November 19, 2018
Members in the News
Art Rubin appointed to head the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health
In an emergency meeting held on November 7, the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health appointed Dr.  Art   Rubin  as its president.

President Rubin reported that the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health is in the process of reviewing two suitable applications for a Health Officer.
Saint Francis Hospital’s Addiction Healing Center uses BRIDGE device to help patients successfully manage opioid withdrawal
Doctors and patients speak for the first time about their experiences with new technology

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Psychiatrists and several patients from the Addiction Healing Center at Saint Francis Hospital spoke for the first time Thursday about their experiences using the  NSS-2 BRIDGE  device. The BRIDGE, manufactured by Indiana-based medical technology firm Innovative Health Solutions, Inc. (IHS), acts as a percutaneous nerve-field stimulator that helps reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The FDA cleared the device in November 2017.
Doctors, keep your staff up-to-date!
New CPT codes, Medicare & Compliance Changes
Hosted by WVSMA/PMI
Charleston, WV 12/6/2018 09:00-12:00 $199.00

Charleston, WV 12/6/2018 01:00-04:00 $199.00

If your practice, group of practices or institution is interested in scheduling any PMI course for 10 or more attendees, please contact Devon Lopez at 304-925-0342, ext. 160 or devon@wvsma.org .

WVSMA & PMI are dedicated to bringing educational opportunities to you!
AMA Advocacy Update
CMS moves on E/M: 3 things physicians should know
There were major victories for physicians in the 2019 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule, particularly when it comes to payment for evaluation-and-management (E/M) services. But with the document running nearly 2,400 pages, it could be difficult to sort them out. So here are three things physicians need to know about next year's fee schedule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

2019 Medicare final rules include QPP changes and advance digital medicine
CMS released combined final rules establishing 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP) policies. CMS set the 2019 PFS conversion factor at $36.0391 and the anesthesia conversion factor is $22.2730. Read the AMA's  summary .

This year’s AMA Interim Meeting addressed a wide range of clinical practice, payment, public health topics and more, including:
  • Physicians again forcefully spoke out on gun-violence policy
  • Sex ed should include age-appropriate content on bullying, consent
  • AMA moves to protect income-based loan repayment programs
  • Vaping is an epidemic and the FDA must act
  • Front-of-package labels on food products need transparency
  • Eight ways to promote affordable access to high-value care
If you are an AMA member interested in Advocacy, register today for the AMA State Advocacy Summit
January 10-12, 2019
and
AMA National Advocacy Conference
February 11-13, 2019

WVSMA Executive Director, Danny Scalise chosen as 2018 Young Gun
WV Executive Magazine hosts the top ten most influential leaders of West Virginia as recipients of their 2018 Young Guns awards. " Our Young Guns represent West Virginia’s next generation of leaders who are already accomplishing great things through their careers both in the business world and in their communities."

Our very own, Danny Scalise was chosen! Danny has led the West Virginia State Medical Association as executive director since 2016. Congratulations Danny!