One professional from the American Academy of Professional Coders corrects a perception in a prior article and one patient praises her physician, who was featured in the magazine.

Fascinating, fun and feel-good stuff from life in medicine.

Here are ways to improve your practice with the right technology solutions.

Thomas Horowitz, DO * Stanley Galant, MD * Jack Moore, MD * William Wesley Fields, MD * Greg Super, MD

The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative pays bonuses while helping the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plan for a larger and more permanent system.

In a move tagged by the California Medical Association as "the cause of extreme concern to California's physician community," the California Department of Managed Health Care delayed from July 19 to Aug. 7 a public hearing examining the business activities of Blue Cross of California since it was acquired.

Physicians Fighting to Fend Off Steep Medicare Payment Cuts * Scholarship Lifts Local Student

Doctors realize that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but getting patients that ounce can be tons of trouble. Standing in the way are structural problems, payment problems and sometimes even the patients themselves. However, the fact remains that diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension are partly preventable, and California's healthcare reformers have high hopes they can help.

This is the first article in a two-part series examining key medical group contracts. The second article will focus on physician employment agreements.

A carefully drafted buy-sell agreement is essential for a medical group's long-term well-being.  Here are seven key considerations.

Here are eight ideas that may help you get more functionally out of your system.

Due to the antitrust restrictions on the freedom with which physicians can negotiate with insurance companies and the discussions that we can have with each other, LACMA cannot and will not urge physicians to take any concerted action as a group with respect to the latest Blue Cross fee schedule alterations. However, every physician must be cognizant of his practice overhead and margin to ensure practice survival while making a reasonable income given the long years of training, steep education loans, and return on investment of time and energy.

Jonathan Fielding, MD, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, met with members of LACMA District 1 at the association's headquarters on June 21 to call for more joint activities.

To officially commence the presidency of David Aizuss, MD, the Los Angeles County Medical Association held a June 20 installation banquet at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles attended by about 50 association members and their families.

It has been necessary to temporarily reduce the rate of interim reimbursement. Funds left in the pool, including the reserve amount, will first be used to raise the level of reimbursement for physicians who have received the reduced interim payment amounts.

The debate surrounding American medical care prattles with many unworkable myths. Join me as I examine four of the myths.

In the May issue of Southern California Physician, I discussed the hiring process. While pre-employment interviews are a source of management anxiety, employee terminations are always at the top of any manager's "hate-to-do" list. And for good reason. The chance of being sued increases greatly if a termination meeting is mishandled.

The Riverside County Foundation for Medical Care, in cooperation with the Riverside County Medical Association and the County of Riverside, is the administrator of the Maddy/Emergency Medical Services Fund (EMSF) program. This fund reimburses physicians for unpaid emergency room claims.

An anesthesiologist and pain management specialist from Riverside, Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, has been re-elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. Dr. Patchin's re-election was confirmed at the June AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The California Medical Association House of Delegates wants your resolutions! The deadline to submit them is Aug. 28, 2007. E-mail resolutions to jvale@rcmanet.org. A reply will be sent to you confirming receipt.

Not engaging in self-obsolescence results in inertia and resistance to change. "This is how we have always done it around here." "It has always worked before, so why change now?" These arguments are enhanced because of the strong bottom line. Yet the wise leader will push onward to reward change advocates and cherish the innovative minds that challenge the status quo.

During the Installation of Officers event on June 21 at the Mission Inn, Alton Garrett, senior advisor for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, read Sen. Boxer's speech concerning Ronald Bangasser, MD, that was entered into the Congressional Record. At right, Garrett presents a framed excerpt of the Congressional Record to Susan Bangasser, PhD, as a tribute to her late husband.

Awards were presented to three physicians and one dentist for their outstanding contributions.

Submitting a resolution to the California Medical Association House of Delegates gives you direct input on the direction of organized medicine while enhancing the value of your Ventura County Medical Association membership. Paying your dues is only the beginning of your participation; you must think and act like a member. Involve yourself in the association's democratic process.

Ventura County Medical Association Member David Harris, MD, an adventure junkie, shares tales of voyages and family life.