Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
 
March 6, 2014

   
In This Issue
.
NEWS
-SGR Repeal - Take Action TODAY!
-Prescription Blanks
-FTC Infringement of State Medical Board Powers
-New Technology in Healthcare
-ICD-10
-More
.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
-Windows XP Non-Compliant with HIPAA
-Medicare Claims
-ICD-10 Resources
-Medicare
-HIPAA
-More
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CORPORATE PARTNERS
 

Ready Set Code! ICD-10 Webinar Workshops

MSNJ and the New Jersey Hospital Association will host a series of specialty specific webinar workshops on ICD-10. All workshops are eligible for 2 AHIMA CEUs and approved for 2 AAPC CEUs. More information. Register online

Save the Date:

NJPA Annual Meeting

Saturday, March 29, 2014 at the NJHA Conference and Event Center in Princeton

Register online.

View March's Coding Tip of the Month on the Use of O Codes

 

If you would like your questions 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.

Webinars
CME/Events /Training

Prescribers' Clinical Support System for Opioid Therapies (PCSS-O) is a three year grant funded by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

The online modules are designed to increase your understanding of the current state of opioid-dependence treatment, increase your understanding of treatment issues for special populations, and lastly to increase your ability to assess and treat patients. Access the modules. 

Prescription Drug Training 

Partners in Prevention and The Hudson County Coalition for a Drug-Free Community will host a free training on "Pharmaceutical Diversion" on April 3 at 6:00 P.M. at Mary McLeod Bethune Center. This training is for health care professionals that live or work in Hudson County. Topics covered include: prescription drug trends, lawful prescribing, and RxPatrol. To register, contact Ernie Adames with the Hudson County Coalition for a Drug Free Community at 201-552-2264 or

[email protected]. Seating is limited. More information.

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Connect with Medical Society of New Jersey on LinkedIn

SAVE THE DATE:

  

March 13, 2014 
Presented by MSNJ & Meridian Health 
The National Conference Center in East Windsor

May 2, 2014  
East Brunswick Hilton

May 10, 2014 
Inaugural Gala honoring Paul Carniol, MD, MSNJ's 222nd President 
Parsippany Hilton  
NewsTOP

Contact Congress today: National Day of Action for SGR Repeal

It's crunch time in our effort to repeal SGR and fix the broken Medicare payment formula.

 

Tell Congress to repeal SGR and co-sponsor the bill, H.R. 4015/S. 2000. You also can email them via our Fix Medicare Now campaign site. We are very close to winning this decade-long battle. Let your voice be heard.

 

Use the AMA's toll-free hotline to contact 

members of Congress! 

1-800-833-6354 

 

 

This week, MSNJ joined AMA and virtually all of organized medicine in a letter to leaders of the House and  Senate strongly urging them to seize the opportunity to repeal the SGR now. Time is of the essence since the 24% cut will become effective on April 1 if Congress does not act. MSNJ supports a permanent repeal of the SGR; no more stop gap measures!  

New Prescription Blanks Effective August 18, 2014

The NJ Division of Consumer Affairs recently finalized regulations that update the security of NJ Prescription Blanks. These rules were originally proposed in November 2012 and became effective February 18, 2014. MSNJ filed comments on the original proposal in January 2013. Some changes to the blanks include: a unique 15 digit identifier and barcode for each blank; thermal activated ink in the Rx logo; microprint viewable at 5 times magnification or greater that is illegible upon photocopying; and the word "VOID" that is only visible upon photocopying or scanning of the blank. Blank vendors will be able to continue selling the old blanks until May 18, 2014. Physicians must begin using the new blanks on August 18, 2014. 

US Supreme Court Will Review FTC's Infringement of State Medical Board Powers  
This week the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will review the decision in North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission, a decision which allowed the FTC to second-guess the state's dental examiner board. The federal appeals court ruled that the state licensing board was subject to antitrust laws in a decision that could strip state boards of their authority to regulate healthcare professionals. AMA and State Medical Societies, including MSNJ, urged the review because "the public is best served when state regulatory boards...are free to make decisions on public health issues without fear of second-guessing under the anti-trust laws." The case raised a scope of practice issue for dentist and their licensing board because non-licensed individuals were performing tooth whitening services in malls.  Organized medicine believes that scope of practice activity by state medical boards should be immune from anti-trust challenges under the state action exemption doctrine. Read the petition.

FTC Commissioner Addresses New Technology in Healthcare

On February 26th, FTC Commissioner, Maureen K. Ohlhausen, delivered a speech in front of the Connecticut Bar Association's antitrust and consumer law sections. Ohlhausen cautioned policy makers to approach new technologies in the health care field "with a dose of regulatory humility."  

 NJ DOBI Standard ICD-10 Readiness Survey 

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) ICD-10 Implementation Task Force, which MSNJ participates in with NJHA and many New Jersey payors and hospitals, is conducting a standardized ICD-10 Readiness Survey to collect your practice's ICD-10 implementation project coordinator's contact information, as well as information regarding your ICD-10 readiness. The goal is to have all healthcare trading partners respond to one standard survey. Your survey responses will be shared. Everyone who participates in the survey will receive the results in Excel format. Trading partners, including participating payors, may use this information to follow your progress and schedule a time to begin end-to-end testing with you. This survey will be reissued periodically over the next eight months so you can continue to update information as you continue to make progress. Only one person should register and submit a response on behalf of your organization. Once you have done so, you will have access to all other trading partners that have submitted survey responses. Please keep in mind that registered users will also have access to your information. We urge members to participate in this survey and begin communicating with payors about transitioning to ICD-10. Submit your first survey response by March 21, 2014.

U.S. DOT FMCSA Certified Medical Examiner Training 

The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry) is a new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) program. It requires all medical examiners* who wish to perform physical examinations for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers take this training and be certified in FMCSA physical qualification standards. Medical examiners who complete the training and successfully passed the test are included in an online directory on the National Registry website.  CMV drivers must have their required physical examinations performed by a Certified ME starting May 21, 2014.

 

This live activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

 

As a courtesy, NJOAPS is providing MSNJ members a $100 discount-off the registration fee  - MSNJ members pay the same as NJOAPS members!  MSNJ members, please click to obtain your promotional discount code and link to continue to further info and registration.

 

Non-MSNJ members and others interested attending this training, please click for further information and registration.

 

Note: This training is taking place as part of the  Annual Regional Osteopathic Conference (AROC).

 

*doctor of osteopathy, doctor of medicine, advanced practice nurse, doctor of chiropractic, physician assistant, or other medical professional authorized by applicable State laws and regulations to perform physical examinations.

ICD-10 Implementation Delay Sought

From the American Medical Association

 

Citing new cost estimates that could reach nearly triple those of previous projections, the AMA on Wednesday issued a letter calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to reconsider the mandated adoption of the new code set, currently scheduled for Oct. 1.

 

"Physicians are being asked to assume this burdensome requirement at the same time they are being required to adopt new technology, re-engineer workflow and reform the way they deliver care; all of which are interfering with their ability to care for patients and make investments to improve quality," the letter states.

 

The letter underscores that ICD-10 implementation will be "financially disastrous for physicians," pointing to an AMA study released Wednesday. The costs for a small physician practice could be more than $225,000, while a typical large physician practice could expect to spend as much as $8 million on implementation.

 

MSNJ continues to support a delay due to our concerns about feasibility. Read more in AMA Wire™ about the new cost study and the AMA's letter to Secretary Sebelius.

Public Health Alert: New York City Measles Cases

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Vaccine Preventable Disease Program would like to make healthcare workers aware that six cases of measles have occurred in Manhattan since February 5, 2014.

The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has issued a Health Alert Network message. No cases have been hospitalized or died. NJDOH is aware of several New Jersey residents who have been exposed to the NYC measles cases and is working with the involved local health departments within NJ to manage the exposures. Read more on the 
NJDOH website.

Are you an Attractive Target for Merger/Acquisition/Employment?  

The trend of solo and small physician practices merging with other practices is undeniable; the trend to hospital employment of physicians continues. But are you an attractive target for a merged practice or hospital employee?  If you have not been participating in PQRS and keeping up with Medicare's Value Based Modifier program you may not be. Penalties under the value based modifier program kick-in two years after the reporting obligations. These penalties ("downward payment adjustments") will follow the physician. Listen to CMS' webinar on the Value Based Modifier payment adjustments. This is yet another reason to begin participation in the PQRS program if you have not done so already. 

Are You the Subject of a Payer Audit?

Physicians, who are the subject of a payer audit, should check their professional liability policies for two reasons: there may be a reporting requirement; and your policy may provide some defense. Even if you are not the subject of an audit, you should review the terms of your policy and consider whether to obtain supplemental audit insurance. MSNJ has provided a variety of resources for our members on how to respond to audits. We are currently half way through a webinar series which included an introduction on the top legal issues, followed by separate webinars with speakers from each of the major payers. There is still time to register for the Cigna webinar on February 26 and the Aetna webinar on February 27. Both run from 12:00pm to 1:00 pm and registration is $25 for MSNJ members. The archived version of our opening audit webinar on the "Top Ten Tips for Physicians Facing RAC and Private Payer Audits" can be purchased on our website. The series will end with a presentation on audit insurance products (more information to come). 

Resolutions

In preparation for MSNJ's House of Delegates meeting on May 2, all resolutions are due from the counties by March 14. The Reference Committee Hearing will meet via webinar on April 8 from 6:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. Please review the resolution guidelines and the sample form.

Congratulations to the Nominating Committee Candidates

The MSNJ Nominating Committee chaired by Dr. Mary Campagnolo met on Sunday, February 23, 2014. Congratulations to all the candidates.


Practice Management

Windows XP to be Non-Compliant with HIPAA

As of April 8, 2014, Microsoft will not release any security patches for the Windows XP operating system. This lack of support will make Windows XP non-compliant with HIPAA. If you are still using Windows XP, please speak with your IT department to discuss possible options to remain HIPAA compliant. Note: While software products such as PC-ACE may still run on Windows XP, the operating system will be non-compliant with HIPAA as of April 8, 2014.

Medicare Will Not Accept Claims with ICD-9 Codes After October 1

Medicare will no longer accept ICD-9 codes on claims with dates of service on or after October 1, 2014. Institutional claims, and professional and supplier claims containing ICD-9 codes for services on or after October 1, 2014, will be Returned to Provider (RTP) as unprocessable. You will be required to re-submit these claims with the appropriate ICD-10 code. ICD-10 diagnosis codes have different rules regarding specificity and providers/suppliers are required to submit the most specific diagnosis codes based upon the information that is available at the time. Read more.  

CMS' eHealth University ICD-10 Resources

CMS launched eHealth University as a resource to the healthcare community to successfully participate in CMS eHealth programs. Use the following educational modules to help you prepare for the October 1 ICD-10 compliance deadline:

Intermediate and advanced resources are also available on the eHealth University website.

Revised Fact Sheet on Medicare Coverage of Items and Services Furnished to Beneficiaries in Custody

CMS has revised its fact sheet on "Medicare Coverage of Items and Services Furnished to Beneficiaries in Custody under a Penal Authority." This fact sheet provides information on Medicare's policy to generally not pay for medical items and services furnished to beneficiaries who are incarcerated or in custody at the time the items and services are furnished. Read the fact sheet. 

HIPAA Guidance on Sharing Information on Mental Health

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has developed a new guidance document on how the HIPAA Privacy Rule works to protect privacy rights with respect to mental health information. This guidance document covers some of the more frequently asked questions about when it is appropriate under the Privacy Rule for a health care provider to share the protected health information of a patient who is being treated for a mental health condition.  The HHS Office for Civil Rights clarifies when HIPAA permits health care providers to: communicate with a patient's family members, friends, or others involved in the patient's care, depending on whether the patient is an adult or a minor; and considers the patient's capacity to agree or object to the sharing of their information.  The document also clarifies how providers may communicate with family members, law enforcement, or others when the patient presents a serious and imminent threat of harm to themselves or others. View the guidance document and HIPAA FAQs.

Novitas to Launch Novitashere Portal

Novitas will be launching the Novitasphere Portal that will offer the ability for providers to perform eligibility and claim inquiries, retrieve Remittance Advices, perform claim submissions and initiate clerical error reopenings. Claims can be submitted through the Novitasphere portal as an alternative to using dial-up or Secure File transfer Protocol (SFTP). Novitas asks for your participation by taking a survey to allow them to understand the features you would be interested in using. Take the survey!

Four Part Series: E&M Score Sheet

Novitas Solutions is hosting a four part series on Evaluation and Management Score Sheet. This four part series was developed to increase your understanding of evaluation and management services. The series started on March 6 and there is still time to register for parts 2 through 4.

 

 

 

  • March 6 at 11:00 A.M.-Part 1: "Understanding the Key Components of E&M Services"
  • March 13 at 11:00 A.M.-Part 2: "Introduction to the Score Sheet" Register.
  • March 20 at 11:00 A.M.-Part 3: "Using the Score Sheet" Register
  • March 27 at 11:00 A.M.-Part 4: "Scoring Medical Records Using the Score Sheet" Register

Medicare EHR Attestation Deadline Extended to March 31

CMS has extended the deadline for eligible professionals (EPs) to attest to meaningful use for the 2013 reporting year for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program from February 28, 2014 to March 31, 2014. This delay will allow more time for EPs to submit their data and receive an incentive payment for the 2013 program year. Please note: This does not impact the deadlines for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program or any other CMS program including the electronic submission for the PQRS EHR Incentive Program Pilot .

The following are helpful tips that will help to make the process easier:

  • Ensure that your payment assignment and other relevant information is up to date in the Medicare payment system PECOS;
  • Make sure to include a valid email address in your EHR program registration;
  • Consider logging on to use the attestation system during non-peak hours such as evenings and weekends;
  • Log on to the registration and attestation system now and ensure that your information is up to date and begin entering your 2013 data;
  • If you experience attestation problems, call the EHR Incentive Program Help Desk and report the problem;
  • If your organization has more than 1,000 providers assigned to a proxy user, use the PECOS system to designate additional proxies to facilitate attestation.

2014 PQRS Participation and Program Changes

CMS has released a new fact sheet for eligible professionals (EP) and group practices participating in the 2014 PQRS reporting year that highlights program changes. Some 2014 program and reporting changes include:

  • An EP or group practice participating in the GPRO must successfully report 2014 PQRS quality measures to avoid a 2 percent penalty in 2016.
  • CMS added 37 new individual quality measures for the 2014 program year and voided 45 measures from 2013.
  • EPs must report on 9 measures across 3 National Quality Strategy (NQS) domains via claims, qualified registry, and EHR-based reporting methods.
  • EPs and group practices can no longer use the administrative claims-based reporting method to avoid a 2016 payment adjustment.

ONC & OCR Digital Privacy Notice Challenge

The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) are launching the Digital Privacy Notice Challenge which is a call for designers, developers, and patient privacy experts to create and submit a user-friendly online/digital notice of privacy practices.  This submission must be based off the model paper notices for content and format, and must be legible by patients and easily integrated into websites. The submission period is open from now until April 7, 2014. A review panel will determine the winning entries in May. The first place winner will receive a $15,000 award. View more details.  

Winning entries must demonstrate:

  • Accurate use of content from paper Notices of Privacy Practices (NPP);
  • Use of best practices in presenting Web content for public consumption;
  • Visual appeal; and
  • Capacity for entity to customize content and link to other relevant content.
Corporate Partners

 

Total Financial Concepts - Bronze Level Partner

 

Contact: Robert J. Tuzzo, President
Address: 1090 King Georges Post Road, Suite 1107, Edison, NJ 08837
Phone: (732) 225-7404
Fax: (732) 225-7405
E-mail:  [email protected]
Website   

 

 

Total Financial Concepts, Inc. is dedicated to providing clients with excellence in integrated financial services. Understanding our client's goals and objectives and helping meet their unique needs is our number one priority. We use a discovery process, which leads to sound financial planning* through alliances formed with providers of financial products and services we specialize in the areas of Protection, Wealth Accumulation, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Business Planning, and Asset Management*. With more than 25 years in the financial services profession, Total Financial Concepts, Inc. is uniquely positioned to assist a defined segment of the population to help achieve their economic, and hence, their personal goals.


 

QualCare, Inc. - Platinum Level Partner 

Contact: Matthew Rutkin, MEWA Sales & Proposal Coordinator

Phone: 888.670.8135, option 6
E-mail
Website 

 

 

 

QualCare, Inc., administers the MSNJ Affiliated Physicians and Employers - MEWA Health Plan, a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) which provides members with access to healthcare coverage options that might otherwise be too costly. Through this program, physicians may buy self-insured health plans at the equivalent of large-group rates.

 

QualCare, Inc. is New Jersey's largest, provider-sponsored Managed Care Organization that offers self-funded PPO, HMO network, point of service (POS) network, and open access health plans; third party administration (TPA) services, provider network access, care management services, and a workers' compensation product. QualCare also provides ACO consultative services and infrastructure.

 

Headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, QualCare services over 800,000 members and is owned by 16 non-profit hospitals and physician-hospital organizations, with a clientele that spans health systems, unions, local governments, school boards, and other commercial employers. QualCare's network covers over 100 acute, specialty and rehabilitation hospitals, as well as over 20,000 physicians and other ancillary providers at 33,000 locations across NJ, PA & NY.


 

MSNJ Magazine Subscription Service 

Subscription Services, Inc., does their very best to get you the lowest rates.  As a member, you are eligible for the very lowest prices on magazine subscriptions as well as personalized hands-on customer service. Click "Shop for Magazines" to place new subscriptions, renewals, as well as gift order subscriptions. You can also inquire about titles you may be interested in.  If you ever have a question regarding your order or your account, please call 1-800-603-5602, or use the contact page to communicate with a customer service representative.  And if you ever find a lower authorized price, they will match it! 

  

 

Member Resource Guide   

Check out the current MSNJ Member Resource GuideInside, you will find a complete listing of partners by service/product category, along with contact information. Also, be sure to check out the individual Corporate Partner pages on our website as some offer additional discounts to members!

 

It is important to note that MSNJ does not endorse any vendor, service, or product. However, we encourage members to please consider our Corporate Partners first as the financial support received from these organizations is vital to our association. It is our hope that their investment in MSNJ will help keep your membership dues and programming affordable.

 
Medical Society of New Jersey
2 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
(o) 609-896-1766 e-mail:
 

About the Medical Society of New Jersey:

Founded in 1766, the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) is the oldest professional society in the United States. MSNJ promotes the betterment of the public health and the science and the art of medicine, to enlighten public opinion in regard to the problems of medicine, and to safeguard the rights of the practitioners of medicine.  The organization and its members are dedicated to a healthy New Jersey, working to ensure the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship. In representing all medical disciplines, MSNJ advocates for the rights of patients and physicians alike, for the delivery of the highest quality medical care.  For more information visit our website or send us an e-mail.

"Your Partner in Practice... Your Voice in Trenton"  

2014 � Medical Society of New Jersey. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the written permission of the Medical Society of New Jersey.