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Medical Society of New Jersey e-Newsletter
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MSNJ Board of Trustees meeting is on Thursday, September 15th in our 2nd floor Conference Room. Please register online or let Sue Hoisington know, if you plan to attend.
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Insurance Review for MSNJ Members
As a free service to our members, we provide a comprehensive insurance review helping to get the best terms available. More information. |
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MSNJ Webinar: Hospital & Group Relationships: Before, During and After
September 20, 2016 at 7:00pm
More information and registration. |
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MSNJ Webinar: The New Medicare Overpayment Regulations
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September free CME events in our area :
Cancer Care - Friday, September 9th:
Opioids - Saturday, September 17th: See details.
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PCSS-O Upcoming Live Webinar: The New 275 Limit, When to Stop Opioids and CDC Guidelines
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PCSS-O Upcoming Live Webinar: The Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-cancer Pain While Preventing Abuse and Diversion
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
More information and registration.
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Capehart Scatchard's "Hot Topics in Healthcare Law" 2016 Breakfast Series: Jump-Start Your HIPAA Compliance
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Transformation Day: Hear the latest update directly from CMS on MACRA and MIPS
September 28, 2016 from 9:00am to 3:00pm
Hilton Newark Penn Station
More information and registration.
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PCSS-MAT Module: Methadone: Its Role in Opioid Addiction Treatment vs. Pain Management
Access module.
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PCSS-MAT Online Module: Prescribing Naloxone to Patients for Overdose Reversal
Access the module.
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Insurance:
Liberty Mutual - Silver Level Partner
Practice Management/EMR:
STI Computer Services, Inc. - Bronze Level Partner
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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 PHYSICIANS:
Renew your dues ONLINE by October 15, 2016 and receive a 5% discount on your STATE dues!*
When prompted enter discount code msnj5, then click "update price." Discount is applied to state dues only.
*Applies to physicians dues only.
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News
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Drug Abuse
In light of the opioid epidemic, and with physicians taking much of the blame in national media, the AMA has been highlighting what physicians are doing to: reduce the stigma that surrounds substance use disorders; ensure safe prescribing practices; and, have meaningful conversations with their patients about substance use disorders and access to naloxone. The AMA seeks physicians who can discuss their efforts and help their colleagues through a formal series on AMA Wire®. Please contact Mishael Azam at mazam@msnj.org or 609-896-1766 ext. 203 if you are interested.
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MSNJ thanks the following for their generous financial support during our 250th Anniversary:
- Fred M. Palace, MD
- Theodore F. Biesiadecki, MD
- Jerrold M. Feigenbaum, MD
- Lorenzo DeLosAngeles, MD
- Donald Harrop, MD
- Nahum Balotin, MD
- Marvin Richard Agran, MD
Because of their generosity, we are able to further our mission to:
- Promote the betterment of the public health and the science and the art of medicine;
- Enlighten public opinion in regard to the problems of medicine; and
- Safeguard the rights of the practitioners of medicine
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Report Reveals Increased Hospital Ownership of Physician Practices
The Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI), of which MSNJ is a founding member, released a new study "Physician Practice Acquisition Study: National and Regional Employment Changes" on the rate of acquisitions of physician practices by hospitals and health systems between 2012 and 2015. The report shows a significant nationwide increase in the number of physicians leaving private practice and entering into employment arrangements with hospitals and health systems. Of note:
- The number of practices owned by hospitals and health systems rose nearly 90%;
- 38% of physicians were employed by hospital or health systems, up from one in four in 2012.
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MSNJ has developed resources for physicians who are contemplating employment. Read about our employment contract review program and register for an upcoming webinar on "Hospital and Group Relationships: Before, During and After" which will be presented by Dan Frier, Esq. of the Frier Levitt law firm on September 20.
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MSNJ Weighs in on 2017 Medicare Physician Fee Rule
MSNJ filed comments on CMS's proposed rule on the 2017 Medicare physician fee rule. Among other things, we asked for a pre-vetting process on information reported to the Physician Compare web site, a voluntary patient choice process into the accountable care organization (ACO) assignment methodology, and further consideration of a seamless Medicare Advantage enrollment process. We note that otherwise, patients may be automatically enrolled in a Medicare Advantage program in which their physicians do not participate through no fault of their own, but rather as a result of terminations without cause or a narrowed network.
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GAO Finds Medicare Advantage Plans Overbilled the Federal Government
A report published by the GAO finds that Medicare Advantage plans may be overbilling the federal government by as much as 9.5%. Medicare Advantage plans are paid more for patients who are more seriously ill through a risk adjustment. The report indicates that many diagnoses were not supported by documentation. Read more.
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Former Commissioner of NJ Department of Health Joins Rutgers
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Horizon Shares Savings with Providers
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey paid health care providers $59 million in shared savings for 2015 through value-based reimbursements. Read more.
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NEW RESOURCE FOR PATIENT PAYMENT TRANSPARENCY
We all know that patients and policy makers desire greater healthcare charges and cost transparency. Please find a new resource for patients. We urge you to share this with your patients so that we can take surprises out of billing and benefit design.
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Practice Management
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CMS Updates Guidance on ICD-10 First Year Flexibilities-Level of Specificity
The first year ICD-10 flexibilities allowed by CMS will come to an end on October 1, 2016. Below is an updated CMS FAQ to assist with this transition.
Question 28: What level of ICD-10 code specificity is required so that my claims will not be rejected? How can I ensure my claims will be approved/paid?
Answer 28: Even with the ICD-10 flexibilities guidance established by the CMS-AMA Agreement, as of October 1, 2015, a valid ICD-10 code has been required on all claims billed under the Medicare Fee-for-Service Part B physician fee schedule. A complete list of the 2016 ICD-10-CM valid codes and code titles is posted on the CMS website. The codes are listed in tabular order to reflect the ICD-10-CM code book. Also available is 2017 ICD-10-CM, the updated diagnosis code set for services provided on or after October 1, 2016. You should always code to accurately reflect the clinical documentation, and in as much specificity as possible. ICD-10 was implemented in part because of the higher degree of detail that it allows to describe the services you provide. Avoid unspecified ICD-10 codes when documentation backs up a more detailed code. Check the coding on each claim to make sure that it aligns with the clinical documentation.
Read more in CMS' updated "Clarifying Questions and Answers Related to the July 6, 2015, CMS/AMA Joint Announcement and Guidance Regarding ICD-10 Flexibilities."
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Medical Society of New Jersey
2 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
(o) 609-896-1766 e-mail:
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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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2016 © Medical Society of New Jersey. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the written permission of the Medical Society of New Jersey.
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