2011 Challenges in Operating Your Practice

ACCP NetWorks offer a forum for the membership to discuss specific clinical practice- and business-related issues and challenges. The Practice Operations NetWork (PON) stimulates the exchange of ideas and knowledge between physicians and practice administrators/managers in order to improve patient outcomes, aid in the delivery of prompt service, optimize reimbursement, and increase practice efficiency. The PON is different from the ACCP Practice Management Committee (PMC), in that it allows for broader participation from the general membership.

The collaboration between the PMC and PON increases the overall practice management efforts of the ACCP and strengthens the development of the ACCP practice management resources.

In January 2011, a Chicago area PON subgroup, Pulmonary Administrators/ Managers (PAM), met to discuss key issues facing their practices. Another Chicago area meeting is planned for April. If interested in participating in PAM, contact Marla Brichta at MBrichta@chestnet.org.

Key issues discussed were:

• Coding and reimbursement of pulmonary function testing in the office.
• Electronic medical records (EMR) implementation and use; obtaining meaningful use criteria.
• E-prescribing (eRx) CMS program requirement to e-prescribe 10 unique patients by June 2011 to avoid CMS penalties in 2012.
• CMS Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) changes for 2011 to obtain CMS bonuses for improved quality of care.
• Optimal use of physician extenders (eg, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, etc) in the practice.
• High-deductible insurance collections.
• Recruitment of new physicians.
• CMS changes in reimbursement for Sleep Services in 2011 (details provided in CHEST PHYSICIAN, February 2011, p. 19, “From the Desk of the Practice Management Committee”; http://accpstorage.org/physician/2011/0211.pdf).

The sharing of ideas and knowledge had an immediate impact on the majority of practices that attended. One specific example is when one practice administrator shared that she had been undercoding PFT services and that the knowledge gained during the PAM meeting will enable her to appropriately increase revenues for her practice.

The PON is an example of how ACCP NetWorks can provide added value to the membership. The Practice Operations NetWork is open to all ACCP members who wish to participate. For more information, please contact Maggie Bochnak at the ACCP at mbochnak@chestnet.org.

Michael K. McCormick, RRT, MBA
Chair, Practice Operations