CMS is readying to send out millions of dollars in bonus payments in October to providers who participated in the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) program. Bonuses are equal to 1.5% of eligible Medicare charges in 2008. Remember: Bonus payments for 2009 and 2010 have been increased to 2% of your Medicare charges
(PBN 7/20/09).

You've got even more reason to believe that the 21.5% physician pay cut set for 2010 will never materialize. A draft summary of the health reform bill being crafted in the Senate Finance Committee - obtained by Part B News from sources close to the process - delivers a 0.5% pay boost instead in 2010.

Greatly reduce your chance of getting an E/M service downcoded by watching how the phrase "additional workup" is used during your billing process, experts say. Opinions on exactly what qualifies as "additional workup" vary widely, says one compliance auditor. "Some people say it's as simple as, ‘if there are any additional diagnostic tests, that's additional workup.'"

Brush up on billing and coding guidelines with your staff as you're certain to face more complex Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) targets in the future. RACs have proposed 73 new issues they'll target to recoup money for billing mistakes and physicians failing to follow service guidelines.

When you find large overpayments before they're discovered by government auditors, volunteering a settlement offer to your carrier could save you thousands of dollars while slashing your compliance risk. A well-worded letter explaining why you want to settle with the carrier for part of what you owe is key, experts say (see story for guidance).

Follow these six tips to prepare your practice and staff for the H1N1 influenza virus - the swine flu - this flu season.

With cold weather and the flu season fast approaching, take comfort in the knowledge that Medicare will pay you for administering the H1N1 or swine flu vaccine to patients. You will get vaccine doses for free, Part B News has learned.

Your prospects for a bipartisan health reform bill have worsened as the August Congressional recess ends, but no matter what happens, it's becoming clear that you can expect three things to happen, experts say.

This chart shows the median ratios of physician compensation to practice collections by specialty, based on 2008 survey data by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).

A detailed list of the seven key health reform provisions affecting physicians and where they are in the legislative process.