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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First Zika-Related Death in US Reported in Utah
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The first Zika-related death in the continental United States has been confirmed by the Salt Lake County Health Department in Utah.
The individual, whose sex has not been released, died in late June after traveling to an area with active Zika transmission. The person was elderly and had an underlying health condition. Due to this, officials may not be able to determine exactly how Zika contributed to the death.
Source: Becker's Hospital Review
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Andy Slavitt Hints at MACRA Delay
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt indicated at a Senate Finance Committee
hearing Wednesday the agency may delay the start date of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, or MACRA.
MACRA replaces the sustainable growth rate formula for physician payment adjustments under Medicare. Under the proposed rule, CMS would begin measuring performance in 2017 for payments that begin in 2019. This timeline has been of concern for physician practices that are still awaiting a final rule.
Source: Becker's Hospital Review
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Capital Medical Society Introduces New Member Benefit
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Capital Medical Society members can now receive a discount on certain events at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center by using our promo code "CMS" which currently can be used to save $5 off tickets to the upcoming WWE event on Friday, July 29. Members can receive the discount a few different ways.
- Go online to the following link and enter in promo code "CMS":
3. Call (850) 583-4871 to purchase over the phone
There will be additional fees that apply when members go to purchase online or over the phone. There are no additional fees when purchasing at the box office.
We will announce additional discount information as other events come to the Civic Center.
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Professional Notes
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We Care Dental Network's Dr. William T. Baldock recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Academy of Periodontology at its annual meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. Dr. Baldock was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the dental profession and to humanity in the field of periodontics.
Congratulations, Dr. Baldock!
Source:
Tallahassee Democrat
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Alzheimer's Vaccine Could Be Available Soon
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Researchers from Australia and the U.S. have created an Alzheimer's vaccine that could be ready for dissemination in three to five years if human clinical trials are successful, according a new study published in
Scientific Reports.
To generate the vaccine, scientists from Flinders University in Australia and the University of California, Irvine created a formula which incites an antibody response. The response takes aim at the abnormal beta-amyloid and tau proteins that trigger Alzheimer's disease. The vaccine proved effective in mouse models.
Source:
Becker's Hospital Review
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Palliative Care Sometimes Adds To Families' Stress Burden, Study Finds
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Palliative-care counseling from trained specialists is not routinely needed for all families of patients with chronic critical illnesses and sometimes it might worsen their emotional distress, cautions
a new study.
Habitually providing scarce palliative care services to cases indiscriminately may be ineffective when the meetings are limited to just one or two sessions, reported researchers in the July 5 issue of JAMA.
Source:
Kaiser Health News
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7 Surgical Procedures Linked to Higher Risk for Chronic Opioid Use
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Patients who haven't filled a prescription in over a year were shown to have a higher risk of chronic opioid use after certain surgical procedures, and some of those patients are more at-risk than others, according to a study in
JAMA Internal Medicine.
Researchers examined 11 surgical procedures as part of the study: total knee replacement, total hip replacement, laparoscopic gall bladder removal, open gall bladder removal, laparoscopic appendectomy, open appendectomy, cesarean delivery, functional endoscopic sinus surgery, cataract surgery, transurethral prostate resection and simple mastectomy.
They analyzed health claims data for more than 18 million opioid-naïve patients who underwent those procedures and defined chronic opioid use as filling 10 or more prescriptions within the first year after surgery, excluding the first 90 days post-surgery.
Source:
Becker's Hospital Review
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Provider eNews
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This week's eNews includes a new section on Provider Compliance, highlighting common billing errors. Check out the first message in this series on chiropractic services and learn how to bill Medicare correctly the first time.
Source:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Public Hearing Notice - Environmental Regulation Commission
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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has scheduled a public hearing before the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission (ERC) to present for approval to adopt its proposed revisions to Florida's human health-based surface water quality criteria in Chapter 62-302, F.A.C. The public hearing is scheduled as follows:
Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, Conference Room A, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL
At this same ERC hearing, the DEP will also present (a) proposed revisions to Chapter 62-302, F.A.C., to create a new sub-classification for Treated Potable Water Supplies (Class I-Treated) and reclassify seven Class III waters into the new Class I-Treated sub-classification, and (b) proposed revisions to Chapter 62-303, F.A.C., to revise the assessment methodology for human health-based criteria and incorporate the new Class I-Treated sub-classification as part of the process to identify impaired surface waters.
Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
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Legislative Updates
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To view the 2016 Bills impacting health care professions,
click here.
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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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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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Medicare Webcast - E/M Coding
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Thursday, August 4
11:30 AM-1:00 PM ET
Improper selection of hospital evaluation and management (E/M) levels for initial and subsequent services (CPT® codes 99221-99223, 99231-99233) continues to be among the top contributors to the improper billing error rate by providers. This educational session will focus on the guidelines for billing hospital E/M codes, the documentation needed to support medical necessity of the code selected, and review available resources to assist in selecting the proper level of service.
During the webcast, we will review the coding and documentation guidelines for billing initial and subsequent hospital E/M codes and answer questions you have regarding documentation of the medical record. We'll also address the current prepayment editing in place that can potentially impact your code selection. This webcast is intended for any provider who bills for hospital E/M services and their coding and billing staff.
This course will provide an overview of proper E/M coding by addressing:
- Definition of individual code levels
- Documentation of medical necessity
- E/M documentation guidelines
- Available E/M auditing tools
- Resources available to assist in further understanding of the guidelines relating to hospital services
Would you like to submit questions prior to the event?
You may submit your questions in advance by logging into First Coast University and selecting the hyperlink under "Course Activities" once you register for the webcast. Please submit your questions no later than Friday, July 15, 2016.
To participate in this webcast, please register by Wednesday, August 3.
Note: If you do not have a training account, please click here to learn how to create one.
Source: First Coast Service Options, Inc.
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You're Invited: Sixth Annual Broad and Cassel Health Forum
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Broad and Cassel and The Advisory Board Company are hosting the Sixth Annual Health Forum on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. Registration will begin at 11:00 AM, followed by presentations and discussions with some of the industry's top professionals knowledgeable about today's rapidly changing health care landscape. Admission is $90 per person. A lunch and a cocktail reception following the event are included.
For more information or to register,
click here.
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Capital Medical Society Alliance - Wine Tasting Fundraiser
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September 22, 2016
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The home of Marcia and Bob Thornberry
2810 Cline Street
*Portion of proceeds will benefit The Brehon House
*Food sponsored by Brett Allen, SunTrust Bank
*$100 per couple
Please send payment to: Sarah Ho, CMSA Treasurer
1204 Miccosukee Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
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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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Don't Miss Your Opportunity to Support the 2017 CMS Membership Directory!
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The Capital Medical Society will publish its 2017 Membership Directory early next year. It will be distributed to all members. We have once again contracted with a company called E&M Consulting to produce the directory. They will manage all the ad sales, creative design, and formatting of the publication for us. This is a very professional group with experience in publishing association directories. Their sales team will contact you through fax and/or phone calls to ask you to consider placing an ad. If you are interested, click here to fill out the space reservation form and return it to them. Please be responsive and help support this directory. Remember, it will include our entire medical community.
CMS will provide the content - including photos of our members. If you have an updated photo - please send it to us!
Please feel free to call us if you have any questions - and thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
The CMS Staff
(850) 877-9018
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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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