August 21, 2019 First, let’s clarify our terminology. Many experts distinguish empathy as having two components: 1) affective (experiencing or sharing the other’s feeling) and 2) cognitive (imagining what the other person is feeling yet not experiencing that feeling yourself). Kathleen Bonvicini, EdD, MPH, CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Communication in New Haven, CT...
Four Tips for Avoiding Data Breaches AAOSNow – April 2019 by Michael R. Marks, MD According to a new report by Radware, a provider of load balancing and cybersecurity services for data centers, the average cost of a cyberattack now exceeds $1 million. Furthermore, 37 percent of the organizations that have been attacked experienced subsequent damage to...
Do Your Cybersecurity Polices Need a Checkup? AAOSNow – March 2019 by Michael R. Marks, MD When was the last time you reviewed your cybersecurity policies? If you can’t recall, you’re overdue. Such policies are critical for protecting patient and other sensitive data in your network and reducing the risk of breaches that can cause reputational...
Medical Necessity Monopoly: How to Avoid “Chance” and Advanced to “Go” AAOSNow – November 2018 by Karen Zupko and Michael Marks, MD, MBA A three-step medical necessity action plan can help ensure payment Consider the following: A patient presents to your office complaining of symptoms that indicate a possible herniated disk. A history notes symptoms following...
The Value of Claims ‘Signal’ Data in Orthopaedic Surgery AAOSNow – January 2019 by Michael Marks, MD, MBA In last month’s article, “Scientific Analysis for Medical Liability Claims,” Coverys’ Robert Hanscom, vice president of business analytics, and Lisa Simm, manager of risk management, presented the methodology the insurer utilizes to analyze medical professional liability (MPL) claims....
Scientific Analysis for Medical Liability Claims AAOSNow – December 2018 by Michael Marks, MD In orthopaedics, as in much of medicine, improvements in patient care are achieved when processes are developed to analyze outcomes. Medical professional liability (MPL) claims can serve as lagging indicators or signals of serious problems in the delivery of care. Medical liability...
Don’t Be the Next Victim of Billing Fraud and Abuse AAOS Now- October 2018 By: Michael R. Marks, MD, MBA Every physician has scenarios they seek to avoid: bad nights on call, less than optimal outcomes, and the fear of malpractice suits. What many don’t think about are coding mistakes that could result in federal...
Have You Heard the Latest Professional Liability Risk? AAOS Now- June 2018 By: Michael R. Marks, MD, MBA HIPAA allows states to recognize cause of action for breach of confidentiality The list of liability risks for physicians continues to increase. On behalf of the Medical Liability Committee, this article presents new risks via highlights from...
Articles Are Physicians Required to Return Overpayments? Michael R. Marks, MD, MBA Michael Sacopulos, JD AAOS Now – May 2018 When overpaid, many providers wonder if they need to return the funds. The short answer is yes. An overpayment is money that does not belong to providers and keeping it exposes them to collection and...
Articles Arthroscopy Coding for Major Joints – Shoulder Michael R. Marks, MD, MBA AAOS Now – March 2018 An accurate understanding of coding rules increases likelihood of receiving appropriate paymentCorrectly reporting and billing for arthroscopy services is often confusing. Last month, AAOS Now reviewed the knee arthroscopy codes and outlined the appropriate use of modifiers. This...
