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January 28, 2013
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Vol. 20, No. 2
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| Reminder: Renew Your Physician License | |
Physician Licensure Renewal Deadline is One Month Away: February 28, 2013 
The 2012 renewal period for physician licensure is coming to a close. The renewal deadline was extended to February 28, 2013, to allow sufficient time for licensees to undergo the required criminal back ground check (CBC) and be finger-printed. If you have not already made your appointment, visit https://dc.ibtfingerprint.com/ or call 1-877-783-4187.
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MSDC Events
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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
Read more here. Experienced physician mentors 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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AMPAC Candidate Workshop
February 15-17
Pentagon City, VA
This workshop is for AMA members and their spouses who are considering a run for public office. View agenda and application for more information.
CME CREDIT EVENTS
Cannabis in Medicine: A Primer for Healthcare Professionals
Friday, February 22, 2013
2:00-6:00 pm
Mayflower Renaissance Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20036
2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. See brochure for more information.
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. MSDC members pay the early bird rate with password "MedSoc"
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 |
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From HHS: The Privacy Rule and Protected Health Information
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Guidance on Reporting Patients to Law Enforcement 
In light of recent tragic events, including the mass shootings in Newtown, CT, and Aurora, CO, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a letter to clarify when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule allows covered entities to share patient information involving threats to health and public safety. When a health care provider believes that a warning is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of the patient or others, the letter states, "the Privacy Rule allows the provider, consistent with applicable law and standards of ethical conduct, to alert those persons whom the provider believes are reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat."
Other circumstances that covered entities may disclose protected health information under federal law include:
- To comply with a court order or court-ordered warrant, a subpoena or summons issued by a judicial officer, or a grand jury subpoena
- To respond to an administrative request
- To respond to a request for PHI for purposes of identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person
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From CMS: EHR Incentive Program Changes; ERx Penalty Exemption Deadline is This Thursday
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Several Changes to Stage 1 Meaningful Use Measures Begin This Year
The Stage 2 rule for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs included changes to the Stage 1 meaningful use objectives, measures, and exclusions for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs). Some of these Stage 1 changes took effect on October 1, 2012, for eligible hospitals and CAHs, or January 1, 2013, for EPs. Several are optional, but others are required.
Stage 1 Changes and Timing:
Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE)
o Change: Addition of an alternative measure based on the total number of medication orders created during the EHR reporting period | Timing: 2013 and onward
o Change: Revised the description of who can enter orders into the EHR and have it count as CPOE | Timing: 2013 and onward (regardless of what stage of meaningful use the provider is attesting to)
Electronic Prescribing
o Change: Additional exclusion to the objective for electronic prescribing for providers who are not within a 10 mile radius of a pharmacy that accepts electronic prescriptions | Timing: 2013 and onward
Record and Chart Changes in Vital Signs
o Change: Age limit increased for recording blood pressure in patients from ages 2 to ages 3; no age limit for height and weight | Timing: Optional in 2013; required starting in 2014
o Change: Exclusion if the EP sees no patients 3 years or older, if all three vital signs are not relevant to their scope of practice, if height and weight are not relevant to their scope of practice, or if blood pressure is not relevant to their scope of practice | Timing: Optional in 2013; required starting in 2014
o Change: Require that providers perform at least one test of their certified EHR
technology's capability to send data to public health agencies, except where prohibited | Timing: Required in 2013 and onward (for all Stage 1 public health objectives)
Electronic Exchange of Key Clinical Information
o Change: Objective for electronic exchange of key clinical information no longer required for Stage 1 for EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs | Timing: No longer required in 2013 and onward
For more details about each of these changes review the Stage 1 Changes Tipsheet.
ERx Penalty Exemption Deadline is This Thursday, January 31st
Physicians who were unable to file for a Medicare ePrescribing hardship exemption by the original deadline still have time to avoid the 1.5 percent payment penalty in 2013, but must do so by January 31, 2013. Physicians may request a waiver of the 2013 penalty on Communications Support Webpage 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 January 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 for assistance. Support is available from 8 am. to 8 pm (EST) Monday through Friday. |
| HBX News: Board Meetings and Advisory Working Groups |
 HBX Executive Board Meetings In 2013 the DC HBX Executive Board meetings will move to a regular monthly schedule on the second Thursday of each month. However, the next meeting will be a week early on February 7th at 5:30 pm at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street NW, South Lobby in the Board of Education Chambers. The January 10th meeting included updates presented by the executive director and chief operating officer. The December 15th meeting included operational updates and the Executive Board approved the recommendations of the Business Operations Working Committee. Materials from the Executive Board public meetings can be found here. HBX Seeking Community Input for Advisory Working Groups As part of its planning process the DC HBX is soliciting community stakeholders including physicians to participate in Essential Health Benefit (EHB) Working Group in the following ares: - Network Adequacy Working Group
- Quality Working Group
- Certification of Quality Health Plans (QHP) Process Working Group
- Premium Billing and Collections
- Plan Choice Working Group
- Sustainability Working Group
- Plan Offerings and Standardization of Benefits Working Group
The work of these groups is short - taking place between January and March 2013- but members of these groups will make key policy decisions, so physician representation is encouraged. MSDC Board members are participating to the extent possible, but other physicians interested in serving on any of the Advisory Boards and Advisory Working Groups may contact Bonnie Norton at bonnie.norton@dc.gov. |
| From AMA: Resources and Webinar for Employed Physicians |
 Online Resources for Employed Physicians Physicians are increasingly entering into employment relationships with hospitals, group practices and other entities. The recently adopted "AMA Principles for Physician Employment,"which are grounded in AMA policy and the AMA Code of Medical Ethics, are intended to help physicians, those who employ physicians, and their respective advisors identify and address some of the unique challenges employment can present to professionalism and the practice of medicine.
January 30 Webinar: Principles for Physician Employment
AMA is hosting a 90-minute webinar on January 30 at 8:00 - 9:30 pm (EST) that will provide an overview of these principles and their application to real-world situations in which the interests of the employer may differ from those of the physician and his or her patients. Topics that will be covered include:
- Conflicts of interest
- Physician advocacy for their patients
- Contracting
- Hospital medical staff relations
- Peer review and performance evaluations
- Payment agreements.
Webinar is free for AMA members; $45 for non-members. Learn more and register here |
| American College of Physicians (ACP) - DC Chapter News |
Local Physician Chapter Partners with CDC to Launch New Adult Immunization Program
The DC Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) is pleased to announce its partnership with the national ACP and CDC to launch a new adult immunization education and quality improvement initiative. This free opportunity for physicians and members of their health care team will provide new information about recommended vaccines, strategies for increasing vaccination among your patients, and access to performance measurement tools, other educational and QI tools including ACP's Medical Home BuilderŽ, Maintenance of Certification practice improvement credit, HIPAA compliant professional networking and communications tools, and hands-on support for your practice or program at no cost.
The initiative will be launched at a regional dinner program on March 20, 2013 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at a venue in Washington, DC. Robert Hopkins, MD, a national expert in adult immunization will lead the presentation, followed by a discussion with local leaders in immunization. There will be ample time for answering your questions along with facilitated discussion during the program.
To learn more about this initiative and sign up, please contact Yodit Beru at yberu@acponline.org. Space is limited, so interested participants are encouraged to respond as soon as possible.
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Member News: Jeffrey S. Akman, MD, Named Dean of GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences
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Former MSDC Board Member to Lead GW School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Jeffrey S. Akman, MD, a past member of MSDC's Board of Directors, has been chosen to serve as the Vice President for Health Affai rs and the dean of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). He will lead the academic and research mission of SMHS and will be named the Walter A. Bloedorn Chair of Administrative Medicine.
In 2010, Dr. Akman was named Interim Vice President for Health Affairs and dean, and has served as a liaison between the university and its clinical partners, including the GW Medical Faculty Associates, the George Washington University Hospital and Children's National Medical Center. He was instrumental in the restructuring of the GW Medical Center and successfully reorganized the administrative leadership at SMHS.
Read here for more information. |
Solveras is Now TransFirst
|  ....And is Offering a $500 Savings If You Reply by January 31, 2013 We wish to inform you that Solveras Payment Solutions - MSDC's member benefit for payment processing - has changed its name to TransFirst. Expect the same great products and customer service you've always enjoyed with Solveras - just a new name. In conjunction with the name change, TransFirst is offering an outstanding savings package on Transaction Express, TransFirst's proprietary online payment processing system. MSDC members who activate a merchant processing account with TransFirst by January 31, 2013* can save over $500!
This limited time offer includes: - FREE Transaction Express terminal swiper** - $195 value
- FREE mobile card swiper and mobile processing** - $150 value
- NO application fee - $100 value
- NO set-up fee - $75 value
Call 800.613.0148 and mention MSDC's eNewsline to take advantage of this limited-time offer. *Exclusive savings package offer expires January 31, 2013. **Transaction Express account required. Available for iPhoneŽ, iPadŽ and most AndroidŽ devices. Merchant account subject to credit approval. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer and prices subject to change without notice. |
| Upcoming COCA Calls and Webinars | |
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Annual Conference
February 9 - 12, 2013
Washington, DC
For 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.
Archived COCA Conference Calls are available online.
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MEMBER SPECIALS
especially for MSDC Members
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Solveras is Now TransFirst
| ...And is Makng a Limited Time Offer for MSDC Members
We wish to inform you that Solveras Payment Solutions - MSDC's member benefit for payment processing - has changed its name to TransFirst. Expect the same great products and customer service you've always enjoyed with Solveras - just a new name.
In conjunction with the name change, TransFirst is offering an outstanding savings package on Transaction Express, TransFirst's proprietary online payment processing system. MSDC members who activate a merchant processing account with TransFirst by January 31, 2013* can save over $500!
This limited time offer includes:
- FREE Transaction Express terminal swiper** - $195 value
- FREE mobile card swiper and mobile processing** - $150 value
- NO application fee - $100 value
- NO set-up fee - $75 value
Call 800.613.0148 and mention MSDC's eNewsline to take advantage of this limited-time offer.
*Exclusive savings package offer expires January 31, 2013. **Transaction Express account required. Available for iPhoneŽ, iPadŽ and most AndroidŽ devices. Merchant account subject to credit approval. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer and prices subject to change without notice.
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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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