ASSET PROTECTION: Records Verification

By Rick Kahler MSFP CFP®

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OVER HEARD IN THE FINANCIAl ADVISOR’S LOUNGE

A basic strategy for asset protection is to hold various assets in different entities. Putting real estate, small businesses, and other assets into trusts, corporations, or limited liability companies (LLCs) is effective protection that is relatively easy to put into practice. Not only do I recommend this strategy to clients, I use it myself. Recently, however, I discovered a potential downside.

About 25 years ago, I invested in some rare coins in a corporation I owned and put them into a safe deposit box owned by the corporation. When my business relocated 12 years ago, the safe deposit box billing was not forwarded to the new address and was never paid again. Last year I went to retrieve the coins from the safe deposit box, which I had not visited in 25 years. I discovered the box had been drilled open three years earlier and my collection turned over to the unclaimed property division of the State Treasurer’s office.

I was told getting the coins back would be simple enough. I just needed to verify that I owned the company which owned them by providing the corporation’s tax ID number. However, the corporation no longer existed. I didn’t have a record of its tax ID number. The IRS wouldn’t verify the number without my giving them the address the company had used. That address was a post office box number that I no longer used and couldn’t remember. The state’s position was “no tax ID, no coins.” The only verification of my identity as owner of the corporation was my signature on the bank’s safe deposit box application. Eventually, with the support of bank officers who were willing to swear that I was who I claimed to be, I got my coin collection back.  The hassle involved in this process was a reminder of an important component of asset protection. Maintain accurate records so you don’t end up hiding assets from yourself.

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A good start is to create a master file of all the entities that hold your assets. This can be any system that’s easy for you to use: a computer spreadsheet, a set of file folders, or a single paper list. Share it as appropriate with your CPA, attorney, or financial planner. The master list should include the name of each company, its date of incorporation, tax ID number, address, and other relevant information like phone or bank account numbers. Also keep an inventory of the assets each company owns.

Once you’ve created a master list, it’s essential to keep it up to date as you buy or sell assets, close companies, or transfer ownership. Set up a system, as well, to remind yourself of tasks like filing tax returns, completing minutes of annual meetings, and paying the annual safe deposit box rent. Make your record-keeping easier by eliminating unnecessary complications.

For example, you probably don’t need a separate address for each trust, corporation, or LLC. Instead of creating a separate company for each asset, you might consider grouping smaller assets within one entity. I’d suggest first discussing the pros and cons with an attorney or financial planner. For larger assets like real estate, I do recommend holding each one separately.

When I talk to clients about asset protection, I mention that part of the price we pay for it is an increase in paperwork. It’s easy to accept that idea with casual good intentions. The case of my reclaimed coin investment is a good reminder of the importance of keeping up with that paperwork. If we don’t, we might protect ourselves right out of access to our own assets.

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ABBREVIATIONS GLOSSARY: Risk Management, Insurance and Asset Protection for Physicians

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.HealthDictionarySeries.org

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RISK MANAGEMENT, LIABILITY INSURANCE AND ASSET PROTECTION ABBREVIATIONS

[Glossary of Important Acronyms]

Much has been written and much has been opined on the topic of medical risk management, insurance, asset protection and professional liability for physicians and healthcare providers in this textbook; and elsewhere.

But occasionally, we all still get lost in a wide array of abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms that are constantly changing in this ecosystem.

And so, this glossary serves as a ready reference for those who want to know about these medical risk management definitions in a quick and ready fashion.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

AAASC             American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers

AAHP                American Association of Health Plans

ABN                  advance beneficiary notice

ABQAUR          American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review

ACE                   acute care episode

ACHCE             American College of Health Care Executives

ACS                   American College of Surgeons

ADA                  Americans with Disabilities Act

ADC                  average daily census

ADL                  activities of daily living

ADT                  Admission/Discharge/Transfer

AHA                  American Hospital Association

AHIMA             American Health Information Management Association

AHRQ               Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

AI                      average inventory

AIMR                Association for Investment Management and Research

AIR                    assumed interest rate

ALE                   annualized loss expectancy

ALF                   assisted living facility

ALOS                average length of stay

AMA                 American Medical Association

AMBAC            AMBAC Indemnity Corporation

AMGA               American Medical Group Association

ANSI                 American National Standards Institute

AP                     accounts payable

APA                  American Psychiatric Association

APC                   ambulatory payment classification

APG                   ambulatory payment group

APR                   annual percentage rate

AR                     accounts receivable

ASA                   American Society of Appraisers

ASC                   ambulatory surgery centers; also Accredited Standards Committee

ASHA                American Surgical Hospital Association

ASO                   administrative services only

ASTC                 ancillary service technical component

ATM                  asynchronous transfer mode

AVG                  ambulatory visit group

BANTA             best alternative to negotiated agreement

BBA                  Balanced Budget Act of 1997

BBRA                Balanced Budget Refinement Act [1999]

BCP                   business continuity planning

BEA                   break-even analysis

BEP                   break-even point

BIPA                 Benefits Improvement and Protection Act [2000]

BLS                   Bureau of Labor Statistics

BPD                   border protection device

BS                      balance sheet

BSA                   Bank Secrecy Act

BVS                   business valuation standard

CA                     certificate authority

CAC                  Carrier Advisory Committee

CAS                   cost accounting standards

CASB                Cost Accounting Standards Board

CC                     common criteria [for IT Security Evaluation —ISO/IEC 15408];
complication or comorbidity [for MS-DRGs]

CCA                  certified cost accountant

CCC                   cash conversion cycle

CCEVS              common criteria evaluation and validation scheme

CCHIT               Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology

CCU                  critical care unit

CDC                  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDH                  consumer-directed healthcare

CDHP                consumer-directed healthcare plan

CDPM               Clinical Data Project Manager

CDSS                 clinical decision support system

CEO                   Chief Executive Officer

CF                      conversion factor

CFA                   Chartered Financial Analyst

CFO                   Chief Financial Officer

CFR                   Code of Federal Regulations

CHAMP             Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007

CHAMPUS        Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services

CHE                   Certified Healthcare Executive

CHIPS               Center for Healthcare Industry Performance Studies

CIA                    Corporate Integrity Agreement

CIO                    Chief Information Officer

CIP                    Customer Identification Program

CIS                    computer information systems

CLIA                 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act

CLT                   capitation liability theory

CME                  continuing medical education

CMI                   case mix index

CMIO                Chief Medical Information Officer

CMIS                 contribution margin income statement

CMN                  Certificate of Medical Necessity

CMP                  Certified Medical Planner ™

CMS                  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [formerly HCFA]

COD                  cash on delivery

COGME             Council of Graduate Medical Education

COH                  cash on hand

COLA                cost of living allowance

CON                  Certificate of Need

COO                  Chief Operating Officer

COSO                Committee of Sponsoring Organizations

COTS                 commercial off-the-shelf

CPHQ                Certified Physician in Healthcare Quality

CPIM                 Certificate in Production and Inventory Management

CPI-U                Consumer Price Index—urban

CPM                  critical (clinical) path method

CPOE                computerized physician order entry [system]

CPR                   computer-based patient record

CPT                   current procedural terminology

CQI                    continuous quality improvement

CRL                   Certification Revocation List

CRM                  customer relationship management

CRVS                California Relative Value Studies

CSO                   Chief Security Officer

CT scan              computed tomography scan [also called CAT scan]

CUSIP               Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures

CVE                   common vulnerabilities and exposures

CVPA                cost-volume-profit analysis

CY                     calendar year

DAC                  discretionary access control

DBMS                database management system

DCF                   discounted [net] cash flow

DEA                  Drug Enforcement Agency

DHHS                Department of Health and Human Services

DHMR               Designated Healthcare Management Representative

DIO                   days inventory outstanding

DLH                  doctor labor hours

DME                  durable medical equipment

DNFB                discharged, not finally billed

D&O                  directors and officers

DO                     Doctor of Osteopathy

DOA                  dead on arrival

DoD                   Department of Defense

DOJ                   Department of Justice

DOT                  Department of Transportation

DPH                  Department of Public Health

DPM                  Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

DPO                  days payable outstanding

DPP                   direct participation program

DRA                  Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

DRG                  diagnosis-related group

DES                   disease-specific care

DSH                   disproportionate share hospital [adjustment]

DSO                   days sales outstanding

DSS                   decision support system

DVP                  delivery versus payment

DWC                 days working capital

EAP                   Employee Assistance Program

EBDIT               earnings before depreciation, interest and taxes

EBM                  evidence-based medicine

ECP                   Exposure Control Plan

ED                     emergency department

EDI                    Electronic Data Interchange

EDSS                 Executive Decision Support System

EEOC                Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

EHCR                Efficient Healthcare Consumer Response Report

EHO                  emerging healthcare organization

EHR                   electronic health record

EIN                    employer identification number

E&M                  evaluation and management

EMR                  electronic medical record(s)

EMTALA           Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act

EOB                   explanation of benefits

EOMB               Explanation of Medicare Benefits

EOQ                  economic order quantity

EOQC                economic order quantity cost [analysis]

EPA                   Environmental Protection Agency

ePHI                  electronic personal health information

EPO                   exclusive provider organization

EPR                   electronic patient record

EPRI                  Emergency Preparedness Resource Inventory

ERISA               Employee Retirement Income Security Act

ERP                   enterprise resource planning

FACT Act          Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003

FAR                   federal acquisition regulation

FASB                 Financial Accounting Standards Board

FBCA                Federal Bridge Certification Authority

FC                      fixed cost

FCA                   False Claims Act

FDA                   Food and Drug Administration

FEHBP              federal employees health benefits program

FF&E                 furniture, fixtures and equipment

FFS                    fee-for-service

FGIC                  Financial Guaranty Insurance Company

FHA                   Federal Housing Administration

FIFO                  first in first out

FIPS                   Federal Information Processing Standard

FMAP                Federal Medical Assistance Percentage

FMLA                Family Medical Leave Act

FMV                  fair market value                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

FTP                    file transfer protocol

FV                     fair value

  • FY                     fiscal year

GAAP                generally accepted accounting principles

GAO                  [U.S.] Government Accountability Office (name changed in 2004 from General Accounting Office)

GDP                   gross domestic product

GIGO                 garbage in, garbage out

GMC                  guaranteed mortgage certificate

GNMA               Government National Mortgage Association

GNP                   gross national product

GPWW              Group Practice Without Walls

GSA                   General Services Administration

HARA               Healthcare Accounts Receivable Analysis [report]

HCCM               Hierarchical Condition Category Management

HCFA                [former] Health Care Financing Administration

HCFAC              Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Control [program]

HCFMA             Health Care Financial Management Association

HCPCS              healthcare common procedure coding system

HCSS                 Health Care Staffing Services

HD-HCP            high deductible healthcare plan

HEDIS               Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set

HFMA               Healthcare Financial Management Association

HH                     home health

HHA                  home health agency

HHCA               home healthcare agency

HHRG                home health resource group

[D]HHS             [Department of] Health and Human Services

HIM                   health information management

HIMSS               Health Information and Management Systems Society

HIPAA              Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [of 1996]

HIPDB               Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank

HIPPS                health insurance prospective payment system

HIS                    hospital information system

HISAC               Healthcare Information Sharing and Analysis Center

HIT                    healthcare information technology

HMMIS              hospital materials management information system

HMO                 health maintenance organization

HOPPS              hospital outpatient prospective payment system

HR                     Human Resources

HSA                   health systems agency; also health savings account

HSG                   hospital service group

HSRV                hospital-specific relative value

I&A                   identification and authentication

IBA                    Institute of Business Appraisers

IBNR                 incurred but not reported [expenses]

ICD-9-CM          International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [10-CM]

ICP                    inventory conversion period

ICSI                   Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement

IDS                    integrated delivery system; also intrusion detection system

IDTF                  independent diagnostic testing facilities

IHS                    Indian Health Services

IME                   indirect medical education [adjustment]

IOM                   Institute of Medicine

IPA                    Independent Physician Association; also Independent Practice Association

IPPS                  [Medicare] inpatient prospective payment system

IRB                    Institutional Review Boards

IRC                    Internal Revenue Code

IRR                    internal rate of return

IRS                    Internal Revenue Service

ISAC                  Information Sharing and Analysis Center

ISMS                  information security management system

ISO                    International Standards Organization

ISP                     Internet service provider

I-SPY Act          Internet Spyware Prevention Act

IT                       information technology

ITL                    Information Technology Laboratory

ITR                    inventory turnover ratio

JAMA                 Journal of the American Medical Association

JCAHO              [former] Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

[now known as the The Joint Commission-TJC]

JIT                     just-in-time

[inventory management]

LAN                  local area network

LCC                   life-cycle cost

LEP                   limited English proficiency

LIFO                  last in, first out

LIS                     Laboratory Information Systems

LISW                 Licensed Independent Social Worker

LLC                   Limited Liability Company

LLP                   Limited Liability Partnership

LMFT                Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

LPCC                 Licensed Professional Clinical [Mental Health] Counselor

LOS                   length of stay

LVN                  licensed vocational nurse

LPN                   licensed practical nurse

LRAC                long-range average cost

LRRA                Liability Risk Retention Act

LSP                    limited service provider

LTCPP               long-term care pharmacy provider

MABC               medical activity-based costing

MAC                  monitored anesthesia care; also mandatory access control

MB                    marginal benefit

MBT                  Mechanical Biological Treatment [organization]

MC                    marginal cost

MCC                  major complication or co-morbidity

MCM                 mixed cost method

MCO                  managed care organization

MCS                  Monte Carlo Simulation

MD                    medical doctor

MDC                  major diagnostic category

MEC                  modified endowment contract

MedPAC            Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

MGMA              Medical Group Management Association

MI                      Medical Informatics

MIS                    management information services

MLIC                 malpractice liability insurance component

MMA                 Medicare Prescription Drug, Modernization, and Improvement Act of 2003

MMCO              Medicare Managed Care Organizations

MOE                  maximum office efficiency

MPCA               medical practice cost analysis

MPT                  Modern Portfolio Theory

MR                    medical records, marginal revenue

MSA                  medical savings account

MSCI                 Metals Service Center Institute

MS-DRG            Medicare Severity DRG

MSDS                material safety data sheet

MSO                  management services organization

MUD                 medically unnecessary days

MVO                 mean variance optimization

NACVA             National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

NAICS               North American Industry Classification System

NAIP                 National Association of Inpatient Physicians

NAHC               National Association of Healthcare Consultants

NASD                National Association of Securities Dealers

NASDAQ          National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations

NAT                  network address translation

NAV                  net asset value

NBER                National Bureau of Economic Research

NCFFR              National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting

NCPDP              National Council for Prescription Drug Programs

NCQA               National Committee for Quality Assurance

NCUA               National Credit Union Administration

NCVHS             National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics

NDC                  National Drug Code

NEJM                New England Journal of Medicine

NGC                  National Guideline Clearinghouse

NIAP                 National Information Assurance Partnership

NIC                    net interest cost

NIOSH               National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

NIS                    net income statement

NISAC               National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center

NIST                  National Institute of Standards and Technology

NOW account     negotiable order of withdrawal account

NPDB                National Practitioner Data Bank

NPI                    National Provider Identification [number]

NPP                   Notice of Privacy Practices

NPS                   national provider system

NPV                  net present value

NQF                   National Quality Forum

NRC                  National Research Council

NRV                  net-realized accounts receivable value

NSA                   National Security Agency

NTFS                 new technology file system

NTPA                net target profit analysis

NYSE                New York Stock Exchange

OBO                  order book official

OBRA                Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act [of 1989]

OCC                  Option Clearing Corporation

OCR                  optical character recognition; also Office of Civil Rights

OFAC                Office of Foreign Assets Control

OFPP                 Office of Federal Procurement Policy

OID                   original issue discount

OIG                    Office of the Inspector General [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]

OMB                  Office of Management and Budget

OPHC                Office of Prepaid Health Care

OPIM                 other potentially infectious material

OPPS                 outpatient prospective payment system

OS                     operating system

OSI                    open systems interconnect

OR                     operating room

OSHA                Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSJ                    Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction

OTC                   over-the-counter

P4P                    pay-for-performance

P/E                     price to earnings [ratio]

P/R                    price to revenue [ratio]

PAC                   planned amortization certificate

PAY                  post-acquisition year

PC                     [mortgage] participation certificate; also personal computer

PCC                   project cost of capital

PCMCIA            Personal Computer Memory Card International Association

PCP                   primary care physician

PDA                  personal digital assistant

PDX                   Patient Data Exchange

PE[C]                 practice expense [component]

PEO                   professional employer organization

PFS                    patient financial services

PG                     purchasing group

PHA                  public housing authority

PHI                    protected health information

PHN                  Private Health Network

PHO                  physician-hospital organization

PHR                   patient health record

PIN                    personal identification number

PIO                    public information office

PKI                    public/private key informatics/infrastructure

PKIX                 public key infrastructure for X.509 certificates

PLIC                  [mal]practice liability insurance component

PMG                  primary medical group

PM/PM              per member per month

PO                     purchase order

POC                   point-of-care

POL                   physician office laboratory

POS                   point-of-service

POSP                 point of service plan

PP                      projection profile

PP&E                property, plant, and equipment

PPE                   personal protective equipment

PPMC                physician practice management company

PPO                   preferred provider organization

PPS                    [Medicare] prospective payment system

PR                     pregnancy and related conditions

PROM               programmable read-only memory

PSI                     patient safety indicator

PSN                   provider-sponsored network

PSO                   provider-sponsored organization

Pt                       patient

PTO                   paid time off

PWC                  physician work component

PY                     projected year

QA                     quality assurance

QI                      quality improvement

RA                     registration authority

RADIUS            remote authentication dial-in user service

RAN                  Revenue Anticipation Note

RBAC                role-based access control

RBRVG             resource-based relative value group

RBRVS              resource-based relative value scale

RBRVU             resource-based relative value unit

RDBMS             regional database management system

REIT                  real estate investment trust

RERVU             resource-based relative value unit

REV/PP             revenue per patient

RFI                    request for information

RFID                  radio frequency identification device [scanner]

RFP                   request for payment

RHIO                 Regional Health Information Organization

RN                     Registered Nurse

RNANS             Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia

ROE                   return on equity

ROI                    return on investment

ROM                  read-only memory

ROP                   re-order point

RRG                   risk-retention group

RSNA                Radiological Society of North America

RUG-III             resource utilization group III

RVS                   relative value scale

RVUm               relative value unit – malpractice

RVUpe               relative value unit – practice expenses

RVUw               relative value unit – work

rWACC              relative weighted average cost of capital

S&P                   Standard and Poor’s

SaaS                   Software-as-a-Service

SAMHSA           Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAN                   storage area network

SARS                 Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome

SBBI                  Stocks, Bonds, Bills and Inflation [Yearbook]

SCIM                 supply chain inventory management

SCF                    statement of cash flows

SCM                  supply chain management

SCP                   standard cost profile

SD                     standard deviation

SDLC                 system development life cycle

SDN                   specially designated nationals

SDO                   standards development organization

SEC                   Securities and Exchange Commission

SERP                 supplemental extended reporting policy

SESIP                sharps with engineered sharps injury protection

SHM                  Society of Hospital Medicine

SIC                    Standard Industrial Code

SIPC                  Securities Investor Protection Corporation

SLA                   service level agreement

SMA                  special miscellaneous account

SMD                  Society of Medical Dental Management Consultants

SMS                   socioeconomic monitoring system

SMTP                simple mail transfer protocol

SNF                   skilled nursing facility

SNMP                simple network management protocol

SP                      special publication

SSH                   single-specialty hospitals

SSL                    secure socket layer

STP                    standard treatment protocol

SVPN                secure virtual private network

TEL                   Terror Exclusion List

TFC                   total fixed cost

TIC                    true interest cost

TIN                    tax identification number

TLS                    transport layer security

TPA                   third party administrator

TQIM                 total quality and improvement management

TQM                  total quality management

UCC                  Uniform Commercial Code

UCSF                 University of California at San Francisco

UDP                  user datagram protocol

UFS                   unix file system

UIIRC                University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center

UM                    utilization management

UPIN                 Unique Provider Identification Number

UR                     utilization review

USPAP              Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices

v                        variance

VA                     Veterans Affairs

VAR                  value at risk

VC                     variable cost

VOC                  volatile organic chemicals

VPN                  virtual private network

WACC               weighted average cost of capital

WAN                 wide area network

WHO                 World Health Organization

WIA                   weighted industry average

WORM              wrote once-read many

READINGS

  • Marcinko, DE and Hetico, RN: Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care. Springer Publishing, New York, NY 2007
  • Marcinko, DE and Hetico, RN: Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security. Springer Publishing, New York, NY 2009
  • Marcinko, DE and Hetico, RN: Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance. Springer Publishing, New York, NY 2008

EDUCATION: Books

HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION BLOGS 

  • Candid CIO: Will Weider, CIO of Ministry Health Care and Affinity Health System, offers his perspectives on administration issues in this blog.
  • Christina’s Considerations: Christina Thielst is a hospital and healthcare administrator and entrepreneur with a deep desire for continually improving the health of the community being served. This is her blog.
  • Healing Hospitals — Formerly Ask a Hospital President: F. Nicholas “Nick” Jacobs has more than 20 years experience in hospital management, with an acknowledged reputation for innovation and consumer-centered leadership.
  • Hospital Impact: Part of the Fierce network of health sites, this site is becoming popular among healthcare administrators for its news updates, tips and opinions on health care matters.
  • Leading the Way to Medical Excellence: the president of McLeod Health non-profit institutions provides weekly insights into his facilities and health care in general.
  • Let’s Talk Health Care: Bruce Bullen, Interim Chief Executive Officer at Harvard Pilgrim in Massachusetts, provides and open and ongoing conversation about health care administration.
  • Life as a Healthcare CIO: Dr. John Halamka records his experiences with infrastructure, applications, policies, management, and governance as he supports 3,000 doctors, 18,000 faculty and about three million patients.
  • Managed Care Matters: Joe Paduda shares his knowledge on managed care for group health, health policy, health research, and medical news for insurers, employers, and healthcare providers.
  • More than Medicine: Tom Quinn, president and CEO of Community General Hospital in Syracuse, New York, began his career as a hospital kitchen worker. His perspective on administration reflects his knowledge on how hospitals work from every angle.
  • Regis University Health Services Administration Blog: Learn more about a college health service through the blog provided by its health administrator, Michael Jackson.
  • Running a Hospital: A CEO of a large Boston hospital shares thoughts on hospitals, medicine and health care issues.
  • St. Joseph Medical Center: Chief Executive Officer at St. Joseph Medical Center in Missouri, Mr. Kashman, provides personal insight into administrative matters and general topics.
  • Todd’s Perspective: Todd Linden, president and CEO of Grinnell Regional Medical Center, offers insights into medical administration and guest bloggers provide insight into various departments.
  • Wachter’s World: This blog focuses on hospitals, hospitalists, quality, safety, policy and much more from Robert M. Wachter, MD, Professor and Associate Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

                 Legal Matters

  • Drug and Device Law: This blog contains an attorney’s personal views (and those of several other Dechert attorneys) on topics that arise in the defense of pharmaceutical and medical device product liability litigation.
  • Drug Injury Watch: Learn more about drug injury lawsuits from an attorney who represents patients and their families.
  • FDA Law Blog: Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is the largest dedicated food and drug law firm in the country. Their knowledge about laws and regulations governing drugs, medical devices, foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics is helpful to anyone interested in these topics.
  • Health Care Law Blog: Bob Coffield’s expertise lies in helping businesses and health care providers weave through a variety of state and federal health care regulations and assisting them in business transactions.
  • Health Plan Law: This site contains information about group health plans, claims administration and related ERISA fiduciary issues. This site also contains tutorials.
  • HealthBlawg: this is David Harlow’s popular health care law blog, offering expert insights and easy-to-understand analysis.
  • Healthcare Law Blog: Holland & Hart’s healthcare practice provides insight into this arena, including HIPAA, Stark law, the Anti-kickback Statute and more.
  • HIPAA Blog: Join in on this discussion of medical privacy issues often buried in “political arcana.”
  • HIPAA, HiTech & HIT: This updated blog brings insight into legal issues, developments and other pertinent information that relates to the creation, use and exchange of electronic health records.
  • HIT Blawg: This blog is focused on national health information technology legal trends and current news on this topic.
  • Home Care Law Blog: Learn more about legal and policy issues in the home health care, private duty and hospice industries from Gilliland & Markette LLP.
  • Med Law Blog: This law blog focuses on topics that range from compliance to contracts and from employee benefits to HIPAA and HIT.
  • Physician Law: This blog provides and easy way to stay on top of current news, updates and useful tips relating to legal issues that affect physicians and non-institutional providers.

                 eHealth and Health IT

  • Chilmark Research: This blog provides perspectives on key IT trends in the healthcare sector.
  • davidrothman.net: David is the Information Services Specialist at the Community General Hospital Medical Library, but he also provides great ideas for 2.0 tools and tips for healthcare industry professionals on this blog.
  • e-CareManagement blog: Vince Kuraitis, owner of Better Health Technologies, LLC, has a passion for disease management and care coordination that dates back to 1995.
  • e-HealthExpert: A non-profit organization provides a free and open forum to support the development of expertise in the field of eHealth, Healthcare Information Systems, and Health IT (Clinical IT).
  • eHealth: John Sharp is an IT Manager for a major medical center in Northeast Ohio, with a focus on ehealth, personal health records, Web 2.0 technologies, Windows Sharepoint Services and project management.
  • Found In Cache: If you would prefer a professional’s take on social media matters, Web sites and all things technological, then follow Ed Bennett, a technology expert for a Maryland medical care system.
  • Future Health IT: A health IT and EPR advocate from the UK provides a format to discuss the future of health care and IT.
  • Informaticopia: This UK blogger provides eclectic news and views on health informatics and elearning.
  • MedGadget: Stay ahead of the gadget curve with this site, which offers information about the newest health care gadgets on the market as well as emerging medical technologies.
  • Neil Versel’s Healthcare IT Blog: A healthcare journalist’s provides his views on the major segment of the industry he covers — and, he provides a ton of links to other sites as well.
  • Schwartz Healthcare IT Blog: A variety of authors from Schwartz Communications provide insights into ways to use IT effectively within healthcare facilities.
  • The Health IT Channel: For a different perspective on IT and EHR as well as other health care issues, watch a few videos at this site.
  • The Healthcare IT Guy: The CEO of Netspective, a Java/.NET consultancy that specializes in healthcare IT with an emphasis on e-health, EMRs, data integration, and legacy modernization, supplies tips and information for physicians and healthcare administration.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: To Mackenzie H. Marcinko PhD of iMBA Inc., Perry D’Alessio CPA CMP™ [Hon] New York, NY; and Daniel B.  Moisand CFP®, Principal for Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, Melbourne, FL.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

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RISK MANAGEMENT & LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR PHYSICIANS

And … Their Insurance Agents and Financial Advisors

INVITE DR. MARCINKO: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-

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By DR. DAVID EDWARD MARCINKO MBA CMP®

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SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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BOOK REVIEW

It is not uncommon for practicing physicians to have more than a dozen separate insurance policies to protect their medical practice and personal assets. Yet, most doctors understand very little about their policies.BOOK REVIR

Risk Management, Liability Insurance, and Asset Protection Strategies for Doctors and Advisors: Best Practices from Leading Consultants and Certified Medical Planners™explains to physicians and insurance professionals the background, theory, and practicalities of medical risk management, asset protection methods, and insurance planning.

The book presents information in a manner that is convenient and highly useful for busy medical practitioners. It discusses the medical records revolution and addresses concerns regarding cloud computing, data security, and technological threats.

The book covers modern health law and policy, including fraud and abuse, workplace-violence, Medicare compliance, HIPAA regulations, AR protection strategies with internal controls, P4P and value based care, insurance and reputation management, and how the ARA legislation is impacting physician practices. It also includes case models and examples that provide you with a real-world understanding of how to recognize and reduce personal and medical practice risks.

With time at a premium for all, and so much information packed into one well-organized resource, this book is a must-read for every physician and financial advisor that serves the health care sector. The book will help physicians make better decisions about the risks they face and will help financial advisors improve the value they provide to their clients who are doctors.

MORE = ORDER HERE: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

THANK YOU

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OVERHEARD IN THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR’S LOUNGE

On Asset Protection FOR PHYSICIANS

From my perspective, asset protection is a team sport, and lawyers rely on financial advisers all the time to spot issues for clients. We do not all share the opinion that non-lawyers are incapable of giving good advice.

J. Chris Miller JD

Alpharetta, GA

ORDER TEXTBOOK: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

THANK YOU

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Physician Creditor Protection for IRAs, Annuities and Insurance for 2014-15

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A SPECIAL ME-P REPORT

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Asset Protection Planning for Qualified and Non-Qualified Retirement Plans, IRAs, 403(b)s, Education IRAs (Coverdell ESAs), 529 Plans, UTMA Accounts, Health/Medical Savings Accounts (MSA/HSAs), Qualified and Non-Qualified Annuities, Long-Term Care Insurance, Disability Insurance and Group, Individual and Business Life Insurance [Ohio Focus]

By Edwin P. Morrow III; JD LLM MBA CFP® RFC®

[©2007-12-14. All rights reserved. USA]

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Hi Ann,

A couple years ago you posted an earlier version of the attached Asset Protection Outline. I updated it to include quite a bit more discussion of different protection levels for various kinds of accounts, and included more discussion of states other than Ohio, including a 50 state chart with IRA/403b protections.

So please delete the old one and replace with this one which contains more topics, including some substantial discussion of issues regarding current class action litigation jeopardizing asset protection for Schwab and Merrill Lynch IRAs.

Regards
Ed

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The Importance of Asset Protection as Part of Financial and Estate Planning for Doctor’s and Medical Professionals

Asset Protection has become a ubiquitous buzz-word in the legal and financial community. It often means different things to different people. It may encompass anything from buying umbrella liability insurance to funding offshore trusts.

What is most likely to wipe out a client’s entire net worth? An investment scam, investment losses, a lawsuit, divorce or long-term health care expenses? “Asset Protection” may be construed to address all of these scenarios, but this outline will cover risk from non-spousal creditors as opposed to risk from bad investments, divorce, medical bills or excessive spending. Prudent business practice and limited liability entity use (LP, LLP, LLC, Corporation, etc) is the first line of defense against such risks. Similarly, good liability insurance and umbrella insurance coverage is paramount.

However, there is a palpable fear among many of frivolous lawsuits and rogue juries [especially among physicians and medical professionals]. Damages may exceed coverage limits. Moreover, insurance policies often have large gaps in coverage (e.g. intentional torts, “gross” negligence, asbestos or mold claims, sexual harassment).

As many doctors in Ohio know all too well, malpractice insurance companies can fail, too. Just as we advise clients regarding legal ways to legitimately avoid income and estate taxes or qualify for benefits, so we advise how to protect family assets from creditors. Ask your clients, “What level of asset protection do you want for yourself?

For the inheritance you leave to your family?” Do any clients answer “none” or “low”? Trusts that are mere beneficiary designation form or POD/TOD substitutes are going out of style in favor of “beneficiary-controlled trusts”, “inheritance trusts” and the like.

Table of Contents

While effort is made to ensure the material is accurate, this material is not intended as legal advice and no one may rely on it as such. Sections II(d), II(i), V, VI and XI were updated Feb 2012, but much of the material and citations have not been verified since 2010. Permission to reprint and share with fellow bar members is granted, but please contact author for updates if more than a year old.

T.O.C. [Page Number]

I. Importance of Asset Protection 2

II. State and Federal Protections Outside ERISA or Bankruptcy 4

a. Non-ERISA Qualified Plans: SEP, SIMPLE IRAs 5

b. Traditional and Roth IRAs, “Deemed IRAs” 7

c. Life Insurance 9

d. Long-Term Care, Accident/Disability Insurance 13

e. Non-Qualified Annuities 13

f. Education IRAs (now Coverdell ESAs) 16

g. 529 Plans 17

h. Miscellaneous State and Federal Benefits 18

i. HSAs, MSAs, FSAs, HRAs 18

III. Federal ERISA Protection Outside Bankruptcy 20

IV. Federal Bankruptcy Scheme of Creditor Protection 26

V. Non-Qualified Deferred Comp – Defying Easy Categorization 30

VI. Breaking the Plan – How Owners Can Lose Protection 32

(incl Prohibited Transactions and Schwab/Merrill Lynch IRA problems) 35

VII. Post-Mortem – Protections for a Decedent’s Estate 51

VIII. Post-Mortem – State Law Protections for Beneficiaries 52

IX. Post-Mortem – Bankruptcy Protections for Beneficiaries 54

X. Dangers and Advantages of Inheriting Through Trusts 56

XI. Piercing UTMA/UGMA and Other Third Party Created Trusts 59

XII. Exceptions for Spouses, Ex-Spouses and Dependents 61

XIII. Exceptions when the Federal Government (IRS) is Creditor 62

XIV. Fraudulent Transfer (UFTA) and Other Exceptions 68

XV. Disclaimer Issues – Why Ohio is Unique 69

XVI. Medicaid/Government Benefit Issues 71

XVII. Liability for Advisors 72

XVIII. Conflicts of Law – Multistate Issues 73

XIX. Conclusions 75

Appendices

A. Ohio exemptions – R.C. §2329.66 (excerpt), §3911.10, §3923.19 78

B. Bankruptcy exemptions – 11 U.S.C. § 522 excerpts 80

C. Florida IRA exemption – Fla Stat. § 222.21 (note-may be outdated) 85

D. Sal LaMendola’s Inherited IRA Win/Loss Case Chart 86

E. Multistate Statutory Debtor Exemption Chart 88

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Assessment

This outline will discuss the sometimes substantial difference in legal treatment and protection for various investment vehicles and retirement accounts, with some further discussion of important issues to consider when trusts receive such assets.

Beware of general observations like: “retirement plans, insurance, IRAs and annuities are protected assets” – that may often be true, but Murphy’s law will make your client the exception to the general rules. The better part of this outline is pointing out those exceptions.

2012 WHITE PAPER LINK:

Creditor Protection for IRAs Annuities Insurance Nov 19 2010 WC CLE Feb 2012 update

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2014 WHITE PAPER LINK UPDATE:

Optimal Basis Increase Trust Aug 2014

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mr. Edwin P. Morrow III, a friend of the Medical Executive-Post, is a Wealth Specialist and Manager, Wealth Strategies Communications Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law Key Private Bank Wealth Advisory Services. 10 W. Second St., 27th Floor Dayton, OH 45402. He is an ME-P “thought leader”.

Constructive criticism or other comments welcome.

Conclusion

Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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About LegallyMine.Org

The National Foundation for Asset Protection

[By Staff Reporters]

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Legally Mine is a new name for a company formally known as The National Foundation for Asset Protection. The name change reflects the fact that they are a for-profit company and always have been.

Company Focus

The focus of the company is the education of professionals on the best tools available in the US for the purpose of asset protection.

Healthcare

Medical practitioners have taken a particularly hard hit from trial attorneys, and for years the firm has been the nation’s largest champion in defending them. However; they are not alone and many other professionals find themselves staring down the barrel of a legal shotgun. According to their website, Legally Mine knows the right tools to use in order to stop the loss of assets to legal pariahs, as well as the tools needed to lower tax bills. They not only know the right tools and how to use them, but reportedly know how to teach these concepts to others.

Assessment

The purpose and goals of Legally Mine is to teach professional associations how and why these tools will work and how to implement them.

Visit: http://www.legallymine.org/index.html 

Conclusion

Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors

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