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UPDATES
February 10, 2014
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Cigna Change on PC of Clinical Path Payment
Many of you are likely aware that Cigna had announced late last year their intent to discontinue the reimbursement of PC or -26 modifier payments for clinical pathology as of March 10, 2014. The CSP had joined with the CAP and other state pathology societies to express opposition to this change and the detrimental impact on the pathology community. Professional component billing is recognized as an appropriate method of payment under the CPT guidelines. Similarly Medicare does compensate for the service but does so under Part A rather than Part B.
We have just learned that Cigna has decided to not implement this change as of
March 10 and will continue to evaluate the issue. This is a national policy and not specific to California. We would ask that you look for verification of this change via individual notice from Cigna as a contract provider. We will keep you informed as to future developments.
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Efforts to Change MICRA Cap
We alerted you before to the possible ballot initiatives that are in circulation now for possible consideration by voters on the November 2014 ballot. That signature gathering process continues and we will update you on status as it occurs. Also a few weeks ago current State Senator Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) spoke publically about possible introducing a bill this session to change the current MICRA cap on non-economic damages.
We have included below a link to the CAPP website to sign up your group as opposed to the MICRA changes. Please take a few moments to sign up with CAPP. They devote their efforts to preserving MICRA.
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CAPP Supporters:
If you haven't already, please take a moment to sign up to be an official opponent of a possible November 2014 ballot measure that would significantly weaken California's MICRA law and increase lawsuits against doctors, community clinics, health centers, hospitals and other health care providers.
Though your organization is already a member of CAPP and opposed to any changes to MICRA, the campaign to defeat the ballot measure cannot list your organization as an official opponent of the ballot measure unless you first sign up. Thank you in advance. It will only take a moment to join. Once you do, you also will receive regular email updates from the campaign.
Ballot Measure Update
The main component of the proposed ballot measure would quadruple MICRA's $250,000 cap on non-economic damages - raising the cap to $1.1 million plus an annual increase each year. This change will increase lawsuits against health care providers leading to a significant increase in medical liability insurance costs. Ultimately, this measure will increase health care costs for all consumers and reduce patient access to health care.
To date, trial lawyers and their allies have raised more than $1 million to pay for signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.
We need your involvement!
Please go to the CAPP website today and join us in opposing the trial lawyers' ballot measure and get involved in the campaign. Sign up online here and follow CAPP on Twitter: @MICRAWorks.
Lisa Maas
Executive Director
Californians Allied for Patient Protection
1215 K Street, Suite 2015
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-448-7992
[email protected]
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Save These Dates
ASCP/CSP Collaborative Education Meeting
June 26-28, 2014
ASCP will be presenting a Collaborative Education Meeting with the American Society of Cytopathology (ASC) and the California Association of Pathologists (CSP) at the LKSC Conference Center at Stanford University, June 26-28, 2014. Click here for a "Save the Date" flier.
CSP Annual Meeting
December 2-6, 2014
The Annual Meeting of the CSP will be held in San Francisco on December 2-6, 2014. Details to follow.
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| California Society of Pathologists
One Capitol Mall Suite 320
Sacramento, CA 95814 Tel : 916-446-6001
Fax : 916-444-7462
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