MSSNY eNews: May 26, 2021 – Resolutions for MSSNY House of Delegates Due June 25

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Resolutions for MSSNY House of Delegates Due June 25
The MSSNY House of Delegates meeting is scheduled for September 18, 2021, in Saratoga, New York.

Resolutions for the House of Delegates are due no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, June 25. Items received after the deadline will be forwarded to the Rules and Credentials Committee for consideration.  The only exception to this deadline is for Memorial Resolutions which we accept at any time until the House of Delegates meeting.

Information about the requirements for resolutions – including proper formatting, required research, etc. – is posted on the MSSNY HOD webpages.  Resolutions that do not meet those requirements will be returned for further work.  We remind you that resolutions must be sent as Word files – not PDF files – and each resolution must be sent as its own separate document with a brief title/file name.  DO NOT place multiple resolutions in a single file and send it to the office – the file will be returned to you for separation.

Receipt of resolutions will be acknowledged by the MSSNY office.  Staff will review each resolution and if there are questions, the sender will be contacted.

We cannot stress enough that resolutions must be researched for existing MSSNY and AMA policy. Any pertinent policy must be appended to the resolution.  If you find policy that is relevant, consider whether you should submit the resolution – it very likely will be recommended for reaffirmation and therefore, never be discussed in the House of Delegates.

Once reviewed, the resolutions will be forwarded to the Resolution Review Committee for its assessment and evaluation as business of the House.


Department of Financial Services Announces Launch of “Mental Health Matters”: New Initiatives Will Protect Patients with Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder
For Mental Health Awareness month, DFS announced the launch of “Mental Health Matters,” a series of initiatives to ensure that patients who need mental health and substance use disorder services are not discriminated against when seeking coverage under their health insurance policies. These include a new regulation to protect patients from provider directory misinformation and a comprehensive review of insurers for compliance with parity.

Every year, more than one in five New Yorkers has symptoms of a mental health or substance use disorder. Several studies have shown that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has worsened mental health and substance use disorders, especially for people of color and low-income New Yorkers. To support all New Yorkers at this pivotal time, DFS is taking steps to strengthen New Yorkers’ access to essential mental health and substance use disorder services.

Specifics of the new “Mental Health Matters” policy initiatives include:

  • Regulation to Protect Consumers from Provider Directory Misinformation: DFS will propose a regulation requiring insurers to hold patients harmless when the insurer’s provider directory lists a provider as participating in an insurer’s network when the provider does not in fact participate in the insurer’s network. Access to providers of mental health and substance use disorder services is especially important now when so many New Yorkers are struggling with mental health issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Up-Front Review of Cost-Sharing: Before policies are sold to New Yorkers, DFS is requiring insurers to prove that those policies meet parity requirements that protect patients from being unfairly charged higher copayments or coinsurance for mental health and substance use disorder benefits than for medical benefits.
  • Comprehensive Review of Biennial Parity Reports: DFS will initiate a comprehensive review of insurers for parity compliance based on reports from insurers, which are due in July 2021. DFS will also investigate any potential parity violations, including cost-sharing requirements, rates of medical necessity denials and approvals of services, as well as the number and type of mental health and substance use disorder providers who are in network.

New York law requires insurers to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatments. In addition, under Federal and State law, health insurers must cover care for mental health and substance use disorders the same level as other health conditions. These “parity” requirements ensure that mental health and substance use disorder services are readily accessed by New Yorkers.

Last year, DFS issued one of the most comprehensive regulations in the nation, which requires insurers to establish parity compliance programs. The regulation strengthens insurers’ obligations under State and Federal law to provide comparable coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. DFS has instructed insurers that they must be in compliance with the regulation by the end of 2021.

DFS announced that it expects full adherence to these critical State and Federal patient protections and will hold insurers accountable for any violations.

MSSNY will monitor the rollout of these important new policies and provide additional details as they are available.


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Guidance for New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program
All individuals 12 years of age and older that reside in the United States are now eligible to be vaccinated. Performance, throughput, effort, and effective administration of vaccines by providers continue to be key factors in making future vaccine allocations, along with equity and access.

All vaccine providers in New York State, including those located in the City of New York and those participating in federal programs, must follow New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) guidance and directives, including the requirement to accurately and completely report doses administered to the appropriate immunization information system (NYSIIS or CIR) within 24 hours of vaccine administration per Executive Order 202.82 as extended by 202.89, and must maintain up-to-date inventory in such system.

Accurate and timely reporting to NYSIIS/CIR is critical, as this information can be used to allow individuals to display proof of vaccination, such as the Excelsior Pass. Effective May 13, 2021, reporting to the NYS COVID-Vaccine Tracker is no longer required.

Additional guidance from the New York State Department of Health is available here.


NYS Department of Health COVID-19 Update for Healthcare Providers Thursday, May 27th, 1 – 2 PM
To accommodate the large number of participants, the webinar will stream via YouTube Live (and available for viewing immediately thereafter) on the NYSDOH COVID website for providers.
Audio number: 844-512-2950
Access code: 7322799#


New Report: How to Evaluate Telehealth’s True Impact in your Physician Practice
Virtual visits are here to stay, but how can medicine measure telehealth’s value to ensure that physicians and other clinicians, patients, payers, and society are getting the most possible from the technology?

A new report jointly developed by the AMA and Manatt Health Strategies expands on existing research and offers physicians and others a more robust framework to measure the value of digitally enabled care.

The type of practice and payment arrangement are among five environmental variables in the framework outlined in the report, “Return on Health: Moving Beyond Dollars and Cents in Realizing the Value of Virtual Care.” Clinical outcomes, clinician and patient experience and health equity are included in the six virtual care value-stream measurements.

After explaining each of these environments and measurements, the report offers four real-world examples of how to use the framework to evaluate telehealth and six scenarios to show how the framework can be applied to a new program.

The Return on Health report also highlights areas of opportunity for payers, policymakers and other industry stakeholders to help overcome challenges that are slowing the evolution to digitally enabled care models. One key step is long-term, fair, and equitable payment for the care.

See story below for information on MSSNY’s Virtual Health Platform, which offers deep discounts for MSSNY members.


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Deep Discounts for MSSNY Members on CareClix Virtual Health Platform
As a MSSNY member, you receive a significant discount on CareClix services. CareClix is offering all MSSNY members a flat fee of just $50 a month for the license fee—with NO startup costs!

The CareClix user-friendly HIPPA compliant platform enables you to conduct routine virtual visits with your patients in any location. CareClix gives you the ability to:

  • Add Value to Your Practice
  • Maximize Billing
  • Eligibility Checks
  • Promote Patient Satisfaction
  • Reduce Cancellations and No-Shows
  • Integrated EHR

For clinical practices lacking the capacity to manage their own CCM programs, CareClix also provides a white-labeled, turn-key CCM service. This enables even the smallest community hospitals to provide CCM services for their seniors. Caring for the patients most at need requires vigilance and improved access.

CareClix believes that implementing and managing a CCM program requires much more than just a traditional telemedicine platform with videoconferencing. Our platform includes a comprehensive Chronic Care Management module. This includes out-of-the-box integration for 200+ devices, covering all major key vital signs used in CCM. Our platform easily integrates with our partners’ EMR systems, and we have a team that includes practicing physicians and experienced implementation experts.


 

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Spike in COVID-19 Cases Unlikely after Holiday Weekend, CDC Director Says
As U.S. COVID-19 infections drop and vaccination rates rise, the CDC
director said vaccinated Americans can safely gather to celebrate Memorial Day weekend.

“If you are vaccinated, you are protected and can enjoy your Memorial Day,” Rochelle Walensky, MD, CDC director, said during a May 25 White House COVID-19 response team briefing, emphasizing that guidance has not changed for people who are unvaccinated.

“You remain at risk of infection. You still need to mask and take other precautions,” Dr. Walensky added.

More than 131 million Americans, or nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population, were fully vaccinated as of May 25, while nearly half of Americans had received at least one shot. With those numbers, a spike in COVID-19 cases is unlikely to follow the holiday weekend, Dr. Walensky said.

“We have seen after holiday weekends in the past that cases have risen, but we’ve never been in a position where we’ve had almost, or half the adults of America vaccinated and protected from this virus,” she said.

Dr. Walensky also pointed to a drop in infections. The current seven-day average is 22,877 cases per day, marking a 25 percent decrease from the week prior. Hospitalization rates and deaths have also decreased.

“We are continuing to watch these data closely and I remain cautious, but hopeful they will continue to trend downward as vaccination scales up,” she said.

Carbajal, Becker’s Hospital Review


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Classifieds

Classified Ads Available for:

Physicians’ search services • allied medical placements • locum tenens • practice valuation • practice brokerage • practice consulting • real estate

For help, information, or to place your ad, call Roseann Raia at 516-488-6100 ext. 302 • fax 516-488-2188

For the MSSNY 2021 Ad Rate Sheet, please click here.


MSSNY Director of Membership and Marketing – Apply Now


Great Neck office to sublet

Beautifully Renovated Modern Medical Office Sublet in Great Neck
-Separate reception area -Consultation room -1-3 exam rooms -Free Valet Parking -Designated physician parking spot. Contact Dr. Nir Somekh (516) 662-1232.

 

Albany Medical OfficeProfessional Office Space For Sale – Albany, NY
319 S. Manning Blvd, Suite 308A. Albany NY. Located on the St. Peter’s Hospital Campus. 2000 SF. Bright, 3rd floor location. Office is in move in condition. Waiting room, front reception area for 3 staff, 2 consult rooms, 4 exam rooms, 1 large procedure room, eat in break room, storage room, walk in storage closet. 369K. Contents negotiable. Please contact 518-222-4956 / email perrotmi@yahoo.com


 

 

 


Office Rental 30 Central Park South
Two fully equipped exam, two certified operating, bathrooms and consultation room.  Shared secretarial and waiting rooms.  Elegantly decorated, central a/c, hardwood floors. Next to Park Lane and Plaza hotels. $1250 for four days a month. Available full or part-time. 212.371.0468 / drdese@gmail.com.


Ophthalmic Office to Sublet – NYC
340 E. 49TH St. (Ground Floor -Handicap Accessible) 1-3 Lanes Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun Full use of: VF / OCT /Pachymeter/ Autorefractor /Autolensometer / Argon / YAG Lasers

Please contact Scott Weissman MD. privacyssw@gmail.com. 914-772-5581 


.Soho Rental OfficeTwo Offices Available for Rent in Established SoHo Primary Care Practice
Newly constructed loft space. Dedicated private waiting area available.  This space is ideal for individual psychiatry, psychology, social work, physical therapy, or acupuncture services. Potential to work with existing Primary Care Practice as a referral source. Centrally located in the heart of SoHo, close to all subways. Available 7 days/week.
Contact:
SpringPrimaryCare@gmail.com.


Medical Office and Medical Practice (Upper East Side)
79th St near Lexington / Park. 750 sq Ft beautiful, street entrance, medical office for sale with a 25 + yr internal medical practice for sale. Office is in move in condition. Physician retiring. Waiting room. Secretarial area for 3. 1 Consult room. 2 exam Rooms 2 Toilets. Please contact: 917-770-8700 / email drklein@att.net


 

NYS Jobs LogoReview Vacancy

Date Posted: 03/23/21 Applications Due: 04/06/21 Vacancy ID: 85272

Position Information 

Agency Health, Department of
Title Health Program Director 2 -TBD
Occupational Category Other Professional Careers
Salary Grade 665
Bargaining Unit M/C – Management / Confidential (Unrepresented)
Salary Range From $122092 to $154253 Annually
Employment Type Full-Time
Appointment Type Permanent
Jurisdictional Class Non-competitive Class
Travel Percentage 10%

Schedule 

Workweek

Hours Per Week

Mon-Fri

37.5

Workday

From 8:30 AM
To 4:30 PM
Flextime allowed? No
Mandatory overtime? No
Compressed workweek allowed? No
Telecommuting allowed? No

Location 

County Albany
Street Address CCH; Division of Family Health

Corning Tower, ESP

City Albany
State NY
Zip Code 12237

Job Specifics 

Minimum Qualifications Twelve years of professional level work experience, three of which must have included managerial, decision-making and/or oversight responsibilities for a major health-related program or in the direction of a major administrative function of a large health-related organization. A bachelor’s degree may be substituted for four years of the general professional experience.

Twelve or more years of progressively responsible administrative experience in programs that improve perinatal health, child and/or adolescent health, early care, and learning, and/or sexual violence prevention, including four years of managerial, decision-making, and/or program direction. Seven years of this experience would also include fiscal management, policy making and oversight responsibilities, and statewide supervision of professional level staff. The preferred candidate would be familiar with representing departmental interests and serving as a spokesperson and liaison to Executive staff, and have experience working with other state and federal governmental programs. Experience with second-level professional supervision as well as strong oral and written communication skills is also desired. A master’s degree in an appropriate field may substitute an additional one year of the general professional experience, not to exceed a maximum of five years total allowable educational Please refer to full listing


Dir 3 position ad



NYS Jobs Ad LogoReview Vacancy

Date Posted: 04/09/21 Applications Due: 05/10/21 Vacancy ID: 85840

Position Information

Agency Health, Department of
Title Director Public Health – 601
Occupational Category Administrative or General Management
Salary Grade NS
Bargaining Unit M/C – Management / Confidential (Unrepresented)
Salary Range From $149004 to $149004 Annually
Employment Type Full-Time
Appointment Type Temporary
Jurisdictional Class Exempt Class
Travel Percentage 20%

Schedule

Workweek

Hours Per Week

Mon-Fri

40

Workday

From 9 AM
To 5 PM
Flextime allowed? No
Mandatory overtime? No
Compressed workweek allowed? No
Telecommuting allowed? No

Location

County Albany
Street Address Office of Public Health

ESP, Corning Tower OR Metropolitan Area Regional Office (MARO) Church Street

City Albany OR New York

 

State NY
Zip Code 12237

Job Specifics

Minimum Qualifications A Bachelor’s degree and eleven years* of professional level government or non-profit experience, five of which must have included managerial, decision-making and/or oversight responsibilities for a major public health-related program or in the direction of a major administative function of a large health-related organizaton. Substitution – JD or Master’s degree may substitute for one year of the general experience, a PhD may substitute for two years of the general experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Track record of strong analytical and organizational skills; excellent written and verbal communication; ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced and confidential environment under tight deadlines is essential; experience in a managerial role, interacting with state and federal government officials is preferred;
View full listing