| Upcoming Events | |
CMS' "Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan" Webinar
May 11, 2011
10:00am - 11:00am and 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Click here for info.
"Music for the Mind" at the Kennedy Center
May 13, 2011
Begins at 6:00pm
NSO Pops with Jon Secada and Tito Puente, Jr.
Click here for info.
GWU/FDA's "Prevention: Two Lenses, Common Vision" Event
May 19, 2011
Begins at 1:00pm
Mike Taylor, FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Foods as presenter.
Click here for info.
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2010-2011 Board of Directors
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Stuart F. Seides, MD
At-Large; Chair of the Board
Frederick C. Finelli, MD
President
James C. Cobey, MD
President-Elect
Joseph Gutierrez, MD
Treasurer; AMA Delegation Chair
Peter E. Lavine, MD
AMA Delegate
J. Desiree Pineda, MD
AMA Alternate-Delegate
Laura L. Tosi, MD
AMA Alternate Delegate
Julian R. Craig, MD
At-Large
John W. Larsen, MD
At-Large
Joan B. Loveland, MD
At-Large
Catherine S. May, MD
At-Large
Daniel Perlin, MD
At-Large
Reginald Robinson,MD
At-Large
Carla Sandy, MD
At-Large
K. Edward Shanbacker
Executive Vice President
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| We're on Facebook! | |
The Medical Society of DC is on Facebook!
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Contact the MSDC Office
| 1250 23rd Street, NW
Suite 270
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-1800 (phone)
(202) 452-1542 (fax)
info@msdc.org
www.msdc.org |
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| The "Medicare Patient Empowerment Act" Progresses in the House with MSDC, AMA Support |
 Last Tuesday, May 3, Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-GA) introduced House Resolution 1700, "The Medicare Patient Empowerment Act." This bill is based largely on policy supported by MSDC at the AMA House of Delegates meeting last year, and is the result of the hard work and great effort put forth by physician-leaders and staff within the federation of organized medicine. The bill allows Medicare patients and their physicians to enter into private contracts without penalty to either party. It would enable beneficiaries to use their Medicare benefits to see physicians who do not accept Medicare, as opposed to paying for the entire cost of their care out of their own pocket as required under current law.
Several other members of the U.S. House of Representatives have expressed their interest in co-sponsoring the bill as a practical solution to expand access to physicians for Medicare patients, and preserve the physician-patient relationship as patients move from private insurance to Medicare during retirement.
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| US House Hears Permanent Repeal of the Medicare Physician Payment Formula |
 On Thursday, May 5, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee held a hearing on alternatives to the SGR formula, otherwise known as the Medicare physician payment formula. Testifying for the American Medical Association (AMA) was Dr. Cecil Wilson, current President of the AMA. Dr. Wilson outlined and emphasized the need for permanent repeal of the SGR, and offered several alternative models to be considered. The models are more specifically addressed in a letter sent to House Energy and Commerce Committee members on April 26. You can view a copy of this letter by clicking here. The letter calls for:
- Immediate repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula;
- A five-year period of statutorily set payment updates to provide program stability and the opportunity for developing and testing new payment and delivery models;
- Transition to an array of new payment models designed to enhance patient care.
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| Vincent Orange Wins Special Election; "Health Insurance Exchange" Bill Set for Mark-Up by the Public Services and Consumer Affairs Committee |
Vincent Orange Wins Special Council Election for At-Large Seat
Vincent Orange (D), a former DC Councilmember, defeated Councilmember Sekou Biddle (D-At Large), Patrick Mara (R), and six other candidates on Tuesday, April 26, to win the special election to fill the At-Large seat previously held by current Council Chairman Kwame Brown (D).
Mr. Orange won the election with approximately 28 percent of the vote. Mr. Mara finished second with roughly 25 percent of the vote. Councilmember Biddle finished third with close to 20 percent. The remaining candidates rounded out the rest of the voting, with nearly 27 percent of the vote between them.
Mr. Orange represented Ward 5 during his previous service on the Council from 1999 to 2007. Congratulations on rejoining the Council, Mr. Orange!
DC's "Department of Health Care Finance District of Columbia Health Care Exchange Authorizing Act of 2011" Moves to Mark-Up by the Public Services and Consumer Affairs Committee
PSCA Committee Chair Yvette Alexander (Ward 7) will convene a meeting soon to markup B19-0002, the "Department of Health Care Finance District of Columbia Health Care Exchange Authorizing Act of 2011." This bill was originally introduced by Councilmember Catania and referred to the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs and the Committee on Health. The stated purpose of the bill is "to authorize the Department of Health Care Finance to establish the Health Care Exchange, to provide for the appointment of executive and advisory boards for the Exchange, to limit the liability of the executive and advisory boards, and to provide the Council with passive review of Exchange policies and rules." A Public Hearing before the PSCA Committee was held on February 9th. Councilmember Catania's Committee on Health is also expected to hold a public hearing on the bill.
To view a copy of the bill, please click here. |
| From CMS: How Do I Get Paid?; "Pre-Existing Condition Insurance" Webinar |
 How Do I Get Paid? The EMR Incentive Programs from CMS
Payments for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs are distributed based on each year of participation, and follow a specific payment schedule. Located below are payment details on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. For an overview, see the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Matters Special Edition article (SE1111) - Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Payment Process.
Medicare EHR Incentive Program:
Physicians can receive up to $44,000 over five years under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. There's an additional incentive for physicians who provide services in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).To get the maximum incentive payment, Medicare physicians must begin participation by 2012.
Medicaid EHR Incentive Program:
The Medicaid EHR Incentive Program is voluntarily offered by states and territories. Physicians can receive up to $63,750 over the six years that they choose to participate in the program. Physicians must initiate the program by 2016.
For more information, please call the EHR Information Center at 1-888-734-6433 (primary number) or 888-734-6563 (TTY number).
"Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)" CMS Region 3 Open Door Forum
Please join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a special Open Door Forum for Region 3 Partners and Physicians.
Hosted by CMS Regional Administrator Nancy O'Connor, you will hear from Regional ExternalAffairs staff and subject matter experts from the Centers for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO).
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Time: 10am - 11am and also at 3pm - 4pm
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has resulted in numerous statutory changes. One of those changes includes the creation of the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). The PCIP in the District iis administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and provides a health coverage option for children and adults who have been locked out of the health insurance market because of a pre-existing condition. This transitional program will continue until 2014 when Americans, regardless of their health status, will have access to affordable health insurance when the nation transitions to a new marketplace.
After a presentation on PCIP, subject matters experts will be available to answer your questions related to PCIP. If you are unable to attend this webinar and/or if you would like more information about PCIP, please contact Barbara Childers at barbara.childers@cms.hhs.gov or 215-861-4174. Click here to access the invitational flier. |
| Mark the Passage of the "Food Safety Modernization Act" at GWU and the FDA |
 MSDC members are invited to join leading public health and food safety professionals at a milestone event in the implementation of the newly-enacted FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. This event is being sponsored by the FDA Office of Foods and the George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services.
Location: The GW Jack Morton Auditorium located at 805 21st street, N.W.
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Mr. Mike Taylor, FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Foods, will present a major food safety speech -- "Prevention: Two Lenses, Common Vision" -- at this May 19 event. Mr. Taylor will focus on the core principle -- prevention -- of the newly-enacted FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and how it has come to be embraced both by the public health community and the food industry as the key to effective food safety reform. Food safety experts, Caroline Smith DeWaal who is the Director of Food Safety at the Center for Science in the Public Interest and Leon Bruner who is the Senior Vice President for Scientific and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Scientific Officer with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, will serve as commentators following Mr. Taylor's remarks. An open comment and question session will be provided so that attendees can join the conversation with Mr. Taylor, Ms. DeWaal, and Dr. Bruner.
Please take a moment to register now to be a part of this conversation at http://www.gwfdafoodsafety.eventbrite.com.
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| MSDC in the Community: "Music for the Mind" at the Kennedy Center | |
"Music for the Mind" at the Kennedy Center
Music for the Mind is an event to support research for neurologic diseases, including Alzheimer's,Parkinson's, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Proceeds will be directed to a Young Investigators Fund benefiting Georgetown's neuroscientists in theirquest to discover the treatments and cures of tomorrow.
- Date: Friday, May 13, 2011 at 6:00pm
- Performers: NSO Pops with Jon Secada and Tito Puente, Jr.
- Location: The Kennedy Center; 2700 F Street NW
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| From IC System: Looking for Guaranteed Payment Results? |
 Then look to I.C. System, the Medical Society of DC's partnered provider of payment collection services! I.C. System is backing its most popular payment collection program with a 10X performance guarantee. For details on this program, please call 800-279-3511 or visit www.icmemberbenefits.com. Be sure to request your free copy of THE IN$IDE FACT$, a 12-page booklet of money-saving collection facts. |
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Low Prices on Sanofi's Adacel and Fluzone are Offered Through Atlantic Health Partners
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As you know, Atlantic Health Partners, the nation's leading vaccine buying group, offers MSDC members the lowest prices for Sanofi and Merck vaccines. We wanted to share with you that Atlantic has obtained an even lower Tdap vaccine price for Sanofi's Adacel. This is especially timely given the recent ACIP expanded indications for Tdap vaccine along with the pertussis outbreak in several states.
Atlantic works with Sanofi Pasteur and Merck to provide the lowest prices on their vaccines, including Sanofi's Fluzone. Sanofi is still accepting pre-book orders, and if you join Atlantic now, you will get Atlantic's contract pricing for Fluzone and High Dose Fluzone (which is reimbursed by Medicare).
Additional benefits offered by Atlantic:
- Lowest pricing and terms for Fluzone and Flumist
- Medical supply discount program
- Office and business supply discounts
- Discounted patient recall program
Jeff Winokur and Cindy Berenson are the primary contact persons at Atlantic, and we encourage you to contact them at 800-741-2044 or at info@atlantichealthpartners.com for more information and details about how your practice can benefit from participation.
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| Classified Ads |
NW Medical Office space for lease. 1500-2000 sq ft. units available. Class A. Bldg which includes a 4 story elevator, fully equipped and furnished. Full service (receptionist and billing) located 1 block from Geo. Washington Univ. Hospital.
Address: 1011 New Hampshire Ave. N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20037
Phone: 202 465 0240
Fax: 202 955 5541
Office Space for Rent located at 4910 Mass. Ave, NW suite 217 Washington, DC 20016. Furnished, up to 1,000 sq ft. If interested, please contact pediatricvillage@verizon.net
WANTED: Internist licensed in DC. Needed immediately for dynamic, growing medical practice, in NW DC. Women's Health a plus. Full time/Pt, Flex hours. Salary competitive. Contact Roxanne Semple@ (202) 877-0532, email CV, queries to drcjoffice@gmail.comcdugan@mfa.gwu.edu.
WASHINGTON, DC INTERNISTS - Premier university-affiliated multispecialty practice group seeks full-time BC/BE internists for superb opportunity in new outpatient only practice. Ideal downtown location with established EMR with home access, full hospitalist service, paid malpractice, competitive salary and benefits. Position includes clinical academic appointment. DC license required. Not a J-1/H-1B visa opportunity. Email CV to: cdugan@mfa.gwu.edu.
Free PCRM Nutrition Resources: As a physician, you have the unique ability to promote health through plant-based diets to your patients. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is offering MSDC members free materials for office and exam rooms. Visit www.PCRM.org/NutritionOutreach to order your complimentary posters and Vegetarian Starter Kits.
Share spacious medical office space with GYN physician in Greenbelt/Laurel/Bowie area. Designed for two physicians, the space is located in a high rise office building with more than 2,800 square feet. Space is tastefully furnished with a large waiting area, 4 exam rooms, 2 doctors consultation offices, business office area and staff break area/kitchen. Abundant free parking, metro accessible, close to 495 and BWI parkway. Hours and usage negotiable. Please contact Julie @ 301-474-5400
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