Readying for Another Round of Audits Medicaid Integrity Program Audits Coming Soon to Tennessee Just when you thought you were beginning to get a handle on RAC ... here comes MIP, ZPIC and OIG. More than just another round of the federal government’s favorite game of “Guess the Acronym,” these particular letters could spell big trouble for providers across the nation. CINDY SANDERS

Hospitals, legislators working on plan to fill reimbursement gap JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.–Hospitals across Tennessee are working with state legislators on a plan to fill the $540 million hospital reimbursement gap in TennCare being proposed in the upcoming budget by Gov. Phil Bredesen to take effect on July 1.

Clinically Speaking: Advanced Laboratory Tests Assist Physicians in Fight Against Colorectal Cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death for men and women in the United States. Unfortunately, despite well-defined recommendations, compliance with screening protocols remains suboptimal. However, for those patients diagnosed with CRC, there are several new and novel molecular and cellular diagnostic assays to assist the clinician with patient management decisions, including treatment selection and clinical course monitoring. It is anticipated that, as the demand for personalized medicine grows so will the availability of these innovative laboratory tests. Nicholas Potter, PhD, FACMG

The Bottom Line: Pearls of Wisdom University of Tennessee athletics has endured all manners of disappointments from a minute group of student athletes in the last year. Coach Bruce Pearl took quick and decisive actions against players involved in an apparent armed robbery attempt. Some of the behaviors were so onerous and criminal that players were terminated from their positions on the team and lost their scholarships. Others, who were less involved, and simply influenced by the action of the main culprits, were suspended for a few games. BILL MORRIS

My Practice is Worth What? The Need for Valuation Many physicians work their entire careers in private practice and only think of the value created on two occasions: when buying a practice and when selling a practice. These, of course, are the most pressing times to address value, but they are not the only ones. Just as most physicians recommend a yearly physical, it is recommended that a practice be valued several times during its “life” (at least once every three years). Getting several valuations over the years is a good way for a physician to track his/her progress in building value. Your practice will most likely be one of your largest assets. If handled correctly and developed over the years, it can be a large source of wealth. If you wait until it is time to sell, there is very little that can be done to change and you may be surprised by the value or lack thereof. The following are the three major categories of reasons a practice should be valued. T. BLAKE KING, CPA, MAcc, CVA

Legal Matters: What Is Involved In Analyzing And Reporting The Breach of Unsecured Protected Health Information? Have you ever received a notice that your bank account or credit card may have been compromised? Similar reporting rules now apply to protected health information (PHI) held by providers, insurance companies, health care clearinghouses and their business associates. These rules require methods to detect, analyze and notify patients, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the news media of breaches of unsecured PHI in both paper and electronic form. This rule is in effect and is enforceable as of February 22, 2010. RANDY SERMONS

Advances, Options Offer Hope for Breast Cancer Patients Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease among women in Tennessee and the second leading cause of death, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. As a surgeon in Knoxville, Randal Graham, MD, knows he is often the first, and sometimes the last, hope for patients seeking treatment for breast cancer. SCOTT BROOKS

Mapping Out a Plan of Attack The Cancer Genome Atlas Provides Repository for Data, Discoveries The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a comprehensive effort to create a data repository for the discoveries and findings of more than 150 of the nation’s top researchers who are working in concert on specific cancer types. These scientists, who are based out of more than two dozen renowned institutions, are systematically mapping genomic changes to create a cancer atlas accessible to all who are searching for better methods to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. CINDY SANDERS

Disruptive Behavior is Bad for Patients Survey Reveals Troubling Conduct in the Healthcare Environment Being a good member of a team means playing well with others, but a recent survey by the American College of Physician Executives reveals that disruptive behavior by professional members of healthcare teams compromises patient safety, undermines cooperation and makes going to work a miserable experience. SHARON H. FITZGERALD

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Patient-Centered Practices: New Regional Cancer Center Opens Doors and Hope to East Tennessee Cancer Patients As patients enter the doors of the new Regional Cancer Center in Johnson City, the unexpected surrounds them: not the cold, gloomy façade of a typical waiting room. Instead, they find a comforting, spa-like atmosphere and providers who are equipped and ready to offer the latest in medical oncology treatment options. BRIDGET GARLAND

Physician to Physician: Patients versus Process An inherent difficulty that each of us within the healthcare system faces is our ability to balance process versus patients. It seems we all have one process for our patients to enter the office or healthcare facility, another for them to be accurately identified, and another for them to efficiently receive the appropriate utilization of our diagnostic armory. Without argument, these are a necessary sign of the times in which we live. In no way do I wish to demean the importance of any of these very important facets that to me represent a necessity when it comes to caring for our patients. Jeffrey W. Schoondyke, MD, MPH, FACC, CCDS