Congratulations to MSNJ member:  

Final HIPAA/HITECH Regulations: What it Means for Physicians

Wednesday, April 24 from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Join MSNJ for a webinar on "Final HIPAA/HITECH Regulations: What it Means for Physicians," presented by Garfunkel Wild, P.C.  

Register today!  

Hilton Woodcliff Lake 

May 18, 2013  

Saturday Night Inaugural Gala honoring Ruth J. Schulze, MD - MSNJ's 221st President (invitation) (sponsorships) (ad journal)

Contact eventsbyrachel@gmail.com 609.314.4556.

Free AMA Webinar on Preparing for
Sunshine Act

The AMA will host a free webinar on "Physicians Preparing for the Sunshine Act: What You Need to Know and How to Prepare" on Wednesday, April 24 at 7:00 P.M. Learn which financial exchanges and ownership interests must be reported, steps to take to prepare for public disclosure of this information, ways to be able to challenge false, inaccurate or misleading reports, and which types of information are excluded from reporting. View more information on the Sunshine Act. Register online.

Arizona Supreme Court Upholds Same Specialty Expert Requirement

The Arizona Supreme Court recently upheld a state statute that required same specialty experts in medical liability lawsuits. The Arizona Medical Society was instrumental in passage of the expert requirement as part of its tort reform law in the early 2000s and filed an amicus, friends-of-the court, brief in the case. Similarly, MSNJ was instrumental in the passage of a same specialty expert law in 2004 and filed an amicus brief before the New Jersey Supreme Court in Nicholas v. Mynster, a medical liability case which is pending.  

The Arizona Supreme Court required matching board certifications. We are seeking the same interpretation and will apprise members when the high court rules.  We appreciate the support of the AMA which joined MSNJ in the brief.  Read more about the Arizona case.

Qualcare Agrees to Correct and Update Fees for Psychiatry Code Changes

Several MSNJ members complained about non-payment and an inadequate revised fee schedule with Qualcare related to the 2013 psychiatry code changes. MSNJ wrote to Qualcare regarding our concerns about its response to the new psychiatry codes and requested an explanation.  

This week, Qualcare explained to MSNJ that there had been a mistake in the new 2013 fee schedule and that the company was in the process of adjusting it. Qualcare agreed to automatically reprocess all claims that were inappropriately denied or underpaid. The company is reaching out to affected psychiatrists and providing an explanation to those psychiatrists who terminated their agreements based on the new fee schedule. MSNJ encourages participating psychiatrists to watch for a letter from Qualcare that will explain its revised fee schedule.

MSNJ Promotes POLST & Healthcare
Decision Day 

MSNJ was at the Statehouse this week promoting National Healthcare Decisions Day, which was recognized on April 16th. Along with the Catholic Conference, we distributed materials on advanced directives and physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST). POLST forms were recently finalized based on a law that MSNJ worked on with many stakeholders, including the Catholic Conference, the Hospital Association and Nurses Association. Talk to your patients about POLST today! 

Medicare SGR Update

The President's FY2014 budget includes a repeal of the SGR with several years of payment stability to allow for the further development of alternative payment models. The budget seeks $400 billion in healthcare savings, $300,000 billion of which would come from Medicare providers. The budget reflects the policies and priorities of the administration.  

Meanwhile, the House Ways & Means and the Energy and Commerce Committees continue to work on their second version of a proposal that would repeal the SGR and provide statutory updates while alternative payments models are being developed. Physicians who remain in fee for service would report on quality and, eventually, efficiency measures. The AMA believes that this phased-in approach to payment reform provides opportunity for small and solo practices to remain in the Medicare program. Read AMA's response to the Committees' second version of a proposal to repeal and replace the SGR. 

Sequester's Impact on Practices-MU Incentive Payments and Otherwise

CMS has announced that Medicare's 2% sequester will impact meaningful use incentives.  There will be a 2% reduction in incentive payments for physicians and hospitals for reporting periods than end on or after April 1, 2013. The cut does not affect Medicaid incentive payments.

In what other ways is your practice being impacted by the Medicare 2% payment reduction? Please let us know by writing to info@msnj.org. Please put: Medicare Sequester in the subject line.

OSHA Fines Small Practice over $44,000 for Bloodborne Pathogen Violations

Last month, OSHA fined a small New York medical practice $44,800 for alleged violations of the bloodborne pathogens rule.  The citation includes a willful violation for using non-engineered hypodermic needles instead of safer systems. OSHA also alleged failure to maintain a written exposure control program and to train its employees. Read the OSHA press release. Access information on bloodborne pathogen compliance.  

Medicaid Primary Care Incentive Payment Roll Out

The Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) recently provided MSNJ with an overview of how the primary care incentive payments will be made. For Medicaid Fee for Service (FFS) claims, primary care incentive payments will be claim specific and will be paid on a claim by claim basis. However, the retroactive FFS incentive payments will  be paid by bulk check and will not be claim specific. Physicians are reminded that an attestation must be filed with Molina Medicaid in order to qualify for retroactive FFS incentive payments by April 30th. The Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will pay the  primary care incentive in quarterly bulk payments that will not be claim specific. We do not know the timeframe for the first quarterly payment yet.

Affordable Care Act Conference - May 8, 2013 

The Region II Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and ShapingNJ, the Office of Nutrition & Fitness, New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services will host a free conference, "Bringing the Affordable Care Act Home" on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., at the Rutgers University Busch Campus Center.Come learn and network with other organizations working to implement health reform in New Jersey. More information and registration. Contact Thomas Bane at thomas.bane@cms.hhs.gov for more information.

Applications Still Accepted for Hurricane Sandy Relief Grant 
The Physicians Foundation announced a grant in the amount of $350,000 each to the Medical Society of New Jersey and the Medical Society of the State of New York. Grantees do not have to be MSNJ Members. Download the application today.

• Read the NJBIZ article about the fund. 
• Read more in the Hudson Reporter. 

NJ Health Insurance Marketplace Stakeholder Teleconference 

CMS and HHS invite NJ stakeholders to a teleconference conversation regarding the Health Insurance Marketplace in New Jersey. This teleconference will take place on April 30, 2013 at 3:00 P.M. HHS and CMS regional officials will update participants on policies and the operations of the Marketplace and there will be time for stakeholder comments, questions, and answers.  CMS will use the information and feedback provided by stakeholders in the development of the Marketplace. Registration is required.  

MedAC: Fundraiser for
Assemblyman Conaway

On Wednesday, May 8th at 6:00 P.M. MedAc is hosting a cocktail reception and campaign fundraiser for Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee Chairman, Dr. Herbert Conaway, Jr. at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe. Dr. Conaway has served in the Legislature since 1998 and represents the 7th Legislative District.  

The suggested contribution is $250 per person. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Stephanie Wohlrab at 732-674-4199. Contributions can be made out to Conaway for Assembly c/o Stephanie Wohlrab, 770 North Drive, Brick, NJ 08724. We would appreciate your support!

May 1 Deadline - Ordering & Referring Enrollment
Effective May 1, 2013, physicians will be required to be enrolled in Medicare if they order/refer services for Medicare patients. MSNJ worked with AMA to secure delays of the compliance date to allow a sufficient period of time for physician outreach and education. Billing physicians will not be paid for services if the ordering/referring physician is not enrolled or if ordering/referring information is complete. Physicians must list on a claim the name and NPI of the ordering/referring physician or provider.  

Physicians who need to enroll should do so through Medicare's online PECOS website. Verify enrollment by downloading the report of all the eligible physicians and non-physician practitioners who are currently enrolled. Those who have opted out of Medicare do not need to enroll. View the MLN Matters article SE1305 for details. Read the AMA/MGMA fact sheet and FAQs. 

HIPAA Resources

• Webinar- Registration Open: Join MSNJ for a webinar on Wednesday, April 24 from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. regarding the "Final HIPAA/HITECH Regulations: What it Means for Physicians," presented by Garfunkel Wild, P.C. Register online.
• Templates- Available Online: MSNJ and Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby LLP's HIPAA Business Associate Agreement and Notification of Privacy Practice templates are now available on MSNJ's website.
• "HIPAA Minutes"- Coming Soon: MSNJ is working with Helen Oscislawski, Esq. to produce two minute videos on the HIPAA changes due to the Final Omnibus Rule. View Oscislawski LLC's "Health Law Diagnosis" newsletter which summarizes the nuts-and-bolts of the changes.

HIPAA Administrative Simplification FAQs

CMS added additional FAQs on HIPAA Administrative Simplification  

These FAQs provide detailed answers to questions on: "certification of compliance" with HIPAA operating rules and standards and whether the HIPAA transaction requirements apply to transactions between a health plan and its policyholders.

CMS EHR Incentive Audits

Eligible professionals (EPs) and hospitals who participate in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and attest to receive an incentive payment may be subject to an audit. CMS will be using its contractor, Figliozzi and Company, to conduct the audits of physicians eligible under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. Audits for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program are performed by the state. In addition to the post-payment audits, CMS began pre-payment audits this year, starting with attestations submitted during and after January 2013. Read CMS' fact sheet on Supporting Documentation for Audits. Also, view a sample audit request letter for both EPs and eligible hospitals.

Webinar on Reporting NDC in Health Care Claims

WEDI will host a "how to" webinar on Reporting National Drug Codes (NDC) in Health Care Claims on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 from 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. The webinar will provide: an overview of the WEDI white paper; clarification on how to report NDC; NDC data requirements; and examples of how to code the information. This event is $99 for WEDI members and $199 for non-members. Register online.  

Save the Date: ICD-10 Workshop:

"ICD-10 and Coding for Difficult Diagnosis."  

Friday, June 21 from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at MSNJ Headquarters, Lawrenceville, NJ.

Join MSNJ for an ICD-10 workshop on "ICD-10 and Coding for Difficult Diagnosis."

Presented by: Tina Cressman, MALS, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CEMC, CPMA, CPEDC, CPC-I, CCS-P, MCS-P, MCS-I, CPAT, CCAT, CCT, CMC, Assistant Director, Health Information Management, Cooper University Hospital.

Learn about: ICD-10-CM and guidelines, key coding conventions for the ICD-10-CM, differences between ICD-9 and ICD-10, and diagnosis coding in ICD-10 by body part.

Target Audience: Small Practices

Registration coming soon!

View April's Coding Tip of the Month on Modifier -51: Multiple procedures. If you would like your coding question addressed in an upcoming edition of e-News or you have a coding question specific to your practice, please email your questions. We will work with a certified professional coder to help answer them.

CMS Webinar on Participating in EHR Incentive Programs, PQRS, and eRx

Over the next month, CMS will offer a re-run of the webinar "CMS 2013 Medicare Incentives Programs." This webinar provides information on the programs including eligibility, key program milestones, penalties, and hardship exemptions. View decision trees that show how providers can receive incentive payments and avoid penalties by participating in the different programs.

• Wednesday, April 24, 11:30 A.M.
• Thursday, April 25, 7:00 P.M.
• Wednesday, May 1, 12:30 P.M. 
• Friday, May 3, 1:30 P.M.

Two River Community Bank, Bronze Level Partner

Contacts: Ross Zimmerman, SVP/Managing Director; Maria Cianci, Private Banking Officer
Phone: 732-671-6897
 Website 

Description

Private Banking for Medical Professionals

You can count on us the way your patients count on you.
 With a tremendous amount of experience, our Private Bankers have assisted medical professionals in achieving their financial goals by providing favorable rates, impeccable service and state-of-the-art technology. We invite you to experience the benefits we provide...we're confident you'll be glad you did.  

About The Bank

We are a New Jersey state-chartered financial institution with sixteen branches located throughout Eastern Monmouth County and the Union County area and two regional lending offices in Summit and New Brunswick, NJ. Since opening our doors in 2000, our focus has been on you, as we strive to make your banking experience the very best it can be, meet your financial needs and goals, and get to know you as a valued customer and friend, while providing you with the latest in technological advances. We are here to help you achieve your dreams.

NYU CME Pediatric Orthopaedic Forum
5/11/2013
Morristown, NJ
For more information, please visit http://cme.med.nyu.edu/pedsforum 

Hospital Medicine 2013
May 16-19, 2013
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
National Harbor, MD
www.hospitalmedicine2013.org 

Specialty Society Upcoming Events:

• April 20, 2013- NJ State Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting -Forsgate Country Club - Jamesburg, NJ
• April 27, 2013 - NJ Society of Plastic Surgeons 2013 Annual Meeting -The Westin - Princeton, NJ
• May 7, 2013- NJ-American College of Emergency Physicians 2013 Scientific Assembly- Princeton Marriott at Forrestal Village.