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Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
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ICD-10: 273 Days Away
October 1, 2015 is the deadline to transition to the ICD-10 code set. MSNJ encourages all physicians to begin preparing for implementation by working with software vendors and testing their systems. View resources on MSNJ's website.
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| Employment Contract Review Program
Entering into an employment agreement can change your professional life for years to come. Don't sign until you have consulted with counsel. Check out our Employment Contract Review Program today!
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We are very happy to announce a special partnership we have established with the New Jersey Devils providing all MSNJ members, friends and family with the opportunity to get discounted Devils tickets.
The Devils have sent us an exclusive ticket offer being made available to you.
It's easy - Simply click here to order.
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| Check out our new benefit partner First Healthcare Compliance for a 10% discount on compliance solutions. Read their press release.
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| MSNJ is proud to announce a new benefit for MSNJ members:
SoFi refinances student loan debt from both federal and private sources into one loan with one monthly payment at lower rates. Physician borrowers save on average $20,800 on their student loans. Adjustable rates start at 2.66% APR, fixed rates at 4.99% APR. Access the discount.
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Exclusive New Medical Professional Liability Insurance Program for Physician Groups
MSNJ is pleased to announce that one of its platinum sponsors, Arthur J. Gallagher, has negotiated a program that will give qualifying physician groups that are insured on a claims-made policy, extended reporting ("tail") coverage AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
At last, a program now exists that allows physicians to switch to an occurrence-type policy and eliminate the worry associated with expensive tail coverage - AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
This exciting and exclusive offer is available only to qualifying groups with at least 3 physician members. More information.
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New! Free on-line course on End of Life Care
Meets NJ BME education requirement for two Category 1 Credits in End of Life Care needed for 2015 license renewal.
Members access here.
We also have an alternative online option with a modest fee:
Education in Palliative and End-of-life Care to satisfy the 2 credit end-of-life training requirement via long distance learning - and at a 15% discount to members. MSNJ members, please click here to obtain the promo code.
The following modules are thought to meet the requirements. Each module is designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ (cost to MSNJ members about $25.50 per credit)
- Gaps and Elements of Care
- Legal Issues
- Whole Patient Assessment
- Physician Assisted Suicide
- Last Hours of Living
- Withholding/Withdrawing Treatment
- Medical Futility
Choose two that meet your needs! See related News story.
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| The Federation of State Medical Boards is providing free CME activities on Opioids. Read more and register online.
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PCSS-MAT and the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine will host "The Office-Based Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders: The 'Half and Half' Course Webinar". This webinar training, in conjunction with a 3.75 hour online study and exam, will provide the required 8 hours needed to obtain the waiver to prescribe buprenorphine in the office setting. This webinar will be offered on three dates:
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Seabrook House is offering a complimentary CME event with Atlantic and Cape County Medical Societies on "Identifying and Addressing Addiction in my Private Practice" on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Avalon Country Club. Click here for more information and registration.
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The Sentinel Project will host a free conference on "Insurance Coverage Issues for Behavioral Health and Addiction Services" on February 6, 2015 at 10:00AM at Seton Hall Law School. This conference will discuss several areas of coverage that have raised concerns historically in insurance markets, including access to outpatient therapy and drug treatment and access to transitions of care following acute episodes. Registration coming soon.
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| The CDC will host a 2-day course on Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases on March 17 and March 18, 2015 from 8:00am to 5:00pm at the Busch Campus Multi-Purpose Center, Rutgers, The State University in Piscataway. More information.
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Job Opportunities
Novitas the Medical Administrative Contractor (MAC) for Jurisdiction L (JL) which includes New Jersey and Pennsylvania is seeking a Medical Director. Details.
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News
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2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
CMS is currently developing Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) update files, anesthesia conversion factors, abstract files, and the ambulatory surgical center fee schedule files in order to correct technical errors. Novitas Solutions has removed the original 2015 MPFS from their website in preparation for the updated fee schedule. The revised 2015 MPFS will be available on the Novitas website no later than January 20, 2015. In the meantime, Novitas has announced that it will not process claims between January 1 and January 14. Read more.
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MSNJ Weighs-In on Exchange Plans--Network Adequacy & Formulary Issues
In comments filed on December 22 MSNJ urged CMS to tighten its network adequacy and formulary requirements for qualified health plans offered through the exchange. We took the position that web site plan directories should be updated within 20 days of changes in provider status as is the regulatory standard in New Jersey. We also argued for a more robust formularies, including an emergency and standard exception process for circumstances where there is not an appropriate formulary medication.
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MSNJ Urges FDA to Keep Same Surgery Exemptions for Autologous HCT/P Implantation
In comments filed on December 22 MSNJ urged the FDA to specify in its guidance document that the use of centrifuge during autologous human cells, tissue, or cellular or tissue based product (HCT/P) transplantation is part of the "same surgical procedure" exception. Minimal processing of HCT/P is exempt from FDA regulation.
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Undergoing Methadone Treatment While Pregnant-Not Child Abuse & Neglect
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled on December 22 that undergoing methadone treatment in a bona fide treatment program prescribed by a licensed professional during pregnancy does not amount to child abuse and neglect. MSNJ joined in an amicus brief filed with the high court espousing this position. The case was filed by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services against a mother who had received medically supervised methadone treatment during her pregnancy. The state supreme court rejected the appellate division's application of strict liability principles without considering the reasonableness of the mother's conduct. The court remanded for further consideration of whether there were grounds for child abuse including, ironically, the mother's delay in beginning treatment.
MSNJ and other amici argued that methadone treatment is long-established, scientifically, as medically appropriate and that a finding of child abuse based solely on methadone treatment would deter pregnant women from seeking this medically appropriate treatment.
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Hospice and Palliative Care Services Survey
In order to better understand how to best address the market for hospice and palliative care services in Southern New Jersey, Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice is asking you to participate in a brief survey of healthcare providers who may refer patients and their families to hospice and palliative care services. Take the survey!
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Open Payments: Continuing Medical Education Events Clarification
On October 31, CMS published four revisions to the Open Payments Final Rule. The most significant change affects the Open Payments reporting requirements for payments or other transfers of value provided at continuing education events. Independent CME is not subject to reporting. These requirements will change starting for data collected in 2016. Read the FAQ's. More information.
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State-by-State Ebola Protocols
The CDC developed a table of state-by-state Ebola protocols to help law and policy makers prepare for and respond to Ebola-related situations. Read the updated Ebola key messages.
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2015 CSTE Case Definition for Meningococcal Disease
The New Jersey Department of Health Vaccine Preventable Disease Program is informing health care providers and public health professionals of a revision to the National Surveillance Case Definition for Meningococcal Disease. The revised CSTE case definition for meningococcal disease, approved and effective 2015, now includes polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive cases as "confirmed" cases. Review the 2015 case definition for meningococcal disease. Additional information.
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AMA President-Elect on Future of Health IT
Dr. Steven Stack, AMA President-Elect, shared his perspective on the future of health IT in a special USA Today publication on digital health. View the online column.
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Resolutions Due January 16
The next meeting of the Revolving Reference Committee is February 2, 2015 at 7:00 pm via webinar. All resolutions need to be vetted by your County Medical Society prior to submission to MSNJ. Resolutions are due from the County Medical Societies by January 16, 2015. Click here for instructions on writing a resolution.
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Call for Candidates
MSNJ is accepting applications from candidates interested in positions on the Board of Trustees, AMA Delegation, Judicial Council and various positions. Please review the MSNJ Declared Candidates for 2015 as of December 23rd (Please note: Not all Counties have Submitted Candidates) and read a brief synopsis of the positions and expectations. Your involvement is key to the Success of MSNJ.
If you are interested in running for a position or have questions about specific vacancies, please feel free to contact your County Executive or Sue Hoisington at 609-896-1766 x 207.
The Deadline to submit a request is Wednesday, January 21, 2015. The Nominating Committee meeting is on Sunday, February 1, 2015.
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MSNJ March Board Meeting Date Changed
The March, 2015 Board of Trustees Meeting has been changed to Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 6:30 pm in MSNJ Conference Room, Lawrenceville.
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De Groote Award Nominations
MSNJ is accepting nominations for the De Groote Award which will be conferred at the MSNJ Inaugural Gala of the 223rd President, Steven Berkowitz, MD on May 9, 2015. The De Groote Award was established by resolution to honor the selfless work of Dr. Robert De Groote in service to the medical profession. The De Groote Award will be given to the individual whose selfless and idealistic work benefits humankind and not himself or herself.
Nominations should be made by submitting a brief narrative to info@msnj.org by close of business on Friday, February 20, 2015.
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Practice Management
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UPDATE: Enrollment Requirements for Writing Medicare Part D Prescriptions
Physicians, who write prescriptions for covered Part D drugs and are not currently enrolled in or opted out of the Medicare Program, need to submit an enrollment application or an opt-out affidavit to Novitas by June 1, 2015. You may submit your enrollment application electronically using the Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) or by completing the paper CMS-855I or CMS-855O application. Read more. Due to member concerns, MSNJ has asked for guidance from Novitas on how this requirement affects physicians with the retired active (reduced fee) license status. Physicians with a retired active license status may not have any insurance affiliations. Novitas has confirmed that retired active licensees may file an opt-out affidavit, in order to continue prescribing for Part D beneficiaries.
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Open Payments Data Updates
CMS recently added nearly 68,000 payment records to the Open Payments dataset. These records were not published in the initial release on September 30 because of one of the two following reasons:
- The record was still under dispute at the end of the review period; or
- Records attested to on the last day of the data submission period for the 2013 program year were inadvertently excluded from publication (however, they were still included in the full 45-day review and dispute process).
CMS will update the Open Payments data at least once a year. The refreshed data will include updates to data disputes and other data corrections made since the initial publication of this data documenting payments or transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals and physician ownership and investment interests. CMS will publish the full calendar year of 2014 financial data by June 30, 2015. Read more.
The Open Payments system will be unavailable beginning on January 1 through late January 2015, due to system enhancements and preparations for the 2014 program year. Stakeholders will still be able to view Open Payments data and use the data search tool on the CMS website. Read more.
An archived recording from CMS' November 13th Removed Payment Records webinar is now available.
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| AMA Webinar: Stop Paying to Get Paid: Effective Electronic Payments
The AMA is offering an on-demand webinarto assist physicians in effectively implementing electronic payments into their practice. The webinar is designed to provide attendees with the knowledge of electronic payments, an overview of the implications of accepting virtual credit card payments, and an introduction on how to implement the new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standard electronic funds transfer (EFT) transaction in their practice. The webinar can be viewed at any time via the AMA's Online Learning Center and has been approved for 1 hour AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
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ICD-10 Acknowledgement Testing Week a Success
Last month CMS conducted another successful acknowledgement testing week which allows providers to submit claims with ICD-10 codes to the Medicare Fee-For Service claims systems and receive electronic acknowledgements confirming that their claims were accepted. More than 500 providers, suppliers, billing companies, and clearinghouses participated in the testing week and submitted a total of almost 13,700 claims. The acceptance rate improved throughout the week with Friday's acceptance rate for test claims at 87 percent. Nationally, CMS accepted 76 percent of total test claims. Testing did not identify any issues with the Medicare FFS claims systems. Read more.
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Volunteer for CMS ICD-10 End-to End Testing
CMS will begin ICD-10 end-to-end testing with a small group of volunteers, beginning in April 2015. If you are interested in volunteering for this testing opportunity, complete the Volunteer Testing Form by January 9, 2015. Volunteers will be notified of selection by January 30. Read CMS's new FAQ on ICD-10 End-to-End Testing, MLN Matters SE1435. Watch the MLN Connects video on Coding for ICD-10-CM: More of the Basics for a better understanding of ICD-10. |
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View December's Coding Tip of the Month for information on the use of F codes in ICD-10 for Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders (F01 - F99)
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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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