Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
 
August 13, 2015

   
In This Issue
 
Member Benefits
ATTENTION MEMBERS:
Jos. A. Bank was acquired by Men's Wearhouse, and they, in turn, have discontinued the Jos. A. Bank Corporate Discount Program. Those who currently have a Jos. A. Bank Discount Card can receive the 20% discount only until October 31, 2015.

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.


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.


CTCA Forum and Tour:  An Introduction to Cancer Diagnostic and Treatment for Primary Care Physicians
September 19 from 8:00am to 1:30pm
1331 E. Wyoming Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19124
Cancer Treatment Centers of America has spent the last few years gathering feedback from physicians just like you and we heard that you wanted more information about oncology care in your own practice.  This fall, CTCA Philadelphia invites you to learn from a variety of oncology experts on cancer care from screening to diagnosis and how to improve outcomes in patients living with cancer.
For more Information and to register visit, www.ctcaforumcme.org 

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

  • November 10, 2015 - East Windsor, NJ
More information.
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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!
ICD-10 Deadline is only 48 days away!
Check out our resources on ICD-10

ICD-10 Special Report
MSNJ wrote to the largest New Jersey payers to determine whether they will extend the same discretion on coding errors as announced by CMS for Medicare. Read our Special Report on the NJ payers' transition plans.
No resolutions were received by the August 12 deadline and therefore there will be no Revolving Reference Committee Meeting on August 24.
Legislative Update
Out of Network Legislation 
MSNJ NEEDS YOUR HELP IN FIGHTING OUT OF NETWORK LEGISLATION  
The pending bill (S.20/A.4444) is the insurance industry's response to transparency and cost problems, not ours. What proponents are saying:
  
"Hospitals and physicians motivated by 'personal and corporate greed' had 'lied and misrepresented' what the bill actually would do." ... "They've already formed an opinion that this is the worst thing since the Ebola virus."- Senator Joseph Vitale
 
"Increasingly, doctors and hospitals are refusing to participate in insurance networks..."  
- NJHURT.org (funded by NJAHP)
  
If you or your patients have experienced coverage or payment denials or if you have experienced contract terminations or onerous contract terms by insurance carriers, we need to hear from you. Please send your stories to Mishael Azam, Senior Manager of Legislative Affairs, at [email protected]. (Let us know if you would like your story shared anonymously). Thank you in advance for supporting true coverage for patient care, and fair contracts and payments.
 
Please also donate to our PAC so we can continue to fight this bill at msnj.org/donate.

NJ Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) 
The Governor has signed legislation that will improve the PMP, but also create a mandate for physicians to check the database. MSNJ urges physicians to learn about this new law. View our guidelines.
Cardiac Training Module
Pursuant to a new law, any physician performing a youth physical (not just sports physicals) must complete this cardiac health continuing education module (just once). Those who perform athlete physicals should check the box at the bottom of the Department of Education form, indicating that the module has been completed. All physicians performing youth and athletic physicals should keep a copy of the certification of completion on file.
Read a bulletin regarding the law. Of note, physicians do NOT need to provide Certificates of Completion to schools. Access the module. Read the law.

While MSNJ opposed this law, this information aims to help physicians comply.
 
News
New Jersey Celebrates National Health Center Week
As part of National Health Center Week, 63 events were planned across New Jersey to honor the achievements of health centers in delivering accessible, cost-effective and quality services to all people. National Health Center Week events across the state included health fairs, screenings, community walks, and educational sessions.

Check out our new Frequently Asked Question on Active Retired License Status.
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!
Improvements to Novitas Solutions' Medical Policy/LCD Search Tool
Novitas Solutions is pleased to announce the New Medical Policy/Local Coverage Determination (LCD) Search Tool! On Friday, August 14, 2015, you will see and have access to the New Medical Policy/LCD Search Tool. This new search tool allows you to search more policy related documents than ever before. You can search for ICD-9 LCDs and Local Coverage Articles (Articles), ICD-10 LCDs and Articles, and National Coverage Determinations (NCDs). You can even search by date of service! You get more search power and more accurate results!

Check out First Healthcare Compliance's whitepapers:  OSHA - Back to the Basics. Are You Compliant? and Compliance Challenges: The Best Defense is a Good Offense, Read their blog, Are your mobile devices HIPAA compliant? Also, register for their complimentary webinar, Are You Ready for ICD-10 on August 18 at 12:00pm.
Read CMS' MLN Matters article MM9231 on the New and Revised Place of Service Codes (POS) for Outpatient Hospitals.
Corporate Partners
Banking:
Valley National Bank - Bronze Level Partner 
 

Legal Services:  
DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP - Gold 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
(o) 609-896-1766 e-mail:
 

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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