Volume 113, No. 10
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October 2017 Edition
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They Said It...
"I've always believed that you should be first, a very good physician, second, a very good oncologist, and third, good at radiation therapy, in that order." Dr. Luther Brady, one of the pioneers of radiation oncology, who has also been practicing medicine at Hahnemann University Hospital for more than six decades. You can read an extensive profile on Dr. Brady in the fall issue of our magazine, Philadelphia Medicine.
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Medicare's New ID Card Coming Soon to Your Office
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New Medicare cards will be mailed to people with Medicare, starting in April of next year. Officials believe the card - the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) -- is going to make it much tougher to scam the system.
During the transition period, starting in October 2018, you will be using the MBI in your billing system along with your patients' HICN. But as soon as your patients have their cards, which could be as early as April of next year, you should start using them.
Medicare is offering several ways to prepare for the MBI. It's holding
Open Door Forums every quarter so it can get your feedback and hear how things are going. You can also get materials from past Open Door Forums.
See Medicare's card
Partners and Employers page for resources you can use when you talk to people with Medicare about the new Medicare cards. Check with Medicare often. It will be updating its webpage when it has new information to share, including new policies and system requirements.
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Pa. Medical Malpractice Numbers Remain Stable
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Medical malpractice cases remain low when compared to cases filed from 2000 to 2002, the period when the Administrative Office of Pa. Courts (AOPC) began reporting these statistics. In 2016, 110 medical malpractice cases were tried by jury. Nearly 85-percent of the verdicts favored the defense.
Of the 17 cases that favored the plaintiff, five received under $500,000, two were awarded between $500,000 and one million dollars, four received one million to $5 million, five, $5 million to $10 million, and one, more than $10 million.
Analysts say the reasons for the decline in such cases include the rising cost of litigation, an increase in the use of alternative methods such as arbitration, and Mcare's requirement that plaintiffs obtain a certificate of merit from an expert that the medical procedures in the case fall outside acceptable standards.
You can find much more information on Pa. malpractice cases by going to the
AOPC website.
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Gov. Wolf Approves More Money for Naloxone Program
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The Wolf Administration has earmarked $5 million for naloxone for first responders in the state's 67 counties. As a result, the Pa. Dept. of Health (DOH) has started accepting applications for naloxone kits for first responders.
Acting Pa. Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Jennifer Smith, said that making sure naloxone is available to first responders is a crucial part of the effort to keep people with addictions alive and open to recovery. "The need for naloxone does not stop at first responders and law enforcement." Smith said. "There is a need to permeate this overdose reversal drug in all aspects of our communities, including college campuses, libraries, gas stations, and community parks."
The state is making more than 60,000 naloxone kits available.
For more information on the naloxone application process, visit
PCCD's website. For more information on the standing order for naloxone,
click here.
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Time to Get Schooled on Opioids
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A new Pa. law, Act 124, creates more requirements for dispensers and prescribers of opioids. To get an initial license or renew a license, dispensers and prescribers must now complete opioids continuing education.
The Pa. Medical Society (PAMED) has developed a list of frequently asked questions to help you understand the requirements. The answers to FAQs are listed on their website at
www.pamedsoc.org.
Act 124 is one of four laws on opioids and the Pa. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) that were signed by Gov. Wolf. For details on the laws go to PAMED's Quick Consult fact sheet:
A Physician's Guide to Pennsylvania's November 2016 Opioid Laws. (You will need to log in to your PAMED account to view the document.)
To access PAMED's CME and education resources, visit
www.pamedsoc.org/cme.
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DOH Wants Your Feedback on Medical Marijuana Regulations
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Acting Pa. Health Secretary and Physician General Rachel Levine, is encouraging patients and caregivers to comment on proposed regulations for the Pa. Medical Marijuana Program.
Dr. Levine said the purpose of the program is to meet the needs of patients suffering from one of 17 serious medical conditions outlined in the law. Feedback is essential to ensure that the program will be as efficient as possible for both patient and caregiver. "Your input into how these regulations will affect you is invaluable," Dr. Levine said, "and will assist the department in implementing this program as effectively as possible."
The regulations are one of the final pieces needed before the launch of the program sometime next year.
Questions about the Medical Marijuana Program can be emailed to
[email protected]. Information is also available on the Department of Health website at
www.health.pa.gov.
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Health Tech Companies: "The Suggestion Box is Always Open"
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The AMA says health tech companies are looking for physicians' ideas. The AMA can help you get connected to these companies, through the AMA Physician Innovation Network,
https://innovationmatch.ama-assn.org/.
The network offers a wide range of opportunities for physicians, including a way to connect to health tech companies that match your interest and expertise. The network offers the opportunity to develop emerging solutions in health care.
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Dating Service
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October
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11 - Vaccination Strategies for Preventing HPV Related Cancers
Date:
September 29 through December 1, 2017
Time:
Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
This free CME webinar teaches practical techniques to increase HPV vaccination rates. Originally presented on September 29, this program is now available as an archive and will provide a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to physicians until December 1.
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19 - The Eighth Annual Lois K. Cohen Endowed Lecture Series in Global Health: The Impact of Green Chemistry on Global Health
Date:
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Place: University of the Sciences, McNeil Science and Technology Center, AstraZeneca Auditorium, 45th Street at Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
The eighth in a series of annual lectures covering global health, this presentation discusses sustainable chemistry and how it can improve the health of citizens around the world.
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27 - 7th Annual Brain Tumor Symposium: Current and Emerging Treatment Approaches for Central Nervous System Metastases
Date:
Friday, October 27, 2017
Place: DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City, 237 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
This CME conference is tailored to meet the needs of specialists working in the field of neuro-oncology who are involved in the diagnosis, treatment, clinical trials and prognosis of complex patients with brain tumors and CNS metastases.
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1 - Understanding Your Employment Contract
Date:
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Place: The Philadelphia County Medical Society, 2100 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
This program will include: Information on the basic principles of the employment contract; negotiating tips; your duties and obligations; representation and legal review; contract duties; restrictive covenant; malpractice insurance; and dispute resolution.
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6 - Women in Medicine
Date:
Monday, November 6, 2017
Place: The Philadelphia County Medical Society, 2100 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Join us for Women in Medicine, a discussion on gaps in leadership, salary, and work-life balance.
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17 - PAMED Presidents Reception Open House
Date:
Friday, November 17, 2017
Place: The Philadelphia County Medical Society, 2100 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
The Philadelphia County Medical Society cordially invites you and your guest to attend the Presidents Reception Open House, in honor of the installation of our past President Theodore Christopher, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, as the 166th President of the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
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18 - Patient and Provider Perspectives in IBD
Date:
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Place: Pittsburgh Marriot City Center, Grand Ballroom 3-5, 112 Washington Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
This Clinical Convergence® continuing medical education symposium features concurrent clinician and patient lectures that "converge" just before lunch, when both sets of learners meet and engage in an interactive discussion with leading IBD experts and IBD patients.
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Philadelphia Medicine Magazine's Fall Issue is Here!
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The next edition of Philadelphia Medicine is now available and can be viewed electronically by Clicking Here.
The magazine features an interview with Philadelphia's Dr. Luther Brady, as well as a glimpse into the lives of three people who have been affected by the opioid epidemic.
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