Payers don’t always play fair. Many physicians have stared at their reimbursement statements wondering how they’re being paid less than what was promised—or not being paid at all for services clearly covered under contract. So, can you sue a payer if you believe they’ve breached the agreement? Yes, but litigation is not always the first … Read more
The scene is familiar. Call light chimes, a flight attendant looks worried, the cabin PA asks for medical help. Some physicians stand up immediately. Others do a quick internal audit in their brain, scope the problem, and guess the tools available, legal risk, and calculate whether that second glass of cabernet was a good idea. … Read more
Doctors can often sense when trouble is brewing. They may be scrutinized more than their fair share. Multiple peer review events. Several “cup of coffee conversations” with leadership. Sometimes it’s better to leave sooner rather than later. I’ve heard these recommendations made multiple times: “Why Don’t You Take a Leave of Absence for 30 days? … Read more
About one mile from our office sits the historic Julian Price mansion. This is what it looks like today. Nice, right? The prior owner fell onto hard times. The bank foreclosed on the property. And it took more than five years to evict the delinquent owner. The prior owner, Sandra Cowart, was featured on the … Read more
My first job was in California. That was a long time ago. I practiced there for about 3 years. Then I moved. My California medical license terminated. I can’t remember if I sent a note to the Medical Board of California (MBC), or just did not renew my application. It was a long time ago. … Read more
No one likes to be ignored. If you are talking to someone, you reasonably expect they will listen. If the “listener” is not listening, their next step is to turn up the volume. If a Board of Medicine writes to you seeking an explanation for care you rendered plus a copy of the full medical … Read more
Physicians often migrate from one state to another. Looking for greener pastures. This is particularly the case when your current workplace loses its magic. Sometimes it IS better to leave and get a fresh start. If you head to a different state, you’ll need a license to practice there. If you already have a license … Read more
Cataract surgeries are miracles of the modern age. They are generally safe. And effective. Before the advent of intraocular lenses, when cataracts were removed, nothing replaced them. The only solution was to follow with “high-powered, bulky spectacles, which often led to poor visual quality. In fact, Sir Harold Ridley exclaimed that “extraction alone is but … Read more
Becoming board certified is a rite of passage. It has become a de-facto must-have document in addition to licensing. For many jobs, you need to be board certified or board eligible. Many hospitals require it to become part of its active medical staff. If you want privileges at many healthcare institutions, you must be board … Read more
Medical records can be used for offense. They can be used for defense. If a patient sues YOU for medical malpractice, all of their records are fair game (or at least most of their records). A plaintiff cannot use the medical record as both a sword and a shield. What if a plaintiff is suing … Read more
