MSSNY Opposes Effort to Allow Discrimination Against Patients


MSSNY Seal
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
June 15, 2020

MSSNY Opposes Effort to Allow Discrimination Against Patients

Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, M.D.
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“MSSNY opposes the Trump Administration’s final rule from the US Department of Health and Human Services that reverses a policy banning health care providers from discriminating against certain patients, including LGBTQ, women and others.

“As physicians, we believe that respect for all of our patients is our highest priority.  Our professional and moral obligation is to ensure healthcare for all Americans, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

“The Federal Government should never stand in the way of an individual’s ability to access health care.”

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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

 

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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New DOH Guidance on Elective Surgery Changes 3 Day COVID-19 Test Rule to 5 Days


MSSNY Seal
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
June 15, 2020

New DOH Guidance on Elective Surgery Changes 3 Day Covid-19
Test Rule to 5 Days

 

Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, M.D.
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“The updated ‘elective surgery’ guidance announced by the New York State Department of Health importantly changes from 3 days to 5 days the time frame prior to an elective surgery that a patient must have received a negative Covid-19 test.  This change is essential because of the difficulty many physicians and patients were having with obtaining and receiving the results of a Covid-19 test within 72 hours of a planned elective surgery.  This change should help many more patients to be able to obtain the surgical care and cancer testing (such as colonoscopies) they need. 

“MSSNY thanks the NYSDOH and the Cuomo Administration for their efforts to provide this needed flexibility to assist patients in receiving necessary care that had been delayed due to the need to prioritize health care resources during the height of the acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

 

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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New Fair Health Report Confirms MSSNY Survey Findings that COVID-19 Has Devastated Physician Practices


MSSNY Seal
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
June 11, 2020

New Fair Health Report Confirms MSSNY Survey Findings that COVID-19 Has Devastated Physician Practices

Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, M.D.
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“The June 10th Fair Health report—which highlights the fact that community physician practices faced 80% drops in patient visits and revenue—confirms similar MSSNY surveys about the absolutely devastating impact this pandemic has had on community physician offices across New York State.

“MSSNY surveys have demonstrated that the federal CARES Act enacted by Congress in the spring helped to offset some of these enormous deficits, but it has been nowhere near enough to ensure the survival of many physician practices across the state.

“We again urge the New York Congressional delegation to continue its efforts for dedicated grant funding in the next stimulus package for these hard-hit community practices—not only to preserve the hundreds of thousands of jobs physician offices provide across the state, but most importantly to ensure we can continue to treat our patients who depend on our services.”

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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

 

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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Some PPE Vendors Will Not Sell to Doctors with Smaller Practices; Or, Worse— Sell at Exorbitant Prices


MSSNY Seal
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
June 3, 2020 


Some PPE Vendors Will Not Sell to Doctors with Smaller Practices;
Or, Worse— Sell at Exorbitant Prices

 

Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, M.D.
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“As the acute threat of COVID-19 begins to recede, physicians are anxious to return to providing in-person care to their patients. Telehealth has been essential in this crisis and remains an important and safe way for patients to receive treatment when an in-person visit is difficult or impossible. However, many conditions cannot be diagnosed or treated via telehealth and require a face-to-face visit.

“Masks, gowns, gloves, and other materials prevent the inadvertent transmission of viruses and germs between physicians, medical staff, and patients. As community physicians look forward to re-opening their offices, a major barrier to resuming regular patient care is the shocking shortage of this essential personal protective equipment (PPE).

“The contagious nature of the COVID-19 virus makes it necessary to change PPE frequently. Unfortunately, over the last several months some vendors refused to sell their products to smaller physician practices. Instead, they only contracted with larger institutions or government entities. In instances when suppliers would contract with physicians, there were outrageous price increases or supply limits that prevented physicians from receiving more than a few days’ supply.

“To ensure physicians can continue to serve their communities, these disgraceful business practices must be addressed. Otherwise, patient care will be compromised, as many patients may be unable to be seen and treated by their physicians.

“The State Legislature recently passed a measure to provide greater clarity under the law. Now, vendors who take advantage of a public health crisis to charge grossly inflated prices for needed medical equipment may be prosecuted. This is an important step to prevent price gouging but does not go nearly far enough. Currently, some vendors will not even attempt to sell to community physicians!

“The state and federal governments need to take immediate steps to require medical supply vendors are dealing fairly with physician practices. Should health care institutions receive all the medical supplies they need? Absolutely! However, community physicians play an essential role in treating patients on the front lines. However, without adequate PPE, some will be unable to open their offices and others will unable to stay open.

“We urge the Cuomo Administration and the Trump Administration to take the necessary steps to ensure that New York’s and America’s doctors have the basic tools to, once again, care for their patients and guarantee their safety during their office visits.”

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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

 

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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MSSNY Applauds Legislation to Expand Medicaid and CHIP Coverage for Telehealth to Include “Audio-Only” Services


MSSNY Seal
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
May 28, 2020

MSSNY Applauds Legislation to Expand Medicaid and CHIP Coverage for Telehealth to Include “Audio-Only” Services

Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, M.D.
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“We applaud Senator Metzger and Assemblymember Rosenthal for advancing their legislation (A.10404-A/S.8416) to expand Medicaid and CHIP coverage for telehealth to include “audio-only” services.  During this pandemic, telemedicine availability has been an absolutely essential modality for our patients to continue to receive needed medical services from their physicians.

“The Cuomo Administration, through the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Financial Services (DFS), took critically important steps in mid-March to remove barriers to telehealth coverage for commercial and state-sponsored insurance programs, including ensuring that telephone conversations between patients and their physicians were covered.  This is particularly important for many of our patients who do not possess adequate video-enabled technology to conduct audio-visual telehealth visits with their physicians.  Recognizing this concern, CMS also took the step of expanding audio-only telehealth coverage for our senior patients covered by Medicare.

“As we enter a new phase in confronting the pandemic, and preventing against a second “surge”, MSSNY has been urging that this expanded coverage for telehealth be continued across the health insurance coverage spectrum.  This legislation would ensure that this expanded coverage continues for the Medicaid and CHIP programs, a standard which we would also urge DFS to continue to require of state-regulated commercial health insurance plans.”

# # #

About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

 

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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COVID-19 Update May 26, 2020

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CORONAVIRUS COUNT — There were 362,764 confirmed cases in New York as of Monday. (NYSDOH MAP)


Notes from Governor Cuomo’s COVID-19 Briefing TODAY
– Hospitalizations down, net change down, intubations down. New COVID
cases in hospitals down.

Lives lost on May 26th: 73 – 52 in hospitals, 21 in nursing homes

Monitor the Re-openings
– Mid-Hudson Region opens today
– Long Island opens tomorrow
– Regional Control Groups monitor and respond to the numbers
– NYC is not ready to reopen
– Focus on data to get NYC reopened
– Focus on neighborhoods within NYC that are suffering the most

Supercharge Reopening
– Gov believes the economy bounces back differently
– Top end will be fine
– American workers and small businesses will be hurt
– Government can stimulate the economy
– Provides examples
– Hoover Damn
– Lincoln Tunnel
– Overseas Highway
– Have major infrastructure work to do that is long overdue
– NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD
– Gov will travel to DC tomorrow to meet with President
Q&A:
Financial Situation for State and NYC:
– Asked about legislation allowing NYC to borrow $7 billion and
whether raising taxes on the wealthy was an option
– Reiterates without funding from feds the state will have a financial
problem
– Gov says Borrowing for operating expenses “fiscally questionable”


New York Forward Loan Fund Supports NYS Small Businesses
New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.

NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income.

NYFLF is providing working capital loans so that small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords have access to credit as they reopen. These loans are available to small businesses, nonprofits, and small landlords that did not receive a loan from either the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for COVID-19 in 2020.  The loans are not forgivable in part or whole.  The loans will need to be paid back over a 5-year term with interest.

The working capital loans are timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan.


 


NY1: Why Independent Physician Practices are Devastated by COVID-19 Pandemic


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Trump Administration Announces Changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D to Provide Better Coverage and Increase Access for Medicare Beneficiaries

Final Rule continues to strengthen the popular private Medicare health and drug plans

CMS today finalized requirements that will increase access to telehealth for seniors in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, expand the types of supplemental benefits available for beneficiaries with an MA plan who have chronic diseases, provide support for more MA options for beneficiaries in rural communities, and expand access to MA for patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Together, the changes advance President Trump’s Executive Orders on Protecting and Improving Medicare for Our Nation’s Seniors and Advancing American Kidney Health as well as several of the CMS strategic initiatives.

Due to the upcoming June 1, 2020, MA and Part D bid deadlines for the 2021 plan year, CMS is finalizing a subset of the proposed policies before the MA and Part D plans’ bids are due. CMS plans to address the remaining proposals for plans later in 2020 for the 2022 plan year.

We understand that the entire healthcare sector is focused on caring for patients and providing coverage related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and we believe this approach provides plans with adequate time and information to design the best coverage for Medicare beneficiaries.

“CMS’s rapid changes to telehealth are a godsend to patients and providers and allows people to be treated in the safety of their home,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “The changes we are making will help make telehealth more widely available in Medicare Advantage and are part of larger efforts to advance telehealth.”

Building on actions that the Trump Administration has taken to expand access to telehealth so beneficiaries can get care at home instead of traveling to a healthcare facility, today’s rule encourages MA plans to increase their telehealth benefits and increase plan options for beneficiaries living in rural areas.

CMS is giving MA plans more flexibility to count telehealth providers in certain specialty areas (such as Dermatology, Psychiatry, Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Nephrology, Primary Care, Gynecology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Diseases) towards meeting CMS network adequacy standards. This flexibility will encourage plans to enhance their benefits to give beneficiaries access to the latest telehealth technologies and increase plan choices for beneficiaries residing in rural areas.

Today’s rule gives beneficiaries with ESRD more coverage choices in the Medicare program. Previously, beneficiaries with ESRD were only allowed to enroll in MA plans in limited circumstances. The rule implements the changes made by the 21st Century Cures Act to give all beneficiaries with ESRD the option to enroll in an MA plan starting in 2021. This will give beneficiaries with ESRD access to more affordable Medicare coverage options that may include extra benefits such as health and wellness programs, transportation, or home-delivered meals that are not available in Medicare Fee-For-Service.

CMS is also finalizing proposals to enhance the MA and Part D Star Ratings system to further increase the impact that patient experience and access measures have on a plan’s overall Star Rating. The Star Ratings system helps people with Medicare, their families, and their caregivers compare the quality of health and drug plans being offered.

One of the best indicators of a plan’s quality is how its enrollees feel about their coverage experience. This decision reflects CMS’s commitment to put patients first and improves incentives for plans to focus on what patients value and feel is important. Additionally, CMS adopted a series of changes in the March 31, 2020, Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (CMS-1744-IFC) for the 2021 and 2022 Star Ratings to accommodate challenges arising from the COVID-19 public health emergency.

For a fact sheet on the Contract Year 2021 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule (CMS-4190-F1), please click here.

The final rule can be downloaded from the Federal Register here.


About 35 Percent of COVID-19 Patients Do Not Show Symptoms, the CDC Estimates
In a new guidance that outlines five pandemic planning scenarios, according to CNN. The scenarios are designed to inform decisions by mathematical modelers and public health officials.

In its “best estimate” the CDC states 40 percent of coronavirus transmission is happening before people start to feel sick, and 0.4 percent of those who contract COVID-19 and show symptoms will die. (Becker’s Hospital Report)


Flu, Pneumonia, COVID-19 Deaths Drop and other CDC Updates
Deaths attributed to pneumonia, influenza or COVID-19 dropped by about 6 percentage points for the week ending May 16 compared to the week prior, but were still high compared to previous flu seasons, according to the CDC’s weekly COVID View report.

Four things to know:

  1. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for the new coronavirus decreased at public, commercial and clinical laboratories for the week ending May 16. Public labs reported the biggest drop — from 10.7 percent during the week ending May 9 to 8.5 percent during the week ending May 16.
  2. About 12 percent of deaths across the country were attributed to pneumonia, flu or COVID-19 in the week ending May 16, down from 18.5 percent the week before. The percentage remains high compared with any flu season before the pandemic and may change as additional death certificates are processed, the CDC said.
  3. The cumulative COVID-19-associated hospitalization rate for all age groups is 67.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 population, with the highest rates in people ages 65 years and older (214.4 hospitalizations per 100,000 population).
  4. Visits to outpatient providers and emergency departments for symptoms linked to COVID-19 continue to decline, and outpatient visit for flu-like illness was 1.1 percent the week ending May 16, below the national baseline of 2.4 percent. (CDC)

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Gilead Releases Full Results of Remdesivir Trial
Remdesivir quickened the recovery time for COVID-19 patients but did little to benefit patients on ventilators, according to study results from Gilead’s clinical trial of the drug, the first given emergency approval to treat COVID-19, STAT reports.

The full data from Gilead’s clinical trial, being run by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was released May 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine

The trial included 1,063 patients, with 538 receiving remdesivir and 521 being given a placebo. The patients given remdesivir recovered in a median of 11 days, compared to 15 days for the placebo group, STAT reported. Mortality in the remdesivir group was 7.1 percent, compared to 11.9 percent for the placebo group, slightly better than previous results.

“It’s a very safe and effective drug,” Eric Topol, MD, founder, and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, told STAT. “We now have a definite first efficacious drug for COVID-19, which is a major step forward and will be built upon with other drugs [and drug] combinations.”

There was no sign of benefit for patients who began taking remdesivir while on ventilators or who were receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a treatment in which oxygen is added to the blood outside the body, according to STAT. Knowing which patients benefit from remdesivir the most could be important for deciding who gets the drug, as it has been in short supplySTAT reports. In the full study results, the benefit of remdesivir appeared to be much larger for patients who were less sick.

The study was stopped after a data safety and monitoring board told NIAID that there was a statistically significant benefit of remdesivir, and critics have said the study should have continued to better discern if remdesivir reduces the death rate, STAT reports. (May 26)


Survey: Consumers Still Feel Comfortable Picking Up Scripts at Pharmacies
The pandemic has not significantly shaped Americans’ feelings about in-person pharmacy visits, according to survey responses released May 21 by the Alliance of Community Health Plans.

The survey, which involved 1,263 adults from ages 18 to 74, found that 41 percent of respondents had delayed nonemergency healthcare appointments and 42 percent felt uncomfortable visiting the hospital for treatment.

However, the survey also revealed the following insights about respondents’ attitudes toward pharmacies during the pandemic:

  • Forty-nine percent reported feeling “very comfortable” picking up prescriptions at their pharmacy and speaking with their pharmacists.
  • Forty-seven percent received a new prescription in the last 90 days.
  • Ninety percent of respondents who received a new prescription in the last 90 days did so at a local retail pharmacy.
  • Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported feeling comfortable undergoing COVID-19 testing at a pharmacy.
  • Twenty-four percent used a mail-order pharmacy service in the last 90 days.
  • Nine percent used their local pharmacy’s home delivery service in the last 90 days.

COVID-19 Update May 22, 2020



Lean on Me: MSSNY Launches COVID Helpline and Recruits Peer Supporters

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand 
We all need somebody to lean on
 
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
 
We all need somebody to lean on”
  … written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bill Withers, released in April 1972

Hit songs typically come and go but this song has had enduring longevity.  The lyrics speak to us now touching our soul, expressing exactly how we feel. The music resonates in our heart, mind, and spirit lifting us to another dimension.

Physician stress and moral injury have been plaguing our profession for years and solutions have been a top MSSNY priority.  Our MSSNY committee on Physician Wellness and Resiliency has been working with the AMA and local medical groups and hospital medical staffs on solutions and implementation of a peer to peer support program. The COVID-19 pandemic has added previously unimaginable stressors exacerbating the problem and threatening a professional crisis.  In response, our MSSNY committee jumped into action to accelerate timelines to get needed help to our colleagues.

Last Friday, MSSNY launched the 24/7 Physician COVID Helpline for NYS physicians experiencing COVID 19 related stress.

The Helpline number is: 518-292-0140

Phase Two of the MSSNY Physician Wellness and Resiliency Committee response is the MSSNY Peer to Peer (P2P) support program intended to provide an opportunity for physicians, residents and medical students to talk with a peer about life stressors both work and family related. MSSNY is currently seeking volunteer peer supporters at all career stages who will be trained to listen without judgment, validate feelings and provide support, empathy, and perspective. When needed, peers may also provide a confidential referral for treatment.

Consider volunteering yourself or nominating a colleague. Nominations can be sent to pclancy@mssny.org. More information here.

As we lean on each other, may we all find comfort and peace this Memorial Day Weekend.


HEALTH ADVISORY: Ensuring Access to Health Care Services During COVID-19
Please distribute to the Chief Medical Officer, Family Medicine and Pediatric Departments, Director of Medicine,Director of Nursing and all primary care clinics.


Health Advisory: COVID-19 Updated Guidance for Hospital Operators Regarding Visitation


8 COVID-19-Related Diagnostic Errors to Know
The COVID-19 pandemic could increase the risk of diagnostic errors due to staffing shortages, chaotic work environments and high levels of clinician stress and fatigue, two healthcare quality experts wrote in an article published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

The article’s authors are:

  • Tejal Gandhi, MD, chief safety and transformation officer at Press Ganey
  • Hardeep Singh, MD, chief of health policy, quality, and informatics at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston.

Drs. Gandhi and Singh identified eight diagnostic errors that may occur in the COVID-19 era based on emerging research and discussions with experts worldwide. The errors are defined below.

  1. Classic: Missed or delayed COVID-19 diagnosis in patients with respiratory symptoms.
  2. Anomalous: Missed or delayed COVID-19 diagnosis in patients who do not have respiratory symptoms.
  3. Anchor: Missed or delayed diagnosis of a different condition because clinicians assume the patient has COVID-19.
  4. Secondary: Missed or delayed diagnosis of a secondary condition in a patient being treated for COVID-19.
  5. Acute collateral: Delayed diagnosis of an acute condition because patients are not seeking care due to fear of contracting COVID-19 in a hospital or emergency department.
  6. Chronic collateral: Delayed diagnosis of ambulatory conditions due to canceled appointments or elective procedures.
  7. Strain: Missed or delayed diagnosis of a different condition because hospitals are overwhelmed, potentially limiting the time and attention clinicians spend on non-COVID-19 patients.
  8. Unintended: Missed or delayed diagnosis because clinicians are using telemedicine more instead of interacting with patients in person.

To view the full article, click here. (Becker’s Hospital May 20)


1 in 5 COVID-19 patients in NYC hospitals were Critically Ill: 5 Things About Them
About 22 percent of COVID-19 patients admitted to two New York City hospitals were critically ill, and nearly all had at least one chronic illness, a new study shows. The study, published in The Lancet, examined the clinical characteristics of critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to two New York-Presbyterian hospitals affiliated with Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City from March 2 to April 1. Of the 1,150 COVID-19 patients admitted to both hospitals, 257 (22 percent) were critically ill.

Five study findings:

  1. The median age of the critically ill patients was 62 years.
  2. Sixty-seven percent were men.
  3. Eighty-two percent of the patients had at least one chronic illness — most commonly hypertension (63 percent) and diabetes (36 percent).
  4. About 46 percent were obese.
  5. Seventy-nine percent of the patients received invasive mechanical ventilation for a median of 18 days.
  6. The researchers conducted a follow-up April 28 and found 39 percent of the patients had died and 37 percent remained hospitalized.

(Becker’s Hospital Review May 20)


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Endocrinologists Share Perspective on Pandemic as Patients with Diabetes Who Contract The Virus Can Face Higher Risk For Hospitalization And Mortality
Endocrine News (5/21) reports, “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to roil the world’s healthcare systems, endocrinologists may have unique insights that could save lives and improve outcomes in these patients who present with elevated glucose levels and other underlying comorbidities such as obesity and diabetes.”

Endocrine News adds, “Patients with diabetes who contract COVID-19 are at a higher risk for hospitalization and even mortality.” Endocrine News highlights a paper published in Endocrine Reviews last month that examined “how the pathophysiology of diabetes and obesity might intersect with COVID-19 biology and found key shared pathways and mechanisms linked to the development and treatment of” T2D.


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Re-Opening Your Medical Practice in COVID-19 Era; Tuesday, May 26, 12 Noon-1 PM
As physicians are now considering re-opening their practices, they need to appreciate that they cannot simply “go back to normal”.  With furloughs, layoffs, severe limitations of medical services, decreased revenues and office closures, physicians need to consider strategies to maximize the success of their practices going forward.  These include financial analysis and planning, how to best protect and treat patients and employees, and what needs to be done to ensure that their practices operate efficiently, safely, and profitably.  Topics addressed will include:

What you need to consider before re-opening?

  • What financial issues must be considered to better prepare your practice to move forward?
  • How can you ensure your practice operates appropriately as it relates to patients?
  • Is there a continued role for telehealth?
  • What will the new practice culture look like going forward?
  • What reasonable accommodations and workplace safety precautions should be made for employees?
  • What are potential discrimination issues that can arise, including, for example, from a phased re-opening, or gradual return of employees from furlough?
  • Given that employees have had a furlough period, and there may be a backlog of work, can/should employers make changes to or limit their PTO policies for the remainder of the year?
  • How do we handle/resolve employment contract breach issues?

Presented by:
Barry B. Cepelewicz, M.D., Esq.
Partner/Director
Garfunkel Wild, P.C. 

Roy W. Breitenbach, Esq.
Partner/Director
Garfunkel Wild, P.C.


CDC Estimates About One-Third of Coronavirus Patients Don’t Have Symptoms
In new guidance for mathematical modelers and public health officials, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is estimating that about a third of coronavirus infections are asymptomatic. CNN (5/22, Azad) reports that in its “new guidance for mathematical modelers and public health officials,” the CDC “is estimating that about a third of coronavirus infections are asymptomatic.”

The agency also “says its ‘best estimate’ is that 0.4% of people who show symptoms and have Covid-19 will die, and the agency estimates that 40% of coronavirus transmission is occurring before people feel sick.” The CDC “cautions that those numbers are subject to change as more is learned about Covid-19, and it warns that the information is intended for planning purposes.”


Veterans Matters: TBI in Returning Veterans Podcast
Check out MSSNY’s Veterans Matters newest podcast entitled TBI in Returning Veterans.  Dr. David Podwall discusses how to identify and diagnose mild TBI in veterans, along with a discussion on prevention and treatment options. Click here to listen.


COVID-19 Map – Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

COVID-19 Update May 21, 2020

 

Notes from Governor Cuomo’s COVID-19 Briefing

· Hospitalizations are down to 5,187

· Net change in hospitalizations and intubations are down.

· Amount of new hospitalizations: 246

· 105 lives lost yesterday: 78 in hospitals, 27 in nursing homes.

REOPENING: – Rockland County is eligible for elective surgery and ambulatory care.

-NY Coronavirus Hotline: 1-888-364-3065 -Report employers if they are not following proper reopening procedures. – State beaches open tomorrow. – Beaches are limited to 50% capacity. – Social distancing must be followed. – Concessions will remain closed. – No contact sports are allowed. TRACING: – NYS tracers will call infected people. -Caller-ID will read: “NYS Contact Tracing” CHILDREN: – NYSDOH is now investigating 157 cases of COVID-related illness in children. -Today, 13 countries and 25 states and Washington D.C. have reported cases. – Gov reiterated that it is still too early to decide if schools will open in the Fall. -The state will issues guidelines to schools in June. -Schools will submit plans to the state in July. – Summer school will be conducted via distance learning. Q&A: CAMPS:

– Gov: until we have more information on COVID-related illness, it might be a bad idea to send children to camps. REOPENING:

– Reporter said NYC Mayor de Blasio says NYC has to reopen by early to mid- June. – There are metrics that will guide reopening for NYC just like every other region.


Some N.Y. Hospitals Will Allow Visitors as Part of State Pilot
COVID-19 patients will be allowed visitors in some New York hospitals and small Memorial Day ceremonies will be allowed, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Sixteen hospitals in New York state will allow visitors as part of a pilot program addressing the heartbreak of COVID-19 patients suffering while isolated from their families and friends.

Cuomo said visits under the two-week pilot program will be time limited. Visitors will need to wear protective equipment and will be subject to temperature and symptom checks. Strict visitation rules were adopted to check the spread of the virus, but they have resulted in painful scenes of patients relying on phones or tablets for emotional conversations with loved ones.

“It is terrible to have someone in the hospital and then that person is isolated, not being able to see their family and friends,” Cuomo said. Nine of the hospitals participating are in New York City, with the rest spread out around the state. Cuomo made the announcement as COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths continue to decline. There is an average of 335 new hospitals admissions a day. (Modern Healthcare 5/21)


Strokes May Be Less Frequent, More Deadly Than Previously Thought
Fewer than 1% of hospitalized patients who tested positive for COVID-19 also suffered a stroke, a rate much lower than the 2% to 5% reported in China and Italy, said a news release on a study led by the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

But the people who had a stroke and the virus were younger, had worse symptoms and were seven times more likely to die, according to the release.

“Our study suggests that stroke is an uncommon yet important complication of coronavirus given that these strokes are more severe when compared with strokes occurring in patients who tested negative for the virus,” says study lead author Dr. Shadi Yaghi, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at NYU Langone Health, in the release. Modern Healthcare (5/21)


Mount Sinai Uses AI to Analyze COVID-19 Patients
Mount Sinai researchers have created an algorithm that can detect COVID-19 based on how lungs look in CT scans combined with patient information like age, symptoms, bloodwork, and possible contact with others infected with the coronavirus. “Imaging can help give a rapid and accurate diagnosis—lab tests can take up to two days, and there is the possibility of false negatives—meaning imaging can help isolate patients immediately if needed and manage hospital resources effectively. The high sensitivity of our AI model can provide a ‘second opinion’ to physicians in cases where CT is either negative (in the early course of infection) or shows nonspecific findings, which can be common,” said Zahi Fayad, director of the BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. (Modern Healthcare, 5/20)


Brooklyn Clinic to Provide Follow-up Care for Discharged Covid-19 Patients
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in East Flatbush has established a dedicated outpatient clinic that is providing ongoing care for discharged Covid-19 patients. The clinic opened May 7 at University Hospital of Brooklyn. Follow-up care is especially important given that nearly 90% of Covid-19 patients treated at SUNY Downstate have had at least two comorbidities, and 30% have had three. The vast majority of patients have been people of color, and many don’t have an established relationship with a primary care physician, said Dr. Mafuzur Rahman, vice chair of medicine at SUNY Downstate. “These patients are dischargeable because they don’t have to be in the hospital, but they’re in no condition to resume normal life,” Rahman said.

There is constantly changing information about how Covid-19 affects different parts of the body beyond the lungs, Rahman said. That has included gastrointestinal symptoms, headaches, stroke like symptoms, heart attacks, nerve damage and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

The clinic plans to follow up with patients on symptoms that may develop once they have left the hospital, Rahman said. And because Covid-19 has no standard of care, the clinic will monitor patients for any serious side effects from medications used to treat the disease while they were in the hospital. SUNY Downstate is in the process of contacting more than 1,000 discharged Covid-19 patients for an initial telehealth appointment. Those who need to come in for an in-person assessment will have priority access to primary and specialty care.

SUNY Downstate has reallocated existing resources to get the clinic up and running, including designating several physicians from each subspecialty—such as pulmonologists and heart and kidney specialists—to provide care as needed. The clinic will care for patients for a month or more following discharge. It will continue operation should there be additional waves of Covid-19 patients, Rahman said. Aside from follow-up care, the clinic will focus on tracking the incidence of post-Covid-19 health impacts over time as well as the success of various therapeutic treatments during recovery, SUNY Downstate said.

The mental health of patients also will be a focus, Rahman said. Rahman and a team of leaders from SUNY Downstate already have been working to help address the mental health needs of frontline health care workers. Dr. Ayman Fanous, chairman of psychiatry, recently told Crain’s that isolating patients from their loved ones has taken an emotional toll on doctors and nurses. The solitude is also affecting patients. Many have been isolated and even intubated for weeks on end, Rahman said. And they may struggle to get back to their everyday activities due to the long-term physical effects of the disease.” (Crain’s 10/20)


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Patients with Obesity May Be At Least Three Times More Likely to Have SevereCOVID-19 Symptoms Than Those with Normal Weight, Studies Indicate

Healio (5/20) reports, “In two cohorts of Chinese adults with COVID-19, those with obesity were at least three times more likely to have a severe case of the disease than those with normal weight, according to two studies published in Diabetes Care.” Furthermore, “increasing obesity was associated with increasing odds of severe COVID-19, and the association between obesity and symptom severity was stronger for men than for women.” In one study, the researchers found “median hospital stay was 23 days for patients with obesity vs. 18 days for those with normal weight.” In a second study, the results indicate “men with obesity were more than five times as likely to develop severe symptoms vs. men with normal weight.”


Speeding in New York City? Yes, Really!
In New York City, cameras captured 296,000 speeders during a five-week stretch beginning in mid-March, an 81% increase from the same period in 2019, according to data collected by the city’s speed-camera vendor. The city says traffic deaths are sharply lower.…Roads in the 10 biggest US metro areas have emptied, with volume down 63% in the New York City region. Meanwhile, cars are going faster during morning and evening rush hours, Inrix found in comparing April 13-17 with the first two weeks of March. (WSJ, May 21)


May 28 Webinar: Leading Causes of Million-Dollar Claims in NYS!
On Thursday, May 28, at 7:30 a.m., MLMIC will host “Million Dollar Claims: A Closer Look,” a complimentary webinar examining major causes of million-dollar claims in New York State. As the State’s leading medical professional liability carrier, MLMIC is well-positioned to provide guidance to medical organizations on reducing the risk of high-exposure claims. These recommendations and strategies are informed by an analysis of factors contributing to $1,000,000 claims over a five-year period.

Presenters Joyce McCormack, a MLMIC risk management consultant and registered professional nurse, and Danielle Mikalajunas Fogel, a medical malpractice litigation expert with Fager Amsler Keller & Schoppmann, will educate participants on:

  • identifying the leading causes of loss in million-dollar claims;
  • analyzing the key factors leading to significant payments in these claims;
  • recognizing the chief medical factors identified in these files; and
  • implementing risk management strategies to lessen the risks of high-exposure professional liability claims within your organization.

Policyholders can sign up for this event via the webinar registration form.

This webinar is designed to offer risk management perspectives to physicians and other healthcare providers, risk managers, quality improvement managers, medical directors, office practice administrators/managers, office practice staff, nurse administrators, patient safety officers and healthcare counsel.

MLMIC is accredited by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) to provide continuing medical education for physicians and designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 


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Veterans Matters: PTSD in Returning Veterans Podcast
Check out MSSNY’s Veterans Matters newest two-part podcast entitled PTSD in Returning Veterans. In Part One, Dr. Frank Dowling, Secretary of MSSNY discusses how to identify PTSD in veterans, leading causes of PTSD and common comorbidities. Click here to listen to Part One.

In Part Two, Dr. Dowling discusses treatment options along with how PTSD affects family members and provides advice to physicians on providing better care for veteran patients with PTSD. Click here to listen to Part Two.


Registration Now Open for Veterans Matters CME Webinar

PTSD in Returning Veterans on June 3, 2020 @ 8:30 am

The Medical Society of the State of New York, along with Cobleskill Regional Hospital are hosting a CME live webinar entitled Veterans Matters: PTSD in Returning Veterans on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Click here to register for the webinar

Adolph Meyer, MD will serve as faculty for this program and the educational objectives are:

· Identify diagnostic criteria for PTSD

· Discuss medical and psychiatric comorbidities of military related PTSD

· Discuss evidence based treatment modalities for PTSD including medications and psychotherapy

· Discuss strategies to help veterans overcome stigma to seek and accept treatment for military related trauma

For more information, contact Jangmu Sherpa at jsherpa@mssny.org or call (518) 465-8085

The Medical Society of the State of New York is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians

The Medical Society of the State of New York designates each of these live activities for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.


COVID-19 Map – Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

MSSNY Applauds Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for Advancing the HEROES Act


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MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release

MSSNY Applauds Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for Advancing the HEROES Act


May 15, 2020, Westbury, NY
—MSSNY is grateful to Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand and the many members of New York’s Congressional delegation for advancing the HEROES Act to provide significant new resources for our health care system and our state and local governments to help in on our ongoing efforts to confront the myriad of issues caused by the COVID19 crisis.  While we continue to seek improvements to the legislation, it contains several important components that are absolutely essential for the next Congressional stimulus package.

The “Heroes Act” prioritizes essential needs of states, physicians, and other health care providers who are on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not only a public health crisis, but also an economic one, especially here in New York where we have been hit the hardest by the virus.  For example, MSSNY’s most recent survey of its physician members noted that:

  • 79% have seen a reduction of more than 50% in the volume of patients visiting their practices.
  • Nearly 3/4 had a greater than 50% drop in practice revenue.
  • More than a quarter had to lay off or furlough more than 50% of their staff, and 40% had to lay off or furlough at least 25% of their staff.

While the survey noted that a significant number of responding physicians received a small business Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, many others noted the difficulty in accessing the health care provider relief pool, which has been overwhelmingly allocated to hospitals not community physicians. Overall, the survey demonstrated that the CARES Act enacted by Congress in March and supplemented in April has helped to offset some of these enormous deficits effecting patient access to care and tens of thousands of jobs, but it has been nowhere near enough to ensure the survival of many physician practices across the state.

In addition to extending and improving important financial lifeline programs such as the PPP and the Medicare Advance payment program, the HEROES Act acknowledges that the economic fallout from COVID-19 increases the need for shoring up important programs such as Medicaid, which provide support to families who need it during these unprecedented times. Expanding access to comprehensive healthcare coverage ensures that New Yorkers get the care they need through this crisis.  It also helps to prevent against devastating cuts that may be imposed that will adversely impact patient access to care.

MSSNY will also continue to work with the New York Congressional delegation to improve other aspects of the legislation to better ensure grant funding is prioritized to hard-hit community physicians, and to provide desperately needed medical student loan relief to front line physicians, residents and students (as has recently been proposed by Representative Carolyn Maloney).

As we begin the recovery process and work to prevent against a second “surge” of infection, the HEROES Act contains several positive provisions to get the country back on track and meet future challenges that the virus will present going forward.

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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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MSSNY Thanks Gov: Ambulatory Surgery Center Can Resume Elective Surgery


MSSNY Seal
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2020

MSSNY Thanks Gov: Ambulatory Surgery Center Can Resume Elective Surgery

Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, M.D.
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“We thank Governor Cuomo and the New York State Health Department for designating Ambulatory Surgery Centers as an additional clinical location that can resume performing elective surgery for patients in the 47 counties in which such surgeries are permitted.  We also appreciate the reminder to the public that physician offices have and remain open to deliver needed patient care.

We of course still have much to do to continue to confront the Covid-19 pandemic and to work together to protect against a second surge of infections, but this action today will assist countless patients across New York State to receive urgently needed treatment that had been delayed to help prioritize health care resources towards those most immediately in need.

We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and the NYS DOH on taking those steps which will enable the rest of New York’s health care system to more fully resume providing needed patient care.”

# # #

About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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