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February 7, 2014                                                                                         Vol. 21, No. 3
SGR Repeal Bill Moves to Full Congress With Bipartisan, Bicameral Support
American Medical Association
   The leadership of three Senate and House committees introduced legislation Thursday to overhaul the way Medicare pays physicians. The American Medical Association (AMA) greeted the developments with enthusiasm, congratulating House and Senate negotiators for taking this critical step towards eliminating the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR)  formula. The AMA noted that the "SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014," which was introduced by Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) in the House as H.R. 4015, addresses only the policy provisions related to eliminating the flawed payment update formula and does not include financial offsets or any of the usual extender policies. According to the AMA, key provisions of the legislation include:
  • Immediate repeal of the SGR
  • Positive annual payment updates of 0.5 percent would be provided for five years.
  • The Value-Based Payment (VBP) program would be replaced with a similar Merit-Based Incentive Payment System or MIPS, which includes prospectively-set performance thresholds and offers flexibility in the imposition of performance requirements that are inappropriate for some specialties.
  • The effective date of the MIPS program would be one year later than the original VBP proposal, and will start in 2018. 
  • Physicians would continue to be able to opt out of Medicare to engage in private contracting with their patients, but would no longer be required to renew their opt-out status every two years.
MSDC Applauds CVS's Decision to "Kick the Habit" and Calls on District Government to Restrict Tobacco Sales in All Pharmacies  
  The Medical Society commends CVS Caremark's announcement this week that it will stop selling tobacco products in its pharmacies. With this move towards health promotion by the nation's second largest pharmacy, the Medical Society called on the District to restrict tobacco sales in all District pharmacies.  "It is now time to address the matter head on," said MSDC Executive Vice President K. Edward Shanbacker, urging the District Council and government agencies to take action to enhance health promotion and disease prevention.   
   Tobacco use remains the single largest cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, according to a recent report by the Surgeon General. The Medical Society has fought vigorously for years to place restrictions on the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies in an effort to reduce the health risks associated with tobacco and second hand smoke. MSDC will continue to advocate for disease prevention and health promotion.
MSDC Supported Expedited Partner Therapy Act Passes Full Council
MSDC
Medical Society's Amendments Are Adopted
   On February 4, 2014, the DC Council passed the Medical Society supported "Expedited Partner Therapy Act of 2013."  The Medical Society testified in support of the legislation at a public hearing last October to provide physicians an additional therapy to address the high rate of sexually transmitted infections in the District of Columbia. At that time, the Medical Society proffered two amendments, both of which were adopted by the Committee on Health and the full Council, to expand the scope of the Act in a modest way. The Medical Society will now work with the Department of Health  to ensure that any reporting requirements contained in the legislation are not administratively burdensome to physicians.

  Expedited Partner Therapy is the clinical practice of treating the sex partners of patients diagnosed with certain sexually transmitted infections by providing prescriptions or medications to the patient to take to his or her partner without the health care provider first examining the partner.    

Member in the News: MSDC Represented on the DC Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee
   MSDC Immediate Past President Daniel I. Perlin, MD, was recently selected to serve on the DC Department of Health's Medical Marijuana Program Advisory Committee as a member of the scientific subcommittee. The medical marijuana scientific subcommittee will accept and review petitions for the approval of additional qualifying medical conditions, and monitor scientific research to make recommendations to the DOH Director and Mayor. The scientific subcommittee is scheduled to meet February 14, 2014.
Get Involved with MSDC!
MSDC Seeking Members for Nominating Committee
   The Medical Society is seeking members to participate on the MSDC Nominating Committee.  Committee members will help develop the ballot for the 2014 leadership elections. For more information on the requirements or to volunteer, please contact Ed Shanbacker.
MSDC Board Meeting Scheduled for February 24, 2014 
   The Medical Society will hold its next Board Meeting on Monday, February 24, 2014. Current MSDC members interested in attending may contact  Ed Shanbacker to request an invitation.
Update on HIV/AIDS CME Requirement and Free CME Opportunities
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   Beginning with the 2014 physician licensure renewal period*, physicians practicing in the District of Columbia are required to obtain 3 hours of CME credits related to HIV/AIDS. The deadline to get the required CMEs is December 31, 2014. *Note: renewal applications are not expected to be available until the second half of 2014.
Free Member-Only CME Opportunities
  To help members meet the requirement, the Medical Society is working with a variety of organizations to offer free, member-only CME opportunities. Watch for events and webinars in the coming months or register for the February 13th dinner below.
Clinical Perspectives in the Management of Chronic HCV Infection  
   February 13, 2014
   6:30 - 8:30 PM
   Maggiano's Restaurant, 5333 Wisconsin Avenue, NW  
   MSDC members may attend a FREE dinner at Maggiano's Restaurant, featuring CME credits that meet the District's HIV/AIDS CME requirement. To register,
create a profile using the invitation password: hu431.   
Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; Analysis Shows Greater Care is Needed
   New analysis indicates that many HIV-infected African Americans are not receiving the critical care and treatment needed to sustain healthy lives, keep their virus under control, and prevent transmission of the virus to partners. CDC analysis indicates that of blacks who have been diagnosed with HIV, 75 percent were linked to care, 48 percent stayed in care, 46 percent were prescribed antiretroviral therapy, and 35 percent achieved viral suppression (i.e., the virus is under control at a level that helps keep people healthy and reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others). 
   The findings underscore the need for additional efforts to ensure that those who are infected with HIV receive the care and treatment they need. This is especially critical for African Americans, who bear the greatest burden of HIV in the United States.
MSDC Members are Invited to Support the GW Healing Clinic
Invitation from MSDC Student Member Kristy Hawley
   You are invited to support the GW Healing Clinic through its annual Charity Auction taking place on March 3, 2014. The GW Healing Clinic at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is an entirely student-run effort that provides preventive and primary care services to the most vulnerable population in Washington, DC regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The clinic and its accompanying programs are supported solely by the fundraising efforts of the student members.
    The annual Charity Auction is the primary vehicle for the clinic's fundraising efforts. This year's Charity Auction will take place on March 3, 2014 at Ross Hall, 2300 Eye Street, NW. Items for live and silent auction include vacation getaways, airline tickets, sporting event tickets, and gift certificates to local businesses. You are invited to attend the Auction on March 3rd, bid on items online, or donate an item. You may also visit go.gwu.edu/healingclinicauction to make a monetary donation.

    Thank you for your support!

MSDC's DC Rx Card
DCRx Card
Help Your Patients Save Money  
   The Medical Society is pleased to offer MSDC's DCRx Card as  a member benefit for you to share with your patients. Using this 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 of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Contact Pia Duryea to order sample cards. Read more  about the program here.      
District Gains Additional Level 1 Trauma Center
    George Washington University Hospital officials announced this week that the hospital regained verification as a Level 1 Trauma Center. As reported by Tina Reed of the Washington Business Journal, the hospital has for years coordinated with agencies around DC, Arlington, Alexandria and the airport to field high-level trauma.  Why does this matter when the District has several other Level 1 Trauma Centers, including Medstar Washington Hospital Center,  verified as a Level 1 Trauma Center since the early 1980s?  Read the article to find out.
Submit Quality Data for 2013 PQRS-Medicare EHR Incentive Pilot    
CMS-2013 logo
February 28, 2014 Is the Participation Deadline

   The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Pilot allows eligible professionals to meet the clinical quality measure(CQM) reporting requirement for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program through electronic submission while also reporting for the PQRS program.  Are you an eligible professional who is participating or wishes to participate in the 2013 PQRS-Medicare EHR Incentive Pilot. You can now submit your 2013 quality data. If you would like to participate in the pilot you must submit 12 months of CQM data by February 28, 2014 at 11:59pm ET.

 
  To successfully participate in the pilot, you must do the following by February 28, 2014:
  1. Register for an Individuals Authorized Access to the CMS Computer Services (IACS) account (for EHR submission only)
  2. Indicate intent to report CQMs using pilot in EHR Registration & Attestation System
  3. Generate required reporting files
  4. Test data submission
  5. Submit quality data
  For further guidance on the 2013 PQRS-Medicare EHR Incentive Pilot, please read the Participation Guide and  Quick-Reference Guide. If you have additional questions, please contact QualityNet Help Desk at 866-288-8912 (TTY 1-877-715-6222) or email [email protected]
Pilot and Research Project, Scholarship and Award Opportunities for Physicians and Medical Students
DC Department of Health Seeks Physicians for Pilot Project to Meet Two Reporting Requirements
   Under Code of DC Municipal Regulations CDCR 22-215, each health care provider and health care facility in the District of Columbia that diagnoses a person as having cancer or treats a person for cancer in the District must:
  • Report the diagnosis or treatment to the Director of DC Cancer Registry within six (6) months of diagnosis or initiation of treatment
  • Make available to the Director of DC Cancer Registry all information necessary to verify the information in any report 

  The Department of Health (DOH) is developing an interface that will fulfill both cancer reporting and meaningful use reporting requirements. The DOH is looking for physicians, nursing homes and specialty clinics willing to pilot this project. See this flyer for more details on the requirement and how to participate.     

American Medical Association
2014 Scholarship and Award Deadlines Announced
   The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation is reinvigorating the 2014 Excellence in Medicine (EIM) Awards. In addition, it is holding other scholarship and award opportunities in conjunction with the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago.
The scholarship and awards deadlines are:
February 24, 2014: Joan F. Giambalvo Research Scholarship application deadline
March 4, 2014:  Minority Scholars Award application deadline
March 14, 2014: Excellence in Medicine Awards application deadline 
Call for Nominations: Development of Measure of Episode-of-Care Payments for Elective Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty and/or Total Knee Arthroplasty
   CMS has contracted with Yale-New Haven Health Services Corporation/Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (YNHHSC) to develop an administrative claims-based, hospital-level, risk-adjusted measure for payment associated with an episode of care for elective primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and/or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). YNHHSC is seeking members of a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) to provide expert opinion and input on this measure and would like to invite you to nominate yourself or other experts to participate in the TEP.    
   YNHHSC will hold 2-3 two hour teleconference meetings from March 2014 to September 2014. The TEP Charter provides additional details about this work and outlines TEP member responsibilities. Please find the TEP Charter and additional information on the CMS Measures Management webpage
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Cancer Progress Report Available
    The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has AACR logo released its "Cancer Progress Report 2013." The report highlights the progress that has been made against cancer and a special feature on immunotherapy. However, the report also points out that recent gains are in peril due to a decade of effectively shrinking National Institutes of Health budgets, and a $1.6 billion NIH budget cut as a  result of sequestration cuts. The report is available online at http://www.cancerprogressreport.org. MSDC also has a limited number of hard copy editions which are available by calling MSDC at (202) 466-1800 or emailing [email protected].   
Upcoming Events
Hosted by Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center (PAMAAETC)
February 13, 2014
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Maggiano's Restaurant, 5333 Wisconsin Avenue, NW  
  The speaker will discuss clinical manifestations of HIV and HCV. To register,
create a profile using the invitation password: hu431.   
Ready for Rising Self-Pay PatientReceivables? IC System 75 year logo
Free Member Webinar
February 25 2014  
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  Prevent cash flow from slowing by knowing how the Affordable Care Act will impact your practice. Learn the legislation and regulations affecting self pay receivables. And, discover simple but very effective techniques for dealing with patients, including:
  > Critical components of a pre-contact plan
  > Four steps for handling payment objections
  > Creating urgency to get larger payments sooner
  >WORST (and best) word you can say to your patients

Click here for more information or to register. 
American Medical Association
2014 National Advocacy Conference
Registration Now Open!
March 4-6, 2014
Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC 
     This conference will help empower you to be an advocate for patients, the medical profession and the future of health care. At the conference you will hear from political insiders, industry experts and members of Congress on current efforts being made in health system reform refinement and implementation, and take part in discussions that will help shape the future of the AMA's advocacy efforts and its work to improve the health of the nation.  
     See registration and program information online.
ProAssurance
2014 Loss Prevention Seminars
Save the Dates!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014     
   ProAssurance will be offering its popular Loss Prevention Seminars starting April 8, 2014.  The first three seminars will be held on the dates above at the American College of Cardiology (2400 N Street, NW, Washington, DC). See complete dates and information here and watch for additional details and registration information shortly.     

2014 International Conference on Diabetes
Hosted by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
July 18-19, 2014  
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, DC  
   Don't miss this groundbreaking conference on the causes of diabetes, the critical role of nutrition, and priorities for research while earning 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  The  International Conference on Diabetes, jointly sponsored by The George Washington University and Physicians Committee, will feature more than 17 speakers in a live, two-day program in the heart of Washington, D.C.Learn more about the program and take advantage of early-bird registration!
Medical Real Estate Listings
Brought to you by MSDC Corporate Partner GZ Medical Realty. 
Contact  Pete Papantoniou for your real estate needs. 
PROSPERITY MEDICAL CENTER           
8501 Arlington Blvd, Merrifield, VA 22031. Please contact Peter Papantoniou for more information at 301-961-1941 or see online listing.
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MSDC eNewsline
Editor
Pia R. Duryea
202-355-9414 (direct)
[email protected]

 
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2013-14 Board of Directors
Catherine S. May, MD

Chair of the Board; At-Large

Laura L. Tosi, MD
President, AMA Alternate Delegate  

 

John Larsen, MD 

President-Elect   

 

Daniel I. Perlin, 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

 
Susanne Bathgate, MD
At-Large     

 

Julian R. Craig, MD

At-Large  

 

Barry Lewis, MD, MBA

At-Large

 

Carla C. Sandy, MD

At-Large

  

Stuart F. Seides, MD

At-Large

 

Raymond Tu, MD 

At-Large 

 

K. Edward Shanbacker

Executive Vice President
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SURVEY: WHAT KIND OF HIV/ AIDS CME EDUCATION DO YOU WANT? 
        
  Do you prefer in-person courses? Webinars? Conference Calls? Let us know by taking this SURVEY 

  The Medical Society is working  to develop FREE CME opportunities to help District physicians meet the 3 CME HIV/AIDS requirement by December 31, 2014.

Classified Ads
Internal Medicine Physician Wanted

    Physician- IM, DC License to join a dynamic practice with a multi-specialty discipline. Candidate must be board certified with a District of Columbia license. Excellent opportunity to bring your census, reduce overhead and provide continuity of care to your existing patient. Competitive salary, flexible hours and a great support staff. Please send CV to [email protected].