03.13.14

What is UBIT?
Jeffrey Chiles

One of the most attractive aspects of a not-for-profit organization is the ability to operate and produce income which is not subject to taxation. While this is generally the rule, there are situations where activities conducted by an organization can generate unrelated business taxable income. This post focuses on the definition of unrelated business income tax (UBIT) and what activities may trigger UBIT.

03.11.14

Harnessing Best Practices in Claim Denial Management

Claim denials are a huge financial drain on physician practices. If nothing is done to reverse a denial, the revenue that it represents is lost to the practice. Fortunately, there are some best practices that can help manage claims denied by payers. This article discusses how to keep a claim “clean” in the first place, how to respond to a claim denial and how to prevent future denials. A Sidebar looks at analyzing data to reveal the root causes of denials.

03.04.14

Strategies to Boost 401(k) Plan Participation

According to the Department of Labor, about one-third of eligible employees do not participate in their employer’s 401(k) plan. But 401(k) plan participation benefits both employees and employers. This article looks at why participation matters and strategies to help increase participation numbers.

02.28.14

Plan For Problems Before You Open Your Restaurant
Izzy Kharasch

The problems restaurants face during openings are endless. A number of restaurants that have recently opened are now experiencing problems with some of their brand new equipment. While this is a big problem, it is not as bad as it could have been. When opening a new restaurant, you need to plan for equipment problems far in advance of even the purchase and installation process. Buying equipment is a lot like buying a new car. You need to put a few miles on it before you know what adjustments need to be made in order to achieve peak performance.

02.26.14

How Should I Handle Nonrecourse Loan Carve-Outs?

Like many borrowers, you may be drawn to nonrecourse loans because the arrangements can shield you from personal liability. But they do not provide protection in all cases. “Carve-outs” in the loan documents can saddle you with full liability if violated. However, you may be able to minimize personal liability for violations through savvy negotiating.

02.25.14

Should You Join Forces With Another Not-For-Profit?

Forming an alliance with a like-minded organization can be a smart strategic move for a not-for-profit organization, but it is important to think things through thoroughly before making the leap. The process begins with examining the organization’s motives and then determining whether a joint venture or a strategic alliance would be more appropriate. Once you have determined reasons for uniting goals, identifying and performing due diligence on the other organization becomes essential.

02.19.14

For Income-Seekers, Municipal Bonds May be Worth a Look
Adam J. Pechin

Municipal bonds (often referred to as “munis”) can be attractive to income-seeking investors because they provide an income stream exempt from federal and, in certain cases, state and local income taxes. As this article explains, they traditionally have been of greatest use for upper-income taxpayers, but they are not without risks, such as vulnerability to higher interest rates and the risk that a bond issuer will not be able to repay its debts. A sidebar shows how to compare taxable and tax-free bonds.

02.18.14

Four Tips for Communicating with Associates and Staff
Adam M. Levine

Most law firm partners and key members of management have never received formal training in managing people effectively. The following tips can help partners communicate with associates and staff in positive, productive ways.

02.13.14

Starting Your Own Not-For-Profit
Alison Fetzer

So you decided that 2014 is going to be the year you finally make your dream of starting your very own not-for-profit organization a reality. Now what? Here are a few important steps to get your not-for-profit started.

02.12.14

Clinical Co-Management 101
Greg Koelling

As reimbursement is changing to reward for value and quality of care, hospitals and physicians have found themselves being incentivized to become more closely aligned. Clinical Co-Management is an arrangement to recognize and reward medical groups or physicians for these efforts. This article notes the most common method to setup co-management arrangement, along with several hurdles that must be considered.