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Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
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 | The Physicians Foundation released ICD10Charts.com, a free comprehensive ICD-10 training module for medical practices.
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SoFi
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 2.17% APR, fixed rates at 3.5% APR. Access the discount.
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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!
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Ready Set Code! ICD-10 Webinar Workshops
The compliance date for implementation of ICD-10 is October 1, 2015. Will you be ready? MSNJ and the New Jersey Hospital Association will host a series of specialty specific webinar workshops on ICD-10. These hands-on coding workshops will help you master ICD-10-CM and the documentation requirements associated with coding for your specialty-specific practice. Participants will gain an understanding of the code format and structure of ICD-10 and the ability to successfully assign diagnosis codes using ICD-10. Choose one workshop that best describes your practice. Each 2-hour Specialty Workshop will be repeated on two different dates/times for your convenience. All workshops are approved for 2 AAPC CEUs. More information and registration.
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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.
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Webinar: Collection Tips in 10 Minutes
I.C. System has created a series of short webinars to provide tips to help your office. Access the webinars.
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CMS National Provider Call: 2016 PFS Proposed Rule: Medicare Quality Reporting Programs
Thursday, July 16; 1:30-3pm
This presentation will cover proposed updates to the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), Value-Based Payment Modifier (Value Modifier), Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, and Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) Initiative. Register.
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Free PCSS-MAT Office-Based Treatment of Opioid Dependence Webinar Series
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Novitas Solutions will host their 2015 Medicare Symposium in our area on the following dates:
- July 29, 2015 - Fort Lee, NJ
- August 5, 2015 - Philadelphia, PA
- November 10, 2015 - East Windsor, NJ
More information.
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Progressive Healthcare Conferences Webinar: Increase Patient Safety: Reduce Patient Suicide & Ensure Compliance
Thursday, June 25, 2015 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Discover how to prevent suicide and keep your patients safe, ensure compliance with standards and effectively train your staff to identify patients at risk.
Register online.
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Policy & Strategy Panel Meeting: Medical Staff Issues
Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 5:30pm
MSNJ Conference Center, 2 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ
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News
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US Supreme Court Allows Subsidies in Federally Operated Exchanges
Today the United States Supreme Court held that Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies will be available for consumers who purchase healthcare insurance from Exchanges run by the federal government. The opinion was authored by the Chief Justice; Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito dissented. The majority opinion considered the context and structure of the ACA and found that coverage would not occur in a meaningful way if subsidies were not available in federally run Exchanges. In addition, the individual insurance market in these Exchanges would be destabilized, a result that Congress could not have intended. Read MSNJ's statement on the opinion. Read the SCOTUS blog. Read HHS's statement.
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Constitutional Challenge to the Affidavit of Merit Statute
The New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ) recently filed a motion to appear as amicus in a dental malpractice case pending before the New Jersey Supreme Court. NJAJ asserts that the affidavit of merit statute is unconstitutional, violating the separate of powers doctrine. This was anticipated. MSNJ opposed the motion and filed a brief in support of the affidavit of merit which is an important element of tort reform, advocated by MSNJ, and that has curtailed the filing of claims that are without merit. MSNJ will continue to advocate on this important issue and will keep members apprised of developments.
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Nationwide Medicare Fraud Sweep
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the Medicare Fraud Strike Force performed a nationwide sweep in 17 districts, resulting in charges against 243 individuals, including 46 physicians, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving about $712 million in false billings. CMS has also suspended multiple providers. Read more.
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The 2015 Healthcare Heroes awards program honors the best individuals and organizations that are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in New Jersey.
Congratulations to the following MSNJ Members who are NJBIZ Healthcare Heroes Physician of the Year Finalists:
- Carman Ciervo, DO - Camden County Medical Society
- Generosa Grana, MD - Camden County Medical Society
- Glen Tonnessen, MD - Hunterdon County Medical Society
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Legislative Update
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Health Insurance Matters
MSNJ continues to oppose legislation that would limit charges and payments and impact network contracting. View television coverage.
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Changes in Christie Administration
The Governor's Office announced Monday that three longtime members of Gov. Chris Christie's cabinet - state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, Health Commissioner Mary O'Dowd and Banking & Insurance Commissioner Ken Kobylowski - are departing over the next several weeks. Read more.
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FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Abolishing the IPAB
The House voted Tuesday to abolish the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which was created by the ACA to reduce Medicare costs. The board was never appointed. MSNJ supports this effort. Read more.
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Public Health
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Lead Poisoning
More than 220,000 young children in New Jersey had high levels of lead from 2000 through 2014 - a "staggering" number, according to a lead poisoning expert. Read more.
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Practice Management
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Medicare Opt-Out Law Changes
As a result of changes made by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, valid opt-out affidavits signed on or after June 16, 2015 will automatically renew every two years. Physicians and practitioners, who filed affidavits effective on or after June 16 and do not want to have their opt-out automatically renewed at the end of a two year opt-out period, may cancel the renewal by notifying all MACs with which they filed an affidavit in writing at least 30 days prior to the start of the next opt-out period. Valid opt-out affidavits signed before June 16, 2015 will expire 2 years after the effective date of the opt out. To extend the opt-out, physicians must submit a renewal affidavit within 30 days after the current opt-out period expires to all MACs with which they would have filed claims absent the opt-out.
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Less than 100 days away: ICD-10 Deadline October 1, 2015
The following are CMS's 5 steps on preparing for ICD-10:
1) Make a Plan
2) Train Your Staff
3) Update Your Processes
4) Talk with Your Vendors and Health Plans
5) Test Your Systems and Processes
Read more about each step in CMS's Quick Start Guide. Read AMA's beginner and expert's guide to ICD-10 prep: Steps for July.
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Submit 2015 PQRS data to avoid the 2017 penalty!
MSNJ is continuing its PQRS Reporting Benefit in 2015:
Have you started thinking about PQRS reporting to CMS for 2015? Start planning now to avoid the 2% penalty in 2017!
Through a partnership with PQRSwizard� we have made it easy for your practice to participate. PQRSwizard, like Turbo-Tax™ for PQRS reporting, will help guide you step-by-step to simplify the CMS PQRS reporting process.
Measures Groups are now open for 2015 registration. Individual Measures and GPRO reporting are coming soon.
Visit www.msnj.org/benefits to access the preferred MSNJ price of $225 per provider (Regular Fee is $299).
The deadline for 2015 reporting through PQRSwizard, using the MSNJ discount, is February 26, 2016.
Note that ALL PROVIDERS THAT BILL MEDICARE FFS are responsible for reporting under the PQRS program.
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Apply for an EHR Hardship Exception by July 1 to Avoid 2016 Penalty
Eligible Professionals (EPs) who did not successfully participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program in 2014 will begin receiving penalties starting January 1, 2016. Medicare EPs can avoid the 2016 penalty by applying for a hardship exception by July 1, 2015. The hardship exception applications and instructions for an individual and for multiple Medicare EPs are available. CMS will use Medicare data to determine your eligibility to be automatically granted a hardship exception. If approved, the exception is valid for the 2016 payment adjustment only. If you intend to claim a hardship exception for a subsequent payment adjustment year, a new application must be submitted for the appropriate year.
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Novitas Releases Articles to Help You to "Increase Your Bottom Line"
Novitas Solutions has started to roll out a series of "Increasing Your Bottom Line" articles geared specifically to help Medicare Part B providers submit Medicare Part B claims accurately the first time. The third article, "Increasing Your Bottom Line: Using Modifier 76 Correctly to Report Repeat Procedures by the Same Physician" is now available.
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ICD-10: Only 97 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.
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Heathcare Law Firm:
Frier Levitt, LLC - Bronze Level Partner
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Liability Insurance:
Princeton Insurance - Gold Level Partner
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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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2015 � 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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