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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The MACRA Proposed Rule and the Fight Ahead
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Enactment of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) permanently repealed the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate and was an important event in Medicare history. However, the FMA has significant concerns about MACRA's potential impact on physicians and CMS' proposed rule. The FMA has submitted formal comments to CMS that outline those concerns and highlight ways to improve the proposed implementing rule. Click here to read an update from FMA President and Board of Governors Chairman Ralph J. Nobo, Jr., M.D., including an overview of their proposal to improve the law's implementation.
Source:
Florida Medical Association
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FMA President Ralph Nobo, MD Delivers Statement of Support to the AMA House of Delegates
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During the American Medical Association Annual Meeting last week, Dr. Ralph Nobo, President of the Florida Medical Association stepped to the microphone to offer support to our community and our physicians. Below is the statement he delivered:
As President of the FMA and on behalf of our delegation we express our deepest gratitude to the AMA House of Delegates for the kindness and support expressed after the brutal terrorist attack on
our brothers and sisters in Orlando. We would also like to commend our physicians colleagues and first responders who provided excellent care to the victims of this mass murder.
The AMA'S sentiments of empathy and compassion indeed demonstrates that especially in times of crisis, TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER.
Source:
Florida Medical Association
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Orlando Injuries Were Severe, but Trauma Care Was Nearby
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In a scene more like a battlefield than an emergency room in a large American city, dozens of people hit by gunfire poured into the Orlando Regional Medical Center in the dark predawn hours of Sunday morning, lining the hallways and filling the operating rooms.
The largest mass shooting in American history happened just a few blocks from the region's only major trauma care hospital - an event that illuminates the new challenges facing emergency medicine. The gunman fired on his victims in a packed gay nightclub with an assault rifle that caused deep, gaping wounds. He also shot at them with a handgun whose smaller-caliber rounds, in some cases, bounced around inside their bodies, inflicting internal injuries.
"If they had not been three blocks from the hospital, they might not have made it to the hospital," said Dr. William S. Havron, a trauma surgeon at the center.
Source:
The New York Times
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From Columbine to Orlando, Medics Grapple With How Best to Stop the Bleeding
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In the 17 years of mass shootings and stalled debates about gun control that separate Columbine from the recent massacre in Orlando, another debate has evolved among medical professionals and first responders about how to prevent deaths like Sanders's. It hovers over the decision in Orlando to wait three hours after Omar Mateen began shooting before breaching the Pulse nightclub where he was holding hostages and where unknown numbers were wounded. And it is an increasingly urgent focus for emergency responders, because one of the few comments experts make with confidence about these unpredictable mass attacks is that they are sure to happen again. "Scoop and run" - the idea of moving victims to a trauma hospital as quickly as possible - is a mantra of modern U.S. emergency care. Internal hemorrhage can be handled only in an operating room. But stanching bleeding from arms and legs often needs to happen even sooner.
Source:
The Washington Post
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to Implement a Pre-Claim Review Demonstration for Home Health Services
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing a Pre-Claim Review Demonstration for Home Health Services in five states. This demonstration will test improved methods for the identification, investigation, and prosecution of Medicare fraud occurring among Home Health Agencies (HHAs).
The Pre-Claim Review Demonstration does not require any new documentation. It will not create changes to beneficiary eligibility for home health services under Medicare and should not delay beneficiary access to care. It will help CMS make sure that all relevant clinical and/or medical documentation requirements for home health services are met before claims are submitted for payment.
The demonstration will begin no earlier than August 1, 2016 in Illinois, no earlier than October 1, 2016 in Florida, no earlier than December 1, 2016 in Texas and no earlier than January 1, 2017 in Michigan and Massachusetts.
CMS will host their second special Open Door Forum (ODF) call for HHAs, physicians, and other interested parties to learn and ask questions about the Pre-Claim Review Demonstration for Home Health Services. The call is scheduled for 2:00 - 3:00pm ET on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. For more information and ODF updates, visit their website at
Additional information on the demonstration can be found:
Source:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
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Supreme Court Issues Key Decision on False Claims Act Liability: 9 Things to Know
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The U.S. Supreme Court limited the reach of the False Claims Act in a mixed ruling for healthcare organizations.
The case, Universal Health Services v. Escobar, focuses on the implied certification theory of False Claims Act liability. According to this theory, when a healthcare provider submits a claim for payment, it impliedly certifies compliance with all conditions of payment. However, if the provider was in violation of a material statutory, regulatory or contractual requirement at the time of submission, the claim is rendered false or fraudulent. The theory allows whistle-blowers to base their qui tam actions on statutes and regulations outside of the False Claims Act and permits cases to be brought even when payment requests contain no false information.
Source:
Becker's Hospital Review
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Study: Employers Save Billions at ASCs Over Hospital Outpatient Settings
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Employers and consumers could save billions by shifting more surgeries out of hospital outpatient settings to ambulatory surgery centers, according to a new study by Healthcare Bluebook.
Commercial payers save $38 billion annually when patients get care in ASCs, Healthcare Bluebook found. Patients could save another $41 billion if they had their surgeries performed in ASCs rather than in hospital outpatient facilities and the savings required no sacrifice in quality, the study showed.
The American Hospital Association questioned the study's methodology.
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Healthcare CEO Gets 10 Years for Fraud That Led to 2 Patient Deaths
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The CEO and co-owner of a Maryland diagnostics company has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for charges related to healthcare fraud resulting in the deaths of patients, according to the Department of Justice.
In February, a federal jury convicted 67-year-old Rafael Chikvashvili, PhD, of two counts of healthcare fraud that resulted in death. Dr. Chikvashvili was the co-owner and CEO of Owings Mills, Md.-based alpha Diagnostics, which was a portable diagnostic services providers, principally of X-rays.
Source:
Becker's Hospital Review
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Rx Pizza: 1 Free Meal Can Sway Doctor Prescribing
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As little as one free meal from a drug company can influence which medicines doctors prescribe for Medicare patients, according to a study using Medicare records and recently released data from the health care law's Open Payments program.
The study highlights the subtle ways doctors may feel inclined to prescribe a drug after receiving just a small gift, even if the drug is more costly for patients and their insurance plans, the study authors said.
In a typical scenario, drug companies sometimes sponsor meals served during medical conferences and their sales reps may offer drug information and free samples to doctors waiting in line for food.
Source:
The New York Times
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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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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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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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