In this episode of AskMGMA, Daniel Williams and Christy Good discuss credit card surcharges for medical practices with a member who asked about charging patients a fee for credit card payments. They cover the legality of surcharges by state, pros and cons, and best practices for transparency with patients. 

Resources: 

Credit Card Surcharge Laws By State Explained | LawPay (https://www.lawpay.com/about/blog/credit-card-surcharge-rules/)

Credit Card Surcharge Laws By State (Is it Legal) (https://merchantcostconsulting.com/lower-credit-card-processing-fees/credit-card-surcharge-laws-by-state/)

Is it Legal to Charge Customers a Credit Card Processing Fee? | LendingTree (https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/articles/surcharges-and-convenience-fees/)

Make them want to pay: Finding patient engagement in billing and payment processes (https://www.mgma.com/articles/make-them-want-to-pay-finding-patient-engagement-in-billing-and-payment-processes)

Music: "Street Walk" by Paolo Pavan courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA"

Sponsor:
Physician Business Training (https://physicianbusinesstraining.com/)

This course is for early-career physicians or physicians who need a comprehensive understanding of the business of medical practices. The course is 7 hours long and broken into 9 modules. It was developed by Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and leaders from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This course awards 7 hours of CME credit.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

Ask MGMA: Credit Card Surcharges for Medical Practices

Today we feature Marie Eslick, Director of HR at Apex Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center. Apex has experienced tremendous expansion across Northeast Ohio, growing from 1 to 14 locations. Marie shares how she revamped HR strategies to support this growth while maintaining a strong company culture.

Key Takeaways:
- Developing recognition programs, newsletters, and sponsorship events to communicate the "People First" culture  
- Streamlining hiring processes through technology and focus on cultural fit
- Improving benefits packages to attract and retain talent in a competitive market
- Implementing 90-day onboarding checklists to train new employees
- Leveraging applicant tracking systems to enhance the candidate experience

Resources:
- Apex Dermatology website: https://apexderm.com/
- ADP Workforce Now applicant tracking and HRIS solutions: https://www.adp.com/solutions/large-business/workforce-now.aspx
- SHRM resources on building an HR function: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/how-to-guides/pages/buildinganhrfunction.aspx

MGMA Resources:
MGMA Stat: mgma.com/stat

Ask an Advisor: www.mgma.com/ask-an-advisor

MGMA Membership: www.mgma.com/membership

MGMA Advocacy: www.mgma.com/advocacy

MGMA Consulting: www.mgma.com/consulting/overview

Music:
"Be Cool" by Mr. Smith, courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

MGMA Member Spotlight: Putting People First -- Prioritizing Culture Through Strategic HR

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health's Hannah Neprash, PhD; John Mulcahy, a PhD candidate; and Ezra Golberstein, PhD, the authors of a study published in the March 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®.

Their study, "The Extent and Growth of Prior Authorization in Medicare Advantage," discusses how the service-, area-, and carrier-level patterns they identified suggest variation in how Medicare Advantage plans use prior authorization.

Exploring Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Variations

This week's MGMA Week in Review podcast discusses how skill assessments and emerging AI technologies can help medical practices improve workforce development and patient care.

Summary:
- Colleen Luckett discusses a recent MGMA stat poll on using skill assessments to identify training needs and a related summit session on the topic. (https://www.mgma.com/mgma-stat/bridging-gaps-in-healthcare-worker-knowledge-with-skill-assessments)
- Daniel Williams shares a podcast discussing credit card surcharge regulations for medical practices. (https://www.mgma.com/podcasts/ask-mgma-credit-card-surcharges-for-medical-practice-payments)
- New coalition aims to improve care for patients with disabilities through provider training. )https://www.axios.com/2024/03/13/disabilities-health-care-disparitie)
- On-demand webinar on staff retention strategies. (https://www.mgma.com/webinars/playing-for-keeps-on-demand )
- Epic is partnering with Microsoft and Nuance to develop AI-powered note drafting and messaging to reduce clinician burden. (https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/himss24-how-epic-building-out-ai-ambient-technology-clinicians)

Music:
"Cool Piano" by Tagirijus courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

MGMA Week in Review: Leveraging Skill Assessments and AI to Improve Healthcare

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of the American Journal of Accountable Care® and a health policy professor at Penn State University. 

Topics we are discussing include President Biden's recent prescription drug proposals, prior authorization practices, price transparency, and the potential impact of health policy on the upcoming election.

Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon

To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.

Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps

To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work Program from its very own Dan LaVallee, senior director, Social Impact, UPMC Health Plan, and Markisha Jones, a Pathways to Work/Freedom House 2.0 graduate.

Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work

To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our third episode and our conversation with Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, program director of quality improvement/Medicare/SNP STARs at UPMC Health Plan, which includes the UPMC for Life Medicare Faith and Wellness Program.

Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith

As the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a nation-wide boom in telehealth use, new questions are emerging regarding reimbursement, accessibility, data protection, and quality measurement. Although the practice has greatly aided in maintaining care for many Americans throughout the past year, several challenges have been reported. 

To create a measurement framework linking quality of care delivered by telehealth, health care system readiness, and health outcomes in rural areas specifically, the National Quality Forum (NQF) recently announced a committee of 25 individuals to discuss, update, and enhance NQF’s telehealth framework, first released in 2017. Currently, there are no nationally endorsed telehealth quality measures.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Sheri Winsper, RN, MSN, MHA, the senior vice president for quality measurement at NQF. For the past 20 years, the forum has worked to advance health care quality across the nation by endorsing measures that assess quality of care and value. It also develops specific measurement frameworks for gap areas.

How the National Quality Forum Plans to Measure Telehealth Quality, Value

Managed Care Cast

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