Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
 
August 6, 2015

   
In This Issue
 
Member Benefits

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!  

Check out all of MSNJ's member benefits!
CME/Events /Training

Check out the MSNJ Calendar for upcoming meetings!

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.  


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.


Novitas Solutions will host their 2015 Medicare Symposium in our area on the following dates:

  • November 10, 2015 - East Windsor, NJ
More information.

Attend a live audio conference with expert Thomas J. Force, Esq. on "Recoupment for Unsupported Services and Failure to Balance Bill Out of Network Patients - What's Your Best Defense?" on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 1:00pm. Mr. Force will review the applicable federal and state laws, along with the recent case law in the area of recoupment. He will also provide instructions for preparing the initial and final recoupment objection letters. Register using discount code "Thomas20" to receive a $20 discount.


CMS National Provider Call - Countdown to ICD-10

Thursday, August 27 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm

Listen to coding guidance and tips along with updates from CMS.

Register online.


The Surgery Center Coalition will host their third Annual "Day of Compliance for ASCs" on Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 8:15am to 4:15pm at The Palace at Somerset Park. Click here for more information and registration.


4th Annual Psychiatric Society of Delaware CME Symposium

Saturday, September 26, 2015 at the Medical Society of Delaware Conference Center  

This full day conference will bring experts from around the region to present on the topics of: integrating complementary and alternative therapies for pain management, genetics and psychiatric risk, abnormal illness behavior and somatoform disorders and the developmental, cultural, psychopathological and technical aspects surrounding forgiveness. More information and registration.


Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy's "Roy A. Bowers 65th Annual Pharmaceutical Conference"

September 30, 2015

The Radisson, 21 Kingsbridge Road, Piscataway, NJ

More information and registration


Rutgers Business School Executive Education will launch a new program for healthcare professionals beginning in 2016. The Mini-MBA: Strategic Healthcare Management for Practices offers an integrated curriculum to healthcare providers and administrators who wish to gain a deeper understanding of current considerations in healthcare. The program will run for 5 consecutive Wednesdays starting February 3 for $4995. Click here to apply.
Financial Corner

Read Personal Wealth Strategies' information on Saving for College.

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LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN! 1 Year Away Until MSNJ's 250th Anniversary!

Save the date for the Inaugural Gala where we will celebrate our 250 year anniversary!

Resolutions Due August 12

The next meeting of the Revolving Reference Committee is Monday, August 24 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 August 12. Click here for instructions on writing a resolution.

News
 
Dr. Berkowitz Speaks to Medical Students

On Wednesday, Dr. Berkowitz spoke to 160 first year medical students at Rutgers University, Newark. He invited them to become active members of the Medical Society and virtually all of them signed up for membership.
Legislation Introduced on Stage 3 Meaningful Use
H.R. 3309, the "Further Flexibility in HIT Reporting & Advancing Interoperability Act" or "Flex IT2 Act," introduced last week by Representative Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), would provide flexibility in the Meaningful Use (MU) program and would require coordination of the program with other quality programs including MIPS
which was part of the Medicare SGR reform legislation.  The bill would remove the pass-fail approach of the MU program and also addresses key interoperability challenges. Members are asked to contact Congress to ask that Stage 3 MU be stopped. Read more.

The Physicians Foundation Releases New "Medicare Watch List" Report

The Physicians Foundation has developed a new report, "Medicare Watch List," that examines the implications of the new Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and future payment models, established after the rejection of SGR.

WEDI ICD-10 Industry Readiness Survey Results

The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), announced the release of its findings from its June 2015 ICD-10 Industry Readiness Survey. Read the survey results and recommendations strongly encouraging the department to continue to leverage its communication channels promoting the need for compliance because of the impact that non-compliance could have on the industry. Read more.


Adult Adoptee Access to Medical Information 
The New Jersey Department of Health has begun implementation of a law passed in 2014 that will allow adult adoptees access to original birth records and medical information while permitting the birth parents to remain anonymous. Birth parents must ask that their identifying information be redacted by December 31, 2016. Access to the medical information will begin on January 1, 2017. MSNJ supported this legislation. Read more. 

New Jersey Claims at least $2.8 Million in Unallowable Home Health Services Claims

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) identified a potential vulnerability with New Jersey's Medicaid home health program where some providers improperly billed for services that did not comply with all Federal and State requirements for Medicaid home health services. New Jersey claimed at least $2.8 million in claims that were unallowable. Read more. 

Medicare and Medicaid Celebrate 50 Years

In honor of Medicare and Medicaid's 50 year anniversary, read this JAMA article on "Medicare at 50: Reflections from Former CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick."

Jersey City Pediatrician Sentenced to 21 Month for Medicaid Fraud

A Jersey City, New Jersey pediatrician was recently sentenced to 21 months in prison for fraudulently billing Medicaid for 5 years for more than 1,000 wound repair procedures that were never performed. The pediatrician admitted to the false claims for which he received $196,911 in Medicaid payments. In addition to the prison term, he was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release, fined $5,000, and must pay restitution of $196,911. Read more.

Public Health 

Legionnaires' Disease Investigation in South Bronx, NYC

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in the South Bronx.There have been 71 cases of Legionella infection since July 8, 2015, 4 of which resulted in death. Due to the close proximity of NJ and NYC, NJDOH would ask New Jersey Local Health Departments and healthcare partners to ask any newly diagnosed cases of Legionnaires' Disease about their travel (including day visits) and work history in the 10 days prior to illness onset. If there is exposure to the South Bronx, please notify NJDOH. Read more.
Practice Management

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 by August 14. Please take this opportunity to tell us where you are in the transition process. Take the survey!

Are you ready for October 1, 2015? 

Clarifying Q&As on CMS ICD-10 Flexibilities

On July 31, CMS updated, "Clarifying Questions and Answers Related to the July 6, 2015 CMS/AMA Joint Announcement and Guidance Regarding ICD-10 Flexibilities."

MSNJ has reached out to New Jersey payers to determine whether they will extend the same discretion on coding errors as announced by CMS for Medicare. Stay tuned to e-News for a special report on the responses.

CMS' 5 recommendations to help you begin testing for ICD-10:

  1. Why Test Now
  2. How to Get Started
  3. Testing with Trading Partners
  4. Types of Testing
  5. Testing Tips
The Physicians Foundation released ICD10Charts.com, a free comprehensive ICD-10 training module for medical practices.
The AMA has items for sale on their website including 20% off ICD-10 products. Check out more deals on the AMA website.
Read CMS' "HIPAA Basics for Providers: Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules."
Corporate Partners

Legal Services:

Carroll McNulty & Kull LLC - Gold Level Partner    


Insurance Programs:  

Liberty Mutual - Silver Level Partner   

 

 

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.

 
Medical Society of New Jersey
2 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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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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