St Jude Medical Neuromodulation Division

Is All Durable Medical Equipment Covered by Insurance?

The simple answer is no. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers medically necessary durable medical equipment (DME) that your doctor prescribes for use in your home. Your physician, nurse practitioner (NP), physician’s assistant (PA) or certified nurse specialist (CNS) can prescribe medical equipment for a patient. Medicare is considered the driver when it comes to …

8 Things ER Doctors Refuse to Have in Their Homes

By Lisa Lombardi<br>Emergency room physicians see all kinds of grisly stuff, which made us wonder: What products do they consider so hazardous t...

Why I Don’t Drink Budweiser…and Why I’m Not Alone

Budweiser has always been far more about marketing than beer. The founder of Anheuser Busch, Adolphus Busch, refused to drink his own brew, calling it “that slop” (he was German, of cou…

How to Choose the Right Cane and Use It Properly

Why your family medical history matters

Sara McGregor never worried about getting breast cancer. Neither did her two older sisters. After all, their mother and maternal grandmother never had the disease. So when McGregor's eldest sister was diagnosed at age 32, the news came as a shattering shock to all three siblings

5 potentially deadly body pains you should never ignore

Nearly everyone experiences a headache or leg cramp on occasion. But when do these aches warrant a visit to the doctor's office or hospital?

MSOs — Important Again for Physician Practices

Management service organizations have been around for a while providing management to physician practices, ranging from billing and collection to complete turnkey operations. In this regard, they h…

Four Metrics to Measure Patient Access at Physician Practices

Use these four metrics to evaluate patient access at your physician practices.

Determining Reasonable Compensation in Physician Practices

Determining the "reasonable" or "replacement" compensation while valuating a business is key, specifically for medical and physician practices.

Study: Hospitals may not be 'gobbling up' physician practices

A new study challenges the idea that hospitals are "gobbling up" physician practices.

Hot Topics: When Hospitals Buy Physician Practices

What's the current picture as regards hospitals buying physician practices? We asked that question of two experts who said the trend is causing problems with 'price fixing' and noted physicians should

ACOs linked to consolidation of physician practices, study finds

One worry about accountable care organizations is that their growth would lead to the consolidation of physician practices. A new study finds that concern has proven real.

Private equity companies' acquisition of physician practices likely to accelerate

Acquisition of physician practices by private equity firms has increased dramatically during the past few years, according to a new study.

Improving Medical Supply Ordering for Physician Practices

For physician practices seeking to reduce their operating costs, automating medical supply management through technology can improve efficiency.

Physician Practices Strategy to Developing A Strong Chronic Care Management (CCM) Program

For any physician practice, a strong Chronic Care Management (CCM) program acts as a healthy heart that pumps opportunities through the practice.

Hospitals, Physician Practices and Clinics are Reminded to Post New Non-Discrimination Notice

Hospitals, physician practices and other health care providers that receive federal financial assistance, which includes receiving reimbursement from Medicare Parts A, C and D and/or Medicaid, are …

When Seeking Value, Look to Home Health Care

In a recent communication, former Acting Administrator for the Center for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services Andy Slavitt said, “Home Health Agency services are a critical part of the health care continuum and are instrumental in helping a patient with Medicare benefits recover after an illness or injury.”

MGMA: Patient Safety Checklists Cut Costs at Physician Practices

Physician groups looking to make their practices more efficient should develop patient safety lists for dealing with both emergent events and routine activities, says a practice management expert at the annual Medical Group Management Association conference.

Physician practices and service animals

Patients are increasingly bringing animals into physicians' waiting rooms, and staff should be educated about the differences between service animals, emotional support animals and animals that are simply pets before encountering them, experts say. Service animals are allowed access to businesses under the Americans with Disabilities Act because they have been trained to perform a specific task for the owner. Emotional support animals are not covered by the act.