Word of mouth is spreading throughout the region that SWON provides substantial savings for community oncology and membership is free!

 

SWON welcomes our new members.

 

 

South Texas Medical

Medical Oncology Associates of SWLA

Medical Oncology Cancer Clinic

Ketaki Dave, MD, PA

Dexeus Oncology

Peter Farha, MD

Bayou Oncology Specialists

Southwest Oncology Associates

Medical Oncology of San Antonio

 

Waco Hematology Oncology

 

South Texas Institute of Cancer

 

Hope Cancer Center

 

Kymera Independent Physicians

 

Acadiana Medical Oncology

 

Oncology Hematology Center of the South, LLC

 

DFW Cancer Care

 

Hope Oncology

 

Sadler Clinic Association

 

Oncology Center of SW

 

South Texas Medical

 

Pontchartrain Hematology Oncology

 

The Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center

 

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas

UT Medicine San Antonio/ UT Health Science Center

Charles L. Conlon, MD

Brazosport Cancer Center

Cancer Center Associates

Denton Oncology Center

The Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

Plano Cancer Institute

OU Physicians

Lone Star Cancer & Blood Disorders

Medical Oncology, LLC

Ping S. Chu, MD, PhD
 

Reddy Oncology Associates

 

Vista Oncology

 

Naz Medical Center

 

Plaza Cancer Specialists

 

 Center for Oncology Research & Treatment, PA

Southwest Hematology Oncology Associates

Kashif H. Ansari, MD, PA

Ahmad I. Qadri, M.D., P.A.

Lone Star Oncology Consultants, PA

Rohit Kapoor, MD, PA

Hematology Oncology Physicians Experts (HOPE)
Las Colinas Hematology Oncology

H. Alejandro Preti

Southeast Texas Oncology Partners

Hope Oncology

Abilene Hematology Oncology Group, PA

Collom & Carney Clinic

Clinical Oncology and Hematology
Cancer Specialists of South Texas, P.A.

Temple Cancer Clinic, PA

Houston Center of Hope

Dabas Cancer Clinic

East Texas Hematology Oncology

Hematology Oncology Life Center, LLC

Richard A. Artim, MD, P.A.

Victoria Cancer Care Oncology

Blood & Cancer Center of East Texas

Nadya Hashom-Jiwa, DO, P.A.

The Austin Diagnostic Clinic 

SWON negotiated a market superior price book for our membership.  After the pricing was secured, SWON negotiated an administrative fee with Oncology Supply and ION.

 

Many are asking how we are able to obtain better pricing - the answer is simple: SWON negotiates the pricing based on a competitive compliance model and actively marketing our contract and membership.  The SWON Rebate Program also serves as a 'supplemental' discount to assist practices even more.  Translation: SWON decreases the market basket of pricing by lowering the total drug bill with shared administrative fees.

 

 SWON will dedicate a percentage of its administrative fees to member practices commensurate with the total net volume of their purchases. Net volume rebates will be paid to member practices from SWON based on certain qualifications and criteria.

 

SWON members obtain superior pricing; one price match-all price match policy; quarterly rebates on purchases; additional rebates on generic and pharmacy pre-fill products; and additional services at a reduced fee or free. 

 

Oncology Supply and ION are SWON's exclusive vendor for the GPO.  Together with OS and ION, SWON will provide value and support to its members.

 
 What do you do with jerks at work, especially when they claim protection as whistleblowers or as members of protected classes? There are steps you can take, says attorney Jathan Janove.  In fact, you can discipline and ultimately, if necessary, terminate your jerks, says Janove, a partner in the Portland, Oregon, office of Ater Wynne LLP. Janove delivered his suggestions at the recent SHRM annual conference in Chicago.
 
The Problem with Jerks
When jerk behavior (Janove defines a jerk as "a person who is unwelcome due to unlikable qualities and behavior") crosses over to discrimination against a protected class-sexual harassment, racial harassment-that's easy to deal with, says Janove.  But a lot of jerk behavior doesn't cross that line. You can't tie it to a legal problem, but you know it's not good and it's costing the company.
 
A Typical Jerk
Janove offers an example of jerk behavior from an Indiana case. A heart surgeon for whom "ego management was a challenge" was especially hard on his perfusionists-heart-lung operators-calling them morons, cursing, and threatening. His face would turn red and his veins would bulge.
 
When one of the perfusionists complained, the surgeon really upped the ante. Eventually, the employee couldn't come to work and sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress. A $325,000 judgment against the surgeon was upheld.
 
Work Jerk Prevention
How should you handle jerks? Janove has developed a 5-step approach for dealing with jerks at work.
 
Step 1: Express Your Values
It is amazing how often this first step is overlooked, says Janove. Have you articulated your values and your standards of behavior or have you just assumed that people will treat each other with respect? He suggests this statement:
 
It is essential that at all times our employees treat each other, and those with whom they come into contact, with courtesy, respect and professionalism; and that they work cooperatively and constructively in resolving issues or problems.
 
Step 2: Publicize and Conduct Training
Publicize your values widely, says Janove, in your:
 
Job Descriptions
Handbook
Statement of Values
Antidiscrimination Policy
Disciplinary Procedure
 
Include your values and behavior expectations in your training programs, he adds.
 
Step 3: "DIS" the Jerk
Whether they are inadvertent jerks (just sharing their "great" sense of humor) or advertent jerks (they know what they are doing is offensive or causing pain), you need to "DIS" the jerk, says Janove. DIS means providing direct, immediate, specific feedback. You point out the specific offending behavior and ask that it stop.
 
Step 4: Doc the Jerk
Janove recommends the "same-day summary" for documenting jerk behavior. It should be delivered within 24 hours and should be less than one page. It summarizes the key points that you mentioned when you DISed the jerk. Janove offers the following example:

TO: Jerk FROM: HR Manager
DATE: Today
This summarizes our discussion this morning regarding your treatment of co-workers. Information I've received includes .... This has resulted in employees feeling uncomfortable working with you and undermines departmental trust and teamwork. You said you hadn't intended to offend anyone, but agreed that this behavior needs to change. I appreciate your understanding. If I haven't summarized our discussion accurately, please let me know immediately.
 
This is not really disciplinary, says Janove. This is optimistic that the problem can be solved. "Let's make sure we are on the same page."
 
Step 5: Expose "Mushroom" Jerks to the Light
Mushroom jerks operate behind the scenes, doing plenty of damage, but not in public. Mushroom jerks must be exposed to the light. They don't like attention, so they will often stop just because you are managing the situation, says Janove.
 
You might say, "I hear there's an issue, I hear talk, I want to get to the bottom of it because it's against our policy and values statement." Often this can be accomplished by calling employees in as a group.
  
-HR Daily Advisor Newsletter

Q4 volume rebates have been calculated and rebate checks will be mailed in mid February!  More than $50,000 is scheduled to be rebated (is that a word?) for Q4!  In Q3 & Q4, SWON has returned more than $80,000 to its member practices.  Thank you SWON members for your participation in our rebate program. 

 

 

For practices that qualify, SWON will dedicate a percentage of its administrative fees to member practices commensurate with the total net volume of their purchases.  Net volume rebates will be paid to member practices from SWON based on certain qualifications and criteria outlined below.
 
Qualifications
The qualifications to participate in the SWON Rebate Program are:
 
-Must be a SWON member in good standing
-Must have signed SWON Participating Agreement and Participation Form (these will be distributed next week) on file with SWON

-Must utilize the Oncology Supply ZE payment terms and be current with all invoices 
 
Criteria
The SWON Rebate Program will be based on total net purchases from Oncology Supply for each calendar quarter.  SWON members rebate program will start at the first day of the next month from the signed enrollment (i.e. if enrollment date is June 20th then rebate start date is July 1st.).
 
Reporting
SWON volume rebates will be paid based upon purchasing reports provided by Oncology Supply.  Total Net Purchases are the total amount of ALL quarterly purchases at List Price (i.e. ZE payment terms), less any manufacturer off-invoice discounts (not including any manufacturer rebates or prompt pay discounts) minus credits applied to your account ,excluding payments applied to your account for this Program or Manufacturer pass-through credits.
 
Payment
Payments will normally be made within 45 days after the end of a calendar quarter. SWON reserves the right to withhold shared administrative fees if practice is delinquent on payments to the supplier or to change the terms or end this shared administrative fee program at any time.

 

 

On January 19, 2009, SWON was reminded by our preferred vendor, Oncology Supply that in accordance with the SWON Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contract between SWON and Oncology Supply, all administrative fees are calculated and issued solely on members that are in good financial standing with Oncology Supply.  To that end, no administrative fees will be paid for any account that is delinquent by more than five (5) days on average for a respective calendar quarter. 

 

Any such delinquent account shall be deemed ineligible to participate under the terms of the Agreement until such time that the account becomes current in its payment obligation(s).

 

Therefore, dear SWON readers, in order to continue to participate in the SWON rebate program and receive quarterly administrative rebates, Oncology Supply and SWON are requiring each account to complete a one (1) page participation form.  This form will greatly ease administration of the Agreement going forward.  Administrative Fees will only be paid on those accounts that have executed and returned a Participation Form, and are in compliance with the terms.

 

In a nutshell, if SWON does not have the one page form on file then SWON does not receive credit or administrative fees on your volume and therefore SWON will be unable to offer a quarterly rebate.  Furthermore, if the invoices are delinquent more than five days then the administrative fees and rebates are not received or shared.

 

The participation form and explanation letter will be included in the rebate mailings.

 

As soon as you receive the participation form, please complete the information and fax directly to Lesli Lord (no cover page needed) at 972-692-8331.  The deadline for completed forms is Monday, March 2, 2009.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.  As always, SWON members can contact Lesli Lord directly at 214-578-9589 if you have any questions.

 

Coding & Reimbursement News

 

Lots of practices out there are having infusion confusion.  One of the biggest areas of confusion is CPT code 96368 for a concurrent therapeutic infusion.  For your edification, here are some important factoids about using this code:
I hope that this clears the cobwebs out of your brains for awhile.  For CPT references, see CPT Changes 2006 or CPT Changes 2009.  These are available for purchase not for clicking.

 RAC Report

On January 5, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released yet another update document to the report evaluating the 3-year Medicare recovery audit contractor (RAC) demonstration project. Why they keep reporting on this is unknown.

The January 2009 update provides updated RAC statistics for demo RACs through August 31, 2008, and provides the following statistics with respect to provider appeals of RAC initiated overpayments.  Here are some tidbits:

Number of claims with overpayment determinations: 525,133

Number of claims where provider appealed (any level): 118,051

Number of claims with appeal decisions in provider's favor: 40,115

Percentage of appealed claims with a decision in provider's favor: 34.0%

Percentage of claims overturned on appeal: 7.6%

Last July, CMS released the report which stated that the Medicare RAC demonstration project resulted in RACs correcting more than $1.03 billion in Medicare improper payments and returning $693.6 million to the Medicare Trust Funds after appeals and costs.

Congress made the RAC program permanent when it enacted the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA).  The TRHCA directs CMS to expand a permanent RAC program to all 50 states by 2010. CMS intended to implement the permanent RAC program in phases beginning in late 2008. However, two ticked off, losing bidders (Viant, Inc. and PRG Schultz, USA, Inc.) for the permanent RAC program filed protests with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).  Under the Competition and Contracting Act of 1984, the GAO has 100 days to issue its decision, which means that a resulution to this issue is due by early February 2009.