Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
 
March 3, 2016

   
In This Issue
 
Public Health
Zika Virus
Read New Jersey Department of Health's article titled "CDC Confirms Second Travel-Related Zika Virus Case in NJ."
Member Benefits

Corporate Shopping Event: One Day Only - Thursday, March 10, 2016
Save 30% on all full priced Brooks Brothers purchases online and in Retail stores when using your Corporate Membership card.  
CME/Events /Training

Check out the MSNJ Calendar for upcoming meetings!

CMS NY City Regional Office Webinar: New Program Initiatives - Goals and Operations
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 from 11:30am to 1:00pm
Covering: Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI) & Comprehensive Joint Replacement Program (CJR)
More information. 

New Jersey Health Care Stakeholders Summit
Thursday, April 21, 2016
New Jersey Hospital Association Conference Center
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

Professional Liability Insurance:
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. - Silver Level Partner
 

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.

Board of Trustees Meeting
March 10, 2016
Time Change to 7:00 PM
Legislative Update
Unfunded Physician Mandate: Hepatitis C Screening
MSNJ opposed legislation requiring physicians to test certain patients for Hepatitis C in the Senate Health Committee this week. Read our letter. See press coverage. 
MSNJ's Legal Advocacy
Insurance Fraud Protection Act
The New Jersey Supreme Court has granted our motion to file an amicus brief in Allstate v. Northfield Medical Center. At issue is the requisite knowledge of a violation to prove fraud under the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Protection Act. The high court also granted MSNJ permission for oral argument.
Constitutionality of the Affidavit of Merit Statute
The New Jersey Supreme Court has scheduled oral argument on this case for March 15. The affidavit of merit statute is part of tort reform achieved by MSNJ over a decade ago and the basis for many dismissals of medical malpractice cases. In the past few years, the plaintiffs' bar has been working aggressively to remove the affidavit of merit requirement. 
News
EHR Incentive Program Hardship Application Deadline Extended: July 1, 2016
CMS has extended the application deadline for the 2015 program year Medicare EHR Incentive Program hardship exception process to July 1, 2016. This is so providers have sufficient time to submit their applications to avoid payment penalties in 2017. Review the new applications and instructions for providers seeking a hardship exception. Read AMA's guidance document.
US Supreme Court Limits Claims Data Reporting--Blow to All Claims Data Bases
In a closely watched case, the United State Supreme Court ruled in Gobeille v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. that ERISA preempts a Vermont state law that required claims data reporting by self-insured plans. Vermont law required insurers, providers, and agencies to report on a range of information related to healthcare costs, prices, utilization and quality. In a blow to the many states establishing all claims data bases the high court ruled
that ERISA preempts state laws; plans should not be subjected to numerous and different state requirements and, instead, the federal government should determine whether and what kind of reporting should be required. Given that the majority of lives are now covered by self-insured plans the ruling will result in far less robust data bases. Read more.

Reference Committee Webinar, April 19
Session I - HOD
The first session of MSNJ House of Delegates will convene on Tuesday, April 19 via Webinar/Conference call from 6-9 pm. Resolutions are due from the Counties by March 28. Register online. Read more
De Groote Award Nominations
MSNJ is accepting nominations for the De Groote Award which will be conferred at the MSNJ Inaugural Gala of the 224rd President, Joseph Costabile, MD on July 23, 2016. The De Groote Award was established by resolution to honor the selfless work of Dr. Robert De Groote in service to the medical profession. The De Groote Award will be given to the individual whose selfless and idealistic work benefits humankind and not him or herself.

Nominations should be made by submitting a
brief narrative to [email protected] by the close of business on Friday, April 15, 2016.
Lifetime Achievement Award
MSNJ is accepting nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented at the Inaugural Gala of the 224th President, Dr. Joseph Costabile, on July 23, 2016. Submit a short paragraph to [email protected] describing their commitment to the Medical Society.
Practice Management
There's Still Time to Avoid Medicare PQRS Penalties in 2017
Submit Your 2015 Data by March 18
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 now March 18, 2016 at 5pm EST. Learn more by attending one of PQRSwizard's� upcoming webinars.
  • Wrapping Up Your 2015 PQRS Submissions - what you need to know in the final hours
  • PQRSwizard Live Demo - Individual provider reporting through Individual measures and Measures Groups
New HIPAA Fact Sheet
The Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights has issued new HIPAA guidance that reiterates patients' right to access health information and clarifies appropriate fees for copies. Read the fact sheet. Read MSNJ's FAQ on the NJ medical records regulation. 
 
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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