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Mission
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The mission of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia is to ensure the well-being of physicians and their patients in metropolitan Washington.
MSDC:
1. advocates on behalf of its member physicians of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds
2. promotes high standards of character and professionalism
3. makes certain that physicians are, and are recognized as, the primary professionals who define and guarantee high quality, appropriate, and cost-effective medical care
4. Above all, we aggressively defend the highest principle of all: the integrity of the physician-patient relationship.
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Contact Us
Medical Society of DC
1250 23rd Street, NW
Suite 270
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-1800 Main
(202) 452-1542 Fax
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| 2012-2013 Board of Directors |
Catherine S. May, MD
Chair of the Board; At-Large
Daniel I. Perlin, MD
President
Laura L. Tosi, MD
President-Elect; AMA Alternate Delegate
James C. Cobey, MD
Immediate Past President
Joseph E. Gutierrez, MD
Treasurer; AMA Delegation Chair
Reginald L. Robinson, MD
Secretary; At-Large
Peter E. Lavine, MD
AMA Delegate
J. Desiree Pineda, MD
AMA Alternate Delegate
Julian R. Craig, MD
At-Large
John W. Larsen, MD
At-Large
Barry L. Lewis, MD
At-Large
Joan B. Loveland, MD
At-Large Carla C. Sandy, MD
At-Large
Stuart F. Seides, MD
At-Large
K. Edward Shanbacker
Executive Vice President
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| MSDC Staff | K. Eward Shanbacker
Executive Vice President
Rose Smith
Controller
Pia R. Duryea
Director of Membership and Communications |
Let a colleague know what we're up to and pass the report along!
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| 2012 Annual Report | December 31, 2012 |
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Dear Doctor,
These are just a few of the issues that the Medical Society championed in 2012, with a more extensive compilation in the following "Year in Review." The Medical Society leadership and staff value and appreciate your continued support. We look forward to advocating on your behalf and that of your patients in 2013.
Sincerely,
K. Edward Shanbacker
Executive Vice President
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MSDC: The Year in Review
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1. Reversed a Proposed 20% Medicaid Clawback
Early in the year, we learned of the District's planned Medicaid clawback, requiring physicians to return 20% of Medicaid payments they had already received for services over the previous 14 months. Working with the American Medical Association, the Medical Society lobbied local Medicaid officials and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As a result, the District completely reversed the clawback, saving District doctors and hospitals 11 million dollars.
2. Lessened the Impact of New Licensure Requirements on Physicians
MSDC worked with the Department of Health to reduce hassles associated with a new criminal background check requirement on physician licensure. We argued for additional testing locations across the District and, working with community stakeholders, presented a range of physician concerns and challenges to the District. As a result, physicians experienced fewer disruptions and obstacles related to the new requirement. Eventually the renewal deadline was extended by sixty days.
3. Addressed a Convoluted Prior Authorization Process
Insurance company policies for prior authorization to treat patients remain a top obstacle for physicians, according to an MSDC survey. As a result, MSDC lobbied to introduce the "Uniform Electronic Prior Authorization Form Amendment Act of 2012" to streamline authorization requests using an electronic format and testified in support of the uniform electronic prior authorization bill. MSDC will actively pursue passage of this legislation in the new year.
4. Applied Local Expertise to Federal Healthcare Reform
In June, the Supreme Court ruled on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), making it "the law of the land," and President Obama's re-election eliminated the threat of repeal by Republicans. As healthcare reform evolves, the Medical Society will work to ensure that local implementation of the ACA does not place improper financial and administrative burdens on physicians or diminish physician autonomy in any way.
5. Urged Congress to Repeal the Current SGR Formula and Avoid Crippling Medicare Payment Cuts
MSDC helped prevent Medicare payment cuts by nearly 30% in early 2012, and is again lobbying against a 26.5% Medicare payment cut currently scheduled to take place on January 1, 2013. In addition to addressing these immediate threats, MSDC is aggressively petitioning the US Congress to permanently repeal the current SGR formula and working with federation partners to replace the SGR with a more sustainable, long-term solution.
6. Additional Legislative Advocacy - Worked to move forward the "Medicare Patient Empowerment Act," which will allow Medicare patients to privately contract with their physician regardless of Medicare participation status
- Supported introduction of the "Telemedicine Reimbursement Act" to ensure that physicians are reimbursed for the provision of medical care when it is provided through telemedicine
- Worked with the Boards of Pharmacy and Medicine to ensure the "Collaborative Care Expansion Act of 2012" did not inappropriately expand the role of pharmacists as it relates to patients with chronic disease
- Worked with the DC Council's Committee on Health to defeat the "Pharmacy Access Amendment Act" which would have inappropriately expanded the scope of practice for pharmacists regarding oral contraceptives
- Provided guidance and input to the Board of Pharmacy in its review of a possible prescription drug monitoring program.
7. Additional Regulatory Advocacy
- Lobbied CMS with national and state medical society partners to revise the simultaneous implementation of multiple programs such as eRx penalties, PQRS and EHR incentive programs, and the ICD-10 transition
- Successfully delayed transition to ICD-10 coding by one year to October 1, 2014, allowing additional time to evaluate the codes' appropriateness
- Extended the deadline for physicians to file for Medicare e-prescribing hardship in order to avoid a 1.5 percent penalty in 2013
- Succeeded in modifying the HIV/AIDS CME requirement for physicians renewing their license
- Participated in District healthcare improvement initiatives, such as the DC Healthcare Workforce Partnership Group, DC Health Benefit Exchange, DC Health Information Exchange and the Mayor's Commission on HIV/AIDS.
8. Private Sector Advocacy
- Represented MSDC members who had claims disputes with major insurers, such as CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare
- Succeeded in obtaining outstanding or delayed payments from private insurers on numerous occasions for Medical Society members
- Maintained a strong working relationship between ProAssurance and MSDC member insureds through participation on the ProAssurance Claims and Underwriting Committee
- Served on the CareFirst Medical Advisory Board, representing DC physicians
- Participated on the DC Chamber of Commerce's Health & Wellness Committee to represent and promote physicians' interests in the business community
9. MSDC's Physician Health Program
- Continued to identify and aid physicians and medical students in their recovery from conditions that may impair their ability to practice
- Served as a valuable resource to MSDC members who benefit from the assistance and support of the program
10. Community Service Activities
- The MSDC Task Force on Family Violence provided technical assistance regarding local policy initiatives covering victim's services, critical health care programs, housing expansion and capacity building. The Task Force added its voice to the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and weighed in on legislation through op-eds and editorial pieces in print media such as The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun.
- Continued to develop programs with the Medicare Diabetes Screening Project and the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program
- Supported and distributed the "DCRx Card," a prescription discount program for patients in the District.
- Served on the DC Cancer Consortium's Advisory Board
11. Membership: Together We ARE Stronger
MSDC's membership grew by approximately 25% in the past year! That increase is due to the growing recognition by healthcare leaders in Washington that MSDC is important to the District's physicians and its citizens.The Medical Society will continue to engage physicians and bring hospital groups into this growing membership community in order to advocate more effectively on behalf of you and your patients.
12. Annual Meeting and Reception
- Over 100 MSDC members attended the highly successful Annual Meeting and Reception at the Metropolitan Club in Washington, DC
- Robert Berenson, MD, FACP, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute, discussed the impact of the 2012 election on physicians
- MSAF reported its activities and presented the Charles R. Drew Achievement Awards in Health and Medicine and awarded the Allied Health Scholarship.
- Daniel I. Perlin, MD, was installed as MSDC President for the 2012-13 term
- 11 vendors supported the event, including:
- American Medical Association
- Atlantic Health Partners
- Cadence Pharmaceuticals
- Cbeyond
- Johns Hopkins Health Care
- Medical Society Services
- MSDC Alliance
- Nixon Uniform Services and Medical Wear
- ProAssurance
- Professional Risk Associates
- Washington Hospital Center
13. Corporate Partner Program and Member Benefits MSDC continued to develop its Corporate Partner program to provide members-only discounts and benefits that cover a range of products and services designed to support your medical practice or hospital. These include:
- ProAssurance - Negotiated a 50% discount from Physician Loss Prevention Seminar registration fee for MSDC members
- Cbeyond - MSDC switched to new Corporate Partner Cbeyond for its telecommunications services this year. Cbeyond offers members a free IT and telecommunications needs analysis.
- Professional Risk Associates - Full evaluation and service for MSDC members' medical liability insurance
- TransFirst (previously Solveras Payment Solutions) - Free payment process evaluation
- IC System - Up to 10 debts submitted for collection, free of charge
- Atlantic Health Partners - Discounted vaccine purchasing program for MSDC members only
- Washington Nationals Negotiated discounted prices for MSDC members on Washington Nationals tickets
- Other support for MSDC members in 2012 came from:
- Athenahealth
- BlueNovo
- DC Hospital Association
- Delmarva Foundation
- EHR and Practice Management Consultants
- Gittleson Zuppas Commercial Real Estate
- Johns Hopkins Health Care
- Nixon Uniform Service & Medical Wear
- Pfizer
- Riggs Counselman Michaels & Downes
- Standard Leasing Corporation
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