MSSNY Pulse: August 12, 2022
Message from MSSNY President Parag Mehta, MD:
Collaboration is Key to Solving Looming Crises
Colleagues:
MSSNY is busy this summer collaborating with all stakeholders to find appropriate solutions to multiple looming crises that strain our organizations and the people of New York.
While we are still struggling with Covid-19, we are also facing the Monkeypox public health emergency, worsening regulatory restrictions, and now a looming malpractice crisis due to the passing of wrongful death liability expansion legislation.
To address each crisis, we need to collaborate among all the stakeholders; build trust and win people’s hearts; learn and develop strategies; and then communicate effectively. We need to invest time and effort in changing people’s mindsets and behavior. This can be achieved by developing skills and talent, communication, and having leaders as role models.
MSSNY is communicating with our members, collaborating with specialty societies, hospitals, businesses, HANYS, GNYHA, MLMIC, and consumer groups, advocating elected officials, participating in media interviews, and publishing newspaper Op-Eds.
MSSNY is also working with numerous patient advocacy groups to urge Governor Hochul to sign into law a suite of pro-patient, pro-physician bills passed by the Senate and Assembly to reduce administrative hassles with health insurance plans that interfere with patient care delivery.
Wellness Corner. “As human beings, we all want to be happy and free from misery. We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear, and suspicion, while love and compassion, and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.” –Dalai Lama
I’d like to hear from you—our MSSNY members. Please email me your comments and suggestions at MSSNYpresident@mssny.org.
Parag Mehta, MD
MSSNY President
More on the Healthcare Worker Bonus Pool
As reported last week, Governor Hochul announced the launch of the Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus program. Enacted in the 2022-23 State Budget, the program allocates $1.3 billion for the payment of recruitment and retention bonuses to certain health care and mental hygiene workers. Importantly, following the collective advocacy of MSSNY, various specialty societies, and thousands of medical residents from across the State of New York, it was announced by DOH that eligibility for the bonuses includes medical residents and fellows.
The statutory list of employers eligible and required to participate is broad and includes all health care entities licensed by Article 28 subject to a Certificate of Need process, as well as non-Article 28 licensed health care providers including physicians which have at least 20% of their patients covered under the Medicaid program. MSSNY is still awaiting further guidance from the NYS Department of Health for how physician offices can best determine if they meet this threshold.
For physician practices that reach this required threshold to participate, steps to apply include: (1) create an account (HWB Portal (nysworkerbonus.com)) ; (2) identify eligible employees (see below); and (3) identify the hours for which those employees are eligible (also see below). Qualified employers are required to submit their eligible employees’ data in a specified data format that will be provided by the Department. All qualified Medicaid employers must maintain contemporaneous records tracking all claims submitted for no less than six (6) years.Bonuses will be awarded to eligible workers who make less than $125,000 annually and remain in their positions for at least 6 months. Disbursements will be commensurate with the number of hours worked and duration of service within designated vesting periods for up to a total of $3,000 per employee. Please see this chart NYS Healthcare Worker Bonus (HWB) Program for the vesting schedule.
More information on this program can be obtained by reviewing the DOH FAQ is available here.
CDC Loosens COVID-19 Recommendations
The CDC yesterday loosened many of its recommendations for battling Covid-19, a shift that puts more of the responsibility to limit viral spread on individuals, rather than on schools, businesses and other institutions. The CDC’s focus is now on highly vulnerable populations and how to protect them, rather than on the majority of people who have some immunity against the virus and are unlikely to become severely ill. According to the new guidelines, those exposed to the virus no longer need to quarantine at home, regardless of their vaccination status, although they should wear a mask for 10 days and get tested for the virus on day 5.
Lawsuits. Divorce. Creditors. Are Your Assets Shielded from Legal Action?
Protecting our hard-earned assets is a priority for all of us. It can encompass both legal and financial strategies. There are many circumstances in which your assets can be vulnerable, including being sued in a civil lawsuit, bankruptcy, or divorce.
An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.
Pre-empting these financially devastating events with diligent financial planning is easier, more affordable, and certainly more desirable than being caught unprepared. Unfortunately, many physicians don’t consider these possibilities until they occur which is why Altfest developed this webinar, Shielding Your Assets from Legal Action for the educational benefit of doctors like you.
Join Altfest us on Tuesday, August 16th at 12 Noon ET to learn how best to protect your assets.
Altfest Personal Wealth Management is the Preferred Wealth Manager for the members of the Medical Society of the State of New York. As fee only fiduciaries, we are committed to providing objective and impartial advice on wealth matters for physicians and putting your interests first – always.
MSSNY YPS/Residents Social Meet Up – Friday, September 23, 2022 @ 7:00 pm
MSSNY YPS and Residents are invited to a social meet up on September 23rd at 7 PM at Cooper Bluff Waterfront Bar in Oyster Bay, NY. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet, mingle and make contacts. View full flyer here. To RSVP, contact Kathy Rohrer at: krohrer@mssny.org 516-488-6100 x 396.
What Are Your Decision-Making Strengths and Blind Spots?
Every day, hour, and minute, decisions are made. In medicine, those decisions are potentially life or death. Many approach decision-making from the same perspective over and over by using the same tools and habits every time, even if the decisions are vastly different. But following the same strategy for every problem limits your abilities. To make better decisions, break out of these patterns and see things differently, even if it is uncomfortable.
Understanding your problem solver profile will allow for more effective leadership and decision-making. An article in Harvard Business Review identifies five profiles, which the author calls Problem Solver Profiles: The Adventurer, Detective, Listener, Thinker, or Visionary.
- The Adventurer makes decisions quickly and trusts their gut.
- The Detective values information and looking for facts and data. They base decisions on the evidence..
- The Listener has a trusted village of people they rely on for input and opinions.
- The Thinker is thoughtful and carefully weigh options, wanting to understand the positives and negatives of each. Speed is not the goal; process is.
- The Visionary doesn’t settle for the ordinary, likes to go their own way, often surprising people with their decisions.
To learn more about these archetypes and how to make yours work to your decision-making advantage, check out What Are Your Decision-Making Strengths and Blind Spots? (HBR, 8/9, Einhorn).
Association of Remote Technology Use and Other Decentralization Tools with Patient Likelihood to Enroll in Cancer Clinical Trials
A recent study in JAMA looks at the association of remote technology and other decentralization tools with patient likelihood to enroll in cancer clinical trials.The diverse population of those with cancer in the United States cannot be replicated in most trials, and adequate enrollment of participants in cancer clinical trials is essential for trial success and advancing new cancer care standards.
To stop the spread of Covid-19, the US Food and Drug Administration and the National Cancer Institute issued guidance for trial investigators on methods to facilitate trial decentralization through the remote collection of trial data outside the standard, in-person, centralized clinical trial assessment site. These methods included virtual clinic visits, delivery of investigational products to the home, and alternative laboratories or imaging centers.
Overall, among this cross-sectional study of patients with and survivors of cancer, most respondents expressed a strong willingness to participate in cancer clinical trials. Income and age were factors, however, when it came to willingness to participate in trials requiring additional effort in terms of the frequency of visits and travel distance. Remote technology and other decentralization tools that would decrease travel to a trial site was associated with an increase in patient likelihood toward participation in these trials.
In conclusion, alleviating patient barriers of time and travel via remote options, patient consent rates for clinical trials may increase.
Association of Remote Technology Use and Other Decentralization Tools with Patient Likelihood to Enroll in Cancer Clinical Trials. (JAMA, 7/5, Adams, Long, Fleury).
Please Contact Your Members of Congress to Prevent Steep Cuts for 2023
Due to varying provisions expiring at the end of 2022, physicians face an over 8% cut in their Medicare payments for 2023 unless the United States Congress again acts to prevent these cuts. Therefore, physicians are urged to send a letter to their respective member of Congress. Physicians can use the AMA Grassroots Network to make this contact. Be Heard | Physicians Grassroots Network
Late last year, MSSNY worked together with the AMA and state and specialty societies across the country to successfully persuade Congress to delay a “perfect storm” of Medicare payment cuts totaling 10% that, if permitted to be implemented, would have severely impeded patient access to care.
It’s clear that Congress must work with the physician community to develop long-term solutions to the systemic problems with the Medicare physician payment system and preserve patient access by passing legislation. In the meantime, policymakers need to address the immediate problem.
MSSNY is again working with the federation of medicine as part of a group effort to prevent the cut. Before the end of the year, we are asking Congress to:
- Extend the Congressionally enacted 3% temporary increase in the Medicare physician fee schedule
- Provide relief for an additional 1.5% budget neutrality cut that is planned for 2023
- End the statutory annual freeze and provide an inflation-based update for the coming year
- Waive the 4% PAYGO sequester necessitated by passage of legislation unrelated to Medicare
Again, you can send a letter from here: Be Heard | Physicians Grassroots Network
Congress Expected to Complete Passage of “Inflation Reduction Act” that Continues Expanded ACA Subsidies through 2024
The US House of Representatives is expected to take up and pass today “The Inflation Reduction Act” that passed the US Senate last week. Among the bill’s many provisions are an extension through 2024 of the expanded patient subsidies and tax credit provisions for the purchase of private health insurance coverage that had been adopted by Congress in 2021 and were scheduled to expire at the end of the year. Another provision would establish a $2,000 cap on patient cost-sharing responsibilities for Medicare Part D enrollee medications starting in 2025, as well as for the first time permitting Medicare to negotiate a limited number of prescription medications – 10 medications covered by Medicare Part D in 2026, 15 medications covered by Part D in 2027, 15 medications covered by either Part D or Part B in 2028, and 20 medications covered by Part D or Part B in 2029 and thereafter. President Biden is expected to sign the legislation into law after it is passed by the House.
Urge Governor Hochul to Sign Managed Care Reform Bills into Law
Physicians are urged to contact Governor Hochul to ask her to sign into law a suite of bills supported by MSSNY and numerous patient advocacy organizations (NY Legislature Passes Legislation with Important Patient Protections During the 2022 Session – Aimed Alliance) to address hassles patients and their physicians are experiencing with health insurers.
The first bill, A.879/S.8113, would ensure that those who make “medical necessity” determinations on behalf of a health insurance company are appropriately qualified to make those decisions. Please contact Governor Hochul and urge her to sign into law.
This bill would ensure that a health plan may not deny a request for needed patient care unless the reviewing physician is adequately qualified to review the treatment requested or provided, by requiring that such reviewing physician be board-certified or board eligible in the same or similar specialty as the physician who typically recommends the treatment or manage the condition that is under review. It would also require that such physician have a New York license to practice medicine and provide much-needed, additional protections to ensure that these patients will have coverage for the care they are expecting and entitled to receive.
To learn more about this issue, please read a recent op-ed coauthored by MSSNY members and Long Island oncologists Dr. David Eagle and Dr. Jeff Vacirca, which recently ran in Newsday. Moreover, please help us provide additional information about this problem and take a brief survey to help us show the impact of this practice on patient access.
The second bill, A.1741-A/S.5299-A, would prohibit a health plan from imposing a policy that forbids a payment from a third party to count towards the patient’s deductible or maximum out-of-pocket cost-sharing limit. This practice can be especially challenging for patients that have health insurance plans with high deductibles or high copayment requirements. Please take a moment to send a letter to Governor Hochul urging her to sign this bill into law.
The third bill, A.3276/ S.5909, would ban insurance companies from applying “fail first” or step therapy protocols to treatments prescribed for patients with mental health conditions. This would help to ensure that patients can receive needed medications without unnecessary and time-consuming pre-authorization burdens, Please take a moment to send a letter to Governor Hochul urging her to sign this important bill into law.
CMS-1500 Form is Now Mandatory for Workers’ Comp
A reminder that mandatory use of the CMS-1500 form went into effect on July 1, 2022, for Workers’ Comp professional services and durable medical equipment bills/reports.
Read more about the requirements and form changes in the GovDelivery dated June 27, 2022.
“Monkeypox: An Evolving Story” Webinar on August 16
Monkeypox has been spreading globally in non-endemic countries. Learn more about the monkeypox outbreak by registering for Monkeypox: An Evolving Story on August 16th at 7:30 am. William Valenti, MD, chair of the MSSNY Infectious Diseases Committee, and Erick Eiting, MD, MPH co-chair of MSSNY Health Equity Committee, will serve as faculty for this webinar. Register now
Educational Objectives are:
- Identify monkeypox epidemiology and its presentation
- Outline testing, treatment, and vaccine options for monkeypox
- Discuss New York State and New York City guidelines
Contact Melissa Hoffman at mhoffman@mssny.org for additional information or assistance with registration.
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.
Free Pain Management, Palliative Care, and Addiction Credits
New York State requires every DEA license prescriber to take a three-hour continuing medical education (CME) program in Pain Management, Palliative Care, and Addiction medicine every three years. Access and complete this course for FREE through your MSSNY membership.
Obituaries
CHASE, Norman E.; New York NY. Died January 28, 2022, age 95. New York County Medical Society
DOLCE, Cyrus R.; Bay Shore NY. Died October 01, 2022, age 88. Suffolk County Medical Society
ELFENBEIN, Sheldon J.; Seaford NY. Died July 26, 2022, age 86. Nassau County Medical Society
GIGES, Burton; New Rochelle NY. Died March 07, 2022, age 97. Medical Society County of Westchester
GRANGE, Carmen Hermena; New York NY. Died July 01, 2022, age 94. New York County Medical Society
HAAG, Ann Lindsey; Atlantic Beach FL. Died July 30, 2021, age 82. Monroe County Medical Society
HANRATTY, Richard John; Rochester NY. Died May 09, 2021, age 88. Monroe County Medical Society
HEVIZY, Louis; Buffalo NY. Died November 26, 2021, age 80. Erie County Medical Society
JOHNSON, Marie-Louise; Kingston NY. Died June 08, 2022, age 94. Medical Society County of Ulster
JONES, Denis M. A.; Rensselaer NY. Died April 04, 2022, age 75. Medical Society County of Columbia,
KINKEL, William R.; Orchard Park NY. Died March 15, 2022, age 94. Erie County Medical Society
NAMBA, Tatsuji; New York NY. Died May 29, 2022, age 95. Medical Society County of Kings
PALLOTTA, John Anthony; West Islip NY. Died June 10, 2022, age 92. Suffolk County Medical Society
SAILORS, Emma Lou; Dobbs Ferry NY. Died January 30, 2021, age 97. Medical Society County of Westchester
SHAFRAN, Morton E.; Hastings-On-Hudson NY. Died July 22, 2021, age 93. Bronx County Medical Society
SMITH, Maxcy Jean; Moab UT. Died May 11, 2021, age 96. Medical Society County of Orange
SOUFER, Edward; Great Neck NY. Died August 06, 2021, age 100. Medical Society County of Queens
TOWBIN, Carl; Briarcliff Manor NY. Died November 22, 2021, age 97. Medical Society County of Westchester
WACHEN, Harry Leopold; Great Neck NY. Died May 26, 2021, age 91. Medical Society County of Queens
WILDER, John Burton; Fort Myers Beach FL. Died August 11, 2021, age 90. Medical Society County of Genesee
|ZISKIN, Hilbert; Amsterdam NY. Died May 05, 2022, age 92. Medical Society County of Montgomery
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.
Rheumatology Practice Sublet – Great Neck, NY
Sublet opportunity available at an established medical office in Great Neck, NY. Prime location near LIJ, Northshore University and St. Francis Hospitals. Fully equipped office with onsite parking and proximity to mass transit. Contact 516-972-2986/susanrita1@msny.com for more info.
Medical Office with Ample Patient Parking + 1 Family For Sale in the Most Desired Area of Hollis Hills. Priced to Sell!
One of a kind medical office investment opportunity and growth in the most desirable areas of Hollis Hills! This property is an S1 zoning that allows a medical practice, located within proximity of LIJ and Manhasset hospital, Lake Success Pro Health Medical offices with ample patient parking and much more, this unique property features a residential space split level style with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths living room, dining room with a wood burning fireplace, kitchen, oversized sunroom/den, 1 car garage and laundry room.
The Lower level has a separate entrance, 4 exam rooms, a doctor’s private office, filling rooms and endless closet storage.
Conveniently located near schools, worship houses, transportation, GCP, LIE, Cross Island & Clearview Expressway, restaurants, shopping centers and much more! To inquire, please call Claudia (917-554-4158) or Bella at (718-344-2153).
Recruiting for Full or Part time (20 hours per week Chief of Medical Services). Salary is negotiable.
Oversees and directs the planning, implementation, and supervision of health and medical services for residents at the NYS Veterans Home at St Albans. Develops, implements, and evaluates medical treatment standards and procedures; and provides technical and operational guidance and direction to medical and health care staff. Serves as a medical consultant and liaison; and develops recommendations for medical assessments, treatments, and care. Implements and monitors contract agreements and the provision of contracted medical and health related services. Participates in program audits and reviews. Supervises the credentialing and privileging process to ensure that medical staff possess appropriate credentials and maintain appropriate levels of continuing education; and participates in the development of recruitment programs and hiring and selection processes. Provides clinical and administrative supervision and guidance to physicians and other health care professionals. Possession of a license and current registration to practice medicine in New York State and six years of post-licensure medical practice experience, two years of which must have been in an administrative or supervisory capacity. Must be fully COVID 19 vaccinated.
Send CV to: RecruitmentStAlbans@nysvets.org
Office Space To Share / Financial District NYC.
LOCATION:
111 John St., Ste 1460, NYC 10038 (between Cliff & Pearl St.)
A block away from the South Street Seaport. Easy access to office Central hub for all subway lines (A, C, 2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, E), a quick walk from NJ path train.
Beautifully renovated, 1,300 sq ft. modern space. Available Monday, Wednesday, Friday and weekends.
Private rooms with pocket doors. Access to building 24/7, security/door man in the lobby, very safe. Daily rate $450. Contact (917) 514-1299 text/call.
Medical Office for Share in Medical Park with Free Big Parking Lot in Westchester County
Medical office for sublet in Medical Park with free big parking lot, located at West Harrison, border of White Plains in Westchester County. Office includes a big waiting room with a kitchen, doctors office, exam room, and reception area. All rooms are available for whole days of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Thursday (Thursday full day on every 1st and 3rd week and Thursday morning on every 2nd and 4th week each month, or we can discuss more options). Monthly rent $600 for once a week usage, $1100 for twice a week usage, $1500 for three-day a week usage. Newly renovated and fully furnished. Text May if you are interested 646-338-4803
Board Certified Internal or Family Medicine Physician
Join our caring team and our mission to provide the highest standard of healthcare to each of our patients. Medical office in Eastern Nassau County looking a for a hard-working, responsible Physician to join our team.
Responsibilities include care for, diagnosing and managing patients.
Please send Curriculum Vitae to drg2555@yahoo.com.
MANHATTAN MEDICAL SUITE FOR SALE –Prestigious Coop on 45 East 62nd St. between Madison & Park!!
https://www.nestseekers.com/2122082/coop-manhattan
This approximately 1100 square foot medical suite has a grand reception area that is large enough for 2 or 3 people to work from. There is an additional nook area currently used for paper chart files that could also be utilized to update charts online or for bookkeeping. The waiting room has approximately 10 ft ceilings and a marble fireplace. The mahogany veneered office also has high ceilings. The reception area and hallway have a drop ceiling that was installed to accommodate duct work for air conditioning. There are 1.5 bathrooms. Medical equipment is also available for sale. The property needs a cosmetic renovation update.
To schedule a showing: melissaA@nestseekers.com or Call: Melissa Alonso with Nestseekers International: 646.403.7311
IDEAL LOCATION: 45 East 62nd – Prime Lennox Hill
PRICE: $1,100,000 with 50% Financing Permitted
Monthly Maintenance: $4775
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 medicine under the guidance of dedicated medical leadership. www.rendrcare.com.