of a claim.

A series of toolkits and webinars walks physicians through the steps of moving from manual tasks to electronic processes, and an online community (registration required) provides a forum to learn from peers' insights and experiences in making this transition.

Pondering a shared savings program? AMA offers advice

A new chapter in the AMA's "Evaluating and negotiating emerging payment models" manual provides practical guidance for physicians who are thinking about participating in a shared savings program.

The chapter explains the methodologies behind shared savings programs and what physicians must find out before they agree to participate. The chapter helps physicians evaluate their ability to succeed in such a program and identifies a number of existing shared savings programs in the public and private sectors.

Physicians who are interested in taking part in this risk-based payment arrangement will learn how to protect themselves from losses associated with unrealistic budget targets or high-risk patients, unfair termination and diminishing financial returns. The chapter also shows physicians how to identify ways to easily save money in their practices.

Other topics discussed in the manual include payment bundling, pay-for-performance, withholds and risk pools, and capitation. A companion webinar recording also provides an overview of each of these concepts.