On October 12, 2019, ophthalmologists from around the country will gather in San Francisco to learn, network and share best practices at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) conference. This event is an excellent way for ophthalmologists to learn about the latest trends and considerations in our industry. Here are three exciting topics and discussion areas you’re sure to see at the show this year:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) jointly released the official ICD-10 code changes for fiscal year (FY) 2020. This is the fourth such update to occur since ICD-10 was first officially implemented in the U.S. back in October of 2015. These code changes will go into immediate effect as of Tuesday, October 1, 2019. However, it is important to note that any claims with earlier service dates (on or before September 30, 2019) must continue to use the codes from FY2019.

In mid-August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2020 Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule Overview. This document outlines changes to Quality Payment Program (QPP) policies that will take effect in the upcoming 2020 year, as well as proposed changes for 2021. It is also a summarization of the far more detailed (and roughly 1700 page long) CY 2020 Revisions to Payment Policies document. One section that is likely to be of the most interest to healthcare providers deals with new modifications to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). In this article, we will be looking at these MIPS 2020 changes, particularly those that are of concern to specialty healthcare practices in fields such as dermatology, ophthalmology, plastics/aesthetics and orthopedics.

Back-to-school season is a time of high energy for ophthalmology practices, with increased visits from kids and teens. As patients enter into a new school year, now is a great time for ophthalmology practices to boost their own knowledge. One place to start: tech innovations that increase efficiency and drive revenue.

Although having a comprehensive marketing plan is vital to attract patients to a practice, if the appointment scheduling process is clunky and/or error-prone, it can be a turn off to patients and leave a poor impression before the individual even walks through the door. Providing the optimal patient experience is a key trend among plastic surgery practices as they aim to meet the demands of rising consumerism. Here are three strategies to make sure scheduling reinforces a good reputation.

When aiming to boost and sustain patient traffic into a plastic surgery practice, the need for a strong marketing strategy is an important trend to embrace. Without a defined approach to promoting a practice, an organization can flounder, offering last-minute sales and discounts that can miss the mark. It can also under-communicate how the practice values patients and wants to partner with them to enhance their health and appearance. Here are three essential elements in an effective marketing effort:

Attracting and retaining patients is a constant priority for physicians, and plastic surgeons are no exception. Without a focused strategy for drawing patients into a practice, organizations can experience slow periods, retention problems and a lack of repeat business that can all impact revenue flow. How does this affect you?

Interested in creating a team dedicated to staying up-to-date on the ever-changing healthcare marketplace? The pressure to meet compliance regulations doesn't have be to be on one person. Develop a dedicated and passionate Quality Improvement team that meets regularly to document, collect and analyze reporting measures. Where do you begin? Fill out the form below to get started.