| Upcoming Events | |
AMA's Medicare Patient Empowerment Act Webinar
June 8
7:00pm
Click here for info.
eHealthDC's EHR Implementation Webinar
June 15
7:30am; noon; 5:00pm
Click here for info.
athenahealth Falcon EHR Dinner Event
June 16
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Old Ebbitt Grill
Click here for info.
World Doctors Orchestra Concert
September 11
7:00pm
Music Center at Strathmore
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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| Senator Lisa Murkowski has Introduced the "Medicare Patient Empowerment Act" in the United States Senate |
 Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced a bill in the US Senate that will allow seniors wider access to medical professionals through the "Medicare Patient Empowerment Act." The Medicare Patient Empowerment Act would allow patients to continue the relationship they have with their physician, even if the doctor does not participate in Medicare or is not taking new Medicare beneficiaries. Under the legislation, Medicare would pay the amount typically covered, with the patient responsible - or able to negotiate - any difference between the going Medicare rate and the physician's fees. It would also allow doctors to charge a lower rate for Medicare patients - a practice currently not permitted.
This bill mirrors a US House of Representatives bill, HR1700, which was introduced by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA). The bills are a result of AMA House of Delegates policy and input provided by state medical and national specialty societies.
To view a copy of Senator Murkowski's bill, please click here. To view a copy of Representative Price's bill, please click here.
Additionally, the American Medical Association will host a webinar explaining the details of the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act at 7 p.m. Eastern time on June 8. Hosted by AMA President Cecil B. Wilson, MD, the webinar will outline the major provisions of the bill, review the history of federal and state policy on Medicare fee limits and discuss steps that physicians can take to build support for the bill. The Medicare Patient Empowerment Act, which has been introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, would provide Medicare patients with greater choice, allowing them to see the physicians they want and need to see.
AMA members may participate in the webinar for free. Register today.
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MSDC Continues to Monitor the DC Health Insurance Exchange Implementation Process
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The District of Columbia Health Insurance Exchange is continuing to be developed through a series of hearings at the DC Council in the upcoming weeks. The bill establishing the exchange, B19-2 "The Department of Health Care Finance District of Columbia Health Insurance Exchange Act of 2011," has been introduced by Councilmember David Catania and is working its way through the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs and the Committee on Health.
In preparation for these hearings, MSDC is working with partners at Families USA, the DC Primary Care Association and other affiliated organizations to ensure the exchange is constructed and governed properly, to the benefit or all involved and the protection of citizen-patients it is designed to serve.
As the bill progresses through the Council and any changes are made, we will continue to update you on the development of the DC Health Insurance Exchange. |
 Join eHealthDC for a Web-based Information Session
For MSDC Members Only!
Don't miss this opportunity to hear how eHealthDC can assist you with EHR Implementation, CMS Incentive Programs and Meaningful Use.
The Education & Outreach Team from eHealthDC will be hosting an online information session, at 3 different convenient times, for MSDC members.
June 15, 2011
7:30am, 12:00pm, 5:00pm
To register for one of these sessions, Contact Imke Schessler-Jandreau at ijandreau@ehealthdc.org and indicate which session you plan to attend.
Participants will receive additional information via email on Monday, June 13th, including log-on and dial-in instructions.
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| From CMS: Medicare E-Prescribing Penalty Approaching |
Medicare E-Prescribing Penalty Approaching
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have issued a proposed rule that makes significant changes to the e-prescribing penalty program to ensure that physicians are not unfairly penalized for failing to meet the requirements under the 2012 e-prescribing penalty program. Physicians are still required to e-prescribe using a qualifying e-prescribing system on at least 10 Medicare Part B claims from January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011 to avoid the 2012 e-prescribing penalty.
In order to avoid the 2012 e-prescribing penalty, physicians will have an opportunity to attest through an on-line web portal that they should be eligible for one of the following exemptions:
- Physician's practice is located in a rural area without high speed internet access;
- Physician's practice is located in an area without sufficient available pharmacies for electronic prescribing;
- Physician is registered to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and has adopted certified EHR technology;
- Physician is unable to electronically prescribe due to local, State, or Federal law or Regulation (e.g., prescribes controlled substances);
- Physician infrequently prescribes (e.g., prescribe fewer than 10 prescriptions between January 1, 2011 -June 30, 2011);
- There are insufficient opportunities to report the e-prescribing measure due to program limitations
See the following link to view the proposed rule under "Related Links Outside of CMS": http://www.cms.gov/ERxIncentive/04_Statute_Regulations.asp#TopOfPage
A resource to help guide you with eRx service/product selection, that also lays out the requirements for the product, can be found here:
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| From the AMA: Your Feedback on Incorrect Payments is Needed; AMA Names the New EVP/CEO, James Madara, MD |
 Your Feedback Can Help Reduce the Burden of Incorrect Payments on Physician Practices Because overpayment recoupment efforts are a tremendous burden for physician practices, the American Medical Association (AMA) is conducting a brief survey to better understand the prevalence of these efforts and how they are effecting physician practices to aid our advocacy efforts. If you have had experiences with recoupment efforts or have information about recoupment that you think would be helpful, please complete this brief survey. Those who participate will also receive a complementary copy of the survey results from the Frank Cohen Group, which is working with the AMA to conduct this survey. The AMA' s goal is to use the survey data to assess what measures can be taken to reduce the burden such recoupments impose on physician practices.
Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/Recoupment to take the survey. Thank you in advance--your feedback will make a difference!
The AMA Has Named James L. Madara, MD, as the New Executive Vice President/Chief Executive Officer
The American Medical Association (AMA) has named James L. Madara, M.D., as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Madara will assume leadership of the nation's oldest and largest physician group on July 1.
Dr. Madara is a noted academic pathologist and an authority on epithelial cell biology and on gastrointestinal disease. He has published more than 200 original papers and chapters, making important contributions to understanding the biology of the cells that line the digestive tract. His work has garnered both national and international awards.
Dr. Madara has served as President of the American Board of Pathology, as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Pathology, has received a prestigious MERIT Award from the NIH, has been elected to membership in the Association of American Physicians, and recently received the Davenport Award for lifetime achievement in gastrointestinal disease from the American Physiological Society.
Dr. Madara earned his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. He completed his internship and residency at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston. He subsequently completed a fellowship in anatomy and cell biology at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston (now Brigham and Women's Hospital). Following his fellowship, Dr. Madara joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School where he rose to a full tenured professor and served as director of the Harvard Digestive Diseases Center.
Dr. Madara is married to Vicki M. Madara. They have two children: Alexis and Max.
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| Lower Your Vaccine Costs with Atlantic Health Partners |
 Now is the best time to join Atlantic Health Partners, the nation's leading vaccine buying group, so you get the lowest prices before the back to school peak vaccine season! Atlantic works with Sanofi Pasteur and Merck to provide our members with the lowest vaccine prices and most favorable payment terms for all size practices. Additional benefits offered by Atlantic:
- Reimbursement support
- Medical supply discount program
- Office and business supply discounts
- Discounts for WellConnect patient recall program
Please contact Jeff Winokur and Cindy Berenson at 800-741-2044 or info@atlantichealthpartners.com for additional information, and join the nearly 10,000 physicians nationwide already benefiting from Atlantic's savings and support. |
| 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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