| Upcoming Events | |
AMPAC Political Education Programs
February 17-19, 2012
Candidate Workshop
April 18-22, 2012
Campaign School
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
James C. Cobey, MD
President
Daniel I. Perlin, 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
Frederick C. Finelli, MD
At-Large
John W. Larsen, MD
At-Large
Joan B. Loveland, MD
At-Large
Catherine S. May, 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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| 3% Medicare Payment Withholding Requirements Repealed by Congress |
 On Wednesday, November 16, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amended version of H.R. 674, AMA-championed legislation that prevents a
planned 3 percent tax-withhold for many Medicare payments, by a vote of 422-0. The Senate passed this legislation on November 10 by a vote of 95 to 0. The statute, originally passed in 2006 and delayed several times, called for all federal, state, and local government payments to those providing services or goods to have
3 percent of their payment withheld until the following tax year in an effort to increase tax compliance. However, the original statute was overly broad and would have applied even to Medicare payments made to physicians.
 The legislation, signed into law on November 19 by President Obama, completely repeals this provision of law and eliminates the planned withholding. The cost of this repeal was offset by a change in the definition of Medicare Adjusted Gross Income for the calculation of eligibility for Medicaid or insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. This modification was supported by a majority in Congress and the White House.
This represents a significant victory for physicians and a step forward in stabilizing the Medicare system. The additional burden of a 3 percent tax-withhold would have been untenable in the current Medicare payment environment. There is already a 20 percent gap between Medicare's payments to physicians and the growing cost of providing care to seniors, and physicians now face a 27.4 percent cut on January 1 due to the broken Medicare physician payment formula.
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| Share Your HIV/AIDS Testing and Referral Practices with MSDC Legislative Leadership and Local Policymakers |
Recently, the DC Council has proposed legislation that will require HIV/AIDS-specific CME credits as a condition of licensure in the District. While the Medical Society of the District of Columbia is exploring the impact of this legislation, the Medical Society fully supports the DC Department of Health's efforts to encourage physicians to routinely offer HIV/AIDS tests and education to all their adult patients. MSDC actively participates in local initiatives such as "Offer the Test," "Know Your Status," "Red Carpet Entry" and the Mayor's Commission on HIV/AIDS.
As a crucial component of MSDC's legislative review of mandatory CME as a condition for licensure, your feedback on your current HIV/AIDS testing and patient follow-up practices is needed.
Please share your current practices with MSDC and policymakers through this anonymous feedback tool. The response will only require 2-3 minutes of your time, and will impact the process of medical licensure in the District.
Click Here to Participate
For information on how you can refer patients who test positively for HIV/AIDS, please visit this website:
http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,1371,q,604999.asp
For questions about HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment in DC, please contact Michael Kharfen of the DC Department of Health's HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD & TB Administration at Michael.Kharfen@dc.gov or 202-671-4809.
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| Medicare Updates: 44 Days Left Until Version 5010; ICD-10 Planning; Medicare Shared Savings Program Applications |
Reminder!
Don't Wait and Take a Chance on Payment Delays! Migrate to Version 5010 Now!
Only 44 days until the required Version 5010 compliance date of January 1, 2012. Given this deadline, CMS will not enforce the update until March 31, 2012, to account for possible disruptions in cash flow for practices.
What does this mean for your office?
- Medicare electronic claims must be submitted using Version 5010 before January 1, 2012. The required compliance date of January 1, 2012, is a Sunday; therefore, submitters must be prepared to submit Version 5010 prior to this date.
- Any Version 4010.A1 claims must be submitted BEFORE 4:00PM Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, December 30, 2011. EDI files submitted after 4:00PM ET on any business day are not considered "received" until the next business day. EDI files submitted on a non-business day are not considered "received" until the next business day or as published.
- Software vendors, billing services and clearinghouses are required to test Version 5010 and must achieve an approved 5010 837 test status before submitting Version 5010 production claims. If issues are experienced with Version 5010 testing, it will delay your ability to submit Version 5010 production claims.
It is extremely important that you and your staff are aware of this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirement being implemented by Highmark Medicare Services and be alert to future directions for this implementation. For more information on the transition to Version 5010, visit our Version 5010 section on our Web site.
https://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com/edi/5010/index.html
National Call: ICD-10 Planning
Wednesday, December 7
CMS will host a National Call on "ICD-10 Planning." For more details, including instructions on registering for this National Provider Call, please visit http://www.CMS.gov/Versions5010andD0/.
Medicare Shared Savings/ACO Program Applications have been posted
CMS has posted the application for the 2012 Medicare Shared Savings/ACO program. The 21 page application can be submitted between December 1 and January 20 for participation beginning April 1, 2012 and between March 1 through March 30 for participation beginning July 1, 2012. CMS will host a National Provider call on Tuesday, November 15, 1:30 to 3:00 pm eastern, to provide more details about the program application process. In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. Registration will close at 12pm on Tue Nov 15 or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made. Please register early. To register, please visit http://www.eventsvc.com/blhtechnologies
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| AMA Resources for MSDC Members: "Heal That Claim" Month is November |
Speed up payment-save time spent on manual processes
Download a free toolkit from the American Medical Association (AMA) to help your practice accept electronic remittance advice (ERA) now!
Want to save thousands of dollars per physician annually? Use the electronic remittance advice (ERA) toolkit from the AMA to learn how accepting and automating your claims process can:
-Speed up payment
-Save time spent on manual processes such as opening mail, filing and phone calls to health insurers
-Eliminate lost EOBs and expedite filing to secondary payers
-Free time for revenue-enhancing functions such as ensuring correct payment
Receiving remittance advice electronically saves time and so reduces overall health care costs-and that helps every practice. Download the free ERA toolkit and its related webinar now and spend more time with your patients than with paperwork.
Be sure to bookmark ama-assn.org/go/htc to access new updates as they become available.
Show your support. Sign the "Heal that Claim"™ pledge and show you are committed to claims process efficiencies. Feel free to share this link with friends and colleagues.
Save the Date! AMA Webinar on ACO Rule Nov. 21st
In its highly anticipated final blueprint for the Medicare accountable care organization (ACO) program, CMS adopted many of the AMA suggestions for encouraging physician-led Medicare ACOs. On Monday, Nov. 21st at 7:00 PM Eastern/4:00 PM Pacific Time, join AMA President-elect Jeremy Lazarus, MD, and national expert Harold Miller for a 60-minute webinar that will outline the significant improvements and opportunities for physicians in the final ACO rule, describe application information, and answer physicians' questions about ACOs and other payment innovations. Click here to register for this program. The ACO webinar is free for AMA member and nonmember physicians and their staff.
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| Classified Ads |
SUBLEASE--PRIVATE OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE WITHIN PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE. LUXURY OFFICE BUILDING NEAR DUPONT CIRCLE
This space is a dream come true for a professional who needs an office in a convenient downtown location, the tenant will work in a secure building and there are many benefits included with the rent. The office is decorated and furnished, with internet and telephone service. There is a private lavatory in the office suite as well as a kitchen. Parking available in the building. Contact: Office Manager at mmacinnis@jamesasimonmd.com
Women's Healthcare Practice is looking for a part-time ISCD, ACR or NOCA certified DXA bone densitometry technician. Convenient to Dupont Circle and Metro. Pay commensurate with experience; travel stipend available. Experience with the GE Lunar Prodigy is a benefit. Please send your resume and cover letter indicating your availability.
Contact: Office Manager at mmacinnis@jamesasimonmd.com
Dr. Neal Barnard, an adjunct associate professor of medicine at GWU and president of PCRM. is planning a pilot study on diet and migraine, and is looking for a Washington-area neurologist to consult on study design and interpretation of results. The research team will also value help in recruiting, eg, through notices to patients. Please call 202-527-7331 or email smishra@pcrm.org
Needed immediately for a dynamic, growing Internal Medicine/Women Health medical practice in NW DC. Women Health and a Nutrition background important. Must be knowledgeable of current clinical guidelines of care of Women, Diabetics, Hypertension and Cardiovascular, Obese patients. Full time/Part time/Flex hours. Salary competitive. Please Email CV/Resumes to drcjoffice@gmail.com. Contact Roxanne Semple @ (202) 877-0532 for queries and further information.
Two physicians are looking to sub-lease a fully-furnished, 5-exam room office with two conference rooms in downtown McLean, Va. The perfect location for a physician with an independent practice or a physician who needs additional space. The office is available Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All overhead including personnel, if needed, will be prorated based on office usage. Please email: mcleanobgyn@hotmail.com.
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
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.
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