Horizon Responds to MSNJ's Objections to Unilateral Contract Amendments   

Many of our members have complained about the unilateral contract amendments made by Horizon to its managed care and PPO plans. The amendments become effective on April 15 and can only be avoided by terminating the existing participation agreements. We objected to a number of the amendments and in response Horizon will do the following:

• allow practices 45 days to respond to a request for records review associated with a site audit. (The contract amendment only allowed 20 days.) Read more.

NEWS on MAINTENANCE of CERTIFICATION
ABIM Suspends Elements of MOC-Apologizes for Getting it Wrong
In an open letter to internists and key stakeholders the President and CEO of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), Richard J. Baron, MD, MACP, suspends the Practice Assessment, Patient Voice and Patient Safety requirements of its maintenance of certification (MOC) program for two years. In addition, he freezes enrollment fees until 2017 and promises new and more flexible ways for internists to demonstrate self-assessment of medical knowledge through ACCME-approved continuing medical education.  Dr. Baron is the first non-academic physician to lead ABIM. His letter indicates "a new beginning" and a commitment to further improvement of the ABIM MOC program.

ABIM's program changes align with the principles for MOC reform adopted by the AMA at its last annual meeting. MSNJ supported the principles because they are consistent with MSNJ's policy on MOC. The AMA has been working with the American Board of Medical Specialties in an effort to implement the principles and this development from ABIM is welcome news to all of our members, not just internists, who have worked hard to seek improvement in MOC programs.  Read AMA's press release upon news of ABIM's change in course.

Save the Date: May 1 MSNJ Advocacy Conference "The Future of Maintenance of Certification"
Come hear Alejandra Aparicio, MD, FACP, the Director of AMA's Division of Continuing Physician Professional Development, talk about progress being made on implementing the principles for MOC reform adopted by the AMA and supported by MSNJ. Dr. Aparicio is an advocate for changes to MOC programs and has been working with the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Representatives from ABMS will sit on a panel with Dr. Aparicio and explain the history of MOC and how different specialty boards are responding to the concerns of physicians. Hear about the ABMS standards to be implemented in 2015. Plan to attend MSNJ's second annual advocacy conference on Friday, May 1 in Princeton. 

Anthem Data Breach

Drug Abuse

MSNJ continues to oppose physician mandates, but support efforts to reduce drug abuse in NJ. See our response to an op Ed against MSNJ. See more at msnj.org/drugabuse.

Prescription Monitoring Program

MSNJ continues to work on drug abuse prevention and PMP legislation. Read the media coverage.   

Second Year of Open Payments Data Submission Begins

March 31, 2015 is the deadline for all applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations to register or recertify their registration in the Open Payments system and begin data submission for any payments or transfers of value that occurred in the 2014 calendar year. Physicians and teaching hospitals may now register in the system so they can be prepared to review any data that may be submitted about them. The review and dispute period for physicians and teaching hospitals is anticipated to start in April. CMS plans to publish the 2014 payment data and make any applicable updates to the 2013 data in June 2015. Read the first year of Open Payments data that was released by CMS on September 30, 2014. Watch MSNJ's archived webinars on the registration and dispute process. Attend CMS' Q&A session on February 10 at 1:30pm on Open Payments.  

Top Doctors 2015: Make Your Voice Heard in New Jersey Monthly by Sunday, March 1
New Jersey Monthly's annual survey of physicians is underway. This is the only survey that is mailed to all doctors in active practice in New Jersey rather than relying on the opinions of a smaller group of doctors or a national poll. MSNJ encourages all members to participate. Vote online by Sunday, March 1. You will be asked to enter your medical license number before entering the site to vote. The list is "locked down" before any solicitation of advertising, and a variety of methods are employed by the polling company to prevent ballot-box stuffing. The results will be published in the November issue of New Jersey Monthly and is searchable throughout the year at www.njmonthly.com.

ICD-10: Only 236 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. Register for upcoming ICD-10 Webinar Workshops. Participate in NJ DOBI's ICD-10 Readiness Survey.

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 information regarding your ICD-10 readiness. We are looking for solo and small practices in particular to take the survey. Please take this opportunity to tell us where you are in the transition process. Take the survey! 

February 28 Deadline: EHR Attestation for Eligible Professionals

Eligible Professionals (EPs) participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program have until February 28 to attest to meeting meaningful use of the data collected during their 2014 reporting period. The attestation includes the 2014 Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT) Flexibility Rule options. Starting January 1, 2015, penalties were applied for Medicare EPs that did not successfully demonstrate meaningful use in 2013 and did not receive a 2015 hardship exception. Medicare EPs that did not successfully demonstrate meaningful use in 2014 and do not receive a 2016 hardship exception will have payment adjustments applied beginning January 1, 2016. Read the payment adjustment tipsheet for more information.

Please Note: You must attest to demonstrating meaningful use every year to receive an incentive and avoid a Medicare payment adjustment.

Medicaid EHR Incentive Program participants should refer to their state's deadlines for attestation information. 

Important 2014 PQRS Data Submission Deadlines

There is still time to avoid the 2016 Medicare payment penalties by participating in PQRS for 2014. The following reporting methods are still available:

• Until February 28, 2015:
• EHR direct or data submission vendor that is Certified EHR Technology
• Qualified Clinical Data Registries (QCDRs) (using QRDA III format) reporting for PQRS and the Clinical Quality Measure component of meaningful use for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program
• Until March 20, 2015:
• Group Practice Reporting Option Web Interface
• Until March 31, 2015:
• Qualified registries
• QCDRs (using XML format) reporting for PQRS only
• Maintenance of Certification Organizations

View February's Coding Tip of the Month for information on the use of E codes in ICD-10 for Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic Diseases (E00-E89).

Aprima Medical Software, Inc. - Bronze Level Partner   

Contact: David S.Simpson
Address: 3330 Keller Springs Rd, Suite 201, Carrollton, TX 75006
Phone: 856.340.5479
E-mail: DSimpson@Aprima.com
Website 

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 

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