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November 19, 2012
| Vol. 19, No. 24
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| District News: MSDC Makes the Case for Member Concerns on Prior Authorization Process | MSDC Testified on Behalf of DC Physicians to Reform Prior Authorization Protocol with Standardized, Electronic Form
Last week, the Medical Society urged the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs to heed the concerns of DC physicians and patients by adopting the "Uniform Electronic Prior Authorization Amendment Act of 2012" with minor modifications. MSDC Past President James C. Cobey, MD, testified that the current prior authorization process is a convoluted, time-consuming exercise and is detrimental to patient care. Dr. Cobey testified, "The need for the Council to address a slow-moving insurance industry in the area of uniform electronic prior authorization is well documented," and reiterated the findings of MSDC's 2012 survey, in which over 93% of respondents reported that insurance company requirements are having a negative impact on their ability to treat patients.
The bill received broad support from community stakeholders. MSDC will work with these and other stakeholders and the Council to ensure that physician and patient concerns are addressed. |
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| Upcoming Events | |
Staying Profitable through Payment Reform: How to Thrive under New Reimbursement Models (Webinar)
November 20, 2012
12:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, click here.
Sponsored by
DC Board of Directors Meeting
December 10, 2012
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2012-13 Board of Directors
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Catherine S. May, MD
Chair of the Board; At-Large
Daniel I. Perlin, MD
President
Laura L. Tosi,, MD
President-Elect
James C. Cobey, MD
Immediate Past President; At-Large
Joseph Gutierrez, MD
Treasurer; AMA Delegation Chair
Reginald Robinson,MD
Secretary; At-Large
Peter E. Lavine, MD
AMA Delegate
Laura L. Tosi, MD
AMA Alternate Delegate
Julian R. Craig, MD
John W. Larsen, MD
Barry Lewis, MD, MBA
At-Large
Joan B. Loveland, MD
Carla Sandy, MD
At-Large
Stuart F. Seides, MD
At-Large
K. Edward Shanbacker
Executive Vice President
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MSDC eNewsline
| Editor
Pia R. Duryea
202-355-9414 (direct)
duryea@msdc.org
MSDC Offices
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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District News: MSDC Urges Council to Pass Telemedicine Reimbursement Act
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MSDC Supports Telemedicine Reimbursement Act
The Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs held a public hearing last Thursday for Bill 19-881, the "Telemedicine Reimbursement Act of 2012," introduced by Councilmember Alexander to require health insurance coverage for health care services provided by telemedicine or electronic media. MSDC submitted testimony supporting the modest but necessary first steps of the Act "in bringing payment policy into conformity with the way medicine is practiced."
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| Health Benefit Exchange Authority Appoints Advisory Board; State Health Exchange Deadline Extended | DC Appoints HBX Advisory Board
Last Wednesday, the HBX Executive Board unanimously voted to appoint nine District residents to the Standing Advisory Board. MSDC At-Large Director Barry Lewis, MD, MBA, was among the nine residents named to the newly established committee that will act as a liaison between the exchange and the public. Chris Gardiner was tapped to chair the new committee. Gardiner is chairman and founder of GKA P.C., an accounting and management consulting firm, and currently serves on the board of United Medical Center. He previously served on the board of Howard University Hospital and the now-closed DC General Hospital.
HHS Extends Health Exchange Deadline
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended to December 14, 2012, the deadline for states to submit a blueprint for their state-based health insurance exchange. However, states that intend to run their own exchange had to submit a letter to HHS by Friday of last week notifying the agency of their intention. |
AMA Interim Meeting: MSDC Represents District Physicians
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MSDC Voiced, Supported DC Physician Concerns at AMA Interim Meeting
MSDC Board Members Joseph Gutierrez, MD; Peter Lavine, MD; Edward Shanbacker and Laura Tosi, MD, attended the AMA Interim Meeting last week. At the meeting, delegates adopted policies to protect employed physicians and strengthen Medicare.
Physicians entering into employment and contractual arrangements received a strong show of support when physicians adopted new guiding principles to protect their autonomy at the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.
"The [principles] provide a broad framework to help guide physicians and their employers as they collaborate to provide safe, high-quality and cost-effective patient care," AMA Board of Trustees member Joseph P. Annis, MD, said in a news release. "The guidelines reinforce that patients' welfare must take priority in any situation where the interests of physicians and employers conflict."
Delegates also adopted policy recommending a set of principles that should be included in a Medicare defined contribution system that would enable beneficiaries to purchase the coverage of their choice from among competing health insurance plans, including traditional Medicare.
Among the dozens of other policies passed by the House this week were policies dealing with ICD-10, Medicaid expansion, physician leadership of health care teams, vaccination of health care workers and the creation of a new AMA Senior Physicians Section. Read more in AMA Wire.
For complete news surrounding the Interim Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates-including the 10th annual AMA Research Symposium, actions of the AMA sections and special groups, and the open forum of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs- you can view speeches and read daily highlights here.
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From the AMA: Potential Risk Associated with PMCS Payments; Important 2013 Benchmarks
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Depositing a Check May Result in Discounted Reimbursements
The AMA has learned that Preferred Medical Claims Solutions (PMCS), a client of MultiPlan, is attaching notification to reimbursement checks stating that by depositing the check, your practice agrees to: 1) being reimbursed by your MultiPlan contracted rate within 10 working days and 2) that you wish to participate in the Advanced Funded Program (AFP) with PMCS going forward. If you do not wish to be included in the PMCS AFP program, for the specific claim or any future claims, do not deposit the check and contact PMCS. Visit the PMCS website at www.pmcsonline.com, or call PMCS at (800) 905-2589 with any questions.
2013 Will Be a Crucial Year for Physicians to Avoid Possible Pay Reductions 
A physician's decision not to report Medicare quality measures or participate in paperless prescribing and health record programs in 2013 will be a costly one in the long run.
The programs have been voluntary for the past several years. However, federal laws require Medicare rates eventually to be reduced for physicians who do not participate in the physician quality reporting system as well as the electronic health records and e-prescribing incentive programs. The reason why 2013 is such a critical year for doctors is that Medicare officials are using it as a benchmark for future penalties in all of these programs.
The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that participating in these initiatives next year could save a physician $19,000 in avoided penalties. Successfully reporting quality measures and achieving meaningful use of an EHR in 2013 will prevent a doctor's Medicare rates from being reduced by 3.5% in 2015 for noncompliance.
Read more about the important benchmarks in 2013 here. You may also click the image above to see how electronic prescribing compliance, meaningful use rules, physician quality reporting requirements may impact you. November 27 Webinar Focuses on Delivering Value-based Care
With Medicare and other payers transitioning to new payment models that reward high-quality and cost-effective care, physicians can learn what it means to deliver value-based care by participating in an AMA webinar at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27.
The webinar, "Here it comes ... Delivery reform, payment reform and everything in between," is the first in a new series that will highlight why current reform efforts will succeed where others have failed. This webinar will include a discussion of what it means to deliver value-based care, an explanation of key concepts related to delivery and payment reform, and a comparison of today's reform efforts to those of the past.
Physicians can earn continuing medical education credit in the form of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by participating in the webinar, which is hosted by the AMA Innovators Committee. AMA members can register for free; nonmembers can sign up for $30. Click here to register.
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From CMS: Upcoming Webinars
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Medicare Part B Webinars 
CMS offers ongoing Medicare training via webinar and conference calls. Visit the Novitas website to view handouts from previous webinars such as "New Patient Guidelines and Coding" and "Subsequent Hospital Care Rules and Coding." You can also register for upcoming webinars, including.
- Therapy Manual Medical Review Process and Coverage
November 30, 2012, 9:00-10:30 am - Evaluation and Management Score Sheet 101 Basic
December 5, 2012, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm - Advanced Evaluation and Management Score Sheet
December 11, 2012, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
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Members in the News
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Eliot Sorel, MD, Professor of Global Health and Psychiatry, GWU School of Medicine and School of Public Health, and Jeffrey S. Akman, MD, Dean of GWU School of Medicine, participated in a panel last week on "Mental Health from the Global Perspective." The panel was part of a Global Mental Health Forum sponsored by the Embassy of Italy.
Dr. Sorel also edited "21st Century Global Mental Health," a recently released book on global mental health and its integration with public health and primary care.
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"The Waiting Room" Documentary Opens in DC on November 30
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Documentary Highlighting Emergency Room Realities Opens in DC
"The Waiting Room" is a character-driven documentary film that goes behind the doors of an American public hospital struggling to care for a community of largely uninsured patients. The documentary opens on November 30, 2012 at the E Street Theater, 555 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC.
The opening night will feature a special panel including Robert Shesser, MD, Professor and Chair of The Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University, and Beth Feldpush of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems. View a flyer for more information on the film or to buy tickets.
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| Med-Chi of DC Christmas Gala: December 21, 2012 | |
Save the date for the Med-Chi Christmas Gala
 The Med-Chi Christmas Gala will take place from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am on Friday, December 21 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel at 1331 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. There will be a live band and DJ.
Individual tickets are $125; tables are $1,250. For more information or to reserve your tickets, please call (202) 347-4170 or (202) 882-5038.
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Holiday Office Hours
|  MSDC Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving
The MSDC staff wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels over the holiday weekend.
Please note, the office will be closed Thursday, November 22nd and Friday, November 23rd in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
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From Solveras: Debit and Credit Card Processing for Medical Practices
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A physician must be concerned with two separate but equally important aspects  of running his or her practice: the well-being of the patients and the viability of the business. Because they are a patient's first and most frequent healthcare contact, physicians must be especially mindful of their patients' needs and the factors that contribute to their health issues, including the stress that may come from multitasking and financial difficulties. But responsibilities to patients must still be weighed evenly with the financial well-being of the practice, including such issues as billing, collections, front-desk operations and confidentiality of patient records.
Even with the assistance of office staff and outsourced consultants, physicians who manage practices increasingly find themselves spending less time than they would like with their patients. Economic uncertainty, ever-changing government regulations and the requirements of insurance companies also contribute to this unsettled environment. However, there are solutions, and many of them are simple and inexpensive. To continue reading a white paper on this issue, click here.
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| Save up to 75% using MSDC's Drug Discount Program Card |
 As a physician in Washington, DC, you and your patients have access to a FREE Prescription Drug Card program. The Medical Society is please to offer the DCRx CARD. Your patients can save up to 75% on precriptions, selected eye-wear, vitamins and other products. The card is accepted in pharmacies in the District, Maryland and Virginia.
The Medical Society of DC has received a shipment of these cards and have 250 cards available to each Society member who requests them. Please email Pia Duryea at duryea@msdc.org and ask for the cards for your patients.
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| Gittleson-Zuppas partners for new medical office building |
 Lerner Enterprises, Washington, DC's largest private real estate developer announced it has awarded the firm Gittleson Zuppas Medical Realty, Inc. the exclusive agency assignment to market Lerner's newest project, Fallsgrove Plaza. Lerner has also announced that it has selected HITT Contracting of Falls Church, Va. as the general contractor with construction proposed for fall 2012.
Nicholas M. Zuppas and David A. Gittleson of Gittleson Zuppas Medical Realty will head the leasing effort for the new building. The firm specializes in leasing to firms in the medical field throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area in addition to representing numerous medical practices.
The proposed five-story state of the art Class A 110,000 square foot medical | office building will be located at the intersection of Shady Grove and Blackwell Roads in Rockville, Md. within the award-winning Fallsgrove master planned community, strategically located near Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and the Life Science Corridor. The Donnally Vujcic Associates (DVA Architects) of Gaithersburg, Maryland designed building is proposed to achieve LEEDŽ Gold Certification.
The new building will be within walking distance to Lerner's other projects including the award-winning Fallsgrove Village Center (FallsgroveVillageCtr.com), a community shopping center featuring Safeway plus 30 shops and restaurants; the award-winning fully leased Class A Fallsgrove Village Office Center (FallsgroveOffice.com); and the Fallsgrove HiltonŽ Garden Inn (RockvilleGaithersburg.HGI.com)and Fallsgrove Homewood Suites (RockvilleGaithersburg.homewoodsuites.com) hotels. These projects are located across from the region's leading hospital and life science centers, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and the Life Sciences Center.
For more information, please click here.
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| Classified Ads |
Retiring Surgeon Seeking Surgeon to Take Over Practice
Retiring surgeon looking for interested surgeon to take over a practice of approximately 25 years in DC's West End neighborhood. Please contact 202-887-8120.
Retiring Physician Seeking Family Physician to Take Over Practice
Retiring family practice physician looking for interested physician to take over practice of 25 years, DuPont Circle area. Please contact 202-365-2344.
Psychotherapist Opens Office, Available for Speaking Engagements
Lise Van Susteren, MD, specializing in psychotherapy for adults and couples and psychopharmacology, has opened an office at Dupont Circle. She is also available as a speaker on the health impacts, including psychological, of climate change. For details, call 301-787-1780 or email lvs350@verizon.net.
For Sale: Tropical/Travel Medicine Practice
Long established and nationally recognized private practice serving Washington, DC and surrounding areas. Includes consulting practice in tropical medicine; travel clinic seeing over 7,000-8,000 clients per year; and diagnostic parasitology laboratory. It is in an excellent central city location. This is a unique opportunity for a physician with a passion for tropical/travel medicine and infectious diseases. Send expressions of interest to: tmsdc@verizon.net.
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