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Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
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Horizon Prior Authorization Webinar Series
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DATE CHANGE!
Webinar: MSNJ's MPMS Presents: Common Modifier Q&A
Wednesday, July 9, 2014 from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Our speaker will go over common modifiers, how they are used, and answer questions. Please submit your questions to info@msnj.org with "Modifier Webinar" in the subject line and we will do our best to address them during the webinar.
This event is $25 for MSNJ members, $50 for PAHCOM & NJMGMA members, and $100 for non-members.
Please note: Those who already registered will be automatically signed up to participate in this webinar.
Register
More information
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Symposium on Tick-Borne Diseases
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge, Maryland
Join the Lyme Disease Association of Eastern Shore Maryland for a one-day medical conference designed to provide the most current information about the research, diagnosis, treatment and management of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. More information.
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I.C. Systems is hosting a webinar "So...They're NOT Paying. When and How to Seek Collection Help." on May 22 at 12:00 P.M. EST. This webinar will help Office Managers and Business Owners with actionable steps to take when clients, customers or patients are showing a reluctance to pay. I.C. System's Collections Expert Nathan Hagge leads this engaging presentation revealing insightful options for solving this age-old business challenge.
Register online.
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are hosting a free event on Clinical Challenges in Opioid Prescribing: Balancing Safety & Efficacy on May 31, 2014. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Click here for more information.
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MSNJ and Kern Augustine Conroy & Schoppmann, P.C. invite you to the inaugural "Working Together" Networking Event for young physicians on June 4, 2014 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. at The Frog and The Peach, New Brunswick, NJ. RSVP to erodgers@msnj.org by May 30, 2014. More information.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Attend a free Do No Harm Symposium on prescription drug abuse.
Choose from 3 convenient dates:
June 10 Morristown Medical Center
June 11 Community Medical Center
June 12 Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Details and registration information coming next week!
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Middlesex County Medical Society will host their Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 17 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Michael Baker's Barn, 93 Church Lane, East Brunswick, NJ. Complete and submit the registration form by June 3.
Mercer County Medical Society will host their Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 25 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Abud Family Foundation for the Arts Gallery. Complete and submit the registration form by June 11.
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PCSS-MAT Mentoring Program
The PCSS-MAT Mentoring Program, which assists physicians in treating opioid dependence, is available at no cost to all interested providers. PCSS-MAT Mentors comprise a national network of trained providers with expertise in medication-assisted treatment, addictions and clinical education. This program is designed to offer general information to clinicians about evidence-based clinical practices in prescribing medications for opioid addiction. Sign up today!
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View May's Coding Tip of the Month for information on the Use of N Codes
Email us your coding questions! We will work with a certified professional coder to answer your question and may even address it in an upcoming coding tip.
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News
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Watch the MSNJ Advocacy Conference Video: Governor's Christie's Remarks and MSNJ Leadership Response.
MSNJ thanks Marcus Rayner for presenting at this year's Advocacy Conference on Medical Liability Reform! Read the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute newsletter on this issue.
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Endocrinologists Alert! May 31 Deadline for Certification Application
Endocrinologists who perform thyroid ultrasound and ultrasonic guidance for biopsy and are Horizon participating physicians will be required by Horizon to earn an Endocrine Certification In Neck Ultrasound (ECNU) by June 1, 2015. In order to continue to be paid for these services beyond May 31, 2014, physicians must have submitted an ECNU Program Application to the AACE. Read Horizon's payment notification. Originally, Horizon required that endocrinologists performing these services be certified by January 1, 2014. MSNJ, together with your state and national specialty society, urged Horizon to delay the certification requirement because many physicians were not aware of the requirement and would not be able to become certified before the January 1, 2014 effective date. The year and a half delay was granted in response to those concerns.
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Opioid Legislation
The Assembly Health Committee passed A3129 unanimously. MSNJ, as well as specialty societies and pharmacy groups, support this bill, which makes significant improvements to the State's prescription drug monitoring program. The bill requires doctors to register for the program, but also allows employees of physician offices and residents to access the database. The bill increases the Attorney General's ability to send reports to physicians and pharmacies. The bill also reduces the pharmacy data submission timeline from one month to one week. See press coverage here.
Smoke Free Campuses
The Assembly Higher Education Committee passed A1978, which prohibits smoking in any area or on the grounds of any building or facility owned, leased, or controlled by any public or private institution of higher education in this State or a related entity thereof, regardless of whether the area or facility is an indoor public place or is outdoors. MSNJ supports this bill.
Health Funding
The Assembly Commerce Committee passed A2771, "The New Jersey Social Innovation Act," which establishes a five-year social innovation loan pilot program for the purpose of encouraging private investment in preventive and early intervention health care to reduce public expenditures related to those services. MSNJ supports this bill, which is based on a New York model.
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Attention physicians! Please take our benefits survey to help us better serve you with discounted products essential to your medical practice.
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The Special Olympics is looking for volunteers for the 2014 USA Games from June 14 to June 21. Register now! Read more.
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Read PolitickerNJ's issue on "The Health Care Power List 2014."
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Practice Management
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CMS Registration Begins June 1 for Physicians
As part of Open Payments, physicians should register with CMS, starting June 1, to review information about payments or other transfers of value given to them by the industry prior to public posting of the data. Physicians who participate will need to initially register in CMS' Enterprise Portal to access and review the information submitted about them by the industry. As a part of this overall process, registered users will be able to dispute information with industry that they believe to be inaccurate or incomplete. Read more.
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Reminder: Practices Must Use the New CMS 1500 Claim Form and New Novitas Address
Medicare is no longer accepting paper claims on the old version of the CMS 1500 form. Novitas is urging paper filers to use the new forms with the date "02-12" in the lower right corner of the form. Claims submitted on the old form will be returned, resulting in a delay in payment until the proper claim form is filed. Use the free AMA resource to walk you through the form changes. Read more about the initiative in the CMS MLN Matters article.
Effective April 15, 2014, paper claims that were submitted to the old Novitas mailing addresses are no longer being forwarded by the postal service. The 1500 claim forms are being mailed back to the provider and will need to be resubmitted to the correct mailing address.
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New Prescription Blanks Effective August 18, 2014
The NJ Division of Consumer Affairs 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 must sell only the new version of the blanks by May 18, 2014. Physicians must begin using the new blanks on August 18, 2014.
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Important EHR Incentive Program Deadlines
This is the last year (2014) that Eligible Professionals (EPs) can start participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program to receive incentive payments. EPs who begin participation in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program after 2014, will not be able to earn an incentive payment for that year or any subsequent year of participation. If you choose to participate in the program for the first time in 2014, you should begin your 90-day reporting period no later than July 1, 2014 and submit attestation by October 1, 2014 to avoid the payment adjustment in 2015. Read more.
If you were unable to successfully demonstrate meaningful use for 2013 due to circumstances beyond your control, CMS is accepting applications for hardship exceptions to avoid the penalty for the 2013 reporting year. Applications for individual eligible professionals and eligible professionals submitting multiple NPIs are available. CMS will review the application to determine whether or not you are granted a hardship exception. Applications for the 2015 penalty are due July 1, 2014. If approved, the exception is valid for one year. Tipsheets are available on the CMS website.
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Risk Assessment Tool to Evaluate Potential Security Risks under HIPAA
The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) in collaboration with the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the HHS Office of the General Counsel (OGC), developed a Security Risk Assessment tool. This free tool is designed to help practices conduct and document a risk assessment to evaluate potential security risks in their organizations under the HIPAA Security Rule.
Conducting a Security Risk Assessment also is a core requirement for physicians seeking payment through the federal meaningful use program for electronic health records. The AMA offers free resources to help physicians ensure their practices are HIPAA-compliant, including a new HIPAA toolkit and an associated continuing medical education activity.
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The Philadelphia Regional Office of CMS hosted an encore presentation of the "Aligning PQRS with Meaningful Use CQMs in 2014" webinar on May 15. View the slides.
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Avoid the 2016 PQRS Penalty
Eligible professionals and group practices that fail to successfully report data on quality measures during 2014 will be subject to a two percent reduction on Medicare Fee Schedule amounts for services furnished by the eligible professional or group practice between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. Read more on how to avoid the penalty.
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Corporate Partners
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Liberty Mutual - Silver Level Partner
Contact: Michaelesha Godfrey
Address: 80 Grasslands Road, Elmsford, NY 10523
Phone: 914.785.0180 ext. 60626
E-mail: Michaelesha.Godfrey@LibertyMutual.com
Website
Report A Claim: You can report a claim online by registering for eService or call: 1-800-2CLAIMS (1-800-225-2467)
Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify.
Since 1912, we at Liberty Mutual have committed ourselves to providing broad, useful and competitively-priced insurance products and services to meet our customers ever-changing needs.
Our delivery on this commitment is the reason we're now the 5th largest P&C insurance company in the United States, why we've earned an A.M. Best Co. 'A' (Excellent) rating, and why we have the breadth, depth and financial strength that you can always depend on - in the United States and around the world.
For your business: From commercial property to specialty risk to workers compensation, we provide products and services to solve your ever-changing business needs.
For your personal needs: Liberty Mutual Group, through its various companies, offers a full line of insurance products for you and your entire family. Including auto, home and life, as well as personal liability.
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Brach Eichler, LLC - Bronze Level Partner
Contact: John D. Fanburg
Address: 101 Eisenhower Parkway, Roseland, NJ 07068
Phone: 973.403.3107
Fax: 973.228.7852
E-mail: jfanburg@bracheichler.com
Website
Innovation, flexibility and focus on practical solutions to intricate problems are the hallmarks of Brach Eichler's Health Law Practice Group. In today's complex health care environment, we offer our clients the knowledge to address regulatory hurdles and the experience to address the myriad legal and business issues that can and often do occur. We offer a full panoply of services to clients across the health care field in such areas as physician and hospital contracts; corporate governance and compliance; health care mergers and acquisitions, administrative and judicial litigation; and state and federal regulatory advice.
Our clients reflect a cross-section of the health care industry. They range from large physician groups to individual practitioners, from hospitals and hospital systems to medical staff organizations, from physician specialty societies to health care trade associations, and from long-term care facilities and home health agencies to patients and providers seeking insurance coverage and proper reimbursement.
Breadth of Practice
Representation of clients in the health care industry demands knowledge and legal experience across a wide spectrum, ranging from Medicare regulations to contract negotiations, corporate compliance to provider reimbursement. In the realm of federal regulation in particular, Brach Eichler's health law attorneys structure transactions to comply with the Stark Law and "Safe Harbor" regulations, advise clients with respect to medical reimbursement issues and provide guidance to hospitals, physicians and other providers to protect and defend against fraud investigations. Having developed strong relationships with public officials on both the state and national level, we are able to effectively advocate on behalf of our clients in such areas as certification and licensure, for both individuals and health care facilities.
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Employment Contract Review Program - New Benefit!
Due to the changing healthcare delivery landscape and the increasing number of physicians who wish to be employed, MSNJ has developed an employment contract review program for its members.
MSNJ's Corporate Partner Law Firms will offer an initial legal consultation for a discounted flat rate of $500.* Initial consultation includes:
- preliminary review of the employment contract;
- a written summary of terms of concern; and
- a phone consultation with an attorney regarding contract provisions that may require modification or further negotiation.
Members should contact the Corporate Partner of their choice to begin the consultation process. Members should expect to sign a retainer letter and/or representation agreement from the Corporate Partner chosen to perform the initial consultation. Employment Contract Review Program inquiries will be given priority by the participating firms.
A more comprehensive contract analysis or assistance with contract negotiations, will be offered at a 10% discount off of each firm's usual fee. (Firm rates may vary; please call the Corporate Partners listed for details on their rates.) Members are not obligated to purchase additional services after the initial consultation, but may wish to do so.
*Nominal fees for shipping and incidental expenses may apply.
Click here for more information.
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The Economist, limited time offer!
Enjoy our current offer before the price goes up! The Economist has announced an increase effective 6/19. Order now, before the new, $127.00, price takes effect.
MSNJ is proud to offer 3 new member benefits!:
Audi - Princeton Audi is delighted to present all members of the Medical Society of New Jersey with an executive discount on all Audi Models (excluding the S6, S7, S8, RS5, RS7, and R8). Click here for more information.
Medline - Medline is proud to offer MSNJ members their top 25 physician office products at significantly discounted prices. Click here for more information.
 Vitals.com - Vitals successfully connects the right patients to the right doctors, building your market share by helping you connect with new clients through search and websites. By engaging with an insured and affluent audience, Vitals adds a better payer mix to your patient population.
Vitals combines online advertising, search engine optimization (SEO), and lead generation to grow your physician referrals and appointments. Your presence on Vitals' high-traffic websites helps market your practice and build brand awareness, while focusing on new-patient acquisition. Vitals offers a 20% discount at individual and group practice level. Click here
for discount information.
To view all member benefits, click here.
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!
Don't Overpay for Payroll
Easy Online SurePayroll gives you incredible value on a small practice budget, so you can increase your bottom line and avoid overspending on payroll. And as a Featured Benefit for MSNJ members, you will save up to 50% compared to traditional payroll providers. Get a Free Quote today.
Member Resource Guide
Check out the current MSNJ Member Resource Guide! Inside, 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.
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Medical Society of New Jersey
2 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
(o) 609-896-1766 e-mail:
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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"
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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.
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