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Partner Events
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USE YOUR 50% MEMBER DISCOUNT
2013 Loss Prevention Seminars ~ In Defense of Good Medicine
Thursday, April 11 Thursday, May 16
Wednesday, June 12
Thursday, July 25
Up to 2 CME credits available. More dates in September and October.
While previous seminars explored how risk management issues can damage a physician's credibility and a claim's defensibility, this seminar reinforces the positive. Read more here
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Educational Events
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Annual Regional Ethics Committee Conference
Friday, March 29
9:00 am -5:30 pm
Washington Hospital Center
Up to 6 CME units are available for this program. For details on conference, view the brochure. Solution Focused Brief Therapy TrainingsMay 13-15 June 24-26 Thurgood Marshall Bldg. 1816 12th St NW Washington, DC 18 CEUs are available. Hosted by the Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative. Learn more here. International Conference on Nutrition and the BrainJuly 19-20 Grand Hyatt Washington, Washington, DC Up to 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits are available. Register by April 15th to get $299 rate. E xperts will share the latest insights on the role of nutrients in Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders at this event. See flyer for more information.
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Corporate Partners
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(MedSystem Solutions is a New Corporate Partner*)
 
 
 
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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, AMA Alternate Delegate
James C. Cobey, MD
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
John W. Larsen, MD
Barry Lewis, MD, MBA
At-Large
Joan B. Loveland, MD
Carla C. 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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Medicare Pay Cut Will Kick In April 1 Under Federal Budget Sequester
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The 2 percent across-the-board cut to Medicare physician p  ayments mandated by the federal budget sequester will begin April 1, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed in a recent announcement. Physicians will see the payment reduction applied to their fee-for-service claims with a date of service of April 1 or later. The 2 percent cut will apply to the payment amount after it has been adjusted for beneficiary coinsurance, deductibles and any applicable Medicare secondary payments. The allowed charge amounts remain unchanged.
Payments to other health care providers likewise will be reduced by 2 percent. The reduction will apply to claims with an April 1 or later date of service, date of discharge, start date of durable medical equipment rental or start date of multi-day supplies. Although the 2 percent cut will not impact beneficiary payments for deductibles and coinsurance amounts, the cut will be applied to the reimbursement Medicare beneficiaries receive for unassigned claims. Visit the AMA's Medicare Participation Kit Web page for examples of how the sequester cut will affect physician payments and Medicare beneficiary reimbursement. The AMA continues to urge Congress to reform the Medicare payment system to eliminate continued threats of payment cuts and support a higher-performing system of care.
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Medicare Claims At Risk
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Unless You Verify Enrollment by May 1, 2013
Physicians who refer or order services for Medicare patients must be enrolled in Medicare to ensure that other physicians-specifically those who are referred patients or ordered services-will avoid denials of claims for those services or supplies beginning May 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced recently. The enrollment requirement is the result of a federal policy that physicians must list on a claim the name and National Provider Identifier of a referring or ordering physician or provider. Given this, it is critical that ordering and referring physicians enroll with Medicare as soon as possible so they can avoid any interruptions in claims processing. Physicians who have opted out of Medicare do not need to enroll. However, they must ensure they have a valid opt-out affidavit on file with their local contractor. Also, physicians who refer and order services but do not bill Medicare directly can complete enrollment form CMS-855-0. Read more here.
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MSDC News: Annual Meeting Date Announced, Nominations Sought for Leadership Elections
| Save the Date for MSDC's 2013 Annual Meeting and Reception!
MSDC's Annual Meeting and Reception will take place on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at the Whittemore House in Dupont Circle. We hope to see you there so please save the date. Among other things,the meeting will include installation of MSDC's President and results of Leadership Elections.
Nominations for Leadership Elections Due May 1, 2013
MSDC's Leadership Development/ Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for the 2013-14 Leadership Elections for the following offices: - President Elect (1-Year Term, followed by 1-Year-Term as President)
- 3 Members-at-Large (2-Year Term)
- AMA Delegate (2-Year Term)
- AMA Alternate Delegate (2-Year Term)
Would you like to contribute your leadership, vision and skill or nominate a fellow physician? The Committee will meet in early May to develop a slate of candidates for Society officers, so please submit your nominations. To be considered, please note that: - Nominees must be active MSDC members in good standing
- To nominate yourself or someone else, email CV and a brief message to Ed Shanbacker, Executive Vice President, at Shanbacker@msdc.org
- Nominations are due May 1, 2013
If you have any questions, please contact MSDC offices at (202) 466-1800. |
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Kaiser Permanente of the Mid- Atlantic States Rates Highest in Satisfaction
|  Kaiser Permanente of the Mid- Atlantic States Ranks Highest in Region in Member Satisfaction Survey for Fifth Year in a Row Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States announced that its members have rated the organization's health plan highest in member satisfaction within its region in the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 Member Health Insurance Plan StudySM. This year's designation marks five consecutive years that Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States has been the highest rated plan in the Mid-Atlantic Region (Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC). "We are honored that Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States has again outperformed all others in its region in J.D. Power and Associates' member satisfaction study for health plans," said Kim Horn, President, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. "Our members benefit from our integrated approach to total health and our investments in technology and infrastructure from Northern Virginia to Baltimore." Now in its seventh year, the study measures satisfaction among members of 136 health plans in 17 regions throughout the United States by examining seven key factors: coverage and benefits; provider choice; information and communication; claims processing; statements; customer service; and approval process. In 2013, the overall member satisfaction average in the region is 700 (on a 1,000-point scale), compared with 701 in 2012. Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States outperformed the region average by more than 50 points, scoring 754. "This recognition underscores our commitment to providing the highest level of care possible to our members," said Bernadette Loftus, MD, Associate Executive Director, The Permanente Medical Group. "Our physicians are dedicated to providing the finest and most accessible care, whether via face-to-face visits, secure email, telephone, or video visits." The 2013 Member Health Plan Study is based on responses from more than 33,000 members of 136 commercial health plans across 17 regions in the United States. The study was fielded in December 2012 and January 2013. For more comprehensive health plan rankings for all 17 U.S. regions, please visit www.jdpower.com Also, see this week's New York Times article related to Kaiser Permanente. |
| Welcome to MedSystem Solutions! |
MSDC's Newest Corporate Partner
MedSystem Solutions is a family owned local business utilizing the latest technology in Electronic medical billing, integrated EHR/EMR, real time insurance eligibility and coding updates. For more information, contact Steina Walter at (855) 337-7700 or steina@medsystemsolutions.com. |
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District News: Temporary Change in Water Disinfectant
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Change To Affect DC, Arlington County and Falls Church Through April 29, 2013 The disinfectant in drinking water is being temporarily switched from chloramine to chlorine, effective March 18 through April 29, 2013.The annual switch in water disinfection is part of a routine program to clean and maintain water distribution systems in the District of Columbia, Arlington County and Falls Church. During the temporary switch to chlorine, local water authorities will also conduct system-wide flushing to enhance water quality.
Individuals and business owners who take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners, should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch to chlorine. Most methods for removing chloramine from tap water are effective in removing chlorine. Individuals with special health concerns should consult a health care provider on the use of tap water.
During this time, individuals may notice a slight change in the taste and smell of their drinking water. Local water authorities recommend running the cold water tap for approximately two minutes and refrigerating cold tap water for a few hours to reduce taste and odor.
Read more information here.
To contact the appropriate water authority appear, see below.
DC Water: 202-612-3440 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) or 202-612-3400 (24-hour) / www.dcwater.com
Arlington County: 703-228-6570 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) or 703-228-6555 (24-hour)
Falls Church City: 703-248-5071 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) or 703-248-5044 (24-hour)
Washington Aqueduct: 202-764-0008 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
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District News: Upcoming Board of Medicine Meeting & Committee on Health Roundtable Hearing
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Board of Medicine Meeting on March 27, 2013
The DC Board of Medicine will meet on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 10:30 am. The meeting will take place at 899 North Capitol St. NE on the 2nd Floor and the Board invites you to join. Seethe agenda here. If you have questions, or a topic to discuss, please contact Lisa Robinson at 202 724-8802.Committee on Health Roundtable Hearing Set for March 28, 2013
The next DC Council Committee on Health roundtable hearing on the HBX will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at 1:00 pm in room 123. This will be an opportunity for individuals to present oral testimony, as well as written statements for the record.
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DC HBX Board Meeting Today
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Board to Consider Recommendations on Non-Consensus Items from  Working Groups
The Executive Board of the DC Health Benefit Exchange (HBX) Authority will meet to review and discuss the recommendations on non-consensus items from the Essential Health Benefits and the Plan Offerings and Benefit Standardization Working Groups. Meeting materials can be found at dchbx.com under Board and Committee, Board Meeting Materials, March 22, 2013. The Executive Board meeting, chaired by Dr. Mohammed Akhter, is open to the general public. Public comments are welcomed.
WHEN/WHERE:
Friday, March 22, 2013 - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
899 North Capitol Street, NE - Conference Room 6130
Toll-free Call-in Number (US/Canada): 1(877) 668-4493
Access Code: 648 381 664
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Physicians & Practice Managers: Join AMA's New LinkedIn Group
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Keep informed - join the AMA's new LinkedIn group! Managing a practice can be complex-and you need a place to turn to when you have questions or want advice. The AMA Practice Efficiency and Management LinkedIn Group is designed to encourage dialogue on a wide variety of issues- from contracting strategies, to billing and payment, to making the most of administrative automation-to help your practice run efficiently. Physicians, practice staff, consultants and other health care partners are invited to join this group. If you don't have a LinkedIn account, you may open one for free here Comment on the AMA's posts-or create your own! Ask questions, share your best practices and join the conversations.
This tip is a part of the AMA Practice Management Center's "Prescription for a healthier practice" series to help physicians and their staff examine how their practices are performing in key administrative processes.
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Save 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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Lower Your Vaccine Costs
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With MSDC Corporate Partner Atlantic Health Partners
The Medical Society of DC has a strong resource - Atlantic Health Partners - to help its members successfully address the financial and administrative challenges of providing immunization to your patients.
There is no cost to join and signing up is quick and easy. As a member of Atlantic you will receive the most favorable vaccine prices and terms for Sanofi and Merck vaccines along with unparalleled customer service and support with ordering, reimbursement issues, and inventory management.
As the nation's leading vaccine buying group, Atlantic's commitment is to ensure that providing vaccines to your patients has a positive impact on the operational, financial, and clinical performance of your practice - and they offer many additional benefits including:
- The best pricing, delivery, and return terms for Sanofi, Merck, and MedImmune flu products
- Lower prices for a wide range of medical and office supplies
- Medicare Part D Program so physicians can administer Shingles and Pertussis vaccines
- Discounts on Migali Scientific refrigerator/freezers
We encourage you to contact Cindy or Jeff at 800-741-2044 or info@atlantichealthpartners.com to see how Atlantic Health Partners can benefit your practice.
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