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SGR Repeal Close — Senate to Vote Today or Tomorrow
While a bipartisan bill to eliminate the sustainable growth rate (SGR) is waiting for the U.S. Senate to take action when it returns today from a two-week recess, the current SGR patch ended at midnight on March 31st. As a result, all physician services provided from that date will be subject to a 21 percent cut unless the Senate enacts the bill and sends it to the President's desk for his signature. The President has stated that he will sign the legislation if it gets to him.
After the U.S. House of Representatives two weeks ago overwhelmingly approved a bill to eliminate the flawed Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, the U.S. Senate delayed giving its final approval to the bill. Senate leaders said they will vote on the bill promptly after Congress’ two-week April recess. Both Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and new Congressman Bruce Poliquin voted in favor of the House bill.
The current Medicare payment patch expired at the end of March, which means doctors will receive 21 percent cuts in Medicare reimbursements. Here’s what physicians need to know about these cuts:
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is instructing its carriers to “hold” claims for 10 business days until legislation can be passed and signed into law that reverses the cut.
- The 10-day hold means that claims will be held through April 14. This is not a departure from standard practice.
- By regulation, CMS may not pay electronic claims prior to 14 days (29 days for paper claims).
- It is possible that the situation will be resolved before any claims are actually processed at the reduced rate.
- The AMA anticipates that when Congress passes a bill, the restored payment rates will be applied retroactively.
By law, Medicare is required to pay physicians the lesser of the submitted charge or the Medicare approved amount. For that reason, the AMA is advising against submitting claims with reduced amounts reflecting the 21 percent cut.
The bill, H.R. 2, would set into motion Medicare physician payment reforms that will support physician practices that serve our nation’s seniors and military families enrolled in TRICARE. President Barack Obama said he would sign the legislation into law, intensifying pressure on the Senate to move the bill forward. The Senate is expected to vote when it returns on April 13th. Read about the provisions of the bill at AMA Wire®.
AMA President Robert M. Wah, MD, in a statement said he was “extremely disappointed” that the Senate delayed its vote.
“Physicians are always working to provide the highest quality of care for their patients and the bipartisan bill passed by the House provides a clear pathway for them to do that,” Dr. Wah said. “We urge the Senate to immediately address this issue upon their return and once-and-for-all lay this destructive issue to rest by building the stable and sustainable Medicare program that our nation’s patients and physicians need and deserve.”
Physicians can contact their senators and urge them to support H.R. 2 when they get back from their vacation in any of the following ways:
- Call senators using the AMA’s toll-free Physicians Grassroots Hotline at 1-800-833-6354.
- Send an urgent email to senators reinforcing the need for SGR repeal now.
- Contact senators directly through their own social media channels.
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More Stolen Identities for Tax Filing Purposes; Please Let MMA Know if You are a Victim of this Scam
As the tax filing deadline nears, MMA has heard from some members recently that they have been the victim of the stolen identity scam that involves filing a tax return in the name of a physician using stolen social security numbers and other information. Many times, the physician does not become aware of the scam until he or she files the tax return, only to receive a message from the IRS that a return had already been filed in the name of the physician. While the physician (and spouse if a joint return) are ultimately held harmless from the point of view of the tax return, there is considerable inconvenience in dealing with the stolen identity.
During the 2014 tax season, MMA heard from nearly 100 physicians and a handful of other health professionals that they had been impacted by this scam. Many other state medical societies received similar reports, particularly New Hampshire. The state medical societies collected information to share with the IRS and FBI and connected with the officers leading the investigation. To our knowledge no arrests have been made despite indications last year that progress was being made in the investigation.
If you or a colleague have been impacted this year, please take a moment to contact MMA EVP Gordon Smith, Esq. know so that MMA can continue to monitor this illegal and most unpleasant activity. Gordon can be reached by calling his cell at 207-215-7461 or via e-mail to gsmith@mainemed.com.
The following is information MMA published in this newsletter during the last tax filing season.
MMA encourages all Maine physicians to be alert to
this problem during this tax-filing season.
You’ll find more information about the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’)
recommendations to address this threat here: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Taxpayer-Guide-to-Identity-Theft.
We will be continuing to gather information and making suggestions as
the investigations continue. The consumer protection division of the
Maine Attorney General's Office will be weighing in on the matter this
week. That division is responsible for crimes involving identity theft.
Physicians who are concerned that they have been or may be targeted by this scam are encouraged to visit www.experian.com/fraud
and place themselves on a 90-day credit fraud alert. This could
potentially slow or halt further attempted identity theft activities.
This is recommended as a precaution - at this time we have no reason to
believe that every physician is at risk. We understand that Experian
will feed this information and fraud alert to the other two major credit
reporting agencies. If you remain concerned, investigators suggest
that you go back to the Experian fraud page after 89 days and initiate a
subsequent 90-day credit fraud alert.
NEXT STEPS FOR AFFECTED PHYSICIANS
We realize that many physicians affected have already taken some or
all of the following steps but for those physicians who may be new to
this issue but affected, the following are some recommendations based on
our conversations with investigators and theft identity experts.
1. Contact the IRS. If you are impacted, be sure to follow up
directly with the IRS in order to verify your identity and avoid
penalties for the fraudulent filing. Call the IRS Identity Protection
Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 .
You will need to file a paper copy of your tax return, along with
completed IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, which should be
faxed to the IRS at 1-855-807-5720 . Ask your accountant if you need an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) for the paper return.
The U.S. Secret Service recommends accessing some of the information available on the IRS identity protection information page. Tax-related identity theft information is also available on the Federal Trade Commission website.
2. Contact the Social Security Administration. Call the Social Security Administration's fraud hotline at 800-772-1213 to report fraudulent use of your Social Security number.
3. File a report with local police. Bring all documentation
available, including state and federal complaints you filed. This will
likely be necessary if there is financial account fraud as a result of
the identity theft. However, if the only fraud is tax fraud, the police
report would only be necessary if requested by the IRS. There is some
risk that once your social security number has been stolen with perhaps
other elements of your identity, that criminals will attempt to open up
credit card accounts or other accounts in your name.
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Is Your Texting HIPAA-secure? Download DocBookMD Today!
Texting clinical information risks HIPAA violations, but the Maine Medical Association has a solution. MMA members have free access to DocBookMD, a "physician-centric" smart phone app that enables you and other users to exchange patient information through a HIPAA-secure network. With DocBookMD, using your desktop or your iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, you can: send messages that meet HIPAA requirements for encryption and security; share patient information at the point-of-care, and build a "Care Team" in order to communicate with non-physicians at your practice, and at your discretion. MMA members can download and register now at www.docbookmd.com, or click on the above link from your mobile device and it will take you to the App store or Google play.
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From the Archives: Fifty Years ago this Month in the Journal of the Maine Medical Assocation
From the April 1965 County Society Notes in the Journal of the Maine Medical Association.
A special meeting of the Cumberland County Medical Society was held in the Camden Room of the Eastland Motor Hotel in Portland, Maine at 7:30 P.M. on March 1, 1965.
Alvin A. Morrison, M.D. introduced a resolution which was subsequently adopted by a vote of a majority of the assembled members:
"Be it resolved: That the Cumberland County Medical Society support the concept of a unified medical complex involving the Maine Medical Center, the Mercy Hospital and the Portland City Hospital."
Dr. Perkins presented further suggestions concerning possible economics and efficiencies to be achieved by unification of acute medical facilities. There was considerable generalized discussion of the matter.
The second definite action voted by the members was that Drs. Alvin A. Morrison, Maurice VanLonkhuyzen and Niles L Perkins, Jr. rewrite the informal elaboration of potential benefits from unification before passing the information on to the Medical Advisory Committee for presentation to the hospitals and agencies involved.
As reported by Secretary, Stanley B. Sylvester, M.D. [return to top]
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How to Beat Burnout: 7 Signs Physicians Should Know
From the American Medical Association
If constant stress has you feeling exhausted,
detached from patients, or cynical, take notice. You may be in danger of
burnout, which studies show is more prevalent among physicians than other
professionals. But how can you avoid it? Learn the signs of physician burnout
and what you can do to stay motivated on the job.
Mark
Linzer, MD, Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Hennepin
County Medical Center in Minneapolis, has studied physician burnout since 1996.
He said he understands why many physicians eventually feel exhausted practicing
medicine, but this problem is avoidable.
“Burnout
doesn’t have to be highly expensive to fix,” Dr. Linzer said. “The problem is
that no one is listening. People always want to say that physician wellness and
performance measures will cost a lot of money, but preventing burnout can actually
save money in the long run on recruiting and training new practice staff.”
If
physicians want to keep burnout at bay, Dr. Linzer said there are some serious
signs they should never ignore. Here are seven ways to know if your practice is
getting the best of you—and when to finally do something about it:
1. You have a high
tolerance to stress.
Stress
consistently ranks as the number one predictor for burnout among physicians,
Dr. Linzer said. “Please don’t ignore the stress, even if you can take it,” he said.
Physicians who consistently operate under high stress are at least 15 times
more likely to burn out, according to his research.
2. Your practice is
exceptionally chaotic.
A
quick glance around your practice will let you know if you or your colleagues
may cave to stress. “People tend to think it’s the patients that always stress doctors
out, but actually, it’s the opposite,” Dr. Linzer said. “Caring for patients
keeps doctors motivated. What burns them out is caring for patients in a high-stress
environment. Change the environment and you’ll change the overall quality of
care.”
3. You don’t agree with
your boss’ values or leadership.
This
one is particularly tricky to identify but “necessary to prevent burnout,” Dr.
Linzer said. Whether at a large hospital or private practice, physicians need
to feel as if the people leading them also share their values for medicine and
patient care. Otherwise, their motivation can slowly wane.
4. You’re the emotional
buffer.
Working
with patients requires more than medical expertise. “Often, the doctor acts as
an emotional buffer,” Dr. Linzer said. “We will buffer the patient from our own
stressful environment until we can’t take it anymore.”
5. Your job constantly
interferes with family events.
Spending
quality time with loved ones helps physicians perform better. “When they can’t
do those things, it’s all they think about during the day and the patient
suffers,” Dr. Linzer said, citing work-life interference as one of the most
common predictors for burnout among physicians in his studies.
6. You lack control over
your work schedule and free time.
When
work demands increase, but control over your schedule doesn’t, stress can kick
in and spark burnout. That’s why Dr. Linzer often tells practices, “If you
standardize, customize”— a medical mantra to suggest that if physicians must work
a long standardized set of hours each week, practices should at least customize
their schedules to flexibly fit changes or needs in their daily lives.
7. You don’t take care of
yourself.
When
was the last time you enjoyed a nice bubble bath or morning run? If you
continually neglect yourself, you may neglect your patients, too. “As
physicians, we want to be altruistic but one of the keys to altruism is
self-care,” Dr. Linzer said.
Did
you fit most of these signs? If you think you or your fellow physicians are suffering
from excessive stress, check out these tips from
residents who have conquered burnout. Find more on maintaining a happy medical
family in Physician Family, the AMA Alliance’s magazine.
Alsodownload a copy of Dr.
Linzer’s clinical study on burnout for tips and recommendations that may fit your
practice.
Preventing
physician burnout is a priority for the AMA’s Professional Satisfaction
and Practice Sustainability initiative, which partners with physicians, leaders, and
policymakers to reduce the complexity and costs of practicing medicine so
physicians can continue to put patients first.
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Health Insurance Marketplace Tax Penalty Special Enrollment Period: March 15 through April 30, 2015
The Open Enrollment Period for 2015 Marketplace health coverage is
over, but consumers may still be able to get covered and avoid a tax penalty
next year. There is a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for consumers who
find out they must pay a tax penalty because they did not have coverage in
2014. You are eligible for this SEP if you:
- are not
currently enrolled in 2015 Marketplace coverage,
- attest that
when you filed your 2014 tax return you paid the fee for not having health
coverage in 2014, and
- attest that
you first became aware of, or understood the implications of, the Shared
Responsibility Payment after the end of open enrollment (February 15,
2015) in connection with preparing your 2014 taxes.
This SEP will begin on March 15th and end on April 30th. Consumers
who qualify must complete the entire enrollment process (that is, including
selecting a plan) by 11:59 pm E.S.T. on April 30th.
Other life events that may qualify you for a Special Enrollment
Period include:
- Getting
married
- Having a
baby, adopting a child or placing a child for adoption or foster care
- Losing other
health coverage
- Permanently
moving outside your plan’s coverage area
- Gaining
citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S.
- Gaining or
continuing status as a member of an Indian tribe or an Alaska Native
shareholder.
- Leaving
incarceration
- For people
already enrolled in Marketplace coverage: Having a change in income or
household status that affects eligibility for premium tax credits or
cost-sharing reductions
If you think you my qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you
can apply at healthcare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596. For free in-person
help with your application go to www.enroll207.com to find an assister near you. More
information about Special Enrollment Periods is available at www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/
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POLITICAL PULSE: HHS Committee Faces Large Crowd of Supporters on Bill to Test for Krabbe Disease
HHS COMMITTEE FACES CROWD OF SUPPORTERS ON BILL ON KRABBE DISEASE
This past week saw a huge crowd drawn to the State Office
Building for a public hearing on LD 84, which seeks to add Krabbe disease to
the list of conditions for which newborn screening is done. The hearing room
was packed with people in orange T-shirts showing support for Jamie Davis, who
is the young mother pushing for passage of this bill. The proponents’ testimony
was well orchestrated and featured several family members and one pediatric
nurse, but no medical experts. Dr. Tom Brewster testified on behalf of the MMA,
explaining to the Committee that we already have a system in place for adding
disorders to the screening list based on scientific evidence. He pointed out
that there is no medically established treatment for this disorder. Dan Morin
also testified against the bill on behalf of MaineHealth.
Also before the Health and Human Services Committee were LD
140 and LD 812 which seek to expand access to naloxone for emergency treatment
of opioid overdoses. The MMA offered testimony in support of these measures.
Work sessions on all three of these bills will be held this
week.
In other HHS business last week, the MMA testified in favor of a bill (LD 969) to provide some state General Fund appropriation in support of Maine's federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) in support of the Maine Primary Care Association. The MMA testified in opposition to a bill (LD 989) that would single out the opiate drug known by the brand name Zohydro for unique compliance requirements.
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE DEVELOPS "PAIRING" OR "BUDDY" SYSTEM FOR NEXT PHASE OF BIENNIAL BUDGET WORK
As the Appropriations Committee has completed accepting reports back from policy committees, it now enters a phase of work sessions that will take up much of the rest of the session. In a new approach, the Committee apparently has broken the budget into sections and assigned a pair of legislators, one Democrat and one Republican, to consider that section of the budget and make recommendations to the whole Committee. You can find all budget documents, including the HHS Committee report, on the Office of Fiscal & Program Review web site here. The biennial budget negotiations likely will occupy much of the rest of the session, some time in June. The MMA continues its advocacy on behalf of Maine physicians and patients on various aspects of the budget proposal.
You can find the documents on the Governor's proposed biennial budget on the Bureau of the Budget web site.
The following are high points from the “Medical Care - Payments to Providers” or “MAP” account, the primary account dealing with physician & hospital reimbursement:
- Provider-base reimbursement, p. A-336. Total cut in each year is $7.3 M state & federal. Description says, “Reduces funding by eliminating the separate facility fee payments that are billed on a UB-04 claim form and paid to hospitals for the services of hospital-compensated physicians, and provides funding to equalize reimbursement rates of hospital-compensated physicians and non-hospital-compensated physicians and eliminates the cost settlement component of hospital-compensated physician reimbursement. This would eliminate the two separate fee schedules of reimbursement and ensure all physicians billing under Section 90 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual would be reimbursed on the non-facility fee schedule.” There is no separate language in Part C, the language section of the budget.
- Health Homes, p. A-336. Replaces lost federal funding, so GF amount is $5.6 M/$7.8 M in the first & second years of biennium respectively. Description says, “Provides funding for Health Homes for adults with serious and persistent mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance (Stage B) and Health Homes for individuals with one or more chronic conditions (Stage A) due to the elimination of the enhanced federal match of 90/10 under the ACA.”
- Primary care fee increase, p. A-336. The amount is $7.4 M GF, $12.5 state & federal funds in each year of biennium. Description says, “Provides funding for the reimbursement of primary care physicians at an enhanced rate which replaces expiring funds provided through the ACA.”
- Community-based behavioral health services provided by hospital-affiliated entities, p. A-337. Reduces funding by $1.3 M in each year of biennium. Description says, “Reduces funding by requiring all community-based behavioral health services, including those that are operating as part of a hospital or in an administrative unit of a hospitality to bill and receive rates of reimbursement under Section 65 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual.”
- Critical Access Hospital (CAH) reimbursement, p. A-337. Saves $4.2 M in each year of biennium by reducing reimbursement from 109% to 101% of costs.
- Methadone treatment coverage eliminated, p. A-339. Savings is $1.2 M/$1.5 M state & federal.
- ER rates, p. A-339. Savings is $1.9 M/$2.6 M state & federal. Description says, “Reduces by changing reimbursement on non-emergent use of emergency services to be paid at an office visit rate.”
- Medicare Shared Savings Program cuts, p. A-339. Savings is $29 M/$34 M state & federal. Description says, “Reduces funding by reducing the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) in the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) to the federal minimum.”
- Section 65 BH services 10% reimbursement cut, p. A-337. Savings in this line is $10.4 M in each year of biennium state & federal. There's also at least one line on this cut in the BDS part of the DHHS budget. FYI, despite the merger in the Baldacci years, the BOB still breaks the DHHS budget down into 2 parts, “DHHS, formerly BDS” (behavioral & developmental services) & “DHHS, formerly DHS” (human services).
LCRED COMMITTEE HEARS BILLS DRAFTED BY MMA REGARDING PA LICENSURE AND USE OF THE DEGREE DESIGNATION, "M.D."
Last Tuesday, the MMA testified in favor of two bills before the Labor, Commerce, Research & Economic Development Committee. One, LD 830, would seek to eliminate the dual licensing requirement of physician assistants (PAs) who work under the supervision of both an allopathic and an osteopathic physician. Members of the Maine Association of Physician Assistants (MEAPA) also spoke in favor of the bill. The MMA also testified in favor of a bill, LD 834, that would clarify that an allopathic physician is not running afoul of the licensing statutes by using the letters, "M.D." following his or her name to represent the degree earned, if the physician is not currently licensed in the State of Maine.
This Committee also continues to discuss a bill (LD 422) submitted by Rep. Deborah Sanderson (R-Chelsea) on behalf of patients who believe they have Lyme disease and whose physician tells them they cannot prescribe long-term antibiotics because of a fear of reprisal by the licensing board. The Committee has been considering potential alternative approaches to the printed bill, including those drafted by the MMA, the Board of Licensure in Medicine, and Rep. Sanderson with the input of the patient advocates. Following extensive caucuses last Thursday, the Committee tabled the bill until this Thursday when it will come up again.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE HOLDS LENGTHY HEARING ON SERIES OF GUN BILLS, INCLUDING SEN. BRAKEY'S BILL ON SO-CALLED "CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY" LEGISLATION (LD 652)
Last Wednesday afternoon, the Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee spent a long afternoon on a series of gun bills. MMA's law student extern Isabel Mullin presented testimony prepared by Dr. Ted Walworth on behalf of the MMA Public Health Committee against the constitutional carry bill, LD 652. Dr. Walworth is a long-term advocate on the public health threat posed by firearms, particularly handguns. He is also a member of the American College of Surgeons and Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence.
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MMA Legislative Committee Weekly Conference Call, Tuesday, April 14th at 8 p.m.
The next MMA Legislative Committee weekly conference call for the First Regular Session of the 127th Maine Legislature will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14th at 8:00 p.m.
Legislative Committee members and specialty society legislative liaisons are strongly encouraged to participate. Any physician, practice manager, or other staff member who is interested in the MMA's legislative advocacy also is welcome to participate. It is not necessary to RSVP for the calls.
Please use the following conference call number and passcode. These will remain the same for every weekly call during the session.
Conference call number: 1-619-326-2772
Passcode: 729-7185
The purpose of the weekly conference calls is to review and finalize the MMA's position on bills printed the previous week, to hear the views of specialty societies on the new bills or their concerns about any current health policy issues, and to discuss the highlights of legislative action of the week. The calls rarely last longer than an hour. The MMA staff lists a suggested position for each bill and any medical specialty particularly affected by the bill.
If you have an opinion about any of these bills, but cannot participate in the call, please contact Andrew MacLean, Deputy EVP & General Counsel at amaclean@mainemed.com or 622-3374, ext. 214.
The following are bills of interest to the physician community printed last week. We will discuss the priority bills marked with an asterisk (*) first.
LD 1224, An Act To Amend the Child Protective Services Laws
(monitor; pediatricians)
LD 1229, Resolve, To Create a Pilot Program To Conduct Screenings for Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome
(monitor; pediatricians)*
LD 1236, An Act To Change the Type of Rulemaking Required Regarding Persons with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism
(monitor; pediatricians, psychiatrists)
LD 1238, An Act To Allow the Release of Child Protective Records to Certain Providers of Child and Adult Services
(monitor; pediatricians)
LD 1242, An Act To Protect Maine Consumers from Medical Identity Theft
(monitor)
LD 1246, An Act To Strengthen Laws Regarding the Manufacture and Sale of Methamphetamine and Other Drugs
(monitor)
LD 1258, An Act To Amend the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act with Regard to Good Business Practices
(monitor)
LD 1264, An Act To Transfer Oversight of the Maine Quality Forum to the Maine Health Data Organization
(support)*
LD 1265, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Maine Health Exchange Advisory Committee
(monitor)
LD 1270, An Act Regarding Patient-directed Care at the End of Life
(oppose)*
LD 1271, An Act To Protect Patients Who Need Eye Care
(support; ophthalmologists)
LD 1282, An Act To Support Conservation and the Health and Wellness of Maine
Youth through Physically Active Residential Environmental Education
Programs
(monitor; pediatricians)
LD 1285, An Act To Support School Nutrition
(monitor; pediatricians)
LD 1294, An Act To Improve the Health of Maine Residents through Education and Health Care
(monitor)
LD 1301, An Act To Improve the Safety of Vulnerable Users in Traffic and To Clarify the Responsibilities of Bicyclists and Pedestrians
(monitor or support; pediatricians)
LD 1305, An Act To Encourage Health Insurance Consumers To Comparison Shop for Health Care Procedures and Treatment
(monitor)*
LD 1307, An Act To Fund the Maine Diversion Alert Program
(support)*
LD 1311, An Act To Establish the Patient Compensation System Act (oppose)*
LD 1312, An Act To License Outpatient Surgical Abortion Facilities
(oppose; OB/GYNs)*
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New Online CME: Preparing Patients for Cancer Genetic Testing
The Jackson Laboratory is
pleased to announce a new web based CME series on cancer genetic testing. The
first module, now available, focuses on preparing patients for cancer genetic
testing.
For patients at high risk for having a hereditary cancer
syndrome, genetic testing may be appropriate. This online CME focuses on the
benefits and limitations of testing and provides the opportunity to practice deciding
whether testing is the best choice for a specific patient.
Highlights of the program include:
- Practice
identifying the risks, benefits and limitations of genetic testing by working
through cases.
- Watch
a real patient and provider discuss important issues to consider in shared
decision-making around genetic testing.
- Learn
through 15-minute interactive Web cases and downloadable point-of-care tools
that can be used in the clinic.
- Free
CME.
Visit Pre-Test
Decisions & Considerations to explore the program and access point-of-care tools to use in your
clinic!
The University of
Connecticut School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum
of .25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their
participation in the activity.
For more information, contact Emily Edelman: emily.edelman@jax.org [return to top]
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MMA's ICD-10 Training Sessions Scheduled for May 8th and 9th; Physician Organizations Continue to Press CMS on Transition Plans
Anticipating the October 1, 2015 deadline, physicians are concerned with preparations for transitioning to the ICD-10 diagnosis code set, 100 state medical societies and national specialty organizations, including the AMA, recently told the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
A letter from the physician groups to CMS underscores the significant challenges of implementing ICD-10 and the need to have sound contingency plans in place to minimize claims and payment disruption for physicians. It presses CMS to release the detailed findings of the end-to-end testing conducted in January as soon as possible.
The AMA will continue urging CMS to address the concerns outlined in the letter and to sensitize the administration to the challenges of moving to the new code set. Read more about the concerns physicians outlined in the letter at AMA Wire®.
While the AMA continues its push to reform the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ICD-10 implementation plans, physicians are reminded to stay abreast of Medicare coverage policies that are being updated by CMS on a rolling basis.
The most recently changed coverage policies can be accessed through the AMA's ICD-10 Web page under "Medicare Testing and Payment." Physicians are urged to review any policies that may impact them.
Following up on successful educational training sessions offered in 2014, the Maine Medical Association will again sponsor a two-day training session for coders and others involved in the transition to ICD-10 in a medical practice. Taught by experienced trainer Laurie Desjardins, CPC and offered through her firm, CDI Coding Strategies, the two-day course will be held at the MMA offices in Manchester on May 8th (Friday) and May 9th (Saturday). Pricing will be similar to last year and the promotional materials for the course are being developed this week. Watch your e-mail or next week's Update for further details. This two-day training is to be distinguished from the Annual Coding Seminar April 3rd which is one of the regular First Friday education programs and is available both live in Manchester and via Webex. The two-day training is only available on site.
Registration Form and for details on the two-day course, call Gail Begin at 207-485-1341. [return to top]
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Upcoming Events
***
Maine Concussion Management Initiative Training Programs – Level 1 and Level
2
General Information for 2015
When and where
held:
May 1, 2015 in Machias at DownEast
Community Hospital
June 12, 2015 in Waterville at Colby
College
October 20, 2015 in Portland
in conjunction with the Maine Brain Injury Conference
(Registration and fees will be through the
Maine Brain Injury Conference for October 20)
Training Program: Training
programs in 2015 will be updated.
Level 1 - An Introduction to
Concussions and Concussion Management
Level 2 – Interpreting Neurocognitive
Testing (Level 1 is a prerequisite for taking Level 2)
8:00am
– 8:15 Registration and Continental
Breakfast (Level
1 and Level 2 are run simultaneously)
8:15am-12:00pm Level
1 – An Introduction to Concussions and Concussion Management
- The Diagnostic and Return to Play
Dilemma
- Sport Related Concussion: Short and
Long Term Sequelae
- Concussion Sideline Assessment
- Concussion Risk Factors, Treatment
and Return to Function
- Tools in Concussion Management
- Concussion Case Studies
- Review and Wrap-up
8:15am-12:00pm Level
2 – Interpreting Neurocognitive Testing
- Using ImPACT Testing in Concussion
Management
- Interpreting ImPACT Test Results
- Case Reviews
- Review and Wrap-up
Registration Fee:
$100
for Health Care Professionals (MD, DO, NP, PA, Neuropsychologist, ATC, RN, PT,
OT, SLP)
$40
for school personnel and all other attendees
(School
nurses, coaches, school athletic directors, administrators, parents, etc.)
$20
for students – currently enrolled in a college program
Registration Fee
Includes:
- Handouts
- Continental Breakfast and mid-morning break
- CEU/CME credits for Health Care Professionals
Registration
Confirmation will be sent by email and will include:
- Directions to training location.
- Training agenda.
For more
information contact:
Jan
Salis, PT, ATC
MCMI -
Membership Committee Chair
jsalis@aol.com
(207)
577-2018
***
Please join us for the Northern
Maine Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP) Summit
The University of New England
(UNE) invites you to participate in the Interprofessional Collaborative
Practice Summit, taking place on April 14, 2015 on the campus of Northern
Maine Community College in Presque Isle.
Funded by UNE’s Maine AHEC
Network (Area Health Education Center) and the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, the
Summit will host national and local experts to address the relationship between
health professions education, clinical practice, and national healthcare
reform.
During the course of the day
healthcare providers will have an opportunity to learn more about:
- Trends in and
principles of interprofessional team-based practice
- Tools to
implement interprofessional practice
- How to
develop interprofessional student clinical experiences that
prepare the future workforce and help address healthcare shortages
We encourage you to attend as
individuals or as interprofessional teams!
THERE IS NO COST TO ATTEND THOUGH
AN RSVP IS REQUIRED OF ALL ATTENDEES
Register online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CYLZD32 and/or
visit www.une.edu/ahec for more
information
For assistance, please
contact: Dawn Lovelace at 207-221-4561 or dlovelace1@une.edu or Dora Anne Mills
at dmills2@une.edu or 207-221-4621
***
On the Path of Well-Being: Adversity, Poverty and Resilience
MAAP Annual Conference – May 1-3, 2015
MaineHealth – Free Street Location
Have you pondered any of the following questions: What adverse events do Maine children face and how can we collaborate to provide solutions for children facing adversity or living in poverty? How do poverty and abuse impact a child's growth, potential, and resiliency? How can we support the providers who care for our children?
This conference features two national leaders on children's issues: Andrew Garner, MD, PhD, FAAP, pediatrician with University Hospitals Medical Practices in Westlake, OH, President of the Ohio AAP and national expert on adversity and resilience and Robert Sege, MD, PhD, FAAP, practicing pediatrician, Chief of the Division of Family and Child Advocacy and Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University and national expert on child abuse and neglect. We also feature nationally renowned economist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs speaking on Poverty Issues and how they affect children.
Additional plenary talk on physician wellness by Joe Dreher, MD, frequent speaker on mindfulness and physician resilience and the founder & co-chair of the Medical Staff Provider Health and Resiliency Committee at Maine Medical Center, and by social worker and author Amy Morin, LCSW, who wrote the bestseller 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do.
Breakouts topics include ACES and Resilience, Primary Care Payment Reform, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration and Clinical Roundtable topics include Pediatric Urology, Adolescent Vaccinations/HPV/Gardasil 9, Care Coordination for Autism & Developmental Disabilities and New Treatment Recommendations for Bronchiolitis.
To view the full agenda, read speaker bios, and access registration information, go tohttp://www.cvent.com/d/rrqllh
***
OPHTHALMOLOGISTS TAKE
NOTICE
Maine Society of Eye Physicians and
Surgeons Spring Meeting
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, ME
CODEquest: The
Ultimate Course for Combating Ophthalmic Coding Challenges
7:00am – 12:00pm
7:00 – 8:00 – Registration
& Breakfast for CODEquest Program
8:00 – 9:30 – CODEquest
Course
9:30 – 9:45 – Break
9:45 – 12:00 – CODEquest
Course
REGISTER FOR CODEquest: http://www.aao.org/codequest-maine.cfm
After the morning CODEquest
program, we will begin the afternoon program (Staff are welcome to join us
for the 12:15pm – 2:15pm portion of the afternoon, but MUST contact
Shirley Goggin by 4/22 to indicate plans as we need accurate headcounts for the
Harraseeket. Please be sure to communicate this to your staff.)
The afternoon program will be as follows:
MSEPS Educational Program & Business
Meeting
12:00pm – 4:30pm
12:00 – 1:15 – Lunch/Visit Exhibitors (Please
Note: We ask that everyone please take time to visit with the exhibitors
during this time as they are showing their support of our Society and this will be the only time they get with you.)
1:15
– 2:15 – Electronic Health Records:
The Promise and the Pitfalls (Presented By Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance
Company) – Presenter: Mark Lavoie, Esq., Norman Hanson & DeTroy
NOTE: 10% discount on OMIC premium for current Maine Society Members who attend
this risk management talk. 5% discount for non-Maine Society
Members. One discount per year applied upon renewal with OMIC.
2:15 – 4:30 – MSEPS Business Meeting
A finalized agenda and form regarding your attendance
plans for the OMIC Presentation and Business Meeting will be sent out next
week. Make sure you plan accordingly.
OVERNIGHT ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE – The Harraskeet Inn has set aside a block
of rooms for our group at a rate of $150 for
Thursday evening, 4/30/15 based on the early start time and travel distance for
some. In order to reserve one of these rooms, please call the Harraseeket
Inn at 207-865-9377 and tell them you are with the CODEquest or MSEPS Meeting
taking place on May 1st. If you run into any issues, contact
Shirley at 207-445-2260 or sgoggin@mainemed.com. I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU MAKE YOUR
RESERVATIONS EARLY!
***
MEDICAL GROUP MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL CONFERENCE
The Tides of Change in Health Care
Don't miss the boat to ride the tide!!!
Registration is now open for our New England
Regional Conference being held at the beautiful Samoset Resort in Rockport
Maine, May 13-15, 2015.
The 2015 New England MGMA Regional Conference
features a wide range of speakers who will provide you with the insight and
tools you need to help your practice thrive.
In addition to our great keynote and breakout
speakers, we have pre-conference activities including ACMPE, Fellowship and
Excel workshops and we are also holding a pre-conference golf tournament!
Won't it be nice to walk on grass instead of snow?
This is a great event for you
and your colleagues to meet and network with members of Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire and Massachusetts/Rhode Island MGMA and our vendor sponsors. On
Wednesday evening we will be providing a gift card so you can have an
opportunity to visit the local restaurants.
Please go to the following link to begin your
registration and review the conference agenda: http://www.newenglandmgma.com/registration-information/.
We accept all Visa,
Master Card, Discover and American Express. If paying by check, please
make check out to NERC/NHMGMA.
If you have any questions please contact Pam Beaule
at PBeaule@StMarysMaine.com.
We hope you will join us and help make this
conference a success!
Denise Andrade, FACMPE, Marketing Chairperson
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Job Openings
Gastroenterologist
Job in Central Maine
Challenging, Lucrative,
Gastroenterologist job in central Maine - honoring and serving Veterans. An experienced Gastroenterologist is needed
in Augusta. Develop your skills of diagnosing,
treating, and managing patients, while living in an all-season recreational
getaway!
Must-haves:
Fellowship-trained and B/C specializing in Gastroenterology, fellowship-trained
in Transplant Hepatology, and fellowship-trained in Advanced Endoscopy;
experience in Upper Endoscopy (including EGD, Barrett's Esophagus diagnosis and
treatment, vatical bleeding, bleeding ulcers, dilation, stent placement for
esophageal strictures, and treating food impactions); experience in Colonoscopy (diagnostic and therapeutic),
ERCP, EUS with FNA (for both solid and cystic lesions), Push enteroscopy, Deep
small bowel enteroscopy, Capsule endoscopy, and Combined Interventional and
Endoscopic interventions (Rendezvous procedures); experience in hepatology and
liver diseases; lastly, an unrestricted medical license and current BLS
certification.
This is the opportunity
for you to receive a competitive salary, a generous leave package, excellent
health & life insurance benefits, and retirement benefits. You'd be
eligible to participate in a pension program as well as a matching Thrift
Savings Plan which is similar to a 401K. If you are a veteran, you may be able
to combine accrued military retirement credit with VA pension benefits.
Salary will be
commensurate experience, using VA’s market-based physician pay system. By law,
U.S. Citizens will be given 1st preference but non-citizens will be considered
in the absence of qualified citizens. A signing bonus may be available. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Equal Opportunity Employer. Disabled persons and/or veterans are
encouraged to apply.
4/20/15
Assistant
Medical Director Sought - Lewiston, ME
The Assistant Medical Director is responsible assisting the Chief Medical Officer with all areas of medical and behavioral treatment policy, pharmacy, utilization review and management, disease / case management and quality management and for the medical oversight of daily case management and utilization management activities and decisions.
MD or DO with unrestricted medical license in Maine or New Hampshire required. Board certification in primary or specialty care.
Minimum of five or more years of direct clinical experience in area of clinical practice, participation in a leadership role in medical staff organization activities, and management experience within a health care delivery system. Minimum of three years’ experience in medical management in a managed care setting or the equivalent.
Apply online at www.JobsinME.com or email your information to blovejoy@maineoptions.org.
04/13/15
Family Practice Physician
The Bucksport Regional Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, has a unique opportunity for an experienced Family Practice Physician to work at a small, independent, community-based primary care facility that offers great quality indicators, a team atmosphere, and excellent working conditions. Responsibilities will include the diagnosis, treatment, coordination of care, preventive care and provision of health maintenance services to patients of all life cycles.
Candidates must have graduated from an accredited medical school and completed a residency in Family Practice or Med/Peds, have a current State of Maine Medical License and D.E.A Certificate, and at least five years of experience in the practice of family or internal medicine. The successful candidate will be offered a generous compensation package, including a competitive salary and excellent benefits.
The Bucksport Regional Health Center has been offering easy access to quality, affordable care for persons of all ages since 1974. Interested applicants should apply with a resume and cover letter to Carol Carew, Executive Director, 110 Broadway, Bucksport, Me 04416 or via email at ccarew@brhc.info (or call 207-469-7371).
04/20/15
Family Medicine and Outpatient Internal
Medicine Physicians
Katahdin Valley Health Center is recruiting dedicated Family Medicine and Outpatient Internal Medicine Physicians that are committed to providing quality health care services to the people in Central/Northern Maine. Join our practice in one of the newly expanded facilities. We are seeking physicians for our Millinocket and Brownville outpatient only practices. KVHC is a fully electronic medical record site and offers a Four day work week with a competitive salary ($170,000 to $190,000 annual) and benefit package which includes: a 10% of first year salary sign on bonus, generous amounts of paid time off and $2500 annually toward CME. The call schedule is 1 in 9 with additional coverage from the Open Access Clinic. Physicians who join KVHC are eligible to apply for NHSC Loan Repayment. HPSA scores at the KVHC sites increased in 2015.
To learn more about KVHC and Practitioner Opportunities, please contact Michelle LeFay at mlefay@kvhc.org or visit our website at www.kvhc.org. KVHC is an equal opportunity employer.
06/01/15
Family Practice Opportunity: Lincoln, ME Lakes Region·
- Prenatal
skills preferred, but not required
- BE/BC
in Family Medicine
- Flexible
schedule/4-day work week, if desired
- Typically
36 clinical hours/4 administrative
- Average
18-22 patients per day; Light phone call of 1:8
- Potential
for leadership growth
- Join
8 well-established physicians and a podiatrist with superb support from
multi-disciplinary team including LCSWs, NPs and Pas in Federally
Qualified Community Health Center with 6 locations
- Practice at busy main FQHC site in Lincoln - modern facilities,
up-to-date technology, on-site radiology/lab and integrated EMR
- Help build and lead vital primary care services for under-served populations
supporting 19 small, rural towns in North Central Maine; Service area
population +/- 24,000
- Work collaboratively with two local Critical Access Hospitals
- Excellent salary and benefit package
- Generous paid time off and CME benefits, recruitment bonus, paid moving
expenses, as well as medical school loan repayment through the National Health
Service Corps, and/or other student loan repayment programs
- J1 visa candidates welcome
Lincoln, Maine: Home of 13
Lakes. 45 minutes from
the Bangor Metro area with
international airport. Maine’s border with Canada is only a little more than 1
hr away, and Quebec City is just a 5-hour drive. 2 hours to the Coast!
Contact Jamie Grant at Health Search New England at JGrant@nehs.net or 207-745-7059. www.HealthSearchNewEngland.com
5/4/15 Department of Psychiatry Faculty Position
The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Department of
Psychiatry, in a productive collaboration with the State of Maine, is
seeking psychiatrists to join our faculty for inpatient responsibilities
at the Riverview Psychiatric Center.
Riverview Psychiatric
Center is a 92-bed acute psychiatric facility located in Augusta, ME and is the flagship
inpatient treatment center for Maine’s public mental health system. Psychiatrists with expertise in general inpatient psychiatry or
forensic psychiatry are encouraged to apply.
Academic duties can include
teaching and supervision of medical students and residents. Research
opportunities available and encouraged.
Candidates should be board certified or eligible in Psychiatry.
This position will include a faculty appointment at The Geisel School of
Medicine at Dartmouth at a rank and salary commensurate with experience.
Curriculum vitae and three letters of reference, addressed to Dr. William
Torrey, Search Chair, should be e-mailed to psychiatry.jobs@dartmouth.edu. Please reference search number PS0314D.
Dartmouth
College/Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic/Geisel School of Medicine is
an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to
diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving
applications from a broad spectrum of people, including women, persons of
color, persons with disabilities, veterans or any other legally protected
group.
6/01/15
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