On Wednesday, January 19th, legislation designed to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 was passed in the House of Representatives.  The bill, titled, "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act of 2011," was passed on a generally partisan vote of 245-189.  The bill will now be sent to the Senate.  MSDC will continue to follow this issue and will provide updates on Senate action as they become available.  

     On Thursday, January 20th, Dr. Ardis Hoven, the AMA Board Chair, addressed the House Judiciary Committee on the urgent need for national medical liability reform. 

    "Growing medical liability system costs are a national problem that requires a national solution.  Studies show the litigation system to be an ineffective, and often unfair, mechanism for resolving medical liability claims," stated Dr. Hoven during her testimony. "It is neither fair nor cost effective in compensating injured patients.  It has become an increasingly irrational system driven by time consuming litigation and open-ended non-economic damage awards."

Click here for more information on Dr. Hoven's testimony.

     The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) reiterates the availability of the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) through the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The program provides affordable health insurance for District residents unable to purchase health coverage in the commercial marketplace because of a pre-existing medical condition.
     PCIP was first announced in September 2010 by the DC Department of Health Care Finance, a co-chair of the District's four-member Health Reform Implementation Committee, along with DISB. The PCIP was established by the federal health reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as a transitional program that provides coverage until the health insurance exchanges are launched in 2014. To qualify for the PCIP, one needs to have a pre-existing condition, has not been insured for at least six months prior, and must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien. The program is administered by GEHA, a health insurance carrier under contract with DHHS.
     District residents can apply for the program, with coverage starting less than a month later. Information on the application process and monthly premium rates for DC can be found at www.pciplan.com.

     The bill is currently under review in the House Judiciary Committee. For more information on the bill, please click the following:

     The "Athletic Concussion Protection Act of 2011," introduced by Councilmembers' Catania, Mendelson and Thomas, has received the full support of the Medical Society of DC.  This bill seeks to reduce the damage resulting from repeated exposure to head and brain injuries that occur during organized sports and other recreational athletic activities. Upon receipt of the Medical Society's comments, Councilmember David Catania expressed his gratitude in acknowledging the Medical Society's support. 

     If you would like a copy of the bill, please click the following link:

     There are two other bills under consideration by the Medical Society for comments.  If you would like to view the other bills, please click the following links:

     If you would like to speak with MSDC leadership about any of the above bills, please contact Ed Shanbacker at shanbacker@msdc.org.

     The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that, beginning in calendar year 2012, eligible professionals who are not successful electronic prescribers based on claims submitted between January 1, 2011 - June 30, 2011, may be subject to a payment adjustment on their Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services.

     Section 132 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) authorizes CMS to apply this payment adjustment whether or not the eligible professional is planning to participate in the eRx Incentive Program.

     From 2012 through 2014, the payment adjustment will increase each calendar year. In 2012, the payment adjustment for not being a successful electronic prescriber will result in an eligible professional or group practice receiving 99% of their Medicare Part B PFS amount that would otherwise apply to such services. In 2013, an eligible professional or group practice will receive 98.5% of their Medicare Part B PFS covered professional services for not being a successful electronic prescriber in 2011 or as defined in a future regulation. In 2014, the payment adjustment for not being a successful electronic prescriber is 2%, resulting in an eligible professional or group practice receiving 98% of their Medicare Part B PFS covered professional services.

     Physicians will avoid the 2012 eRx payment adjustment if they:

• Discontinue being a physician as of Jun 30, 2011 based on primary taxonomy code in NPPES;
• Do not have prescribing privileges. Note: (S)he must report (G8644) at least one time on an eligible claim prior to June 30, 2011;
• Do not have at least 100 cases containing an encounter code in the measure denominator;
• Become a successful e-prescriber; and
• Report the eRx measure for at least 10 unique eRx events for patients in the denominator of the measure.

     For additional information, please visit the "Getting Started" webpage at http://www.cms.gov/erxincentive on the CMS website for more information; or download the Medicare's Practical Guide to the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program under Educational Resources.  

"Getting More Money and More Control with an EHR"

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

12:15 PM EST.

 

Register Here Today!

 

     On October 1, athenahealth achieved Stage 1 Meaningful Use certification of our electronic health record, athenaClinicals,® by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT). Now, every provider using athenaClinicals is using an ONC-ACTB 2011/2012 certified EHR.

     As part of our service offering, we help our clients achieve Meaningful Use and will be working on their behalf throughout the process to guarantee they receive stimulus money.

     Are you wondering what your practice should be doing to achieve Meaningful Use? To understand what your practice can do-and how we can help you-join us on Wednesday, February 9th at 12:15 PM EST for a live webinar.

     Some of the topics we'll cover include:

• An overview of the 6 Steps to Meaningful Use
• The actions practices can take now to get ready
• A review of the many tools and resources that can help practices achieve Meaningful Use and receive their stimulus money.

      Please join us for this presentation, and bring your questions as we've set aside time for Q&A.

    Learn more about athenahealth's practice management, EMR and patient communication services here: http://www.athenahealth.com/our-services/athenaClinicals.php#/Web-Based-Software