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January 14, 2013
| Vol. 20, No. 1 |
| MSDC Annual Report Reviews 2012 Highlights | |
Thanks to your support in 2012, MSDC made important gains in Medicare reimbursement, prior authorization reform, licensure and other areas impacting medicine. Read about these achievements in MSDC's recently released 2012 Annual Report.
To the many physicians who have already renewed your support for 2013, thank you for helping to make sure this progress continues. If you have not paid your dues yet, please contact Rose Smith at 202-466-1800 or smith@msdc.org.
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MSDC Events |
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MENTORING GROUP KICKOFF & HAPPY HOUR
Wednesday, February 6
5:00 -8:00 pm
Hill Country Barbecue
410 Seventh Street NW Washington, DC 20004
Meet young physicians and learn about the mentoring group. Experienced physicians willing to mentor are welcome. Please RSVP to Elizabeth Phillips, MD.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ... Join us!
Monday, February 25
6:30 pm
1250 23rd Street NW Washington, DC 20037
Current MSDC members requesting an invitation in advance are welcome to attend. For details, email Pia Duryea.
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Other Events
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Interfaith Moral Action on Climate (IMAC) "Pray-in for the Climate"
January 15, 2013
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church 1313 New York Ave., NW Washington, DC After meeting at the church, group will walk to the White House. Click here for more information.
CME CREDIT EVENTS The Business of Medicine - 2nd Annual Summit February 23-24, 2013 Thomas Jefferson University Campus Philadelphia, PA Up to 15 CME credits are available . Click here for price and conference information. Annual Regional Ethics Committee Conference
Friday, March 29, 2013
9:00 AM -5:30 p.m. Washington Hospital Center
Up to 6 CME units are available for this program. For details on conference, view the brochure.
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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)
www.msdc.org |
| Like MSDC on Facebook! | |
The Medical Society of DC is on Facebook!
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| Two Weeks Remain to Request Exemption From eRx Penalty |
Deadline to request exemption from ePrescribing penalty is January 31, 2013 
Physicians who were unable to file for a Medicare ePrescribing hardship exemption by the original deadline have until Jan. 31, 2013 to avoid the 1.5 percent payment penalty in 2013.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has re-opened the Communications Support Web page to allow physicians who missed the June 30, 2012 deadline to file for an exemption.
Physicians may request a waiver of the 2013 penalty under any of the following categories:
- The physician is unable to ePrescribe as a result of local, state or federal law or regulation.
- The physician wrote fewer than 100 prescriptions during the period of Janusary 1-June 30, 2012.
- The physician practices in a rural area that doesn't have sufficient high-speed Internet access.
- The physician practices in an area that doesn't have enough pharmacies that can do ePrescribing.
CMS also added two hardship categories for those participating in Medicare's electronic health record meaningful use program. Physicians do not need to apply for an exemption related to these meaningful use hardship categories; CMS will automatically determine whether physicians meet those requirements.
Visit the CMS ePrescribing Web page to learn more. Physicians can contact CMS's QualityNet Help Desk at (866) 288-8912 or via email with questions or for assistance submitting their hardship exemption requests. Support is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday
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| Payers Not Accepting 2013 CPT Codes? |
...then report them!
 The rejection of a valid Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code is a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Included within the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code set, CPT is one of the medical data code sets adopted under HIPAA. Additionally, HIPAA-covered entities-including payers-are required to use the current applicable medical data code set valid at the time the health care is furnished. The introduction of the CPT book provides instruction for use of the CPT codes and states that January 1 is the effective date for use of the updated CPT code set.
AMA encourages you to report HIPAA violations. Simply file a complaint through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website and/or through the online AMA Health Plan Complaint Form at www.ama-assn.org/go/clickandcomplain. AMA members and their practice staff can visit AMA's website to download sample appeal letters and customize them for use in their practices.
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District News: DC Councilmembers Sworn In; Committee on Health Has New Leadership
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Council Period 20 underway with Councilmember Yvette Alexander to head Committee on Health
On January 2nd, the Council of the District of Columbia marked the start of Council Period 20 and swearing in and welcoming of new and returning members. The beginning of Council Period 20 also meant the appointment of Council Committee Chairpersons and members by Chairman Mendelson.
As widely reported, there were significant changes to the Committee on Health, including a new Chair. Councilmember Yvette Alexander was selected to lead the Committee on Health, replacing Councilmember David A. Catania (At-Large-I) who led the Committee for eight years. Alexander previously chaired the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs, where she addressed issues related to health insurance, including prior authorization and telemedicine. Other members of the Committee on Health include Councilmembers Anita Bond, David Catania, David Grosso, and Vincent Orange. Councilmembers Marion Barry, Mary Cheh (Ward 3-D) and Tommy Wells (Ward 6-D) are no longer on the Committee on Health. Councilmember Vincent Orange succeeded Alexander as chair on the new Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which is expected to move forward with prior authorization legislation in Council Period 20.
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Medicaid Payments for Primary Care - Status Update
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Medicaid rates for primary care services to be set at 100% of Medicare rates 
The Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) is working to implement Section 1902(a)(13) of the Affordable Care Act which requires State Medicaid agencies to increase payment rates for certain primary care services beginning January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014. Rates will be set at 100% of the Medicare rates in effect January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014, or if higher, the rate that would be applicable using the 2009 Medicare conversion factor.
Eligible physicians include primary care physicians with a specialty designation of family medicine, general medicine, or pediatric medicine and all subspecialists, as designated by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). An eligible physician will be required to self-attest that he or she practices in an eligible specialty or subspecialty and either that they are board- certified in that specialty or subspecialty and/or that at least 60 percent of the Medicaid codes he or she has billed during the most recently completed calendar year were authorized codes for evaluation and management services and/or vaccine administration services. The requirement to increase payment rates for certain primary care services applies to both fee-for-service and managed care arrangements. Advanced practice nurses and physician assistants who work under the supervision of an eligible physician also are eligible for an increase in payment.
Although the requirement to pay the increased rates is effective January 1, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) did not finalize its implementing regulations until November 6, 2012 and has yet to answer key questions. CMS has advised states that payments cannot commence until the State has received approval of its State Plan Amendment (SPA) and managed care contracts. SPA and contract amendments are due to CMS no later than March 31, 2013 but cannot be submitted before January 1, 2013. Based upon CMS's timetables, it is expected that all States will be implementing the rate increase on a retroactive basis.
Click here to learn more. Please direct any questions to Claudia Schlosberg, Director, Health Care Policy and Research Administration (HCPRA) at (202) 442-9107 or Claudia.schlosberg@dc.gov.
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| MSDC Urges Congress to Address Gun Violence and Mental Health |
MSDC joins sign on letter regarding gun violence in wake of Connecticut school shooting
MSDC signed on to a letter with other state and national medical societies, offering its experience and expertise in finding workable, common sense solutions to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in America. The letter also urged the nation to strengthen its commitment and resources to comprehensive access to mental health services, including screening, prevention, and treatment. View letters to the Senate, House of Representatives, and President.
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| AACR Cancer Progress Report 2012 |
Cancer Progress Report 2012 available 
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has released its "Cancer Progress Report 2012." The report highlights the unprecedented scientific opportunities in cancer research and presents sobering facts. For example, cancer will account for nearly one in four deaths this year, making it the second most common cause of death in the U.S. The report is available online at http://www.cancerprogressreport.org. MSDC also has a limited number of print editions which are available by calling MSDC at (202) 466-1800 or emailing duryea@msdc.org.
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From CDC: Influenza Hits Epidemic Levels
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Flu outbreak officially an epidemic 
The spread of influenza officially hit epidemic levels last week based on the number of deaths from flu and pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's weekly flu report.
The CDC reported that 7.3% of all deaths reported through the Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to influenza and pneumonia, above the 7.2% threshold for the week ended Jan. 5. Since the beginning of the flu season, there have been 3,710 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations, a rate of 13.3 per 100,000. Eighty-six percent of them were for the more virulent influenza A strain, while 13% for influenza B. The remaining cases were unidentified. According to the DC Hospital Association, District hospitals have reported 310 cases of influenza since September 30, 2012. This an increase over last year's 97 cases reported during the entire flu season.
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| This Week: Meaningful Use Stage 1 and 2 Provider Call |
National Provider Call: Meaningful Use: Stage 1 and Stage 2 - Register Now
Wednesday, January 16; 2-3:30pm
This National Provider Call will provide an overview of the Stage 2 Final Rule and how it affects Stage 1 and Stage 2 of meaningful use and other requirements of the EHR Incentive Programs This call aims to help providers successfully participate in the EHR Incentive Programs and receive an incentive payment.
Agenda:
- Extension of Stage 1
- Changes to Stage 1 Meaningful Use Criteria
- New and Updated Medicaid Policies
- Stage 2 Meaningful Use Overview
- Stage 2 Clinical Quality Measures
- Medicare Payment Adjustments and Exceptions
- Question and Answers about the Incentive Programs
Question and Answers about the Incentive Programs
Target Audience: Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and professionals eligible for the Medicare and/or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. For more details: Eligibility Requirements for Professionals and Eligibility Requirements for Hospitals.
Registration Information: In order to receive call-in information, you must register for the call on the CMS Upcoming National Provider Calls registration website. 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. |
| Upcoming COCA Calls and Webinars | |
Stopping Norovirus in its Tracks: What Every Clinician Should Know
Thursday, January 17, 2013; 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Call Number: 888-790-6180
Passcode: 1281914
Join By Webinar: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW7035569&p=1281914&t=c
For more information on this call: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls/2013/callinfo_011713.asp
Archived COCA Conference Calls are available at: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp
Free CE credit/contact hours (CME, CNE, ACPE, CEU, CECH, and AAVSB/RACE) are available for most COCA calls.
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Annual Conference February 9 - 12, 2013
Washington, DC
For preliminary schedule and information, go here. Also, AMCHP has partnered with Realityworks and Go Beyond to offer a new graduate student scholarship. This scholarship is designed to assist one graduate student per year in furthering their education while sponsoring their attendance at the AMCHP Annual Conference to hone their leadership skills and connect them with existing leaders within MCH. |
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CDC Releases New Report on HIV and Other Resources
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New report available on diagnosed HIV infection among adults and adolescents in metropolitan areas
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, Diagnosed HIV Infection among Adults and Adolescents in Metropolitan Statistical Areas-United States and Puerto Rico, 2010. The report presents data on diagnoses of HIV infection during 2010 and persons living with a diagnosis of HIV infection at year-end 2009 (HIV prevalence) for adults and adolescents (aged 13 years and older) residing in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs; population of 500,000 or more) in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Updated ECHPP Website & Resources
The Enhanced Comprehensive HIV Prevention Planning (ECHPP) Project is a 3-year demonstration project funded by CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP), for the 12 municipalities with the highest number of people living with AIDS in the United States.
DHAP recently released an updated ECHPP website and resources. The following content has been added to a new section of the website called "Reports:"
- Promising Practices
- Year One
An overview of ECHPP's evaluation description and process has also been added to the website.
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MEMBER SPECIALS
especially for MSDC Members
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Strengthen Your Practice's Immunization Performance |
Primary Care Physicians are in the best position to improve adolescent and  adult vaccination rates. Immunization for Flu, Pneumococcal, Shingles, and Tdap vaccines continue to fall short of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services objectives.
Fortunately, the Medical Society of DC has a strong partner in providing our members the resources and support to cost-effectively improve immunization rates, and in turn, strengthen your practice. Atlantic Health Partners, the nation's leading vaccine buying group, offers you the lowest vaccine prices and finest customer service to improve the performance of your immunization initiatives. Atlantic even has a program that enables you to provide vaccines like Zostavax (Shingles) and Adacel (Tdap) to Medicare Part D patients.
MSDC members that currently participate with Atlantic are very satisfied with the savings and support. We encourage you to contact Atlantic at 800-741-2044 or info@atlantichealthpartners.com to better determine how they can benefit your practice. |
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From MSDC: Up to 75% Off Prescription Drugs Using DC RxCard
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 As a physician in Washington, DC, you and your patients have access to a FREE Prescription Drug Card program. The Medical Society is pleased to offer the DCRx CARD. Your patients can save up to 75% on prescriptions, 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 new cards available and any Society member who requests it may receive a supply of 250 cards. Please email Pia Duryea at duryea@msdc.org and ask for cards for your patients.
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| Classified Ads |
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.
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