MSSNY eNews: March 24, 2021 – State Budget Negotiations Continue – Keep Up Physician Grassroots!


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State Budget Negotiations Continue – Keep Up Physician Grassroots!
After passing their respective one-House Budget proposals, the Assembly and the Senate are now having negotiations with the Governor’s office to complete a State Budget before next week’s April 1 deadline.   Below is an initial summary of the most pressing Budget issues where MSSNY has been advocating, as well as the continued need for physician grassroots efforts

Excess Insurance
Both the Assembly and Senate Budget proposals recommended the rejection of the $51 million cut to the Excess Medical Malpractice Insurance program and 50% physician cost share imposition that had been proposed in the Executive Budget. Physicians can send a letter to legislators urging that they continue to fight to prevent this cut from being included in the Budget.

OPMC Changes
The Assembly Budget proposal recommended the rejection of the “OPMC Modernization Act” provisions from the Executive Budget including several provisions that would substantially curtail physician due process rights when a complaint has been filed against them with the OPMC. The Senate Budget proposal recommended the rejection of almost all of the “OPMC Modernization Act” provisions but left in components related to background checks for new licensees and expanded information on the physician profile.

Physicians can send a letter urging the Legislature to continue to fight to preserve due process protections for physicians and rejecting these seriously unfair proposed changes.

Pharmacy Scope
The Assembly Budget proposal recommended the rejection in its entirety of the pharmacy scope expansion provisions from the Executive Budget proposal. The Senate Budget proposal recommended the rejection of Executive Budget proposals to greatly expand the physician-pharmacy Collaborative Drug Therapy program and pharmacist self-ordering of lab tests, but mostly accepted the proposal to expand the immunizations that can be performed by pharmacists.

Please urge your legislators to continue to fight to reject these short-sighted proposals that would empower big box chains at the expense of community-based physician medical homes.

Committee for Physicians Health
The Senate Budget proposal 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, there have been indications that they will support the restoration of this cut.

E-Prescribing Waivers
Both the Assembly and Senate Budget proposals recommended the rejection of the Executive Budget proposal to eliminate the right of prescribers to apply for a year to year waiver of e-prescribing requirements.

Medicaid “Prescriber Prevails”
Both the Assembly and Senate Budget proposals recommended the rejection of the Executive Budget proposal 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.

Telehealth
The Assembly Budget proposal recommended the rejection of almost all of the Executive Budget telehealth Budget proposals except for a provision that expands the locations where telehealth services can be provided.

The Senate accepted the Governor’s telehealth Budget proposal, but added language supported by MSSNY that would require payment parity for telehealth services as compared to in-person services.

Nurse Practitioner Collaborative Practice
The Assembly Budget proposal included the Governor’s proposal to extend the existing modified nurse practitioner independent practice statute for another 6 years.  The Senate Budget proposal did not include these provisions.

Medicaid Cuts
Both the Senate and the Assembly rejected the 1% Across the Board Medicaid cut.

Recreational Use Marijuana
This was excluded from both one-House Budget proposals but it is increasingly likely a separate bill will be enacted.


MSSNY Scope of Practice Radio Ad Campaign
With a grant from the American Medical Association Scope of Practice Partnership, MSSNY has for the last two weeks been running radio ads in media markets across the State (WINS-AM and WCBS-AM/downstate, WGY-AM in Albany, WEBEN-AM in Buffalo, WHAM-AM in Rochester, and WSYR-AM in Syracuse), urging that the Legislature reject several components of the proposed State Budget that would expand the scope of practice of pharmacists and nurse practitioners to perform various health care services without coordination with a physician. Listen to the ad here.

As the Legislature works to finalize a State Budget over the next week or so, we ask you to continue to write and tweet your state legislators to urge that these provisions be removed from the State Budget.


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Have You Lost a Colleague or Family Member to COVID-19? Please Submit Names of Physicians and Family Members Who Lost Their Lives During the Pandemic
Doctors Day is March 30. This year, to honor our physicians and family members who died of COVID-19 in 2020-2021, MSSNY is designing a poster with the names that are submitted. Please send the names to jvecchione@mssny.org


From DOH: Guidance for The New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Program
Limited amounts of COVID-19 vaccine are available for New York’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program. The amount of vaccine the state receives is based upon the allocation made to New York by the federal government. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) then determines state allocations to providers and entities who have enrolled to administer vaccine.

Effective March 23, individuals age 50 and older are eligible to be vaccinated, in addition to all previously eligible groups. All providers must make efforts to vaccinate the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including those with comorbidities or underlying conditions, and individuals 50+. Enrolled providers other than pharmacies may vaccinate any eligible individual. Pharmacies must prioritize P-12 school faculty and staff and childcare workers, but are also authorized to vaccinate individuals age 50 and older and individuals with comorbidities and underlying conditions. Read the full guidance here.


Interim Health Advisory from DOH: Ensuring Access to Health Care Services During COVID-19
In-person healthcare services, including routine preventive care and follow-up for direct examination and/or treatment needs, including all recommended age-appropriate vaccinations, should not be postponed. Access to preventive health care services is important to decrease the risk of negative health outcomes and outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases that could overwhelm our healthcare system and endanger New Yorkers. When seeking healthcare services, individuals should take all the appropriate steps to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. Read full advisory here.


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Nassau County Med Society Virtual Event:
Women on the Frontlines: Stronger Together March 31st, 2021 from 6-7 PM

You’re invited to a conversation with:

Dr. Susan Bailey, President of the AMA • Dr. Elizabeth Fontana, Neurosurgeon and Chief Resident at New York Presbyterian Hospital • Dr. Bonnie Litvack, President of MSSNY • Dr. Carmen Rodriguez, FACOG, President of the LIJ, Medical Staff Society and Associate Chair of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center – Performance Improvement Coordinating Group • Dr. Aisha Terry, MPH, FACEP, Emergency Physician and Associate Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Milken Institute School of Public Health and Pandemic Advisor • Dr. Haritha Veeramachaneni, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and recipient of the New York Times’ Super Doctors Rising Stars

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are celebrating women who have been leaders on the frontline during the pandemic. Please register here for our virtual event on Wednesday, March 31st, 2021. For further details or registration assistance, please email information@nassaucountymedicalsociety.org or call (516) 832-2300.


 

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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


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


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