MSSNY eNews: February 2, 2022 – United’s Failure to Pay OBS Facility Fees: Trial Begins in Federal Court
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Trial Begins in Federal Court in MSSNY/Office-Based Surgery Class Action Lawsuit Against United Regarding Failure to Pay OBS Facility Fees
The trial in the action Medical Society of the State of New York et al. v. UnitedHealth Group Inc. et al, began this week in the Southern District of New York federal court with testimony from office-based surgery providers Dr. Wellington Tichenor and Dr. Darrick Antell, as well as testimony from MSSNY Senior Vice-President Moe Auster. The class action lawsuit, originally filed in 2016, argues that United’s failure to pay facility fees to out-of-network office-based surgery providers is contrary to the terms of United’s health benefits plans and the requirements of ERISA. MSSNY has long held a position calling for it to support legislation or regulation which assures a separate payment of a facility fee to OBSs that reflect the additional costs of accreditation and maintenance of an office-based surgical practice. The trial is expected to last through the end of the week.
MSSNY Tip of the Week: Is Your Practice Implementing the Final Rule CPT Codes?
Practices should be well under way with updated codes according to the Final Rule that went into effect on January 1. To access a spreadsheet with specific information on deleted codes, added codes and recommended replacements, contact MSSNY’s Director of Physician Payment and Practice, Heather Lopez, at 518.465.8085 X332 | hlopez@mssny.org.
In January alone, our Physician Payment and Practice department has conducted 50 consults with MSSNY members. 30 of those issues have been fully resolved and 20 are active/pending.
“Implementing the No Surprises Act” Webinar
The January 20 AMA webinar, “Implementing the No Surprises Act,” is now available on the AMA website. Learn more in the latest AMA toolkit, “Preparing for implementation of the No Surprises Act” and read more about the No Surprises Act and related activity on the AMA website.
COVID Home Test Kits and Point-of-Care Tests Available with Exclusive Discount for MSSNY Members Only
MSSNY is pleased to announce a new member benefit to help navigate the ongoing challenges of securing COVID-19 home tests. We have partnered with Mi Salud Medical Supplies to offer our members COVID-19 home test kits at a 20 percent discount.
Flowflex, iHealth, and Access Bio CareStart home tests, along with Indicaid and Sienna Point-of-Care tests are all available now for bulk ordering. All tests have received FDA Emergency Use-Authorization.
MSSNY members should contact MemberResources@mssnyorg to receive your 20 percent discount or send us an e-mail if you would like to become a MSSNY member to take advantage of this exclusive offer.
MSSNY Members: Interested in Sharing With the Press How You are Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic with Your Kids? Or Do You Have Patients Willing to Share Pandemic Parenting Stories?
LoHud/USA Today Network is working on a statewide article looking into how parents are managing at this point in the pandemic. It will focus on efforts to vaccinate children, including the expected approval in the coming month of the COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of five. USA Today Network is looking to interview parents about how they are navigating the uncertainties of educating and socializing their vaccinated children while pediatric vaccination rates remain low. They are also interested in speaking with parents of children under five who have stories about the anxiety of waiting this long for shots, or those with questions about the forthcoming approval process. If you have a patient who is willing to share their concerns—or if you are willing to share your own story—contact Roseann Raia at rraia@mssny.org to be connected to the reporter.
It’s Back – 2022 MSSNY Poster Symposium for Residents, Fellows and Medical Students
Residents, Fellows and Medical Students are invited to submit an abstract for consideration for our in-person 2022 MSSNY Poster Symposium. The Symposium will be held on Friday, May 20 at 1:00 PM at the Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Road, Tarrytown in conjunction with MSSNY’s House of Delegates. The deadline for receipt of your abstract is Monday, February 28 at 4:00 PM. Details for the symposium can be found on the MSSNY website.
Abstract Reviewers and Poster Judges Needed
The Resident and Fellow Section is seeking volunteers to serve as reviewers of abstracts and in-person judges for its Poster Symposium. Judging will take place at MSSNY’s House of Delegates in Tarrytown on Friday, May 20 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. If you are interested in reviewing abstracts or judging posters, please contact Kathy Rohrer at krohrer@mssny.org.
NYS DOH Consortium on Long COVID
The NYS Department of Health will present a virtual, free event tomorrow, February 3, 8:45 am-2:30 pm, featuring an expert panel to discuss long COVID, its impact on New Yorkers, and creating solutions for patients and the providers who care for them: The Consortium will be hosted by NYS Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett.
“Long COVID,” a condition in which individuals infected with COVID-19 experience a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms after their initial infection, is impacting a portion of our population across New York State as well as our nation and worldwide. Given the challenges and urgent need to support individuals in their recovery from long COVID, New York State is bringing together an expert group of researchers, clinicians, social scientists, and other stakeholders to share their expertise and insights on this condition. The goal of this event is to develop a set of potential actions that New York State could take to make urgent progress to address long COVID, especially in supporting New Yorkers with long COVID as they recover and supporting the healthcare providers who care for them. Through important discussions on the research, clinical, and policy/regulatory considerations for long COVID, experts from across US will provide recommendations to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent long COVID.
This consortium will feature three separate panel discussions throughout the day:
- The first panel will focus on research to further define what is currently known – and what remains unknown – about PASC, including epidemiological aspects of the condition, biological causes, groups most severely affected, and ongoing research.
- A second panel focused on clinical care will discuss the various clinical manifestations and presentations of long COVID, consider whom it most a ects, and provide insights into approaches to long COVID treatment in various populations and settings across age, race/ethnicity, and geography.
- A third panel on policy and functional outcomes will provide recommendations for policies or initiatives that New York State may consider to address long COVID, in both the near and long terms to aid in the physical, social, and psychological recovery of individuals impacted by long COVID.
Register for the NYS Long COVID Consortium.
MSSNY Obituaries
AHMAD, Shafi; East Northport NY. Died March 07, 2020, age 89. Suffolk County Medical Society
BLOOMGARDEN, Charles Irving; Huntington NY. Died February 20, 2020, age 83. Suffolk County Medical Society
JAIN, Kewal Krishan; Buffalo NY. Died September 18, 2021, age 93. Erie County Medical Society
MARRONE, Michael V.; Yonkers NY. Died November 19, 2021, age 87. Bronx County Medical Society
MASTRIANNI, Anthony F.; Albany NY. Died December 22, 2020, age 91. Medical Society County of Albany
NADEAU, Robert Earle; Little Compton RI. Died December 26, 2018, age 80. Monroe County Medical Society
NEUMANN, Karl; Forest Hills NY. Died February 23, 2021, age 89. Medical Society County of Queens
PALUMBO, Anthony J.; Utica NY. Died January 25, 2022, age 84. Medical Society County of Oneida
RAAB, Thomas A.; Buffalo NY. Died April 11, 2021, age 69. Erie County Medical Society
RAFLA-DEMETRIOUS, Sameer; Staten Island NY. Died December 23, 2021, age 91. Medical Society County of Kings
ROSENBLUTH, Michael A.; New York NY. Died September 14, 2020, age 90. New York County Medical Society
SATRAN, George; New York NY. Died December 27, 2020, age 89. New York County Medical Society
SNYDER, Thomas E.; Fayetteville NY. Died December 19, 2021, age 95. Onondaga County Medical Society
STEINBERG, Herman; New York NY. Died April 17, 2020, age 99. New York County Medical Society
TRACHTENBERG, Albert S.; Smithtown NY. Died September 20, 2018, age 87. Suffolk County Medical Society
VAN DE WALL, La Verne; Watertown NY. Died January 18, 2022, age 69. Jefferson County Medical Society
WARD, Franklin S.; Bronx NY. Died April 04, 2020, age 89. 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 Rate Sheet, please click here.
Opportunity: Medical Director- Long Term Care
The Medical Director is responsible for the quality assurance program for a long-term care center in NYC. This individual will be the most senior level physician in the organization and report directly to the EVP and President of the business. They will work with an interdisciplinary team of administrative and clinical staff who are highly experienced in the care of the frail elderly and disabled individuals to develop care plans and guidelines and assess quality. S/he will chair the Quality Assurance Committee, appoint its members, and set the agenda. In addition, this position provides an exciting opportunity for a forward-thinking physician to build a PACE program and ensure members receive the highest quality care. Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Geriatrics preferred. Please inquire at Lisa.mooney@kornferry.com.
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.
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.
Job Position: Clinical Operations Medical Director in this role, you will provide clinical oversight and help lead our team of providers to assure high standards of care for our patients. The ideal candidate will be dedicated to improving the health of the communities we serve and will be a practicing physician as well as an established medical leader with proven experience improving clinical operations and building strong teams. 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.
Healthcare Tech Investment Opportunity
Kalypsys (www.heykaly.com) is a healthcare tech startup that integrates patient appointment booking, telemedicine, and practice growth, with additional leveraged, validated, and lucrative revenue sources available downstream. We are a 100% physician-owned and operated company seeking $2.5MM in seed investment via SAFE agreement from the physician community. This is a rare and unique opportunity to invest on the ground floor in a ready-to-launch tech startup in an industry that is ripe for disruption. If you are frustrated with the $35-$110 per booking fee of our competitors, please contact us immediately to review our investor deck! We are also looking for board-certified physicians to add to our growing medical advisory board. Great opportunity to break into the healthcare tech space. Please inquire at invest@kalypsys.com!
NYS Department of Health is looking for a licensed, board-eligible /board certified physician to serve as the Medical Director for the Medicaid State Disability Review Unit (SDRU). Interested candidates: Submit resume and cover letter preferably in PDF format, to resume@health.ny.gov, or by fax to (518) 473-3395 with Reference Code SC/PHP2HS/15223 included in the subject line. View Full Listing