QPP 2018 Final Scores are Available! If you submitted 2018 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data, you can now view your performance feed...

On June 28, 2019, CMS made available Comparative Billing Reports (CBRs) to dermatologists enrolled in the Medicare program. CMS has scheduled a free w...

An Ohio urology practice was allegedly hacked earlier this month and agreed to pay a $75,000 ransom to unlock its computer system. However, there are...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has contracted with Guidehouse to conduct data validation and audits of a select number of Merit-ba...

J. Michael Conerly, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of LAMMICO, was elected to serve a three-year term on the Medical Professional Liabili...

LAMMICO has created an online Physician Job Board as a tool for insureds to post and find open physician positions and to help practices fill open job...

LAMMICO reminds policyholders of resources available to help you prepare in the event of a weather emergency to limit disruption to your practice.

A message from President/CEO J. Michael Conerly, M.D., MBA, on his new role as President and CEO of LAMMICO.

LAMMICO’s new one-hour continuing education course, “Workplace Violence in Ambulatory Care,” can guide you through a process that will bolster your pr...

Our upcoming webinars offer CME and Risk Management Premium Discount Credit that may be used to reduce the basic limits portion of your LAMMICO insura...

Every medical practice should be aware of the distinction between the “consent” of an individual and the requirement of an “authorization” by the indi...

LAMMICO wants to take this opportunity to recognize Dr. Hines because of his significant contributions on behalf of Louisiana physicians.

Due to the PCF's recent action regarding Practice Protection Fund, many healthcare providers needed to find a new underlying carrier in order to stay...

In celebration of National Nurses Week, here are a few ways that LAMMICO supports our nurses.

The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy announced a third party platform that allows integration between the Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Program (LA PMP...

A new state law called Billing by Contracted Healthcare Providers went into effect August 1, 2018.

In February, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy announced a third party platform that allows integration between the Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Pr...

Louisiana’s Health Care Consumer Billing and Disclosure Protection Act, La. R.S. 22:1871, et seq., prevents a provider from “attempting to collect fro...

The Board of Directors of LAMMICO elected J. Michael Conerly, M.D., to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2019. Since...

For healthcare providers, complying with disability laws is not always easy. Patients with disabilities need different things, and doing the right thi...

Failure to rescue is a concept that espouses the idea that clinicians should be able to quickly identify when a patient is developing deteriorating sy...

As part of an ongoing effort to provide robust education about current topics and trends in patient safety and risk management, LAMMICO’s subsidiary r...

     Congratulations to the recipient of the 4th Annual LAMMICO Patient Safety Award and Grant: Jennings American Legion Hospital in...

NAS Insurance, LAMMICO’s cyber risk insurance carrier, recently published their 2019 Cyber Claims Digest, which analyzes cyber claims data from 2018....

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of all surgical site infections are preventable. That’s a significant reason w...

How to calculate your Quality score in 2019 This is not a mistake! The 2019 MIPS Composite Score is the sum of four different performance categorie...

Louisiana law does not set the copy fees for a patient record request. Pursuant to Title 45 Section 164.524 of the Federal regulations, a patient or h...

The Board of Directors of LAMMICO elected J. Michael Conerly, M.D., to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2019.

The third year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) has started. The inclusion of opioid-related measures and activities, as well as the addition of p...

Thomas H. Grimstad, M.D. reflects on his 20-year career at LAMMICO ahead of his retirement.

Natalie Cohen, LAMMICO Practice Management Specialist, offers insights on the Quality Payment Program and MIPS in her “MIPS in a Minute” column.

For patients who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or late-deafened, effective communication requires more.

Does a physician have a legal obligation to inform a patient’s employer or the government of a patient’s condition if it could affect their ability to...

In order to better serve our insureds, LAMMICO has made several changes to our upcoming schedule of risk management and patient safety education for 2...

Medical Interactive presents three new courses as part of an ongoing effort to provide robust education about current topics and trends in patient saf...

When a physician makes the decision to close a medical practice, there are procedures and responsibilities that must be carried out to allow time for...

The payment adjustments from the 2017 Performance Year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) are being applied to the 2019 dates of service and are sho...

In addition to a very small increase in the conversion factor to $36.04 (from $35.99), the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule included some ne...

You may still be able to avoid a five percent penalty! Here are a few important key items to consider about QPP before you get too far into 2019. A...

The Department of Health and Human Services recently released the "Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices: Managing Threats and Protecting Patients"...

Now offering expanded coverage options, Elatas Risk Partners is dedicated to helping your business succeed by tailoring insurance portfolios to fulfil...

LAMMICO can report your completion of our course “Louisiana Act 76, Controlled Substances: Prescribing, Diversion Prevention and Addiction Treatment”...

The MACRA legislation passed in 2015 created the Quality Payment Program (QPP). There are two pathways in the QPP: MIPS (Merit Based Incentive Payment...

Eligible clinicians and groups can now submit and attest to 2018 MIPS measures and activities. The portal will close April 2, 2019. Eligible clini...

Effective January 1, 2019, Louisiana law provides that those required to sign a death certificate must complete it electronically.

Happy holidays from all of us at LAMMICO!

The Board has elected Frederick J. White, III, M.D., as LAMMICO's Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2019.

Small Practices Don't Need an EHR to Avoid A Penalty! Eligible clinicians and groups have until December 31, 2018, to submit a Promoting Intero...

If you are a MIPS eligible clinician, you can complete one of two CDC courses online to earn the 15 points you need to avoid a Medicare penalty. The I...

On December 5, 2018, the LAMMICO Board of Directors declared a 4% dividend, marking the 12th consecutive dividend since 2008.

A Connecticut allergy practice has agreed to pay the OCR $125,000 and adopt a corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the HIPAA Priva...

Effective August 1, 2018, Louisiana has a new and expanded definition of personal private information.

At the end of a person's life, his or her family may have very different views on medical care, putting the healthcare provider in the middle of famil...

Many healthcare providers likely don’t know that certain types of surgical procedures performed in an office require specialized record-keeping.

Physician burnout has been present for about 20 years, but it has not been actively acknowledged until the past decade. We present some details about...

An example of a claim that resulted in an uncapped exposure is discussed - a claim brought by a third-party alleging negligent discharge.

Beginning with January 1, 2019 renewals, rate changes as approved by our independent actuary and the Louisiana Department of Insurance represent an ov...

Under the Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act (“the Act”), damages are limited or “capped” at $500,000 plus medical expenses in cases filed against heal...

The LAMMICO Risk Management Hospital Premium Discount Program was established to reward hospitals and eligible ambulatory surgery centers that improve...

Could the healthcare professionals at your facility be carefully following hand hygiene protocols but still spreading bacteria via their stethoscopes?...

If you are a MIPS eligible clinician or group AND you did not submit data in 2017, don't plan to submit data in 2018 or 2019 AND generate at least $20...

LAMMICO helps keep med-mal insurance premiums lower by offering an annual opportunity to earn a 10% discount for completing risk management education.

You can still avoid a QPP Penalty without an EHR! Do you see the N700 remark code on your Medicare EOBs? If your EOBs from Medicare include this remar...

In today’s constant barrage of technology warnings, it is easy to overlook the dusty old fax machine in the corner.

All you need is 15 points to avoid a 5% Medicare penalty!

LAMMICO Practice Solutions can help our insureds develop a plan for QPP reporting and avoid a 5% penalty!

News about cybersecurity threats fills our inboxes daily, and the information can be difficult to process. As cybersecurity threats and regulations co...

LAMMICO is proud to provide MOC-approved CME and CNE for this year’s DEM conference in New Orleans.

Is a staff member’s use of a patient’s full name in the waiting room considered a HIPAA violation?

The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) and the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) have issued congruent rules governing physician...

To address this growing and often unrecognized issue of nursing burnout, LAMMICO has developed a continuing education program designed specifically fo...

The ADA compels healthcare providers to accommodate patients with disabilities, including allowing some types of animals in the treatment room.

The applicable laws relating to audio-visual recording in a healthcare setting are frequently misunderstood.

LAMMICO insures hospitals, facilities, physicians and mid-level providers – giving you the benefit of working with a single carrier to effectively cov...

Eligible clinicians and groups are strongly encouraged to check and/or re-check their 2017 MIPS Performance scores for accuracy and updates.

There are still a lot of pieces that need to fall in place before a Louisiana patient can walk into a medical office and ask for marijuana.

Organizations should consider whether their process for disposing of electronic devices and media does so in a secure manner.

One of the most talked about recommendations of the 2019 QPP Proposed Rule is the proposed changes to the current Evaluation and Management (E&M) code...

Eligible clinicians can submit an Exception Application for the 25 points from the Promoting Interoperability category to be re-allocated to the Quali...

One effective but underused technological shield healthcare providers can wield against modern-day security attacks is encryption: usually free, readi...

What should you do if a federal investigative agent shows up at the door of the company that you work for?

There are many things that healthcare providers or their office staff do that could potentially result in a False Claims audit or investigation.

LAMMICO Practice Solutions will host a webinar on the Quality Payment Program on Wed., Sept. 12, 2018 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Providers are encouraged to submit their comments and suggestions on the QPP Year 3 Proposed Final Rule before September 10, 2018.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its proposed policies for Year 3 (2019) of the Quality Payment Program.

The LSBME and the LSBN have issued congruent rules governing physician collaboration with APRNs required to have a collaborative practice agreement.

A.M. Best recently awarded LAMMICO an “A” (Excellent) rating for 2017.

Log in as a Member at LAMMICO.com to access Practice Solutions’ newest resources on HIPAA.

Regardless of where you are in the MIPS reporting process, we’ve highlighted a few key items to be aware of as you look to the second half of 2018.

Breaches are not always accidents. Current and former healthcare employees are the biggest threats to patient HIPAA privacy.

If you don’t check federal and state exclusion lists, you may not be able to keep the payment checks!

The waiver of coinsurance and deductibles owed by patients treated by physicians and other health care providers has come under increased scrutiny rec...

The opioid overdose crisis has brought significant regulatory changes to how, when, and why prescribers may order controlled pain medication.

Three MIPS performance categories have measures and activities that directly relate to the prescribing and management of opioids in a physician practi...

Congratulations to the recipient of the 3rd Annual LAMMICO Patient Safety Award & Grant: Specialists Hospital Shreveport.

Elatas Risk Partners is dedicated to helping your business succeed by tailoring insurance portfolios to fulfill your unique needs.

After more than 20 years with LAMMICO, Thomas H. Grimstad, M.D., has announced his retirement as President and CEO effective March 1, 2019.

Thomas H. Grimstad, M.D., has announced his retirement as LAMMICO President and CEO effective March 1, 2019.

Several federal and state laws govern how practices and hospitals should treat patients with hearing difficulties or who do not speak English.

Providers must check the federal and state exclusion databases for all employees, owners, managers and providers in their practices to avoid monetary...

LAMMICO offers guidance to our insureds facing a claim through our Litigation Stress Management Seminar.

Congratulations to the recipient of the 3rd Annual LAMMICO Patient Safety Award & Grant: Specialists Hospital Shreveport.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights is offering FREE live HIPAA training focused on the needs of small-practice h...

Utilize LAMMICO's online Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) courses and earn 5% off your hospital base premium.

Congratulations to the recipient of the 3rd Annual LAMMICO Patient Safety Award & Grant: Specialists Hospital Shreveport.

LAMMICO is linking the 2018-2019 Award and Grant Program to its online educational activity entitled “Nurse Well-Being: The Burnout Dilemma.”

Hospitals must work harder than ever to track the influx of medical device communications and recalls.

To reduce falls, every hospital employee should be on the lookout for the conditions that cause them.

Elatas Risk Partners is dedicated to helping your business succeed by tailoring insurance portfolios to fulfill your unique needs.

We summarize the regulations and requirements for QPP in 2018 so you can avoid a 5% Medicare penalty in 2020.

We highlight some of the situations involving claims that fall outside of the Louisiana medical malpractice damages cap.

Learn strategies to avoid burnout at LAMMICO's brand new live lecture series.

We summarize the regulations and requirements for QPP in 2018 so you can avoid a 5% Medicare penalty in 2020.

The experts at Johnson Lambert LLP offer insights on how the new tax plan impacts healthcare providers.

LAMMICO has developed a three-hour controlled substance course to meet the new Louisiana state requirements.

Give your opinion to CMS and get full Improvement Activity credit for 2018!

OCR has provided examples of activities to reduce the chances of being a victim of cyber extortion.

Healthcare providers should ensure that their system and business processes are ready to accept the new Medicare cards by April 2018.

Many physicians are faced with requests from their minor, yet maturing patients, that their health information not be disclosed to their parents.

As we learned in Year 1 of the Quality Payment Program, reading the MACRA legislation can be cumbersome, but reporting to CMS to avoid a penalty is no...

LAMMICO is developing a three-hour CME course directed specifically to the new Louisiana state requirements for prescribers of controlled substances.

It is with heavy hearts that we learned of the passing of former LAMMICO President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert L. di Benedetto, M.D., on Octob...

If you're an eligible clinician who submitted 2017 Quality performance data for MIPS via claims, you'll now be able to view your performance scores th...

A new law, the 21st Century Cures Act, may be the start of stomping out the fax machine in medicine.

We summarize the regulations and requirements for QPP in 2018 so you can avoid a 5% Medicare penalty in 2020.

Healthcare providers have until March 1, 2018 to report a 2017 HIPAA breach regarding 500 or fewer individuals to the OCR.

LAMMICO is hosting a series of educational half-day seminars for medical office staff titled “Current Trends in the Physician Practice,” beginning on...

DCFS adopted an Emergency Rule relative to Physician Notification, which shall be effective on January 28, 2018.

We will summarize the regulations and requirements for QPP in 2018 so that you can AVOID a 5% Medicare penalty in 2020.

Beginning in April 2018, Medicare cards using the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number will be distributed to replace cards using the social-sec...

We offer insights on 2017 QPP exemption and attestation.

CMS recently issued guidance distinguishing texting patient information from texting patient orders.

We offer insights into the Medical Review Panel process in Louisiana.

The Office for Civil Rights offers tips to prevent unauthorized access to PHI by former workplace members.

Providers in some Louisiana parishes are exempt from 2017 MIPS reporting due to Tropical Storm Harvey.

Wishing you and your families a very happy and healthy holiday season!

Here are a few things for your medical practice to keep in mind as 2017 winds down.

On December 6, 2017, the LAMMICO Board of Directors declared a 4% dividend, marking the 11th consecutive dividend since 2008.

Eligible clinicians who have a significant EHR-related hardship, or lack an EHR system entirely, can apply for an exemption for the 2017 QPP transitio...

CMS considers the 2018 to be another transition year allowing providers additional time to get ready for full QPP implementation in 2019.

CMS considers the 2018 performance year to be another transition year allowing providers additional time to get ready for full QPP implementation in 2...

OCR recently issued guidance focused on protecting PHI when using mobile devices like smart phones and tablets.

The opioid overdose crisis is reverberating into a significant threat to hospital employees and first responders.

The OCR recently clarified an important aspect of patient privacy providing insight into healthcare’s cloud-based future.

When a patient does not have an advanced medical directive and is unable to consent to treatment, who should decide what the patient wants?

The Joint Commission recently recommended several actions to improve communication at handoff.

Several states, including Louisiana, have taken steps to reduce excess opioid prescribing and shrink the pool of unused drugs.

We've created a downloadable reference sheet of key indicators that can help you identify opportunities for improvements that may lead to a more consi...

LAMMICO recently awarded medical school scholarships to this past year’s incoming freshman classes.

Registering for and monitoring the Louisiana Prescription Drug Monitoring Program can help both Quality Payment Program performance (avoiding a Medica...

The HHS Office for Civil Rights recently issued the following guidance on how HIPAA allows information sharing to address the opioid crisis.

Sections of Practice Solutions have been optimized with new tools to reduce malpractice risk and help make the business of medicine more manageable.

So, if a baby kangaroo hops into your medical practice, what can you do? What must you do?

A simple way to counter negative thinking and anxiety is by keeping a gratitude journal.

Several states, including Louisiana, have taken steps to reduce excess opioid prescribing and shrink the pool of unused drugs.

LAMMICO has launched a completely redesigned learning management system through our subsidiary, Medical Interactive Community (MI).

OCR recently announced the updated version of their rebranded HIPAA Breach Reporting Tool.

You do not have to accept virtual credit cards as payment in your practice!

LAMMICO and Medical Interactive Community recently received Accreditation with Distinction as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the Americ...

OCR has clarified what conditions must be met to allow patient information to be shared with family, friends and the media.

An optimized Medical Interactive Community learning management system means more transformative eLearning for LAMMICO policyholders.

Report 1 measure, on 1 patient, 1 time and you can AVOID THE 4% CMS PENALTY!

The establishment of a legal entity for your practice does not automatically protect you from personal liability.

LAMMICO is proud to announce the appointment of its Chief Financial Officer, Thomas L. McCormick, CPA, to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association...

A recent $1.3 million settlement demonstrates how problematic practices can significantly compound penalties in psychiatric emergency cases.

Providers only need to report on ONE performance category to avoid a CMS penalty this year!

LAMMICO.com will experience a scheduled outage from 1 p.m. on Friday, September 29 to 8 a.m. on Monday, October 2.

There is still time for MIPS Eligible Clinicians to avoid a CMS penalty in 2019.

HHS waives certain HIPAA privacy rule provisions for Texas and Louisiana hospitals affected by Hurricane Harvey.

LAMMICO presents a brief whitepaper highlighting trends and insights from over 900 cyber-related claims closed by NAS in 2016.

LAMMICO-insured physicians are eligible to acquire IDI coverage through LAMMICO’s subsidiary agency, Elatas Risk Partners.

In the United States, four percent of the population is deaf, and they go to hospitals that may not understand them.

Now entering its third year, LAMMICO’s Patient Safety Award and Grant program is increasing the monetary award to a $10,000 grant for the winning hosp...

Physicians show the symptoms of burnout, but health systems foster the problem because of the way they operate.

LAMMICO is expanding our catalog of digital resources to help to help practices, including those owned by our hospital insureds.

LAMMICO is proud to provide CME for this year’s SIDM Diagnostic Error in Medicine conference.

Practice Solutions is a one-stop collection of resources and services to help mitigate the risk of a malpractice claim and help make the business of m...

In the event of a hurricane, we are confident in the strength of our business continuity efforts to ensure that we can continue to serve you with mini...

A.M. Best, recently awarded LAMMICO an “A” (Excellent) rating for 2016.

This brief exercise can help gauge whether or not your stress levels are increasing to help you prevent burnout.

There are many constructive alternatives that medical professionals can apply to ill-fated relationships with their patients.

To the criminally-minded, Protected Health Information (PHI) can be as precious as jewels.

In spite of undeniable clinical evidence, 90% of modern pediatricians encounter parents who hesitate to vaccinate their children.

Practice Solutions is a one-stop resource to help LAMMICO policyholders with the daily challenges of managing their practice.

Cast Your Proxy Vote by August 6, 2017!

Read the full issue of The LINK Vol. 36 No. 3, Q3 2017.

QPP 2018 is essentially more of the same, but could be even better!