Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
 
January 21, 2016

   
In This Issue
 
Congratulations to Liz Thomas of Thomas/Boyd Communications for being selected as a Philadelphia Business Journal's 2015 Women of Distinction honoree. Watch the video.
CME/Events /Training

Check out the MSNJ Calendar for upcoming meetings!

Illinois State Medical Society Meaningful Use CME Course
More information.  

Webinar: HIPAA - Texting and Emailing
Tuesday, January 26

HMA and CohnReznick Webinar: Value-Based Payment Readiness: A Self-Assessment Tool for Primary Care Providers, FQHCs, and Behavioral Health Providers
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
More information. 

Health Management Associates Webinar: Provider Vitality Workshop: Strategies for Ensuring an Energized and Effective Healthcare Workforce
Thursday, January 28, 2016 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
More information. 

Save the Date! MSNJ's 2016 Advocacy Conference and House of Delegates Meeting 
May 13-14, 2016
More information. 

Save the Date! MSNJ's 250th Anniversary Celebration and Inaugural Gala honoring Dr. Joseph Costabile 
July 23, 2016
More information. 
Corporate Partners

Communication:
MedXCom - Bronze Level Partner 
 
Read MedXCom's article and see the "How it works" video

Legal Services: 
Carroll McNulty & Kull LLC - 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.
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Attention OMNIA Tier 2 Physicians:
If you have been assigned to Tier 2 by Horizon, please take this survey to help us assess the impact.
Last Call for Nominations
We are accepting applications of interested parties for positions on the Board of Trustees, AMA Delegation, Judicial Council and various positions. Please review the MSNJ Open Positions for 2016 and read a brief synopsis of the committees and expectations.  Your involvement is key to the Success of MSNJ.

If you are interested in running for a position or have questions about specific vacancies, first contact your county executive, then contact MSNJ at 609-896-1766 x207.

The Deadline to submit a request is January 25, 2016. Watch e-News for weekly updates on Declared Candidates. The Nominating Committee meeting is on Sunday, February 7, 2016 at 9:30am at MSNJ.
 
Legislative Update
Hospital-Owned Surgery Center Bill - Conditionally Vetoed
The Legislature has accepted a conditional veto that clarifies an exemption to the moratorium for new licenses for ambulatory surgery centers. The exemption for hospital-owned centers is narrowed to apply only to hospitals in New Jersey, except that any approvals before the law takes effect are grandfathered. The prospective law takes effect immediately. MSNJ was neutral on this bill, but is still advocating to lower taxes for non-hospital owned surgery centers.
Hospital Property Taxation Bill - Pocket Vetoed
The Legislature passed S.3299, which requires non-profit hospitals to pay "community service contributions" to host municipalities (except in case of hardship exemptions). MSNJ supports the exemption for physician services (other than leased space). The bill would have prevented future lawsuits like Morristown Medical Center's. Though NJHA supported the bill, the Governor has pocket vetoed it at the end of the two year legislative session. Read more.
Physician Assistants Bill - Signed
The Governor has signed a bill modernizing the scope of practice for physician assistants.  As previously reported, MSNJ and specialty societies worked very closely with the physician assistant society to craft the parameters of the bill and support the final version. The main change from current law is that a physician will now be allowed to execute an agreement with the PA to determine her scope of practice, if the physician chooses to allow the PA to perform functions beyond those enumerated in current statute.
Dispensing Nutritional Supplements Bill - Signed
The Governor has signed a bill that permits physicians and podiatric physicians to dispense and charge for certain nutritional supplements, creating an exemption to the current restriction on physicians from dispensing more than a seven-day supply of most drugs, including nutritional supplements, and limits administrative charges to patients to 10 percent of a drug's cost.  MSNJ supports this bill.
Sexual Assault Examinations Bill - Signed
The Governor has signed a bill that allows health care professionals, other than physicians, to authorize services, including forensic sexual assault examinations and other medical care, if a minor appears to have been sexually assaulted, regardless of whether the minor's parents or guardian have given consent. Current law only allows physicians and parents to waive consent. MSNJ was neutral on this bill.
Anti-Smoking Legislation - Pocket Vetoed
The Legislature passed a bill that raises the minimum age for purchase and sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices from 19 to 21. MSNJ supports this bill, which the Governor has pocket vetoed at the end of the two year legislative session.
Diabetes Management Bill - Pocket Vetoed
The Governor pocket vetoed a bill that would have required Medicaid coverage for diabetes self-management education, training, services, and equipment for patients diagnosed with diabetes, gestational diabetes, and pre-diabetes. MSNJ was neutral on this bill.
Integrated Behavioral Health Bill - Pocket Vetoed
The Governor has pocket vetoed a bill that provided for licensure of ambulatory care facilities to provide integrated primary care services including behavioral health care. MSNJ supported this bill, which would have improved access to behavioral health care.
ACO Legislation - Pocket Vetoed
The Governor pocket vetoed a bill that would have required a clinical laboratory that provides services for an accountable care organization to establish a clinical laboratory testing advisory board. The New Jersey Society of Pathologists and MSNJ supported this bill.
Opioid Abuse Legislation - Pocket Vetoed
The Governor pocket vetoed a bill that mandates health benefits coverage for opioid analgesics with abuse-deterrent properties. MSNJ supported this bill.
Federal Funding Sought for Drug Abuse Reduction
Read about the new federal legislation.
April is Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
A legislative resolution has been filed to designate April of each year as "Sarcoidosis Awareness Month."  Sarcoidosis is a potentially fatal inflammatory disease that causes the immune system to damage the body's own tissue.
News
EHR Incentive Program Changes
Read CMS' blog "EHR Incentive Programs: Where We Go Next," which addresses Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt's recent comment that meaningful use will likely end in 2016. MSNJ will continue to keep members apprised of any changes to the program in upcoming editions of e-News. Read more
Read First Healthcare Compliance's blog: HIPAA Privacy Rule Changes Address Gun Control. 
Resources
Suicide Prevention
Check out MSNJ's resources on Suicide Prevention on our website.  
Practice Management
ERISA: Appealing Payment Denials
Most patients are now covered through employer sponsored plans.  These plans are governed by the federal law ERISA.  If you have never used the protections of ERISA to pursue an under-reimbursed claim, or if you have not been successful, read this article by Leslie Howard, Esq for tips.
PQRS Web-Based Measure Search Tool
CMS announced a new PQRS Web-Based Measure Search Tool. This tool will assist in easily identifying claims and registry measures that may be applicable, and help find measures that meet satisfactory reporting requirements for the 2016 PQRS program year.
 
Through a partnership with PQRSwizard�, MSNJ has 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. 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.

Open Payments Data Updated
CMS updated the Open Payments dataset to include updates from disputes and other data corrections made since June 30. The updates affect all types of payments or transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals and physician ownership or investment interests.
 
The Open Payments system will be unavailable starting January 21 and will reopen on January 26 so they can improve how the system works.

 
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.

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