| Support candidates that support CSEPS | |
 As the Colorado election cycle heats up it is imperative that eye physicians and surgeons participate by supporting candidates that support your priorities. Plan on attending the following events to support two specific candidates that need your help.
The events are:
Jennifer George Fundraiser:
Date: Monday Sept 10, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Place: Citron Bistro, Denver. Appetizers will be provided and there will be a cash bar.
Brian Watson Fundraiser:
Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Place: Home of Lee Morgan, MD
Suggested contributions for each event: Any amount up to $400 limit for individual or PAC contributions under Colorado Campaign Finance Law. No Corporate or Union checks allowed.
Contact Chet Seward in the CSEPS offices for details on these events. Make your voice heard. |
| Register now for the 16th Annual Ophthalmology Symposium |  Mark your calendars and plan on attending the 16th Annual Ophthalmology Symposium on October 12-13, 2012, at the Hensel Phelps Research Auditorium at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Don't miss this state-of-the-art educational event developed for eye physicians and surgeons like you. Click here for more information and to register. |
| New Medicare contractor: What's up with LCDs? |
Colorado Part B Medicare claims will be processed by the new Medicare Administrative Contractor, Novitas Solutions, Inc., starting on November 19, 2012. If you have not already visited the transition web site to ensure that your practice will not experience difficulties with this change then do so now. An FAQ is available.
Your billing practices can be affected by these transitions. One group that is looking out for you is the Contractor Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC is a multi-specialty committee that advises the contractor (Novitas) on their local policies. Eye physicians and surgeons are ably represented by Mike McCracken, MD, on this committee. Dr. McCracken has started reviewing the local coverage determinations (LCDs), which are used to determine if services are reasonable and necessary for the patient's diagnosis, treatment and frequency.
On item of note so far relates to botox. The botox LCD states that wastage must be documented in the following ways:
- Date and time of the wastage;
- Amount of wastage; and
- Reason for wasting.
If you would want to look at the LCD list yourself click here.
Stay tuned for more details.
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We want to hear from you
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Colorado Society
of Eye Physicians
and Surgeons
PHONE: 720-858-6336
FAX: (720) 859-7509
cseps@cms.org
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President's Update
by Ron Pelton, MD, PhD |  "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." -Plato Election time is soon upon us and we are being called upon to support various candidates both locally and nationally. Running for political office is a time-consuming and expensive proposition and those who put themselves out in the fray are to be commended for taking this burden. Whatever your political leanings, get involved. The 2012 election cycle in Colorado is particularly crucial given legislative redistricting and highly contested seats. Every race in the Colorado House could decide partisan control in 2013 because there is only a one-vote margin at this time between the Republicans and Democrats. Locally, two such individuals in Colorado are fighting for a seat at the table and CSEPS and Colorado Medical Society (CMS) are supporting their battle. They are Jennifer George of Colorado Springs and Brian Watson of Denver. CSEPS and the Colorado Medical Society Political Action Committee (COMPAC) suggest looking at these candidates for your support. Jennifer George is a Republican who is running for the Colorado House in House District 18, in Colorado Springs. She is running against an incumbent Democrat (Pete Lee) who is a trial lawyer and who has supported all trial lawyer issues since he was elected. He does not support tort reforms. Jennifer is an attorney, and she has very close ties to the physician community (her brother is a physician and many in the Colorado Springs medical community are behind her campaign). With her candidacy, we have a rare opportunity to elect a pro-tort reform attorney and to unseat a trial lawyer who has been a strong supporter of the Colorado trial lawyers. In addition, Jennifer is running a very strong race and pundits have picked this contest as one of the three most likely Republican upsets in November. Brian Watson is the Republican candidate in House District 3 of Denver who is running against incumbent Daniel Kagan. Mr. Kagan is a Democrat and is one of the most consistent House votes for the CTLA (Colorado Trial Lawyers Association). He was the deciding vote to kill the patient dafety bill that our CMS Patient Safety Committee worked a year to put together. Mr. Kagan originally committed to vote the bill out of the Judiciary Committee, but at the urging of the trial lawyers, he reneged and voted to kill the bill. Brian Watson is running a terrific campaign and even the Democrat pundits believe that this is a race that the House Democrats could lose. Events in support of these candidates are being held in Denver in the next few weeks and your support can help elect candidates that support CSEPS issues. See the sidebar for details. Plan on attending and make your voice heard. |
| CODEquest Ophthalmic Coding College - Saturday, September 29, 2012 - Register now |  You work hard to serve your patients and you work hard to run an efficient practice. Make sure you are doing all you can for you, your patients and your practice's viability by attending CODEquest Ophthalmic Coding College. This must attend educational conference, scheduled for Saturday, September 29, features the latest tips and techniques to appropriately code for proper reimbursement.
CODEquest is your trusted source for ophthalmology-specific coding information. This year's extended program will feature three hours of training to begin your practice's preparation for the implementation of ICD-10. Is your practice ready?
Plan on attending and bring along your billing/coding staff. The meeting will be held in Denver at the Renaissance Denver Hotel. Click here for the full agenda. Space is filling up fast so register now to get the best available rates. Discounts are available for two or more attendees per practice. Don't miss this opportunity. Register today.
- The American Academy of Ophthalmology designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- This course has been approved for 6.0 JCAHPO "A" CE credits.
- This program has prior approval of the American Academy of Professional Coders for 6.0 Continuing Education Units.
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Save the date for next CSEPS/COA mixer
| Thanks to the success of the June 7 CSEPS/Colorado Optometric Association Mixer, another is being planned. Make sure to mark your calendar for October 11.
This happy hour, no agenda meet and greet will once again serve as an opportunity to make, build and grow relationships between ophthalmologists and optometrists. CSEPS and COA staff are working to secure a location. Save the date and plan on attending. |
| Join us - CSEPS is the Colorado ophthalmology society |
Join us in helping to ensure excellence in Colorado eye care. Contact Chet Seward if you have not yet joined. Call for more information at (720) 858-6336.
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| About Us | The Colorado Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (CSEPS) is the Colorado ophthalmology society representing Colorado Ophthalmologists (medical doctors - MDs and DOs) who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of eye disease. This newsletter is published by the CSEPS Communications Division, which works with CSEPS physician leadership and the American Academy of Opthamology to advocate on behalf physicians, practice managers and other office staff to help practices remain viable and thrive. If you have questions for the society, e-mail cseps@cms.org or call 720-858-6336.
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