Tools and resources provided by CMA to empower the physician practice.

Practice Tips

• 70% of Zero-Pays Can Be Successfully Appealed
• Understand your denial trends and drivers.
• Read and understand health plan contracts before signing.
• Check patients' insurance eligibility at each office visit.

Collecting Receivables

• Does your practice perform the proper steps to collect all payments due for your services?
• Do your staff know the steps to assert your rights?

We offer tips, resources, contacts and references to help improve collections and where to turn when you need help.

• GETTING PAID: Strategies to Maximize Reimbursement – A Focus on Revenue Collection  

Negotiating with Payors

• Feel victimized by payors?
• Overwhelmed by the process?
• Don’t know where to start?

We provide a simple step-by-step guide to get you organized, evaluate your needs, options and rights and develop your action plan for the difficult process of negotiating with payors.

• Taking Charge: Steps to Evaluating Relationships and Preparing for Negotiations - A Focus on Payor Contracting.

Protecting Yourself Against Payor Abuses

• Do your staff know the regulations that apply to the way health plans treat you?

Twenty two major protections are afforded physician practices under AB 1455. These resources will get you and your staff up to speed on these rules without even having to leave your office.

• Unfair Payment Practices: An Online Presentation
• Payor Abuse Rules
• Payor Abuse Matters—React Now” CD-ROM

For more information on unfair payment practices, see ON-CALL document #1051, “Physician Complaints/Unfair Payment Practices." CMA ON-CALL documents are free to members. Nonmember can purchase ON-CALL documents for $2/page.

Independent IT Vendor Reviews

• Ever wonder how one system compares to another in terms of user satisfaction and did not know where to turn?

We’ve partnered with KLAS Enterprises to help you access customer satisfaction data on all types of health information technology.

Electronic Claims

• Have older technology and need to submit electronic claims?
• Lacking information technology staff to address the complexities of HIPAA transactions and code sets? 
• Want an easy to use clearinghouse that is physician friendly and provides status reports on all claims in one easy-to-find location?

We think you deserve no less and have a capable partner to help you meet your needs.

Drug Reference Information

• Would having the equivalent of a PDR in your pocket be useful?
• Would you like to know the retail price of a drug your patient needs and the cost of options?
• Would being able to check potential interactions for multiple drugs and over the counter meds in a few seconds appeal to you?

ePocrates gives CMA members a price break. We’re working to expand their access to formulary information to reduce one more hassle in your day.

Practice Cost Data

• Have you wondered how your costs compare to your peers?

CMA’s Practice Cost Study offers details on the cost experience of California practices and represents a unique resource to understand costs of small practices. Wouldn’t you like to have one?

Other Resources for Members

• Payer Profiles: Information on where to go and who to call for assistance in major California payers.
• Reimbursement Helpline – experienced staff to coach you through your payor headaches or intercede on your behalf.

Other Links:

• Practice Tip Index
• Practice Tip: Read and understand health plan contracts before signing
• Practice Tip: Check patients' insurance and eligibility at each office visit
• PRACTICE TIP: Understand your denial trends and drivers