Save the Date for Upcoming CMS Meetings/Events
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September 8, 2016
CMS Meet the Candidates Forum
5:30 pm
Goodwood Carriage House
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| Check out the Latest CMS Member Benefits |
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For more information on DocbookMD, click
here.
To view the DocbookMD Training Manual, click here.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Enrollment Information Revalidation Requirements
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has established a requirement for all enrolled providers/suppliers to revalidate their Medicare enrollment information under new enrollment screening criteria. CMS has completed its initial round of revalidations and will be resuming regular revalidation cycles in accordance with 42 CFR ยง424.515.
Below are links on the revalidation process:
Source:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
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Medicare Releases Draft Proposal For Patient Observation Notice
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In just two months, a federal law kicks in requiring hospitals to tell their Medicare patients if they have not been formally admitted and why. But some physician, hospital and consumer representatives say a notice drafted by Medicare for hospitals to use may not do the job.
The law was a response to complaints from Medicare patients who were surprised to learn that although they had spent a few days in the hospital, they were there for observation and were not admitted. Observation patients are considered too sick to go home yet not sick enough to be admitted. They may pay higher charges than admitted patients and do not qualify for Medicare's nursing home coverage.
Source:
Kaiser Health News
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Big Racial, Gender Gaps Revealed in Doc Pay
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While the gender gap in physician compensation is well-known, it turns out a racial gap is also very much alive: A new study looking at racial and gender differences in compensation found that white male physicians in the U.S. consistently earn more than their African-American male counterparts. Researchers analyzed data from two surveys, one of which covered 2000-08 compensation while the other covered 2000-13. In one of those surveys, 2010-2013 figures indicated that the median income for white male physicians was $253,042, but that for black male doctors was $188,230, a 34% difference. While median compensation figures for both white and black female doctors were significantly lower ($163,000 and $153,000), "among women, income was inconsistently associated with race," the authors concluded. In the study, physician income was adjusted for specialty, hours worked, age, years in practice and percentage of revenue from Medicare/Medicaid, as well as other factors.
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Opioid Use Disorders and Discharge Scripts
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What prescriptions should patients be discharged with after they're hospitalized with an opioid use disorder? A new study crunched 2010-14 prescription data to see what scripts such patients filled within 30 days of discharge. Among those patients, 35% filled no prescriptions within a month, while only 17% filled a prescription for any FDA-approved opioid dependence medication. However, 40% filled a prescription for antidepressants, 16% for antipsychotics, 14% for a benzodiazepine and 22% filled a prescription for an opioid pain medication. "More effort is needed," the authors wrote, "to ensure that patients hospitalized for opioid misuse are receiving recommended services."
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Orlando Shooting: Why the White House HIPAA Waiver Is Important for Gay Rights
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In following the news Sunday of the devastating shooting at an Orlando nightclub you may have heard that the White House took some kind of action related to HIPAA. What, you probably wondered, does this have to do with the shooting?
HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Passed in 1996, it is one of the most important laws in our country protecting our privacy. It restricts health-care providers from sharing medical information with anyone but the patient unless they explicitly give permission. Under normal circumstances, this puts all the power in the hands of individuals and makes a lot of sense. But in a time of crisis, HIPAA can be a hindrance. That's because if a person is incapacitated and can't make his or her wishes known, the law allows doctors, hospitals and other health-care groups to provide information only to a spouse or next of kin. But what if a person doesn't have a spouse or relative close by?
The issue is especially important for the gay community, which was the target of the attack on Sunday.
Source:
The Washington Post
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Gaps In Women's Health Care May Derail Zika Prevention In Texas, Florida
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Mosquitoes bearing Zika - a virus that can cause birth defects when contracted by pregnant women - are
expected to reach the United States as soon as this summer, with Florida and Texas likely to be among the hardest-hit states.
But in both, support for women's health care, along with family planning resources, has been dramatically scaled back, in part because of funding restrictions placed on women's clinics that, in addition to other services, provide abortions. Also, both states declined to
expand Medicaid. Those decisions, many advocates say, are putting a squeeze on the health care system's ability to educate women about Zika's risks and minimize its impact.
Source:
Kaiser Health News
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Second Round of Support and Alignment Networks Announced for Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the second round of the Support and Alignment Networks under the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative (TCPI). This opportunity will provide up to $10 million over the next three years to leverage primary and specialist care transformation work and learning that will catalyze the adoption of Alternative Payment Models at very large scale, and with very low cost. The Support and Alignment Networks 2.0 represents a significant enhancement to the TCPI network expertise and will help clinicians prepare for the proposed new
Quality Payment Program, which CMS is implementing as part of bipartisan legislation Congress passed last year repealing the Sustainable Growth Rate.
The Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative is one of the largest federal investments uniquely designed to support clinician practices through nationwide, collaborative, and peer-based learning networks that facilitate practice transformation. Up to five potential awardees are anticipated to be announced in Fall 2016.
Applications will be accepted from eligible applicants for the cooperative agreement funding opportunity starting June 10, 2016. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit a letter of intent by July 1, 2016.
For additional information, please visit the Support and Alignment Networks 2.0 section of the
TCPI web page.
A
blog post by Patrick Conway, MD, MSc, CMS Acting Principal Deputy Administrator and Chief Medical Officer, regarding this funding opportunity is also available.
Source:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
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Free Summer Webinars from The Florida Healthcare Law Firm
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Source: The Florida Healthcare Law Firm
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Neighborhood Medical Center's Inaugural Golf Classic
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Saturday, July 2, 2016
8:00 am
Seminole Golf Course (2550 Pottsdamer Street)
Featuring a 4 man scramble, exciting golf contents, and an awards luncheon!
For more information on registering or sponsoring this event,
click here.
For any questions, contact Evelyn Smith or Rebecca Smith-Hardnen at (850) 577-1563.
Source: Neighborhood Medical Center
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Discussion - "Update: Health Law Cases from the U.S. Supreme Court 2016 Term"
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Source: The Florida State University Center for Innovative Collaboration in Medicine and Law
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Luncheon - "Traumatic Brain Injury: New Science Examines an Old Problem"
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UF Orange and Blue Plate Luncheon
Tuesday, July 19th - 11:45AM
Doubletree by Hilton - Tallahassee
Our speaker will be Steven DeKosky, MD - Professor & Interim Director - UF McKnight Brain Institute. His topic will be "Traumatic Brain Injury: New Science Examines an old Problem."
Dr. DeKosky was involved in efforts to convince the NFL of the devastating impact of concussions on athletes. He was portrayed in the recent Will Smith movie "Concussion" for his role in initiating research on the issue.
The cost of the lunch will be $20.00 payable at the door by cash or check written to the University of Florida. If you would like to attend - please RSVP to uf-communityrelations@ufl.edu.
(If you RSVP and later find you cannot attend - please let us know so we can cancel your reservation as we have to pay for all reserved lunches.)
Source: University of Florida
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Physician Survey on Health Insurance Mega-Mergers
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As you know, Aetna recently filed the paperwork to acquire Humana, and Anthem
has filed paperwork to acquire Cigna. These developments have the potential to make a major impact on the physicians we all serve. State and federal regulators are interested in knowing the prospective effects of these possible mergers on physicians' practices and patient care, and we need your help in gathering this vital information.
Your individual responses will be kept strictly confidential and only aggregated data will be used in our reporting. This survey, and any information collected in response, will be used solely for the purpose of petitioning state and federal government concerning the antitrust issues raised by Aetna's proposed acquisition of Humana and Anthem's proposed acquisition of Cigna.
Source: Florida Medical Association
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Zika Virus News and Updates for Health Care Providers
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- Information for Clinicians
- Information for Obstetricians
- CDC Issues Updated Zika Recommendations - 3/25/16
- Department of Health Resources for Physicians and the General Public
- Department of Health Resources for Mosquito-borne Viruses in General
- CDC for Zika
- Initial Guidance on Zika Virus Testing for Non-Pregnant Individuals And for Pregnant Women and Infants
- Zika Laboratory Guidance
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Calling For The Florida Women's Hall of Fame Nominations
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The Florida Commission on the Status of Women has opened the nomination period for the 2017 Florida Women's Hall of Fame. This annual event celebrating the accomplishments of outstanding Florida women is tentatively scheduled for March 2017 at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee.
This is an opportunity to nominate a Woman in Medicine who has made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and for all citizens of Florida.
Click here for details on the selection process and criteria for nominees. Completed nominations must be postmarked by July 15, 2016 to be considered.
Source: Florida Commission on the Status of Women
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You Can Support the CMS Foundation! Sign Up and Shop Today!
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For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the Capital Medical Society Foundation!
Click
here to access AmazonSmile and support CMS Foundation today!
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