It's time to treat smoking like a vital sign - and ask

Article Abstract:

Physicians should begin asking each patient during each visit whether he or she smokes, regardless of whether the patient's health insurer covers treatment for smoking cessation. The simple step only takes about three minutes and could help as many as 2 million people stop smoking every year, if every physician were to undertake the effort. Given that a large drugstore chain is facing legal problems for selling tobacco, doctors should realize they could be next.

Care and treatment, Column, Practice, Tobacco habit

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Tracking costs of providing care under managed care

Article Abstract:

Physicians can develop managed care contracts by understanding their services by cost. A cost-based fee schedule can be devised with the use of the Current Procedural Terminology Code, the assignment of appropriate relative value units to the codes, the cost of each relative value unit and the cost of each procedure. Understanding these costs will enable physicians to look for good contracts to provide adequate reimbursement and a larger practice.

Management, Planning, Health care industry, Managed care plans (Medical care), Medical fees

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