By Michael Sacopulos, Esq, Jeff Segal

People don't like uncertainty. Sociologists teach us that structural ambiguity motivates individuals to seek security and certainty. Well, it's difficult to imagine an industry with a more uncertain future than healthcare. Congress passes laws and regulations by the ream. Third party payers behave more and more like slot machines in the Las Vegas Airport. Patients misinterpret the complexity of medical care by Google searches. What a mess... Who won't want to hit the Staples "Easy Button?"

By Jeffrey J. Denning

In some specialties and locations, it's becoming increasingly hard to attract new associates to practices wishing to grow or replace physicians who exit. Maybe they should rethink the offer package to be more competitive.

By Carole C. Foos, CPA, David B. Mandell, JD, MBA

As we approach the 4th quarter of the year, most of our clients now have a fairly good idea on what their taxable income will be for 2011. If you are like these clients, you may be wondering "Is there anything I can do NOW to save taxes on April 15th"? The answer is very likely "yes." This short article will lay out a few ideas - each of them could save you tens of thousands of dollars on your 2011 income tax bill, depending on your facts and circumstances.

By Edward Kuhn

Physicians today are required to be sophisticated buyers of liability insurance. Risk lies more as a function of what you do as a specialty and less for how well you perform. Your specialty is the main factor in determining your annual premium. A physician can be the best OB/GYN in the world, but the fact that OB/GYN as a risky specialty class and the annual premium is rated to reflect the risk.

By Jeffrey J. Denning

In today's competitive environment, well-established practices still have sales value... if the conditions are right. That's because it's much easier for physicians to buy a practice and grow it to fit than it is to build one up from a dirt floor. But an unexpected and unplanned practice sale is likely to produce disappointing results.

By David B. Mandell, JD, MBA, Jason O'Dell, CWM, Kimberly Renners, MBA

If you are like most Americans, you feel less secure about the U.S. economy. Certainly, this is justified. While we may be technically out of the recession, our dependence on foreign oil, behemoth deficits, and the weak dollar are all fundamental threats to our national fiscal health and our investment marketplace that are not going away anytime soon. For this reason, it is crucial that savvy investors, including physicians, learn from the past two years and adjust their investment behavior accordingly. This article touches on a few thoughts in this arena.

By Donald Moy, Matthew Talty

Effective January 1, 2011, referring physicians (non-radiologists) who provide MRI, CT and PET scans in their office practices will be required to make certain disclosures and provide information to their Medicare patients or risk violation of the physician self-referral law (Social Security Act Section 1877, also know as the "Stark Law").

By Jane Fink-Silvers

On June 30, 2011, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed legislation that repeals the Ohio Estate tax for decedents dying on or after January 1, 2013. This is a big change to Ohio law that will likely impact every Ohio resident, either directly or indirectly.

By Christopher R. Jarvis, MBA, Jason O'Dell, CWM

In our practices as consultants to physicians nationwide, we see significant estate planning mistakes made by doctors and their families (including their parents) everyday. Fortunately, there are a few simple tools doctors can use to help circumvent such mistakes and allow their families to avoid the unnecessary costs that come with poor planning. Let’s discuss some signs of poor planning and discuss solutions that can help doctors manage these avoidable mistakes.

By Karen Zupko

Direct some of the attention that you've paid to EMR implementation to your business office and you'll likely make significantly more than the stimulus money if you do so.