Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
 
September 17, 2015

   
In This Issue
 
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.  


Horizon NJ Health is offering ICD-10 webinars to participating physicians in the weeks leading up to October 1.

PCSS-O Webinar: Draft CDC Opioid Prescribing Guidelines for Chronic Pain
September 16, 2015 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm
During the webinar, CDC experts will walk through the guideline development process and the 12 top-line prescribing recommendations.
Register online.

New Jersey Celebrates Recovery, organized by the Help Not Handcuffs Campaign, aims to bring statewide awareness about substance use, recovery, propose solutions, discuss obstacles and offer resources for recovery. Join them as New Jersey Celebrates Recovery at the iconic Paramount Theatre on the Asbury Park Boardwalk on Sunday, September 20th. More information.

The AMA and MGMA will host a free webinar on Smart Steps for Selecting a Practice Management System on September 21 at 3:00pm. Learn a step-by-step approach to picking the technology that will boost your practice's efficiency and meet your unique needs. Register online. 

2014 PQRS quality measures will be publicly reported on the Physician Compare website later this year. CMS will host a series of one-hour webinars explaining the reporting and the Physician Compare website. The webinars will be offered multiple times with the same information. The following dates are available:
  • Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 1:00 pm ET/ 10:00 am PT
  • Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 4:00 pm ET/ 1:00 pm PT
  • Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 11:00 am ET/8:00 am PT
Register for a session.

The New Jersey State Bar Association and HRET will host the "2015 First Annual End of Life Conference: Legal and Practical Issues and Advance Care Planning" on Monday, October 5 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at NJ Law Center. Hear from experts as they examine various scenarios and offer an assessment from points of view of the individual and the health care provider. This will be followed by a discussion of the legal tools presently available in New Jersey including the advanced health care directive, the durable power of attorney, physician orders for life sustaining treatment, and do not resuscitate orders. This activity has been approved for 3.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. More information and registration. 

MSNJ Corporate Partner, Brach Eichler will host a free seminar, "Is Your HIPAA Security Rule Compliance Missing the HITECH Express Train?" on Tuesday, October 27 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the Offices of Brach Eichler. Hundreds of covered entities and business associates will be targeted by the Office for Civil Rights. Brach Eichler will provide guidance on how to identify your areas of non-compliance and how to fix them. More information and registration. 

Omnia Education will host a free Women's Health Annual Visit� CME activity on October 30 from 7:15am to 3:30pm at the Hyatt at The Bellevue.
This full day CME activity focuses on disease prevention, treatment, and overall patient wellness throughout a woman's life span. Their faculty is comprised of experts who will address contemporary and controversial topics facing female patients and their health care providers. More information and registration. 

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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Renew your dues ONLINE by October 15, 2015 and receive a 5% discount on your state dues!
 
When prompted enter discount code msnj5, then click "update price."
 

 

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN! Less Than 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 13 days away!
Check out our resources on ICD-10
News
NJ Supreme Court Grants MSNJ's Motion to Appear as Amicus in Affidavit of Merit Case
We learned this week that the New Jersey Supreme Court granted MSNJ's motion to appear as an amicus in Meehan v. Antonellis, a case in which the plaintiff has raised the constitutionality of the affidavit of merit statute. The court also granted permission for oral argument by MSNJ and by the NJ Association for Justice which represents the plaintiffs' bar. We will inform members when argument has been scheduled.
Physicians Have Standing to Sue on Assignment of Benefits from ERISA Plans
On September 11 the 3d Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the position taken by MSNJ in an amicus brief that physicians have derivative standing--the right to sue--over payments due to their patients who have assigned their rights of payment of insurance benefits under an ERISA health plan. In North Jersey Brain & Spine Center v. Aetna the federal appellate court found that assignment of benefits protect patients and increase their access to healthcare, arguments that we advanced in our amicus brief. 
 
 
Horizon will Permit Physicians to Collect Deductibles at the Time of Service
MSNJ has been meeting with regulators and Horizon seeking an agreement to allow physicians to collect deductibles at the time of service. Our position is that there is no legal or practical impediment to this payment practice. This has become an important issue to many of our members because of the prevalence of high deductible plans and collection difficulties. While it is not Horizon's preferred collection practice, it has agreed that it is permissible for physicians to collect at the time of service with a few exceptions. Horizon is requesting that any overpayment be repaid to patients within 30 days. Members are urged to review the new payment policy in the Physician Office Manual (revised August 2015 and available on NaviNet) and to develop written office policy on when and how the office may collect deductibles.  Horizon now joins AmeriHealth and UHC in allowing the collection of deductibles at the time of service.
OMNIA Health Alliance to Replace Horizon Advance EPO plans
Last week, Horizon announced its new OMNIA Health Alliance with 22 hospitals and a multi-specialty physician group. The OMNIA plans feature a tiered network.  Unlike the Horizon Advance EPO plans, all  practices participating in Horizon's managed care plan will be a part of the network. Participating practices should have received a letter last week, stating whether the practice was selected for Tier 1 or Tier 2. In addition, Horizon provided an FAQ explaining their tiering methodology and plan details. Additional information is available to participating providers through Navinet. Practices that are concerned about their tier assignment are urged to review the details available through Navinet and to contact Horizon Physician Services at 1-800-624-1110  with questions or concerns. Members may report issues to MSNJ. The plans become effective December 26 and January 1. 
Read MSNJ's Board of Trustees Bullet Points from the September 10 meeting.
Public Health
ALERT: Healthcare Facilities- Review Procedures for Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sterilizing Reusable Medical Devices
The CDC and FDA are informing healthcare providers and facilities about the need to properly maintain, clean, and disinfect or sterilize reusable medical devices. Read the alert.
New Jersey Center of Excellence (NJ ACE) Coordinating Center at Montclair State University will host the NJACE Statewide Autism Summit on September 18. Read more. 
Legislative Update
Drug Abuse
Read a notice from the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs regarding the new NJPMP law.  Please note the instructions for access to your NJPMP account, including instructions on entering an unique email address. See MSNJ's guidance.
 
Please read an informational notice for prescribers about electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) and the steps a prescriber needs to take in order to begin utilizing EPCS (and potentially other vendors). 
 
Also on e-prescribing, AMA sent a letter to the DEA last month asking for improvements in electronic prescribing for controlled substances. MSNJ supports these e-prescribing improvement efforts.
 
The 9th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, September 26, 2015. We urge you to participate and ask your patients to participate. Read more.
 
Finally, on the federal level, the House has passed H.R.1725, the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Reauthorization Act of 2015. Read more.
State Board Vacancy
The Motor Vehicle Commission is looking to fill vacancies for physicians who serve on its Medical Review Unit. They seek physicians in the following specialties: cardiology, gerontology, endocrinology and psychiatry. The Medical Review Unit is responsible for identifying high-risk drivers and taking appropriate administrative action when medical or physical conditions may compromise a driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.  More information. If interesting in serving on the board, please contact Mishael Azam at [email protected] or 609-896-1766 ext. 207.
Practice Management
Opting out of Medicare and/or Electing to Order and Certify Items and Services to Medicare Beneficiaries
CMS updated their This MLN Matters� Special Edition article on Opting out of Medicare and/or Electing to Order and Certify Items and Services to Medicare Beneficiaries to eliminate references to a 2-year opt-out period for residents. The references to the 2-year opt-out period for other providers was removed in a prior revision. View Novitas Solutions opt out webpage and affidavit form.
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 recently updated Special Report on the NJ payers' transition plans. 
ICD-10 Resources
 
Make sure your practice is prepared for ICD-10 by following CMS' ABCs of ICD-10:
Check out AMA's Beginner and Expert's Guide to ICD-10 Prep: Steps for September
Corporate Partners
Liability Insurance:
Princeton Insurance - Gold Level Partner 

Health Insurance:  
QualCare Inc. - Platinum 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
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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.

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