MSDC Continues to fight the "Clawback" of 20% of Medicaid Payments Made to Physicians in 2011

     On Wednesday, April 18th, the District of Columbia's Department of Health Care Finance notified the Medical Society that the planned clawback/recoupment of $11,000,000 of Medicaid fees paid in 2011 has been rescinded. For now, physicians can continue to participate in the District's Medicaid program with the expectation that the fees paid for services already rendered will not be reduced. MSDC had been notified in February of this year that the District's Medicaid program was prepared to  recoup approximately 20% of all Medicaid fees paid to physicians during the period of January 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012.   Immediately, MSDC began meeting with the leadership of the District's Medicaid program, DC Council Committee on Health staff, and members of the Mayor's office in an attempt to avert what would have been a financial disaster for a number of medical practices across the city.  MSDC leadership also involved the Interim Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Marilyn Tavenner, in an attempt to prevent the clawback.  The result has been that federal and local officials, working with the Medical Society, have been successful in finding the funding to avert the clawback. 

    The Leadership Development/ Nominating Committee will meet soon to develop a slate of candidates for Society officers.  The election by mail ballot will occur in the fall.  Offices on the ballot will be as follows:

• President Elect (1-Year Term)
• 3 Members-at-Large (2-Year Terms)
• AMA Delegate (2-Year Term)
• AMA Alternate Delegate (2-Year Term)

     If you would like to offer your leadership vision and skill, or nominate a fellow

physician, to fill any of these positions at MSDC, you need to:

• Be an active MSDC member in good standing
• Have a current and up-to-date CV prepared
• E-mail your CV with a short introductory message to Ed Shanbacker, Executive Vice President, at Shanbacker@msdc.org

If you have any questions, please contact the MSDC offices at (202) 466-1800.

Gain Knowledge. Save Dollars.
     Did you know $28.8 billion dollars was lost in 2011 due to improper payments?  Proper documentation is fundamental to accurate Medicare billing and reimbursement.  

     Join Novitas Solutions' highly experienced education team at the 2012 Medicare Spring Symposium. Physicians and Healthcare professionals at all levels are encouraged to attend this FREE symposium.  Register today!  

     Our Symposium will allow you to gain the knowledge to document, code and bill the Medicare program. Physicians, Non Physician Practitioners, Practice Managers, Office and Billing Staff, Certified Professional Coders and Compliance Officers will benefit from this exciting and informative symposium.  

     You can spend the day with us or attend as many of our sessions that you would like. Each session has been approved for 1.0 continuing education units.  

Registration is now available.  Don't miss out on this educational opportunity.

 

https://www.novitas-solutions.com/calendar/partab/ws-springs.html

  

National Provider Call:  Current Status of Medicare FFS Implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 - Register Now

Wed Apr 25; 2-3:30pm ET

     CMS is hosting a National Provider Call regarding the current status of Medicare FFS implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0.  This National Provider Call focuses on addressing the current 5010/D.0 metrics, addressing recommendations made by Medicare FFS, as well possible outstanding fixes impacting the Part A and Part B Version 5010 transition.

 

Target Audience:  Vendors, clearinghouses, and providers who need to make Medicare FFS-specific changes in compliance with HIPAA Version 5010 requirements

 

Agenda:

• Current 5010/D.0 metrics
• Addressing recommendations made by Medicare FFS
• Possible outstanding fixes impacting the Part A and Part B Version 5010 transition
• Q&A session

Registration Information:  In order to receive call-in information, you must register for the call on the CMS Upcoming National Provider Calls webpage.  Registration will close at 12pm on the day of the call or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early.

 

ICD-10 delay proposed in unique health plan identifier rule
     CMS published a proposed rule on April 9 that formally calls for delaying the implementation date of ICD-10 for one year, from Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014, along with a standard for unique health plan identifier, as required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The formal proposal to delay ICD-10 follows an announcement made by CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner
during the AMA's National Advocacy Conference last February. HHS' decision to propose a one-year implementation delay of ICD-10 was a direct result of significant advocacy by the AMA, one of many steps we feel are needed to reduce the number of costly, time-consuming regulatory burdens on physicians. In addition, the AMA believes that a robust unique health plan identifier is an administrative simplification solution that has the potential to bring about significant savings by eliminating the ambiguity that makes health care transactions so costly today. There is a 30-day comment period on the proposed regulation. 

Athenahealth presents Meaningful Use Stage 2

     A free webinar providing insights and expertise on just-announced Stage 2 measures 

 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 3:15 PM Eastern Time 

     If you successfully attested for Stage 1 of CMS' Meaningful Use program, and received your incentive payment, congratulations. Now, it gets tougher. 
     That's why our experts are ready to break down the just-announced proposed Stage 2 measures and discuss ways you can take next steps toward another sizable incentive check. 
     Join us for this webinar, where we'll discuss:

• The details of Stage 2 measures and how we'll help you meet them
• Guidance on sending feedback to CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT
• Details on the EHR certification criteria
• athenahealth's viewpoints on the Stage 2 delay and other policy implications

     Register today to join us. And get ahead for Stage 2 Meaningful Use.

     Seniors lose almost $3 billion each year to fraud.  When your patients lose enough to have to  choose between paying for out-of-pocket health care costs and basic living  costs, this can become a clinical issue. Attend this free CME course on how to spot the "red flags" your older patients may have that place them at high risk of financial exploitation. You will hear from geriatrician Namirah Jamshed, MD, at the Washington Hospital and Tony Miles, JD, Associate Commissioner of the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking tell you about the neurobiological  basis for why some seniors fall prey to financial scams that rob them of having a good old age.

Date: May 16

Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Presenters: Namirah Jamshed, MD; Tony Miles, JD

There is no cost to members.  To register, please e-mail Chris Lee at lee@msdc.org with your name.