December 16, 2016 – You Need MSSNY for 2017!

Dr. Reid
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dr. Malcolm Reid
December 16, 2016
Volume 16
Number 44

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Dear Colleagues:

We know that the number of organizations you are asked to belong to keeps expanding, and that the cost of these memberships isn’t insignificant.

But you recognize, as I do, that it’s crucial to identify as a physician in the one organization that unites all our specialties in pursuing the goals we share— advancing the art and science of medicine and the health and well-being of our patients.

I’ve always felt this to be a professional obligation. I have always felt that paying my medical society dues to be an absolutely necessary investment, like insurance.

Fortunately, unlike other investments, your MSSNY investment brings returns each and every year.

Since the founding of our State Medical Society 217 years ago, achieving our goals has required our active involvement in politics. Today, more than ever, our care for our patients is being dictated, regulated, measured, controlled and valued by government and others, often with an insufficient evidence base.

MSSNY brings the physician’s experience to the consideration of literally hundreds of issues that come up each year that will affect how you practice.  You’ll never hear about many of them, because they are nipped in the bud, but without our active involvement, things would be much worse. 

Your specialties do fine work, but no one specialty can go it alone when it comes to achieving legislative outcomes. Last year, for example, because of MSSNY’s profession-wide approach, our call to action resulted in legislators’ receiving over three thousand letters from physicians who were NOT anesthesiologists who opposed the expansion of nurse anesthetists’ scope of practice.

The return on members’ investment in dues comes in a variety of forms.

  • Improved legislative and regulatory outcomes
  • Modified insurer tactics
  • Direct assistance in disputes with insurers
  • Free medical-legal information and reduced hourly rates for legal services
  • Social and professional networking; leadership development
  • Free CME on legal, public health, legislative and other topical matters – watch for coming programs on opioids and on burnout.
  • Daily summaries of health related items in the news media
  • Benefits for personal and professional use

Without a strong medical society, today’s victories will be tomorrow’s losses, and everyone – physicians, their employers and their patients – will suffer.

We face formidable challenges from highly funded trial lawyers and insurance companies, and constant pressure from government, employers and others to do more with less.  Your membership does – or can — really make a difference, and it’s absolutely critical at this time.

I, along with the Board of Trustees and Councilors, wish you and your families a joyous and healthy New Year.

Malcolm Reid, MD, MPP
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

Save the Date:
MSSNY Physician Advocacy Day in Albany March 8!

Please send your comments to comments@mssny.org


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NO GRACE PERIOD FOR DEA REGISTRATION RENEWAL
Through a notice on its website, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently announced significant changes to its registration renewal process.  Effective January 1, 2017, the DEA is eliminating the informal grace period that the agency has previously allowed for registrants to renew their registrations.  Only one renewal notice will be sent to each registrant’s “mail to” address approximately 65 days prior to the expiration date; no other reminders to renew the DEA registration will be provided.

The notice also advises that online capability to renew a DEA registration after the expiration date will no longer be available, and that failure to file a renewal application by midnight EST of the expiration date will result in the “retirement” of the registrant’s DEA number.  The original DEA registration will not be reinstated.  In addition, paper renewal applications will not be accepted the day after the expiration date.  If DEA has not received the paper renewal application by the day of the expiration date, mailed in renewal applications will be returned and the registrant will have to apply for a new DEA registration.

NY Health Insurance Marketplace Extends Deadline until This SATURDAY
New York’s health insurance marketplace has extended its deadline to enroll for coverage beginning Jan. 1. Insurance seekers now have until Saturday to enroll or renew coverage through NY State of Health, the state’s marketplace for insurance plans offered under the federal Affordable Care Act.

The deadline had previously been set for Thursday. More than 55,000 people enrolled in coverage or renewed their plans in the past three days, according to NY State of Health. Under the Affordable Care Act — also known as Obamacare — customers have until mid-December each year to enroll in coverage that begins at the start of the next year.

The last day to enroll in coverage starting later in 2017 is Jan. 31.

To enroll or to seek assistance, visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 1-855-355-5777.The marketplace’s customer service representatives will be available on Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Medical Matters CME Webinar Series Continues In 2017; Registration Now Open
MSSNY will continue its Medical Matters webinars on January 18, 2017 at 7:30am with Triage in a Disaster Event.   Arthur Cooper, MD, vice-chair of MSSNY’s Emergency Preparedness and Disaster/Terrorism Response Committee and Zachary Hickman, MD, member of MSSNY’s Emergency Preparedness and Disaster/Terrorism Response Committee will serve as faculty for this program. Registration is now open for this webinar here. Educational objectives are: 1) Describe the importance of immediate bleeding suppression during a disaster event; 2) Describe the SALT methodology for triage and where to access SALT training; 3) Recognize the importance of not just general triage training, but triage training for bio-events as well.

February’s webinar will be: The Mental Health Impact of Active Shooter/Bombing on the Healthcare Team.  This program will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 7:30am. Craig Katz, MD, member of MSSNY’s Emergency Preparedness and Disaster/Terrorism Response Committee will serve as faculty for this program. Registration is now open for this webinar here

The educational Objectives are: 1) Describe the psychological problems and stress symptoms that can result from caring for victims of an active shooter/bombing event.  2) Identify means by which members of the healthcare team can address stress before, during and after an active shooter/bombing event.  3) Review resources and methodologies available to address the mental health impact of an active shooter/bombing on the healthcare team.

A copy of the flyer can be accessed here. Additional information or assistance with registration may be obtained by contacting Melissa Hoffman at mhoffman@mssny.org. 

Medical Matters is a series of CME webinars sponsored by MSSNY’s Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster/Terrorism Response. The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. MSSNY designates this live activity 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.

MSSNY MEMBERS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ClearDoc is a Video patient health website where patients can view pre-recorded video of Local Doctors answering questions.They find the one they’re most comfortable with and book an appointment.

ClearDoc goes live on January 5th and already has over 1000+ Videos of doctors answering questions. (View a sample video Here)

For a limited time, 4 videos are FREE FOR MSSNY MEMBERS. No strings attached. The video is shot right from your office in about an hour.

Go To mssny.getcleardoc.com to see a sample and reserve your spot.

ClearDoc already has:
– Multiple State Level Endorsements
– Over 1000+ Videos of Doctors
– 21 Specialties Doing Video
– 15 years healthcare marketing experience

The ClearDoc Team, 401 Park Avenue South,New York, NY 10016

NY AG Joins Other States to Sue Several Generic Drug Manufacturers
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has joined with 19 other state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against several generic drug manufacturers alleging that they “entered into numerous illegal conspiracies in order to unreasonably restrain trade, artificially inflate and manipulate prices and reduce competition in the United States for two drugs: doxycycline hyclate delayed release, an antibiotic used to treat a range of conditions including respiratory tract infections, and glyburide, an oral diabetes medication.” The actions were filed against Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Aurobindo Pharma USA, Citron Pharma, Mayne Pharma, Mylan Pharmaceuticals and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

To read the AG’s press release, click here.

21st Century Cures Act Law Contains Provisions to Promote EHR Interoperability
The 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law this week by President Obama after passing the US House and Senate overwhelmingly. The legislation includes a package of measures designed to promote the adoption and interoperable use of electronic health records (EHR).

One provision requires EHR developers to attest, as a condition of product certification, that they have not and will not engage in practices that restrict authorized access, exchange, or use of information for treatment and other permitted purposes (“information blocking”). In addition to the threat of decertification, “developers, networks and exchanges” found guilty of these practices will be fined up to $1 million per violation. This provision was in response to a 2015 ONC report noting that some HIT vendors had erected barriers to the free flow of information between entities that used different EHRs.

Another provision designed to promote EHR interoperability will require vendors to certify to the use of application programming interfaces (APIs) to allow the exchange of data between different kinds of systems. The bill also instructs the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) to work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and other federal agencies to ensure “full network to network exchange of health information.”


Your membership yields results and will continue to do so. When your 2017 invoice arrives, please renew. KEEP MSSNY STRONG!


CMS Withdraws Rule That Would Have Cut Payment for Medicare Part B Meds
CMS announced this week that it was NOT going to go forward with a proposal released earlier this year that would have substantially cut reimbursement for medications covered under Medicare Part B, such as chemotherapy and ophthalmological medications. In the spring, MSSNY joined numerous patient advocacy groups, specialty societies and state medical societies in a letter to HHS and CMS expressing strong concerns with these proposed changes.

Many members of Congress, including many from New York’s Congressional delegation, had written to CMS to urge they withdraw the rule, or substantially revise it, because of the seriously adverse impact it could have on the ability of many seriously ill Medicare recipients to receive needed care from their physicians. Most recently, incoming Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had written to the Obama Administration urging that CMS withdraw the rule.

The Ten Drugs That Companies Paid Physicians Most to Promote in 2015
The 10 drugs for which companies spent the most in payments to physicians in 2015 (teaching hospital payments not included) were blood thinner Xarelto ($28.4 million), rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira ($24.9 million), diabetes drug Invokana ($20.9 million), hepatitis C drug Viekira ($19.2 million), blood thinner Eliquis ($18.8 million), diabetes drug Bydureon ($18.5 million), testosterone drug Androgel ($15.3 million), thyroid drug Synthroid ($14.7 million), synthetic hormone Lupron ($14.3 million) and diabetes drug Victoza ($11.9 million).” https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/

Your Patients Can Save Up to 75% on Prescriptions
With the rising cost of both generic and name brand medications, your patients could all use some help these days!  The New York RX Card, MSSNY’s newest Member Benefit, is a 100% Free and 100% confidential point of sale prescription discount card that can save your patients up to 75% on your prescription medications!  It is free to everyone with no minimum nor maximum uses, no age or income requirements, no enrollment or approval process and it is accepted at over 68,000 pharmacies, nationwide!

This card will provide you with Rx medication savings of up to 75% at more than 68,000 pharmacies across the country including CVS/pharmacy, Duane Reade, A&P, Hannaford, Kinney, Kmart, Pathmark, Stop and Shop, Target, Tops, Waldbaums, Walgreens, Walmart, Wegmans, and many more. You can create as many cards as you need. We encourage you to give cards to friends and family members. This card is pre-activated and can be used immediately!

The NYRX Card works on lowest price logic, to guarantee the best prices on medications.  It won’t lower co-pays or replace existing insurance, but in some cases the New York Rx price is even lower than your patients’ co-pay!  It can be used during the deductible periods in Health Savings Accounts and High Deductible Plans, lowering out-of-pocket expense on prescriptions. Medicare Part D recipients can use the card to discount their prescriptions not covered on their plan as well as receive discounts on medications not discounted when in the “donut hole.”

The NYRX Card is pre-activated and ready to go with no personal information taken or given. NYRX will mail as many cards you desire, directly to your office, with display stands. The cards typically are placed at the patient check out area…additionally, some doctors place them at the check in area too. Contact rraia@mssny.org for your cards!

YPs, Residents and Students: Come to Westbury on February 11
Save the Date for the Annual Joint Meeting of the YPs, Resident and Fellows, and Students Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Marriott Courtyard, 1800 Privado Road, Westbury NY 11590.

Presentations will include “Telemedicine/Telehealth: Tools for clinical practice and patient engagement.” Gain a better understanding of and appreciation for the use of telemedicine as part of a patient management strategy that will improve and increase access to treatment, lower costs, and more effectively engage patients.

We will also present important financial planning strategies and tips specifically for younger physicians, including Student Loan Management, Main Financial Issues to Address in Residency and as you Transition to Practice, Asset Protection Strategies and Risk Management, and more.

Policy will be created, elections will be held.

YPS and RFS register at sbennett@mssny.org; MSS register at mreyes@mssny.org.

CMS: Learn Important Updates re MACRA and Patient Relationship Categories
Join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a webinar series to learn important information about the development of patient relationship categories for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) requirements (section 1848(r)(3)(B). The webinars will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions about the patient relationship categories.

The one-hour webinars will include an overview from CMS representatives about the specific types of categories that have been published. A question-and-answer session for participants will follow.

Participation Information:

The webinars will be held at noon ET on the following days for these audiences

Please click on the links above to register for the session(s) that you plan to attend. After you register, you will receive a dial-in number and webinar link. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please check your spam folder. To share this event, use the link below. After you register, you will not be able to share your participant information because it is unique to you.

For the question-and-answer segment of each presentation, you may either submit question using the chat feature, or raise your hand and CMS will un-mute your line. For those dialed in via phone, you must have your audio pin entered. If you are listening through your computer speakers and want to ask a question, you must have a working microphone.

If you have questions, please contact the CMS Quality team at CMSQualityTeam@ketchum.com. We hope you can join us!

CMS Testing Two New Payment Models re Medicare Beneficiaries
CMS last week announced that it will test two new payment models designed to improve patient engagement and decision making among Medicare beneficiaries. CMS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) will launch the Direct Decision Support Model, which aims to engage patients in the decision-making process outside of the clinical setting, as well as the Shared Decision Making Model, under which participating physicians will integrate into their “routine clinical practice workflows” a four-step decision-making process intended to help them identify the best treatment plans for Medicare beneficiaries. (Modern Healthcare, 12/8) 

MSSNYPAC – The Political Voice for New York’s Physicians
Through MSSNYPAC, physicians work together to be a force for change in New York State healthcare policy. Are you a member? Join or increase your participation today at www.mssnypac.org
.

Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice Form Now Available
The finalized, OMB-approved Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) / CMS-10611, and form instructions, are now available. They can be found here. Hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must begin using the MOON no later than March 8, 2017.

Please visit the above webpage for more information.

DOH Needs Volunteer Reviewers for Abstracts
The DOH needs well-rounded team of approximately 25+ in order for our review process to reduce the burden on others. This team is crucial in order for DOH to make awards timely in 2017.  Please respond ASAP with information on individuals who can assist DOH with ECRIP reviews beginning in late December so that we can wrap-up the review process by mid-January. All ECRIP project abstracts will be reviewed by New York State Department of Health (DOH) staff and a panel of experts in clinical research. DOH is currently organizing these panels and is seeking individuals with experience in clinical research to participate as ECRIP reviewers.

Please provide to DOH by December 22, 2016 the name, address, phone numbers (office & cell), email address, specialty, clinical department and institutional affiliation(s) for any individual who is willing to review ECRIP projects to gme@health.ny.gov. Include “ECRIP Reviewer” in the subject heading. Only submit names of reviewers that have been contacted and have agreed to participate as a reviewer. No reviewers will review abstracts from their own or affiliated institution(s). Reviewers must: (1) be available to review up to five project abstracts in November 2016 and return the review tool to DOH within 2 weeks after receiving the abstracts from DOH; (2) agree to sign a conflict of interest/confidentiality attestation; (3) be able to review any clinical research project regardless of the topic or field of study; and (4) provide all contact information noted above.

Conference calls or meetings may be necessary and could be scheduled to resolve differences among reviewers. 

Please note that DOH cannot provide any reimbursement, honorarium or other compensation for ECRIP project reviewers.

Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program is administered by the New York State Department of Health, which provides over $8.5 million annually to teaching hospitals that train physicians as clinical researchers in order to advance life sciences research in New York to attract and retain the best life sciences researchers.


CLASSIFIEDS


Bronx Office Space for Rent
Morris Park-Van Nest, Bronx. Brand New Construction at Highly Desirable Intersection. 2,350 sq. ft. + Ground Level + 1,300 sq. ft. Lower Level; Open Floor Plan. Please Call Anthony Mameli 347-387-9768 or Email to: anthony@md-cre.com. Charles Rutenberg Realty – Exclusive.

State of the Art Midtown Medical Office for Rent
Elegant, modern, beautifully designed medical office available, furnished or non-furnished. Full or part time share with thriving Dermatology practice which occupies its own floor. Class A Architects and Designers Building in the best possible Midtown East location near Bloomingdales. Your own private corner, consultation room, two or three large equipped treatment rooms with beautiful cabinetry, sinks, and exam tables. All rooms wired and windowed. Shared oversized waiting room, kitchenette. Your own reception, administrative, front desk and storage space (preview images of space can be seen on www.instagram.com/dermroom). $8,000-$11,500/month. For details contact (212)–583–2966 or email Hefderm@outlook.com, no brokers.


Elegant Plastic Surgery Office (Upper East Side Manhattan)
Very large and classy office to share. Located in the ground floor of a 25′ x 100′ carriage house opposite the 66th Street Armory with large consult room, 2+ treatment/exam rooms, large waiting room, business office, storage. See video of office — you won’t believe it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uli8Cck_eRA   $5000/month incl utilities. no brokers. Call Doctor Fischman at (212) 472–3300.Jeffrey R. Fischman, M.D.  110 E 66th Street.

Want to Sell Your Medical Practice? Do You Have Medical Office Space to Sell or Share?
Clineeds is a new online platform designed to help medical providers sell their practice or buy, sell and share medical office space. Listing is FREE! No contracts. No commitments. No fees. Sign up today at http://www.clineeds.com/sign-up


Physician Opportunities


Executive Director – Bronx County Medical Society
Bronx County Medical Society, a leader in promoting excellence in Clinical Care, Education & Public Policy, is seeking an executive director. Candidates should have either a bachelor degree and/or three years of work experience with non-profit medical groups. The Executive Director should be knowledgeable on healthcare policy and nonprofit compliance. Candidate must demonstrate strength in event planning and fundraising, member recruitment and retention, community outreach, and possess strong communication skills. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Please send resume and cover letter to Diane Miller, Executive Director at bxcms@msn.com


A Private Multidisciplinary Medical Group is seeking an Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Physician in Manhattan
A well-established Manhattan based private multidisciplinary medical group is seeking to hire an Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Physician. This is a great opportunity to start your own practice in a modern office in midtown Manhattan. Attractive base salary plus comprehensive benefits package offered (Malpractice, 3 weeks paid vacation, 1 week CME, CME allowance, paid health insurance, etc).If you are a solo practitioner in private practice looking to join a private group practice, we will work with you to make the transition seamless. Please email your CV to tsrgexpress@gmail.com. No recruiters please.

A Private Multidisciplinary Medical Group is seeking a Podiatrist in Manhattan
A well-established Manhattan based private multidisciplinary medical group is seeking to hire a Podiatrist. This is a great opportunity to start your own practice in a modern office in midtown Manhattan. Attractive base salary plus comprehensive benefits package offered (Malpractice, 3 weeks paid vacation, 1 week CME, CME allowance, paid health insurance, etc).If you are a solo practitioner in private practice looking to join a private group practice, we will work with you to make the transition seamless. Please email your CV to tsrgexpress@gmail.com. No recruiters please.

CALL FOR RATES & INFO. CHRISTINA SOUTHARD: 516-488-6100 ext. 355