 News Briefs
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21st Century Oncology's new CEO seeks to rehab company image, expand operations: "With bankruptcy proceedings and $500 million of its debt now a memory, cancer-care giant 21st Century Oncology wants to rehabilitate its image, boost staff morale and expand its operations, the company's new CEO said in an exclusive interview...." -
Naples Daily News
EHRs do not lower administrative billing costs, study finds: "Electronic health records were supposed to lower administrative costs, but they may not be getting the job done, according to the study. Administrators and clinicians sometimes spend more than an hour on billing and insurance activities for a single visit." -
Modern Healthcare
Practice guide: 'Navigating the Opioid Epidemic': "Learn when to prescribe opioids - and how to prescribe them safely - by reading The Doctors Company's free practice guide, "Navigating the Opioid Epidemic." This timely report includes tapering guidelines and features one practice's innovative approach to pain management." -
Guide
Flu season shows signs of leveling off: "Health officials on Friday said about 1 of every 13 visits to the doctor last week was for fever, cough and other symptoms of the flu. That's no reason for health officials to celebrate yet: That level is among the highest in a decade. But it's no worse than last week." -
Modern Healthcare
Department of Health Flu Resources
Trump administration to expand access to short-term insurance without ACA protections: "The administration's proposal would allow consumers to buy short-term insurance plans that last up to 12 months beginning in 2019, compared to a maximum of less than three months under current law." -
Modern Healthcare
Beacon of light: Healthcare additions in budget law pleasantly surprise providers: "The Bipartisan Budget Act, passed early Friday following a short-lived government shutdown, includes Congress' most significant healthcare legislation since the 21st Century Cures Act." -
Modern Healthcare
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CCMS Member Notices
2018 Member Dues:
Your CCMS member dues deadline for 2018 was December 31, 2017. You can pay online now, and individual and group practice invoices will be mailed again this month.
Last Chance: Nominate a Colleague for CCMS Physician of the Year:
CCMS members are invited to submit nominees by Feb. 28th for this prestigious award, which
honors a CCMS member who deserves special recognition for exemplary contributions to the practice of medicine and/or outstanding service to our community. Download nomination form
Know a deserving medical or healthcare student? The Foundation of CCMS is accepting applications through March 31st for medical students and students enrolled in or accepted to any healthcare degree program.
Learn more
CCMS Officer Nominations: The CCMS nominating committee invites members in good standing to submit candidates for its slate of CCMS officers for 2018-2019. Email nominations to CCMS by March 19th. More information
2018 RCC Cards: CCMS Members receive special $10 pricing on the 2018 RCC Card, which provides discounts at restaurants and merchants. Order a card at ccmsonline.org/membership or call CCMS, 239-435-7727. Cards will be mailed to the office address on file unless otherwise specified.
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Upcoming Events
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Join us for our Family Hockey Outing on April 7! |
Thursday, February 22, 5:30 PM
TD Bank Downtown Naples
Wednesday, March 28, 6:00 PM
Saturnia Lakes Ballroom
Saturday, April 7, 5:30 PM
Germain Arena
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CMS Women Physicians Wellness Social, May 3rd
CCMS Annual Meeting, May 19th
Partner Events:
- Charitable Healthcare Events in Collier County, View Calendar (to submit an event email us)
- NCH Grand Rounds CMEs, Thursdays, 7:30am at NCH Telford Building. Complimentary, no registration required.
- Webinars: How New Tax Reform Will Affect Your Pass-Through Entity, various dates/times Feb. 27-Mar. 22. Hosted by Capital Preservation Services. Details
- CEU Course: Durable Powers of Attorney & Advance Directives, April 18, 3pm. 2 CEUs for Nurses, Social Workers, Professional Guardians and Nursing Home Administrators. Hosted by Moorings Park. Details
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Spotlight on CCMS Members
Email your news to CCMS to be included in the next issue
Dr. Michael Gloth will present "Physician-assisted suicide and other end-of-life issues to challenge clinicians in daily primary care" at the Symposium on Integrated Care CME conference April 6-7 at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort. Download the event brochure or visit the
event website.
Dr. Paul Makhlouf, President of the Board, Cancer Alliance of Naples (CAN) invites CCMS members to join CAN for their biggest event of the year, Women Supporting Women Signature Luncheon and Fashion Show on March 2nd. To sponsor, purchase tickets or get involved call CAN 239-643-Hope (4673). Every dollar raised here stays here to help local cancer families with needs-based, non-medical financial assistance.
Dr. Alejandro Perez-Trepichio was interviewed for the Naples Daily News article, Three groups come together to fill medical need in Naples, which details the partnership between Neighborhood Health Clinic, St. Matthew's House, and Millennium Physician Group to address a need for diagnostic imaging.
The widow of long-time CCMS member Dr. Neil Randall, Mrs. Lisa Zell Randall, passed away suddenly on February 18th. Her obituary can be read
online.
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How Lawmakers [in other states] are Tackling the Opioid Epidemic
excerpts from Dennis W. Chiu, JD, Government Relations Specialist for The Doctors Company
Lawmakers typically attempt to solve problems in two ways: (1) providing funding for programs, and (2) enacting regulations through legislation.
As an indicator of the level of concern of U.S. lawmakers, the usually gridlocked Republican Congress and Democratic President Barack Obama united to address the issue. On December 13, 2016, both houses of Congress and the president worked together to approve legislation that granted $1 billion to state opioid abuse programs. This was a sharp increase in funding from earlier in the year and from previous years. (The Senate passed the law by a vote of 94-5, and the House of Representatives passed the law by a vote 355-77.)
On October 26, 2017, President Donald Trump declared the opioid addiction crisis a public health emergency via the Public Health Service Act, though minimal new funding accompanied the declaration. The White House and Congress will need to work together to increase the depleted Public Health Emergency Fund. Two states - Colorado and Indiana - have since created funding for opioid treatment pilot programs. The Maine legislature overrode its governor's veto to ensure access to opiate addiction treatment under its Medicaid program. Delaware and New Jersey have enacted laws requiring healthcare insurers to provide coverage for opioid addiction treatment.
Every U.S. state with the exception of Missouri has a prescription monitoring database.
Some states have gone even further. By 2016, 18 states had passed legislation requiring medical professionals to consult a state database. In 2001, New Mexico became the first state to enact legislation increasing access to opioid antagonists. Over the past 15 years, 47 states and the District of Columbia have passed similar laws.
At this point, there is insufficient data to evaluate the effectiveness of the recently passed legislation, but lawmakers and public health advocates hope to see a decline in opioid-related deaths when data becomes available.
Editor's note: stay tuned for more information on Florida's proposed legislation, which includes limiting prescription supplies, PDMP mandates, and CME requirements.
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Classified Ad
Office Space Needed: Concierge physician looking for office space to share, including one exam room and office space on a part-time basis for infrequent office visits.
Email if interested.
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Collier County Medical Society, founded in 1957, is a non-profit professional association of over 500 physician members. We seek to advance the interests of physicians and their patients through education and the improvement of public health. This e-newsletter is designed to assist our members as we strive to provide the best healthcare in Southwest Florida.
(239) 435-7727 |
Email
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ccmsonline.org
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