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  

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License Renewal-MSNJ Asks that Physicians Complete the Workforce Survey

Last week, the NJ Board of Medical Examiners mailed and posted notices for license renewal. The notices were delayed at least in part because of pending legislation which would have required physicians to complete the accompanying  physician workforce survey. Governor Christie vetoed the legislation. Participation in the workforce survey is voluntary. MSNJ is urging our members and all physicians in the state to participate in the voluntary workforce survey which is included in the license renewal. The information will assist the state in its evaluation of physician demographics and access to care. Applications are due on or before July 15, 2013. Please see the MSNJ FAQ and BME Guide  for more information.  

Information Sought on Payer Patterns

The Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI) is seeking information on payer patterns. They are  asking that MSNJ provide information from practices regarding CPT codes and/or code combinations that payers are denying. Please send a list of CPT codes and/or code combinations, along with the name of the payer denying the codes, to Amanda Lyons at alyons@msnj.org. Please put "Payer Patterns" in the subject line.

MSNJ Supports Repeal and Replacement of Medicare's SGR

This week MSNJ submitted comments in support of the concept being developed by the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee to repeal the SGR and replace it with a phased in system of payment reform. The subcommittee's proposal should be introduced in a bill late this summer. MSNJ supports positive payment updates over a number of years while physician led quality measures are being developed. We believe that positive payment updates and certainty in payment methodology is necessary to ensure that physicians continue to accept new Medicare patients and stay in the program.

CMS Allows Residents to Use Facility DEA Registration for Prescriptions

This week CMS clarified guidance in Section 90.2.4--Controlled Substances in Chapter 5 of the Medicare Prescription Drug Manual. Some Part D and Medicare Advantage plans were refusing to fill prescriptions for controlled dangerous substances written by residents based on a new rule that required them to validate prescriber identities by matching them with NPI and DEA numbers. The plans could not match the individual NPI to an individual DEA number when the residents used the institutional DEA registration.

Following complaints received from Texas and New York, the AMA brought up these concerns to CMS. In response, CMS issued guidance on May 21 which clarifies that plans may fill prescriptions written by residents using the institutional DEA registration. MSNJ thanks the AMA for their support in this matter.

University Clinic Pays $400,000 to Settle HIPAA Violation-Firewall Disabled

Idaho State University

According to OCR Director Leon Rodriguez, "Risk analysis, ongoing risk management, and routine information system reviews are the cornerstones of an effective HIPAA security compliance program. ...Proper security measures and policies help mitigate potential risk to patient information."

Read the press release in its entirety.  Read the agreement and corrective action plan which requires the university to monitor and report for two years. 

Horizon Recruiting Practices to Join Medical Home Program

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is recruiting primary care practices to join their Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Program. For a brief overview of the program, Horizon has prepared a three-minute video to introduce the program to practices that may be interested. For more information, you can also contact Horizon via e-mail.  

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. 

Gun Violence Reduction Initiatives
The Governor, through Executive Order Number 130 has created of a Mental Health and Community Safety Working Group to serve as an inter-agency, multidisciplinary working group focused on decreasing violence, promoting safer and healthier communities, and highlighting the importance of de-stigmatizing mental illness, while encouraging early intervention.  The Governor had created the New Jersey SAFE Task Force on Gun Protection, Addiction, Mental Health and Families, and Education Safety ("NJ SAFE Task Force") in January to conduct a comprehensive, balanced, and well-informed review of the root causes of mass violence. Read more.  

Assembly Action  

On Monday, May 20 the New Jersey Assembly passed the following legislation:

Medical Marijuana

A-765 supplements the "New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" to provide that a registered qualifying patient's authorized use of medical marijuana is to be considered equivalent to using any other prescribed medication and not the use of an illicit substance that would otherwise disqualify a qualifying patient from needed medical care, including organ transplantation. The Senate has not yet passed the bill. MSNJ does not have a position on the bill.

Vaccines for Healthcare Workers

A-2172, sponsored by Chairman Herb Conaway, would require each NJ health care facility to establish and implement an annual influenza vaccination program in accordance with the current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and any rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Health.  A health care facility would be required to annually offer on-site or off-site influenza vaccinations to its health care workers, who would be required to receive an influenza vaccination, but would be permitted to present acceptable proof, including an attestation, of a current influenza vaccination from another vaccination source, or sign a written declination statement. MSNJ supports vaccinations of healthcare workers. The bill will head to the Governor's desk once the Senate passes it; the Governor pocket vetoed the bill last year.

Organ Transplants

S-1456/A-2390, sponsored by Senate President Steven Sweeney, Chairman Joseph Vitale and five others, prohibits discrimination against a prospective organ transplant recipient solely on the basis of a physical or mental disability, except to the extent that the disability has been found by a physician or surgeon to be medically significant to the provision of the anatomical gift.  This bill stems from a case in New Jersey in which a child was denied an organ.  The bill heads to the Governor's desk.

Health Insurance Exchange

SCR-144/ACR-184, sponsored by Chairpersons Nia Gill, Joseph Vitale and Herbert Conaway, would establish the "Joint Legislative Task Force on Health Insurance Exchange Implementation."    The resolution provides that it is the responsibility of the Legislature, recognizing the evolving nature of the health insurance market, the federal act, and legislative and regulatory efforts to design and implement a health insurance exchange in the State, to establish a special legislative entity to oversee and develop recommendations, on an on-going basis, for the implementation of a health insurance exchange in New Jersey. The resolution has passed both houses and heads to the Secretary of State to be filed.

Senate Action

For Profit Hospitals

The Senate Health Committee met jointly with the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee to receive testimony from invited guests concerning the conversion of non-profit hospitals to for-profit entities and the possible need for oversight by independent monitors.  The hearing lasted for hours and included testimony from the Jersey City Medical Center, nurses, SEUI, HPAE, the Health Care Quality Institute, the NJ Association of Health Plans, the NJ Public Law Center, and Prime Health Care. Some for-profit hospital or owners were unwilling to testify. The Chairmen said more hearings will be held.  MSNJ is working on issues related to the hearing, including out-of-network reimbursement rates.

MSNJ Practice Management Community

ICD-10 Tip:

When submitting claims on or after the October 14, 2014 ICD-10 deadline, if the date of service was before the deadline, the ICD-9 code must be used. If the date of service is on or after October 14, 2014, ICD-10 must be used. For more information about ICD-10, join MSNJ for an informational workshop. See details below.

"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  

Register online

Contact: Will Herrmann, RPLU, Senior Marketing Representative
Address: 101 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 732-361-1600
E-mail: wherrmann@coverys.com
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Description

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