As Medicare Costs Rise, Reimbursements Drop

John C. Nordt, MD; Michael P. Connair, MD; Jamie A. Gregorian, Esq.

In 1990, Medicare expenditures totaled $111 billion. That number has more than quintupled today. But even as Medicare costs have skyrocketed, the individual payments to physicians for services rendered have plummeted—particularly for surgical procedures.

Do You Need Disability Insurance?

Nicole Dierking

As an orthopaedic surgeon, you see the impact of disabling injuries every day. Although you do your best to repair limbs mangled in motor vehicle accidents or by falls and trauma, you know that recovery can sometimes take months, even years. Consider these facts: According to the National Safety Council, a disabling injury occurs nearly every second in the United States. Nearly one in five Americans—54 million people—is classified as disabled, based on U.S.

Unlock the Hidden Profits in Your Orthopaedic Practice

Jackie Ryan

Can you increase your practice’s profitability without increasing your hours worked? You don’t have to see more patients, perform more surgeries, or add ancillary services to generate more income. You can reduce expenses, such as your costs for practice supplies. Every dollar you save on purchasing supplies and equipment goes directly to your bottom line as profit.

Big Tax Law Changes Could Be Coming Soon

David A. Simon, CPA

At the end of 2012, the “Bush tax cuts” are set to expire—and it’s not just the top 1 percent who will be affected. Without new legislation, tax rates will increase for all taxpayers and certain deductions will be curtailed for some taxpayers. What follows is a summary of the most common changes scheduled to take effect this year and in 2013.

Six Steps to a Successful Group Practice Interview

Maureen Leahy

After years of clinical training, many orthopaedic residents and fellows face an equally daunting task—finding the right job. Because job seekers may be focused on issues such as salary and location, they often give little thought to the interview itself. Fortunately, one of the easiest ways to help ensure success is for candidates to picture themselves on the other side of the table, according to Douglas W. Lundy, MD, vice president of Resurgens Orthopaedics, Atlanta.

2013 Orthopaedic-Related CPT Code Updates

Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P, CPC

The 2013 CPT Manual includes few new orthopaedic surgical CPT code changes, but many guideline changes. One clarification throughout the manual, especially in the E&M and Modifier sections, relates to the term “physician.” Not only medical doctors can use these codes and report these services; “other qualified healthcare professionals” such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners use the same codes. This article addresses key orthopaedic-related changes.

Medical Liability and Orthopaedic Residents

David H. Sohn, JD, MD

A civil suit seeking monetary compensation for medical negligence is based on the four elements of duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Failure to prove any of these will lead to dismissal of a case. But what happens when a patient is treated by a resident physician and never actually sees the attending physician supervising the resident? Does the attending physician have a duty toward the patient whom he or she has never met?

Managing Relations with Industry

Andrew D. Markiewitz, MD

Medicine is a business, and healthcare is a robust part of the U.S. economy. The healthcare sector employed 10.5 percent of the American workforce in 2008 and represented 17.3 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product in 2009. Most physicians, however, entered medicine based more on their desire to help than on their craving for profit.