Pueblo County Medical Society News
November 2016 - Volume 16, No. 11
Executive Director’s Message – Cheryl Law, MA, MNM
It is a great honor to serve and partner with PCMS members in my new capacity. We are poised to support generations of physicians and medical students from all specialties who work toward the service of humanity and exhibit professional competence! I look forward to advancing PCMS’s purpose, values, and vision, and continuing to build relationships and a shared sense of purpose locally and statewide.

As members, you are the reason for our being in existence and critical to the revitalization of our organization. I covet engagement by all of you and personally want to thank everyone who will be attending this year's annual event. New to this position, I have had my challenges putting everything together on such short notice but it has been worth it. You're worth it! It is sure to be a great event filled with camaraderie, free food, free CME, and an expert presentation on the issue of legalized marijuana and, based on our recent election, where we go from here.

Cheers to a great holiday season!  
Cheryl
It's not too late! Attend the 2016 PCMS Annual Meeting this Thursday
Larry Wolk, MD, MSPH
The 2016 Pueblo County Medical Society Annual Meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 17, 5:30 - 9 p.m. at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center in Pueblo. We hope you will join us for cocktails, dinner and an engaging guest speaker: Larry Wolk, MD, MSPH, CDPHE chief medical officer (pictured right). 

Bring a guest and meet your colleagues for camaraderie while earning CME and enjoying an outstanding presentation on recreational marijuana and public health with Dr. Wolk.

WHERE: Sangre De Cristo Conference Center, 210 North Santa Fe Avenue, Pueblo, Colorado 81004

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, beginning at 5:30 pm

RSVP by email to pueblocountymedsoc@gmail.com. The first 50 members who RSVP will be entered into a drawing for a free iPad, compliments of the Colorado Medical Society!

CME: Attendees can earn up to 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit. View the event flyer for the complete accreditation statement. 

Please come participate in your local medical society's annual meeting as we hope to increase involvement. Space is limited.
Medicaid “Go Live” date has been postponed until March 1, 2017
There's still work to do before implementation

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance has postponed the conversion date for moving to the new Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS), the Colorado interChange, until March 1, 2017 to allow more time for providers to complete the revalidation process and train on the web portal. Providers should continue to use their current processes for submitting claims, prior authorization requests and provider enrollment updates to the department.

HCPF also urges providers to start or continue efforts to revalidate. Use this link to find resources and get started. If you have completed your revalidation you are encouraged to begin the online training courses for use of the new web portal. If you missed a live session, the recorded sessions will be available later this month. Additional provider resources can be found here.

Also, see this document outlining the changes resulting from the postponement of the launch date and the new Provider Enrollment Call Center. Providers should share this information with claims, billing and office staff so that calls are directed to the appropriate resource.
Webinar: ABCs of MIPS
Nov. 17, 12 pm MT
The ABCs of MIPS - Details of MACRA Final Rule
HITECH Answers and SA Ignite recently hosted two webinars on the MACRA Final Rule's Quality Payment Program. Join them Nov. 17 for more details on the final rule and answers your questions.  Learn more or register here.
MACRA education from the AMA

The American Medical Association is offering several educational opportunities to help physicians understand the requirements of the new Quality Payment Program (QPP) that was created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The sessions have been scheduled to give physicians an understanding of  what the final rule means for their practice and what they need to do as part of the QPP.

Monday,  Nov. 21, 5 pm – 6:30 pm
Physician/Staff webinar
Registration: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/y70aavsqh5g0&eom

Tuesday,  Dec. 6, 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Physician/staff webinar
Registration: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/j8d0v8kh1qr3&eom
Federal CMS finalizes hospital OPPS changes for hospitals and physicians 

On Nov. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized updated payment rates and policy changes in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System for 2017. The agency is also adding new quality measures to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program and the ASC Quality Reporting Program that are focused on improving patient outcomes and experience of care. The federal CMS estimates that the updates in the final rule would increase OPPS payments by 1.7 percent and ASC rates by 1.9 percent in 2017.

Included in the rule:

  • Addressing physicians’ concerns regarding pain management
  • Focusing payments on patients rather than setting
  • Improving patient care through technology

For more information:

See the full text of this excerpted press release (issued Nov. 1).
Quick link: Medicare and Medicaid flyer for patients

Your patients may qualify for Medicare and Medicaid and not know it. Need help understanding Medicare and Medicaid eligibility and coverage requirements? Get the facts now.
Graphic: Health status of Pueblo County
Board Officers: President: Henrique Fernandez, MD; Secretary: Ross Patrick, MD; Treasurer: Lev Asherov, MD; Past-President: Alfredo Vargas, MD;  CMS Director: Christine Nevin-Woods, DO |  Directors: Teresa Braden, DO; Thomas Greidanus, MD; Rickland Likes, MD; Donald Luebke, MD; Robert Manguso, MD;  Julie Newburg, MD; James Roukema, MD; Vaishali Saini, MD; Robert Tonsing, MD; Atul Vahil, MD; James Valenzuela, MD |  Executive Director: Cheryl Law, MA, MNM
This newsletter is intended for the members and interested persons of the Pueblo County Medical Society.  If you have received this and wish to opt-out call 719-281-6073 or use the “unsubscribe” link below.