MSSNY eNews: April 2, 2021 – Diversity is One of Our Strengths


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Diversity is One of Our Strengths

Colleagues:

Once again, recent events in the United States and in our own state have forced us to confront insidious racism in our society.  This week, there were two violent attacks on Asian Americans in New York City and six out of the eight victims in the Atlanta shootings were Asian women.  Anti-Asian hate incidents have skyrocketed nationwide.  In 2020, there were 28 hate crimes in New York City against Asian Americans compared to three in 2019. Those New York City acts of violence escalated after the pandemic began.

As the debate in reaction to a social media post from the Journal of the Medical Association demonstrates, physicians must also explicitly acknowledge that race and racism have impacted health care delivery and that physicians and medical societies must take the necessary steps to help improve cultural competence, so as to better understand and respond to the cultural and linguistic needs brought by patients to the health care encounter.  Equally important is to ensure that diversity in medicine and through medical training that exposes physicians-in-training to a wider range of different perspectives and cultural backgrounds among their colleagues in medical school, residency, and in practice.

Our Medical Society believes that all forms of racism, discrimination and crimes against different ethnic groups must be eradicated.  Racism and injustice should not be tolerated and must be condemned. As physicians, we believe this nation has the ability to halt the unequal treatment of institutional racism and begin the healing process.

Our diversity is one of our nation’s greatest strengths.

We must all work together to ensure that diversity is truly respected across all aspects of our society.

Bonnie Litvack, MD
MSSNY President


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Capital Update

MSSNY Weekly Podcast


State Budget Negotiations Go Into Overtime
As of this writing, the State Legislature and the Governor are still negotiating critical items of the State Budget, even though we have passed the State’s April 1 Budget deadline.  While items directly impacting physician delivery of patient care appear close to being finalized, there’s a saying in Albany “that nothing is decided until everything is decided”, so please remain alert for further requests for grassroots activity.  Our top issues include:

Excess Malpractice Insurance Program

Reports are that the Budget will include a one-year extension of the Excess Medical Malpractice Insurance program, restoring the proposed $51 million cut in program funding and deleting the Executive Budget proposal to impose a 50% physician cost share requirement.  Until this is finalized, physicians should continue to urge legislators to fight this ill-timed cut:  Don’t Balance the Budget on the Backs of Physicians

OPMC 

Reports are that the Budget will not include the “OPMC Modernization Act” provisions from the Executive Budget including several provisions opposed by MSSNY to substantially curtail physician due process rights when a complaint has been filed against them with the OPMC.   Until this is finalized, physicians should continue to contact their legislators  urging they continue to fight to preserve due process protections for physicians: Reject Governor’s Physician Disciplinary Proposal 

Pharmacy Scope 

Reports are the Budget will not include several items opposed by MSSNY in the Executive Budget that would expand the scope of pharmacists, including proposals to greatly expand the physician-pharmacy Collaborative Drug Therapy program, pharmacist self-ordering of lab tests, and expansion of the immunizations that can be performed by pharmacists.   Until this is finalized, physicians can continue to urge legislators to reject these short-sighted proposals that undermine physician-led medical homes: Oppose Uncoordinated Siloed Care to be Provided by Pharmacists 

Addressing Cuts to MSSNY’s Committee for Physicians Health 

The Senate Budget proposal advanced two weeks ago restored the nearly $200,000 cut that had been proposed to CPH in the Executive Budget.  While the Assembly Budget proposal did not affirmatively restore the cut, Assembly staff indicate they are supporting the restoration of this cut. 

Telehealth Expansion

Reports are that the final Budget will include an expansion of site locations where telehealth services can be provided/received, but would not include items opposed by MSSNY including an enactment of an interstate compact for out of state licensed health care professionals to be authorized to provide telehealth services.  Unfortunately, it also appeared that provisions to require “parity” for the payment of telehealth services advocated for by MSSNY and several specialty societies also would not be included.

Essential Plan Enhancements

Reports are that the final Budget would contain provisions supported by MSSNY to eliminate the premium requirements for the over 800,000 New Yorkers enrolled in the State’s Essential Plan, as well as providing bonus pool funding for physicians and other care providers participating with these plans.

Protect Ability to Apply for E-Prescribing Waivers 

Reports are that the final Budget would not include the Executive Budget proposal opposed by MSSNY to eliminate the ability to apply for a year-to-year waiver of e-prescribing requirements.

Protect Medicaid “Prescriber Prevails” 

Reports are that the final Budget would not include the Executive Budget proposal opposed by MSSNY to remove the statutory protection for the prescriber’s determination (not State Medicaid’s) to prevail for a medication prescribed to a patient covered by Medicaid.

No-Fault Decredentialing

Reports are that the final Budget would not include the Executive Budget proposal MSSNY had raised concerns with to expand the power of the Superintendent of Financial Services to prohibit certain physicians from submitting claims for No-Fault services.

Ensure Collaborative Practice by Nurse Practitioners with Physicians

Reports are that the final Budget would include a provision to extend for an additional year – until June 30, 2022 – the existing law permitting certain nurse practitioners to practice without a written collaborative agreement with a physician provided they have proof of “collaborative arrangements” with physicians in the same specialty practiced by the NP.  Legislation (A.1535/S.3056) has also been introduced and strongly opposed by MSSNY that would repeal the requirements to even maintain proof of these collaborative arrangements.

We will provide a complete wrap up of all items impacting physician delivery of care to patients after the Budget passage is completed.
(DIVISION OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS)  


NYS DOH Revises Protocol for Healthcare Personnel
Effective April 1, 2021, the New York State has revised its return-to-work protocol for personnel in a health care setting.   The Interim Health Advisory: Revised Protocols for Personnel in Healthcare and Other Direct Care Settings to Return to Work Following COVID-19 Exposure – Including Quarantine and Furlough Requirements for Different Healthcare Settings can be found here.

The guidance indicates that asymptomatic, unvaccinated HCP in hospital settings who have been exposed to COVID-19 may return to work after completing a 10-day quarantine without testing, subject to certain other conditions. (Nursing home HCP, however, must remain out of work through the 14th day after exposure.)

Asymptomatic, exposed HCP in hospital settings who are fully vaccinated (two weeks or more after last dose of vaccine, with no outer time limit) or who have recovered from recent SARS-CoV-2 infection within the past three months (within three months after the symptom onset date of first positive diagnostic test if asymptomatic during illness) are not required to test, quarantine, or take leave from work following exposure provided certain conditions are met. (Nursing home HCP must continue to participate in diagnostic COVID-19 testing twice per week or as otherwise required by DOH, among other requirements.)

For health care personnel that travel, the recommendation is that asymptomatic HCP, arriving in New York State from other US states and territories, are not required to test or quarantine and may return to work accordingly. Quarantine following international travel consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations is still recommended unless the HCP is fully vaccinated or has recovered from laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 within the previous three months. CDC’s international travel requirements include showing proof of a negative diagnostic test result no more than three days before flight departure or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 prior to boarding, and

quarantine for either seven days with a test 3-5 days after travel or for 10 days with no test. (Nursing home HCP must remain out of work through the 14th day after return from international travel unless they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within the previous three months.)                     (CLANCY)


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New York State Legalizes Recreational Marijuana
This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law legalizing recreational marijuana.  The bill passed by the Senate and Assembly on Wednesday will create a regulatory system to oversee the cannabis industry, allow limited home growth as well as expunging an untold number of criminal records. Here is the link to the statement by Governor Cuomo regarding the signing of this into law that contains a comprehensive summary: Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis 

The bill would among other key components:

  • Direct that 20% of the funding generated from the tax revenue be set aside for drug treatment and education. 40% of the total state tax revenue from cannabis would be set aside to assist communities historically disproportionately impacted by marijuana laws. Another 40% would go toward state education funding.
  • Create an Office of Cannabis Management at the state level and a Cannabis Control Board to promulgate regulations. Gov Cuomo would have three appointments to the board, including the chairperson, while the Legislature would have two
  • Set a 13% tax rate on retail sales of cannabis products. Of that, 9% of the 13% would go to the state, while 4% would be directed to localities, with counties to receive a quarter of that revenue, while the municipality would receive the remainder.
  • Permit possession of three ounces of the drug, and 24 grams of concentrate, outside the home. Five pounds is allowed to be kept at home but must be stored away from children.
  • Expanding the medical cannabis program to increase the number of health conditions that a prescriber could certify a patient to receive medical cannabis.

Legal sales of adult use marijuana will be permitted sometime in 2022, though prior to 2022 cities, towns and villages can pass a resolution to prohibit dispensaries and social consumption locations within their municipality.

Many groups including MSSNY, the NYSPTA, NYS Association of County Public Health officials and various law enforcement associations raised serious concerns throughout the debate over the last few years regarding legalization including the need for additional research into the impacts of marijuana use on physical and mental health and the traffic safety impact. MSSNY will continue to work closely with these organizations as well as various state agencies as this law is implemented, to ensure a proper emphasis is being placed on protecting public health.

Here is a link to an additional summary of the passed legislationNew York Set to Legalize Marijuana for Adult, Recreational Use After Cuomo, Lawmakers Strike Deal  (ALI)


Please Urge Governor to Veto legislation to Repeal Covid Legal Protections
Physicians are urged to contact Governor Cuomo requesting that he veto legislation (S.5177/A.3397) recently passed by the State Legislature that would repeal the Covid liability protections provided to physicians and other care providers enacted during the height of the pandemic last spring.  Protect Liability Protections for Care During the Pandemic

Many groups including MSSNY wrote to legislators to oppose A.3397/S.5177, noting that regardless of nursing home concerns that led many to question the continuing need for this law, it is important to maintain these legal protections for the front-line physicians and other health care workers still managing the thousands of new Covid cases in New York every day with an increasing penetration of more easily spread variants.

MSSNY has also raised concerns that despite statutory construction rules that presume legislation is to be applied prospectively in the absence of clearly defined statutory intent to the contrary, there is still a possibility S.5177/A.3397 could be interpreted by a court to retroactively repeal these essential liability protections for care provided during the height of the pandemic when there were not clear medical protocols for Covid treatment and when many non-Covid health care services were required to be postponed.

Importantly, there were comments made by several Assemblymembers during the floor debate on the legislation when it was passed by the NYS Assembly that the “effective date” language means that the repeal provisions would only apply prospectively.  The point was also made by Senator Shelly Mayer during the floor debate in the Senate.  Nevertheless, the ongoing threat to our health care infrastructure posed by the pandemic necessitates that these protections be continued until the cessation of the public health emergency. (AUSTER)


NYS Continues to Expand Vaccine Eligibility to 30 Years of Age and Older
New York State continues to expand eligibility to the COVID-19 vaccine to adults over age 30 which began on March 30, and to age 16 and older starting on April 6, 2021.  The latest March 30, 2021 guidance is here.

All providers can vaccinate any New Yorker, including those with comorbidities or underlying conditions, and individuals 16+. Enrolled providers other than pharmacies may vaccinate any eligible individual. Pharmacies must prioritize K-12 school faculty and staff and childcare workers but are also authorized to vaccinate individuals aged 30 and older and individuals with comorbidities.

MSSNY has been working closely with the state to get vaccine supply to community physician offices and several physician practices around the state may receive an allocation of vaccine supply shortly. MSSNY has been informed that over 190 practices have received vaccine. Physicians who would like to become a COVID-19 immunizer will need to enroll into either the NYSIIS or CIR systems. Physicians can find information about enrolling here.

Providers in receipt of COVID-19 vaccine, irrespective as to whether such doses are via a direct State or federal allocation or a redistribution, will now be required to report to the vaccine tracker on Mondays and Thursdays by 10 am. All providers with COVID -19 vaccine doses on hand or that depleted their allocation since their last report are now required to fill out the vaccine tracker both days. This reporting will continue to be used for allocation determinations and is still required.

Physicians and patients can determine eligibility by going here.    (CLANCY)              


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MSSNY Announces Podcast Episodes 99 & 100!
MSSNY has recently published two new podcasts related to the available COVID vaccines.

  • A Discussion on COVID Vaccine for Patients is MSSNY President, Dr. Bonnie Litvack, President-elect, Dr. Joseph Sellers and Dr. William Valenti, Chair of MSSNY’s Committee on Infectious Diseases discussing vaccines currently available for COVID-19. This podcast answers many questions patients may have about the vaccines. Tell your patients to go to Podcasts to listen.
  • How to Talk to Patients About Vaccine Hesitancy includes a discussion on the history of vaccine hesitancy and offers sage advice from Dr. William Valenti to listeners on talking to vaccine hesitant patients. Listen to this podcast by clicking here.

Click here to select from all 100 of MSSNY’s podcasts:                             (HOFFMAN)


MSSNY’s Physician Wellness and Resiliency Committee: Peer to Peer Program
If you or someone you know is struggling with everyday life stressors, reach out to the P2P program to be connected with a peer supporter to help!

Email: P2P@mssny.org and request that you be connected with a peer supporter

Phone: 1-844-P2P-PEER (1-844-727-7337) and request that you be connected with a peer supporter

MSSNY now offers to physicians, residents and medical students a completely confidential and anonymous opportunity to talk with a peer about some of life stressors. MSSNY’s Physician Wellness and Resiliency Committee launched a Peer 2 Peer (P2P) program to assist their colleagues who are need of help in dealing with work and family stressors. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the emotional issues related to this event, may also be troubling for our colleagues. MSSNY has established a confidential helpline phone number (1-844-P2P-PEER) and an email address (p2p@mssny.org) so that physicians may be connected with a peer 24 hours a day/7 days a week. In addition to offering

a trained, empathetic ear, peer supporters may provide information on specific resources that can offer further support, provide positive coping skills, or connect physicians to professionals for more focused assistance when needed. MSSNY has nearly 50 trained peer supporters across NYS who are just a phone call away!         (LAUDER)


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As of 11 AM This morning, 31.0 Percent of New Yorkers Have Completed at Least One Vaccine Dose
Over the past 24 hours, 233,754 total doses have been administered. To date, New York administered 9,655,705 total doses with 18.5 percent of New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See data by region and county on the State’s Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker


Fair Health Report: Telemedicine and Urgent Care Largest Growth Categories
In 2019 urgent care was the second-highest growth category for the health care industry after telemedicine, according to Fair Health’s latest report on utilization and pricing. In New York, urgent-care claims were found to be higher than the national average, speaking to its strong demand, according to exclusive data prepared for Crain’s.

As urgent care continues to grow its presence in the city, greater collaboration between such facilities, hospitals and medical offices is needed to avoid the siloing of services, experts said.

The fourth edition of Fair Health’s FH Healthcare Indicators and FH Medical Price Index was released Wednesday. It tracks utilization and pricing trends across the country, drawing from the Midtown-based nonprofit’s repository of more than 32 billion private insurance claims.

The report showed that, for outpatient visits lasting 30 to 44 minutes, New York urgent care sites that were out-of-network with an insurer charged $300 on average, compared with the national median of $239. For a provider and an insurer with prenegotiated rates, that median charge was $150 locally, compared with $143 nationally.

New York’s claims at retail clinics—typically located in a supermarket or a big-box store—were also lower than the national average. The state’s out-of-network charge rate was $139 on average, compared to $150 nationally. Prenegotiated allowed amounts for retail clinics in New York was $79, compared with $97 nationally.

The shifting role of urgent care clinics could explain New York’s trend as well. “People used to go to their primary care doctor if they had an immediate need, but these days those providers have transitioned to a system where one would need to schedule an appointment week in advance,” said Dr. Brendan Carr, chair of emergency medicine for Mount Sinai Health System. “Urgent care has since popped up to fill that void.”

Fair Health data showed that in 2019, the most claimed code from local urgent-care centers was “established patient office or other outpatient services” at 33%, compared with 24% nationally. The state’s claims growth followed national trends. Telehealth grew the most in the U.S. that year (73%), followed by urgent care (47%), retail clinics (39%) and then emergency rooms (33%).

Summit Health, with 146 CityMD urgent-care locations and 80 multispecialty care sites in New York and New Jersey, sought not just internal integration but also to collaborate externally with health systems. Mount Sinai has an extensive collaboration with CityMD, and such collaborations will become critical as urgent-care groups grow, Klein said.

[Primary care doctors] have shifted more toward chronic disease management due to financial considerations,” Carr said. “It seems
urgent care is here to stay.” (Crain’s Health Pulse, April 1).


Best Med Schools: NYU Moved Up to #2; Columbia Ties with Stanford for #4
NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine and Columbia University reached new heights in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of the best medical schools in the country in terms of research, released Tuesday.

NYU took the No. 2 spot in the national ranking, up from No. 4 on last year’s list. Columbia climbed two rungs to tie with Stanford University for the No. 4 spot. They were the only New York medical schools to make the top 10 for research.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai tied with the University of Chicago for 17th place for research. Weill Cornell Medical College fell from the 11th spot to 19th, where it tied with the University of California-San Diego.

U.S. News put together the rankings using federal grant and contract values to calculate each school’s federal research activity in total and as an average per faculty member. The financing data came from information the schools filed with the liaison committee on medical education. Previously, the rankings based medical school research indicators only on National Institutes of Health grants, according to U.S. News chief data strategist Robert Morse.

Also informing this year’s rankings were peer and residency director quality assessments, faculty resources and student selectivity measures, such as MCAT scores. Of those 191 schools surveyed in late 2020 and early 2021, 129 responded and provided data for U.S. News to calculate overall rankings. Read more about the methodology here.


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Gov. Cuomo Launches Telehealth Training for Medical and Behavioral Providers
The state has launched a telehealth training program for its medical and behavioral health providers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. The open-access program is a collaboration between Stony Brook Medicine, the Reimagine New York Commission, the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center, and the state Department of Health.


60 Minutes+ Aired Segment on Mental Health for Frontline Medical Staff
This month, 60 Minutes+, the streaming news spinoff on Paramount+, aired a segment on the mental health toll of the pandemic on frontline medical workers. It is available to stream on Paramount+, but, unfortunately, it’s behind a paywall.

We know from our survey that although 58% of physicians reported experiencing burnout, only 13% sought mental health support services related to it. Any public information about this crisis could help increase the number of physicians get the support they need!

To make this critical information available to everyone, The Physicians Foundation is asking Paramount+ to remove the segment from behind its paywall, making it free access. Join us! We have 3 simple asks that can make a world of a difference in helping make this happen.

  1. Comment on the 60 Minutes tweet on the segment.

Reply to this 60 Minutes tweet, with language such as:

Thank you @60minutes and @WesleyLowery for covering this crisis. This critical info should not be behind a paywall. @Paramountplus make this free access for the wellbeing of our #physicians!

  1. Tweet about the issue. 

Tweet about this on your own Twitter account to increase visibility of this issue. Sample language for your use:

We join @PhysFound in asking @paramountplus to make their segment about the toll of the pandemic on #physicians’ mental health FREE. The @60Minutes @WesleyLowery report covers a critical issue that everyone should be able to access.

  1. Share this ask with your colleagues.

Ask others in your network to do the same, and feel free to share this email with them for guidance.

If you have any questions, please reach out to pfmedia@jpa.com.
(Note: MSSNY is a charter member of The Physicians Foundation.)


April 24 Meeting Young Physicians, Residents/Fellows and Medical Students
A virtual joint meeting of the Young Physicians, Residents/Fellows and the Medical Students Sections is being planned for the afternoon of Saturday, April 24.  Please mark your calendars and watch E-News and your mailboxes for more details as they become available.  If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Rohrer at krohrer@mssny.org


Shipments of J&J Vaccines Halted as FDA Probes Error; Ruined 15M Doses
Shipments of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccines to the federal government will be halted while the FDA investigates an error at an Emergent BioSolutions manufacturing plant in Baltimore that ruined about 15 million vaccine doses.

Workers at the plant accidentally conflated the ingredients of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine several weeks ago, ruining about 15 million doses. The mistake, which federal officials said was a human error, forced regulators to delay authorization of the plant’s production lines, according to the Times.

Emergent BioSolutions has contracted with both Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca to help produce their COVID-19 vaccines.

The error doesn’t affect the Johnson & Johnson vaccines now being distributed throughout the U.S., the Times reported. Those doses were made in the Netherlands.

But all future shipments of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were supposed to come from the Emergent plant in Baltimore.

Federal officials told the Times they still expect to have enough doses of COVID-19 vaccines to fulfill President Joe Biden’s promise to vaccinate every adult by the end of May.


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COVID-19 Pushed Total US Deaths Beyond 3.3 Million Last Year
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed total U.S. deaths last year beyond 3.3 million, the nation’s highest annual death toll, the government reported Wednesday. The coronavirus caused approximately 375,000 deaths and was the third leading cause of death in 2020, after heart disease and cancer. COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now top 550,000 since the start of the pandemic. COVID-19 displaced suicide as one of the top 10 causes of death, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (KHN)


First Year Residency Positions Declined Since 2020: IMGs Affected
The percentage of total registrants matched to first-year residency positions declined this year from the 2020 figure, as the number of registrants surged and issues caused by the pandemic emerged, according to data released by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Meanwhile, the total number of positions filled and number of first-year positions filled both set records, as new programs welcomed residents via Match Day.

The NRMP data found that the percentage of registrants matched to first-year positions declined from 80.8% to 78.5%, with a record number of 48,700 registering — 8.3% higher than last year. The percentage of 4th-year U.S. allopathic medical school students matching to first-year positions declined from 93.7% to 92.8%; the percentage for U.S. osteopathic medicine degree earners declined from 90.7% to 89.1%.

International medical school graduates (IMGs) who are not U.S. citizens were especially affected — their matching rate dropped from 61.1% to 54.8%. Those submitting program preferences numbered 42,508, up 6% over last year.

Raw numbers regarding matching were also up, with some setting records. Of the 38,106 total positions available, 36,179 were filled — a 2.6% increase over last year. Of the 35,194 first-year positions available, 33,535 were filled — a 2.9% increase. The percentage of all positions filled increased by 0.3%, to 94.9%, and the percentage of first-year positions filled increased by 0.2%, to 94.8%.

Specialties that filled all available positions (with at least 30 positions) included dermatology, emergency medicine, pediatrics, neurological surgery, otolaryngology, integrated plastic surgery, and vascular surgery. Specialties that filled less than 50% of available positions with U.S. seniors included pathology (41.4%) and surgery (28%).

A record 5,915 programs participated, 88 more than last year, with the number of such programs increasing by 16.7% over the last 5 years. That surge has been “spurred in part by the completion of the transition to the single accreditation system,” with DO and MD programs merging into a single matching system, according to the NRMP.

The number of U.S. citizen international medical school graduates who submitted program lists increased 2.5%, to 5,295 — the most in 6 years — and 3,152 of them matched to first-year positions, down two spots over last year.

The number of non-U.S. citizen international medical school graduates who submitted lists increased by 15%, to 7,943; a record 4,356 of them matched to first-year positions — up 3.2%.

NRMP reported 1,927 spots unfilled this year, down 3.6% from last year; some unmatched residents will be placed in those spots via the NRMP Match Week Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), with final figures to be shared publicly in May.

These data follow recent reports that applications to medical schools soared this cycle. Medical schools cannot accommodate the surging demand, sources told MedPage Today, in part because residency program spots have not been increasing at the same rate as their applications. While the rate of residency positions per active applicant has increased slightly since 2010, that figure is still down over 2003, and well below the rates of the late 1980s and early 1990s.” The AAMC [Association of American Medical Colleges] supports bipartisan legislation that would gradually add 15,000 Medicare-supported residency positions over 5 years,” the organization said in December.


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Open Payments Pre-publication Review and Dispute Now Available
Pre-publication review and dispute for the Program Year 2020 Open Payments data is available beginning today, April 1, 2021 through May 15, 2021.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will publish the Open Payments Program Year 2020 data and updates to the previous program years’ data in June 2021.

Physician and teaching hospital review of the data is voluntary, but strongly encouraged. Please keep in mind the following reminders:

  • Disputes must be initiated by May 15, 2021 in order to be reflected in the June 2021 data publication. For more information on review and dispute timing and publication, refer to the Review and Dispute Timing and Data Publication Quick Reference Guide.
  • CMS does not meditate or facilitate disputes. Physicians and teaching hospitals should work directly with reporting entities to resolve disputes.
  • Registration in the Open Payments system is required in order to participate in review and dispute activities.

If you have never registered with Open Payments before:

Make sure you have your National Provider Identifier (NPI) number and State License Number (SLN). Initial registration is a two-step process:

  1. Register in the CMS Identity Management System (IDM);
  2. Register in the Open Payments system

For users who have previously registered: Users that have registered during previous program years do not need to re-register.

Please note: If the account has not been accessed for within the last 60 days the account will have been locked due to inactivity. To unlock an account, go to the CMS Enterprise Portal, enter your user ID, and correctly answer all challenge questions to gain access to your account. You will be prompted to create a new password.

If the account has not been accessed for 180 days or more, the account will be deactivated. To reinstate the account, call the Open Payments Help Desk at 1-855-326-8366; (TTY Line:1-844-649-2766)

For more information about the registration process, visit the physician and teaching hospital registration page on the Open Payments website.


 

Award Nominations Open

The Medical Society of the State of New York is accepting nominations for the 2020 Albion O. Bernstein, MD Award.  This prestigious award is given to:

“…the physician, surgeon or scientist who shall have made the most widely beneficial discovery or developed the most useful method in medicine, surgery or in the prevention of disease in the twelve months prior to December 2020.”

This award was endowed by the late Morris J. Bernstein in memory of his son, a physician who died in an accident while answering a hospital call in November 1940.

The $2,000 award will be presented to the recipient during a MSSNY Council Meeting.

Nominations must be submitted on an official application form and must include the nominator’s narrative description of the significance of the candidate’s achievements as well as the candidate’s curriculum vitae, including a list of publications or other contributions.

To request an application, please contact:

Committee on Continuing Medical Education
Miriam Hardin, PhD, Manager, Continuing Medical Education
Medical Society of the State of New York
99 Washington Avenue, Suite 408
Albany, NY 12210
518-465-8085
mhardin@mssny.org 

Education

NGS Ed Session on Start of the Return of Accelerated Advanced Medicare Payments

Register here.

Medicare Part A

Apr 08, 2021 3:00 p.m ET – 4:00 p.m ET

                                                    Webinar                                                                  

Updates for Accelerated and Advanced Payments Program

During this session, we will review the revised repayment and recoupment process and provide the latest updates on the Accelerated and Advanced Payments program.  If your facility received an accelerated or advanced payment from Medicare due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, then attending this webinar will provide the most current information from CMS.

Medicare Part B

Apr 15, 2021 10:00 a.m ET – 11:00 a.m ET

                                                    Webinar                                                                  

COVID-19 Medicare Part B Advanced Payment, Repayment and Recoupment Process

If you requested accelerated or advanced payments from Medicare due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, this learning session is for you. CMS expanded the accelerated and advance payment program for financial hardship relief during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Accelerated or advanced payments need to be repaid to the Medicare Trust Fund. During this webinar, we will review the repayment and recoupment process and address your questions.


MSSNY Medical Matters Program on Mental Health of Children and Teens During COVID
Registration now open
Medical Matters: COVID-19 & Mental Health of Children and Teens
Date: April 21, 2021 @ 7:30am 

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of the entire population.  Learn more about how children and teens have been affected by registering for Medical Matters: COVID-19 & Mental Health of Children and Teens. This webinar will take place on Wednesday, April 21st at 7:30 am.  Linda Chokroverty, MD will serve as faculty for this program.  Click here to register for this webinar.

Educational objectives

  • Identify normal stressors impacting children and teens and those that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Examine what is known so far about the mental health impact of COVID-19 on children and teens
  • Describe resources to assist children and teens during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Appraise the scope of COVID-19’s long term mental health impact on children and teens

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 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. (HOFFMAN)


Veterans Matters: Military Culture: Everything Physicians Need to Know about Veterans as Patients Webinar

Registration Now Open

Thursday, April 22nd @ 7:30 am

The Medical Society of the State of New York is hosting a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program entitled Veterans Matters: Military Culture: Everything Physicians Need to Know about Veterans as Patients live webinar on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 7:30 am.

Click HERE to register for the program! View the program flyer HERE.

When:                 April 22, 2021 at 7:30 am
Faculty:               Lt. Colonel Lance Allen Wang (Ret.) & Sharran Chambers-Murphy, Desert Storm-era Veteran

Educational Objectives:

  • Describe the unique aspects of military culture and how they impact patients who are veterans;
  • Explain the Dwyer Peer-to-Peer program as a resource to assist veteran patients re-acclimating from a group to an individual mentality; and
  • Review and identify resources to improve physician’s ability to fully treat veterans who are transitioning back to civilian life.

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 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. (SHERPA)


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 Christina Southard 516-488-6100 x355 • fax 516-488-2188

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


.Soho Rental Office
Two 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


For Rent Medical Office 800 2nd Ave, 806
FOR RENT 800 2nd Avenue, 806 – Fully built out Medical office ready for use – reception area; 2 office/ consultation rooms; 4 examination rooms with plumbing; 1 sterilization room or pantry; 1 file/ nurse room, Total 8 rooms. All examination rooms are set up with plumbing and cabinetry.  24/7 doorman/ Elevators. Central location, Grand Central Station, buses Subways. Rent: $65 per Rentable Sq Ft; Sq Ft: 1,482 Rentable; Gross Lease. Showings or video contact Maya – Broker – maya@mallannyhomes.com or mobile 646-258-4460 listing information http://www.mallannyhomes.com/properties/detail/800-second-avenue-806/

800 2nd Ave Lobby800 2nd Ave Hallway


.
Allergy Practice For Sale, Forest Hills, NY
Founded in 1988, this well-established Single Practitioner Allergy Practice has over 3500 active patients, with very positive patient reviews. The office is only one of a few in the area, but patients are seen from throughout the NYC Metropolitan Area, as well as Long Island. Potential for growth. Centrally located next to major public transportation.  Retirement planned. Lease is assignable. Well-trained, extremely personable staff of three, including a Registered Nurse. Payer mix85% private, 10% Medicare 5% other. Email any questions to: allergydoctorbn@gmail.com

Two (2) Prime Commercial Spaces
Two (2) affordable office spaces available for immediate occupancy.  Located in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn,  surrounded by multiple co-ops and private homes.  Space can be viewed at your convenience. Price negotiable. Call: Avi 212-736-3680 ext. 15


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 substitution. Please refer to full listing


MSSNY Ad Rates