MSSNY eNews: April 6, 2022

Physician Recoups $200,000 in Denied Insurance Payments
A private practice physician in New York City recently contacted MSSNY about an insurance company reimbursement issue concerning repeatedly denied COVID- related claims. MSSNY’s Division of Physician Payment and Practice stepped in on behalf of the member physician and recouped $200,000 in unpaid claims.

The MSSNY member writes:

“I am the owner of a small medical practice in Queens that expanded our hours during the pandemic to try and meet the needs of the community. We hired extra staff and extended ourselves, physically, emotionally and financially, to have tests available and to care for our patients. Unfortunately, we had one insurance company that was consistently denying our claims for almost 2 years citing various glitches and miscommunications within the company.

“Fruitless hours were spent trying to connect with the correct people at the company to attempt to get paid for our services. Heather Lopez, MSSNY’s Director of Physician Payment and Practice, on behalf of MSSNY, was able to get us in touch with the correct person. She was involved in many emails, phone calls and zoom meetings—holding our hand while simultaneously putting the insurance company’s feet to the fire.

“Heather was able to get them to agree to $200, 000—almost every penny that we were owed for our services. We are very grateful.”

In March alone, MSSNY’s Department of Physician Payment and Practice conducted 57 total consults with members, 34 of which have been completely resolved and 23 are in the process of being resolved. In addition, nine consults from last month have been fully resolved.

If you have questions about this or any other insurance concern, contact MSSNY’s Director of Physician Payment and Practice, Heather Lopez, at 518.465.8085 X332 | hlopez@mssny.org

Webinar with US Surgeon General Murthy: Request for Information about the Impact of Misinformation During COVID
The Office of the Surgeon General recently issued a Request for Information about the impact of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comments are due and the Surgeon General’s Office wants to hear from physicians.

The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for stories about personal experiences related to health misinformation to deepen our collective understanding of its sources and impact. Please join this webinar, where staff in the Office of the Surgeon General will share information about the request for information and how to share your story!

Thursday April 7, 4:30 p.m.
Register here: www.bit.ly/RFIBriefing
To learn more about the Request for Information on health information, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/rfi

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Medical School Rankings
U.S. News & World Report this week released its annual Best Medical Schools rankings, which include separate lists recognizing leading schools for research, primary care, and each of eight specialties.

The top 10 medical schools for research:
1. Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.)
2. New York University Grossman School of Medicine (New York)
3. Columbia University (New York)
3. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore)
3. University of California-San Francisco (San Francisco)
6. Duke University (Durham, N.C.)
6. University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (Philadelphia)
8. Stanford University (Stanford, Calif.)
9. University of Washington (Seattle)
10. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

The top 10 medical schools for primary care (including ties):
1. University of Washington (Seattle)
2. University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco Calif.)
3. University of Minnesota (Minneapolis)
4. Oregon Health and Science University (Portland)
5. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
6. University of Colorado (Aurora, Colorado)
7. University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, Neb.)
8. University of California-Davis (Davis, Calif.)
9. Harvard University (Boston)
10. University of Kansas Medical Center (Kansas City, Kan.)
11. University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (Worcester, Mass.)
12. University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)

The Top Schools for 8 Specialties
1. Anesthesiology: Harvard University
2. Family medicine: University of Washington
3. Internal medicine: Johns Hopkins University
4. Obstetrics and gynecology: Harvard University
5. Pediatrics: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
6. Psychiatry: Harvard University
7. Radiology: Johns Hopkins University
8. Surgery: Harvard University

New York City 17^th Healthiest City According to New Report
To identify the healthiest and unhealthiest cities, analysts compared 182 of the most populated U.S. cities across 43 key indicators of good health. Metrics ranged from the cost of a medical visit to COVID-19 cases. More information about the methodology is available here.

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in cooperation with the CDC, recently updated its COVID-19 vaccine guidance. A summary of the changes is below:

• People age 12 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may choose to receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster dose.
• All adults ages 50 years and older regardless of health status may choose to receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNtech) at least 4 months after the first booster dose.
• People ages 18–49 years regardless of health status who received Janssen/Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine as both their primary series dose and booster dose may receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first Janssen booster dose.
• Clarification of safety issues including those related to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and adults (MIS-A) and myocarditis.
• Update on the availability of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine supplied in a vial with a blue cap (0.5 mL dosage volume) for administration of a 50 µg booster dose. The red cap vial is still available (0.25 mL dosage volume).

MSSNY Obituaries
CASTILONE, Harold Charles; East Amherst NY.  Died October 24, 2021, age 90.  Erie County Medical Society

CHRIST, Howard Newton; Citrus Springs FL.  Died December 17, 2021, age 94.  Suffolk County Medical Society

DERMKSIAN, George; New York NY.  Died January 14, 2021, age 93.  New York County Medical Society

FELGER, Harry Pierre; New Seabury MA.  Died October 31, 2021, age 100.  Medical Society County of Kings

FERRO, Frank Eugene; Hamburg NY.  Died October 17, 2021, age 98.  Erie County Medical Society

FULLERTON, Richard E.; Bonita Springs FL.  Died October 17, 2021, age 97.  Monroe County Medical Society

JOHNSTONE, Douglas E.; Highland Beach FL.  Died March 22, 2022, age 101.  Monroe County Medical Society

KIM, Hyung Rin; Queensbury NY.  Died December 04, 2021, age 94.  Warren County Medical Society

KORELITZ, Burton I.; New York NY.  Died January 08, 2022, age 95.  New York County Medical Society

KUNZ, Joseph L. M.; Lockport NY.  Died November 02, 2021, age 91.  Erie County Medical Society

LERMAN, Philip Harry; Great Neck NY.  Died March 08, 2022, age 103.  Nassau County Medical Society

LOFFREDO, Joseph Carmine; Schenectady NY.  Died March 03, 2022, age 89.  Medical Society County of Schenectady

O’CONNOR, Thomas P.; West Palm Beach FL.  Died June 21, 2021, age 80.  Erie County Medical Society

PATRICK, William G.; Fayetteville NY.  Died January 29, 2021, age 67.  Onondaga County Medical Society

PAWLOWSKI, Jadwiga H.; Springfield NJ.  Died January 15, 2021, age 84.  New York County Medical Society

RAAB, Thomas A.; Buffalo NY.  Died April 11, 2021, age 69.  Erie County Medical Society

RITTERBAND, Arnold B.; Schenectady NY.  Died December 14, 2021, age 95.  Medical Society County of Schenectady

SAEZ, Miguel Antonio; Tenafly NJ.  Died January 14, 2021, age 88.  New York County Medical Society

SCHORE, Arthur Howard; New York NY.  Died December 17, 2021, age 82.  New York County Medical Society

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
For the MSSNY 2022 Ad RateSheet, please click here.

Medical Office Suite for Rent  (Downtown, New York City) – Ready to Move In!
On Canal Street, NYC : near Mulberry and Mott Street. Busy area near Subways. In a professional 7day/week concierge building . Office Suite 1002+ sq ft, beautiful & bright w/ five office consult-exam rooms, Spacious waiting and receptionist area, utility room & private restroom.  MUST SEE!  Please Call for showing at: 917-378-2699 or email: cnyc2828@gmail.com. Ask for Sammie.

Rendr- Transforming Healthcare – Leadership Opportunity: Associate Chief Medical Office, SVP of Population Health, Bilingual English and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) preferred Job Position: Associate Chief Medical Office, SVP of Population Health in this role, you will lead and provide a wide range of support through population health, quality measures, practice transformation, Rendr360 department, House Calls, and other projects.  Please send resumes careers@rendrcare.com. We are offering leadership opportunities to Physicians who are interested in providing high-quality clinical care to our patients in the diverse communities that we serve. As a rapidly growing network, we provide a supportive environment for our physicians to practice medicineunder the guidance of dedicated medical leadership. www.rendrcare.com.

Rendr- Transforming Healthcare – Primary Care Opportunity: Internal or Family Medicine Physician, Bilingual English and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)
Job Position: Internal Family Medicine Physician please send resumes to: careers@rendrcare.com. We are offering employment opportunities to Internal or Family Medicine Physicians who are interested in providing high-quality clinical care to our patients in the diverse communities that we serve. As a rapidly growing network, we provide a supportive environment for our physicians to practice medicine

under the guidance of dedicated medical leadership. www.rendrcare.com.