MSSNY eNews: March 23, 2022

AMA Survey Shows Widespread Enthusiasm for Telehealth; Urges Congress to Take Note of Barriers to Care
An American Medical Association (AMA) survey released today shows physicians have enthusiastically embraced telehealth and expect to use it even more in the future.

Nearly 85% of physician respondents indicated they are currently using telehealth to care for patients, and nearly 70% report their organization is motivated to continue using telehealth in their practice. Many physicians foresee providing telehealth services for chronic disease management and ongoing medical management, care coordination, mental/behavioral health, and specialty care.

The survey comes as Congress recently extended the availability of telehealth for Medicare patients beyond the current COVID-19 public health emergency. Additional action by Congress will be needed to permanently provide access to Medicare telehealth services.

As physicians and practices plan to expand telehealth services, they say widespread adoption hinges on preventing a return to the previous lack of insurance coverage and little to no payer reimbursement. Payers, both public and private, should continue to evaluate and improve policies, coverage, and payment rates for services provided via telehealth.

Physicians strongly support that telehealth via audio-only/telephone remains covered in the future to ensure equitable access. That coverage has been permitted during the public health emergency and extended for several months afterward.

According to the survey, 95% of physicians report patients are primarily located at their home at the time of the virtual visit. Allowing patients to be in their home is a key component of making telehealth more accessible. Before the pandemic, Medicare patients needed to be physically located in a rural area to access telehealth services, shutting out urban and suburban patients from receiving the same benefits of virtual care. Before the pandemic, rural patients needed to travel to an “originating site,” essentially another health care facility, outside of their home to access telehealth services. The temporary extension in the omnibus will allow patients with Medicare to receive telehealth services anywhere they are located, including in their home. The AMA will continue to urge Congress to make permanent this and other policies that have offered coverage and convenience to patients.

As Governor Hochul and the state legislature move into the final days of negotiations for the FY 2022-23 budget, MSSNY will continue its efforts in Albany to pass policy that requires insurers to pay physicians on par with what they’re paid for an in-person visit when providing the same care via Telehealth.

Activities include talking with key lawmakers at the Capitol, amplifying the issue in the media and on social media platforms, and through our grassroots network. We urge all MSSNY members to reach out to their Assemblymember and state Senator and urge them to speak to their leadership to support inclusion of payment parity for Telehealth services. Send a letter of support here.


MSSNY Member Douglas DeLong, MD to Receive the Dr. Larry Zaroff Man of Good Conscience Award from American Medical Women’s Association
MSSNY member Douglas DeLong, MD will receive the Dr. Larry Zaroff Man of Good Conscience Award on March 26 from the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA).

AMWA’s Dr. Larry Zaroff Man of Good Conscience Award is presented annually to a man who has been a champion and supporter of women in medicine. Dr. Larry Zaroff was a mentor to generations of physicians, medical students, and pre-medical students. A cardiac surgeon and later humanities professor at Stanford, he was an avid supporter of women in medicine at all stages of their career. His well-known courses always presented a special session devoted to the issues and challenges faced by women in medicine.

Dr. Douglas DeLong has been a coach, mentor, and sponsor of women through his career. He has worked to create a just and equitable environment as an advocate in a variety of important areas that have had significant impacts for patients and healthcare professionals.  Dr. DeLong recently retired as Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, New York. He held the academic rank of Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Dr. DeLong is emeritus past- Chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP), where he helped to shepherd the key policy papers, “Achieving Gender Equity in Physician Compensation and Career Advancement,” and “Women’s Health Policy in the United States,” and to help develop and foster local chapter and national ACP programing driving toward equity in medicine.  Prior to his term on the ACP’s Board of Regents, DeLong served as Chair of the Board of Governors and Governor of the New York Hudson Valley Chapter. Dr. DeLong spent four decades practicing general internal medicine; never in a town with more than one traffic light. He lives with his wife Lynn on a 250 acre tree farm in upstate New York and loves Nordic skiing, sailing and good eats.


 


Addressing the Needs of Your LGBTQ Patients
Nassau County Medical Society, Nassau Academy of Medicine and MLMIC Insurance Company will present Addressing the Needs of Your LGBTQ Patients on Thursday, March 24, 2022, 6-7:00 pm. Register for Webinar.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) population encounters unique challenges associated with their healthcare, which is accompanied by lesser outcomes when compared to that of their heterosexual equals. There are several contributing factors including inadequate access to healthcare, lack of insurance, an absence of culturally competent medical professionals that are trained in LGBTQ health issues, and the limitations of some electronic health record systems to properly identify gender, which are just a few of the contributing factors to malpractice claims. This presentation will highlight LGBTQ healthcare disparities and emphasize the importance creating and affirming an inclusive environment for this population while treating each person as a unique individual.

At the end of this presentation, the participants will be able to identify the inequalities associated with the care of LGBTQ patients, discuss recent legislation affecting LGBTQ healthcare, utilize strategies to communicate effectively with the LGBTQ patient, and implement measures to mitigate the liability risks associated with treating this patient population.

MLMIC is accredited by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

MLMIC designates this live internet activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.


Enrolling as a Provider for COVID-19 Vaccine
If your practice services pediatric patients and you are not yet enrolled in the NYSDOH COVID-19 Vaccination Program, please join the New York State Department of Health for a one-hour Question and Answer Webinar at noon on Thursday, March 31, 12-1 pm.   This webinar is for New York State practices that are located outside of New York City. 

COVID vaccine is currently available for children ages 5 and up, and boosters are authorized from those 12 years and older. Vaccines for children ages 6 months to under 5 years old are in clinical trials and are anticipated to be authorized soon. Vaccines are the best way to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and DOH wants to assist you in enrolling in the program!

Note that Vaccines for Children (VFC) providers who want to receive and administer COVID-19 vaccine must also complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Program enrollment process. VFC providers are not automatically enrolled for the COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

Join the Enrolling as a Provider for COVID-19 Vaccine webinar.


 


New Workers’ Comp OnBoard Training Tomorrow
Phase Two of OnBoard: Limited Release will be implemented on April 4, 2022. The Board is hosting an OnBoard: Limited Release webinar tomorrow to help health care providers prepare.

This presentation will cover:

  • DME Fee Schedule overview
  • Accessing OnBoard
  • Submitting a DME PAR
  • Viewing DME PAR responses

If you cannot attend, a recording will be available on the Board’s YouTube channel and in the Training & Resources section of the OnBoard Health Care Providers web page.

Join the Webinar:
March 24, 2022

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Add to your calendar
Join webinar


Attention MSSNY Members
If you haven’t paid your 2022 dues, they are now past due. Please be advised that if 2022 dues are not paid by this month, you will lose all your MSSNY benefits effective April 1st.

To avoid losing your benefits, you may bring your dues up to date at www.mssny.org. If you have questions, contact MemberResources@mssny.org.


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MSSNY Obituaries
BIRO, Laszlo; Brooklyn NY.  Died February 15, 2022, age 92.  Medical Society County of Kings
BROWN, Melvin D.;
Bronx NY.  Died December 07, 2021, age 89.  Medical Society County of Westchester
DREYFUSS, Eric Martin;
Rochester NY.  Died June 23, 2022, age 91.  Monroe County Medical Society
DURSI, Joseph F.;
Valhalla NY.  Died February 06, 2022, age 88.  New York County Medical Society
GOULD, Leo Vincent;
Syracuse NY.  Died January 30, 2022, age 92.  Onondaga County Medical Society
HEAP, Walker R.;
Watertown NY.  Died January 14, 2022, age 94.  Jefferson County Medical Society
MARX, William H.;
Syracuse NY.  Died February 09, 2022, age 70.  Onondaga County Medical Society
SAGERMAN, Robert Howard;
Rhinebeck NY.  Died February 01, 2022, age 92.  Onondaga County Medical Society
STILLMAN, Norman;
Pleasantville NY.  Died April 06, 2020, age 100.  Suffolk County Medical Society


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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 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!
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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.


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Rendr- Transforming Healthcare – Primary Care Opportunity: Internal or Family Medicine PhysicianBilingual English and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)
Job PositionInternal 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.


Rendr- Transforming Healthcare – Leadership Opportunity:Clinical Operations Medical Director, Bilingual English and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) preferred
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.