The Los Angeles County Medical Association and the California Medical Association will host two workshops in mid-July for physician members and office staffers who want guidance in dealing with third-party payer contracts and in improving billing and collections procedures.

Frank Navarro, associate director of the CMA Center for Economic Services, will lead the "Back to Basics" seminar on July 12. Topics will include gaining more control of the bottom line; pitfalls of billing and collections; efficient collections management; payer contract compliance; and resources available to LACMA and CMA members.

On July 13, Aileen Wetzel, associate director of the CMA Center for Economic Services, will conduct the "Take Charge of Your Third-Party Payer Contracts" workshop. The event will explain how to evaluate current and proposed contracts; which clauses to add or subtract; how to assess a payer's value to your practice; contract termination or negotiation rights; payer contract compliance; and silent PPOs.

Both events will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the auditorium at LACMA's downtown Los Angeles headquarters. The cost for each seminar is $49 per person for members and their staffers, or $150 per person for nonmembers. For more information, call the LACMA Economic Advocacy Department at 213/226-0338.