Save the Date: MSNJ Policy & Strategy Panel Meeting

Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 5:30 P.M.

MSNJ Conference Room

This will be a working meeting. Council on Legislation reports will be considered for approval. At the direction of MSNJ Board of Trustees, we will be working on maintenance of certification policy development.   

Applications 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.

If you are taking advantage of this discount, you may be receiving an email or letter from Verizon asking you to validate your information. We are working with Verizon Wireless to streamline this process. To validate, please click here. Log into our website and follow the instructions listed. For assistance, please e-mail info@msnj.org. 

Out-of-Network Reform

The Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee held a hearing on last week regarding A-3603, a bill that would create an All Payer Claim Database (APCD) and require the Department of Banking & Insurance to use information from the database to set a payment range that would be used in arbitration of charges submitted by out-of-network physicians in in-network hospitals. MSNJ CEO Larry Downs testified about the database and about out of network issues, stating that transparency through a database is needed, but that the bill provides an imperfect solution to the out-of-network issue as in-network payment and adequacy issues must be reformed, too. The administration was also exploring the option of creating an APCD, but decided this week not to pursue federal funding at this time. Read more about the state's decision. 

"HIPAA Minutes"

MSNJ and Helen Oscislawski, Esq. present: "Intro to 'A HIPAA Minute' Web Series"

About the Speaker:  

• Helen's Bio
• Website
• Blog
• "Health Law Diagnosis" - newsletter which summarizes the nuts-and-bolts of the changes.

License Renewal Applications due July 15

The license renewal application is comprised of several parts: mailing address, address of record, additional information, education, employment, questions, additional renewal information, and the workforce survey. While the workforce survey is optional, the remaining portions of the application are mandatory. MSNJ asks that physicians complete the workforce survey. MSNJ is urging our members and all physicians in the state to participate. The information will assist the state in its evaluation of physician demographics and access to care. Read more for tips and information needed to complete the application.

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.  

Take Brach Eichler's 2013 NJ Healthcare Monitor Survey for a Chance to Win an iPad Mini! 

Read this week's full legislative update online.    

MSNJ OPPOSES HOSPITAL TAX BILL

The Senate Health Committee, Senate Budget Committee, Assembly Health Committee and Assembly Budget Committee, have passed a bill that would establish a five-year "Local Hospital Fee Pilot Program" in the Department of Human Services. It would increase funding to certain cities and counties and federal financial resources through the Medicaid program. The stated goal is to support local safety net hospitals.   

A participating city or county would be authorized to adopt an ordinance or resolution to impose a fee on general hospitals located within its borders, consistent with federal Medicaid regulations, and to enter into an intergovernmental transfer agreement with DHS.  The Commissioner of Human Services is directed to apply to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for any needed approvals and for a funding match. MSNJ opposes the bill, along with many hospitals.  See our letter here.

MEDICAL RECORDS

The Senate Health Committee passed a bill that clarifies the means by which the fee for duplication of x-rays and other records that cannot be duplicated on a commercial photocopy machine are to be calculated. Read more.

MSNJ Practice Management Community

June 30th Deadline to Avoid the 2014 eRx Penalty

CMS has re-opened the Quality Reporting Communications Support Page until June 30, 2013, allowing physicians to request a hardship exemption for 2014. In order to avoid the 2 percent penalty in 2014, physicians must meet the requirements of the Medicare e-prescribing (eRx) program; meet one of the limited exemption categories, or obtain approval for a hardship exemption. Individual physicians who do not meet one of the exemption or hardship categories must report the eRx measure 10 times via claims between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2013.

Groups using the group reporting option must report at least 75 times (2-24 Eligible Professionals), at least 625 times (25-99 EPs), and at least 2,500 times for groups of 100 plus. Physicians can also avoid the penalty by registering for the EHR Incentive Program by June 30, 2013, or achieving meaningful use under the EHR Incentive Program during the January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013 reporting period. For a complete list of hardship exemptions and more information, view CMS' Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program: 2014 Payment Adjustment Fact Sheet.