MSSNY Pulse: November 4, 2022
Message from MSSNY President Parag Mehta, MD:
Let’s All Make Our Voices Heard on Tuesday, November 8
Colleagues:
Early voting leading to Election Day on November 8 is already underway. New Yorkers will elect a Governor, an Attorney General, a Comptroller, a US Senator, 26 US Representatives, and 213 NY state legislators. As US citizens, it is our right—and our duty—to vote. Let’s all make our voice heard on Tuesday.
While physicians may have different personal political perspectives and parties they regularly support, there are issues—including ensuring your patients maintain their access to physician-led health care—that unite physicians across these party lines. MSSNYPAC’s legislator scorecard is a valuable tool for New York physicians that contains the voting and co-sponsorship records of each state legislator on issues important to New York physicians, their patients, and our health care system. This year, the scorecard encompasses seven bills supported by MSSNY and four bills opposed by MSSNY.
And take a look at MSSNYPAC’s 20 county-specific versions of its scorecard, representing the most populous counties in the state, to see how the legislators that represent your county are voting on issues important to you and your patients.
And most importantly, remember to vote by Tuesday, November 8.
Parag Mehta, MD
MSSNY President
Anesthesia Use Disparities Could Negatively Affect Black Maternal Health
A recent survey analyzing 9.5 million hospital deliveries between 2007 and 2018 found that Black women have less access to anesthesia, a hazardous consequence in pregnancy and childbirth, one of the most painful and oft life-threatening medical operations. A new study reviewed the records of nearly 57,000 adults who had surgery between 2016 and 2021 and found that people of color were 29% less likely to receive regional anesthesia than white patients. Black women have a 53% higher risk of dying in the hospital during childbirth than white women. Learn more about this growing crisis in America.
Anesthesia Use Disparities Could Negatively Affect Black Maternal Health (Chen, Axios, 11/1).
Google Launches AI to Read Medical Images
Radiology is one area of promise for Artificial Intelligence. Medical imaging data makes up 90% of all healthcare data, with billions of images scanned annually. Now, Google is launching tools meant to make medical images more interoperable and help organizations develop artificial intelligence and machine learning models around them. Medical teams have already begun using the suite of digital tools. Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey is using it to de-identify images to build AI algorithms capable of predicting metastasis in patients with prostate cancer. The hope is that AI systems can analyze data that are not visible to the human eye but also make diagnosis faster.
Google Launches AI to Read Medical Images (Pifer, Healthcare Drive, 10/2).
New York State Department of Health Issues Poster to Raise Awareness About Proper Antibiotics Use in Recognition of U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is November 18-24 and the New York State Department of Health is reminding New Yorkers that the overuse and misuse of antibiotics are key factors leading to antibiotic resistance.
As part of the effort to raise awareness about antibiotic misuse, in 2019, New York State Department of Health hosted a Children’s Art Contest where elementary students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade were asked to use their artistic creativity to illustrate the story of Andy-Biotic, the Superbug Superhero, whose mission is to promote appropriate use of antibiotics.
The artwork submitted by then-5th grade artist Elina, from Gasport, N.Y., is now being featured in an awareness campaign that underscores how important it is for all of us to use antibiotics correctly. As the slogan says, “Keep Andy-Biotic Strong…don’t use antibiotics wrong!”
Posters replicating this artwork are being offered at no cost to schools, pediatricians, primary care providers, urgent care and dental clinics and other health care settings, for display during the annual observance of U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week and to spread awareness about wise use of antibiotics. Order your posters here.
Be sure to check out the new U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week Toolkit and other resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more information on antibiotic resistance and what you can do to protect antibiotics’ effectiveness.
MSCE 2022 Annual Meeting A Great Success!
The Medical Society of Erie County held their Annual Meeting and Installation of Officers at the Lancaster Country Club on Monday, October 17th.
2023 Erie County Medical Society Leadership
President: John Fudyma, MD, MPH
Past President: Stanley Pietrak, MD
President-Elect: Stacey Watt, MD
Vice President: Iris Danziger, MD
Treasurer: Michael Terranova, MD
Secretary: Michael Merrill, MD
Erie County is looking forward to continuing to advance and enhance healthcare in the region and to improve working conditions for physicians. Thank you for your service in medicine during these unprecedented times!
2023 MSCE Officers Back Row: John Fudyma, MD, MPH – President; Stanley Pietrak, MD – Past President, Stacey Watt, MD – President-Elect; Michael Merrill, MD – Secretary Front Row: Iris Danziger, MD – Vice President; Robert Armstrong, MD – Immediate Past President; Michael Terranova, MD – Treasurer; Aimana ElBahtity, Esq. -Executive Director
New CDC Guidance on Prescribing Opioids
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidance for clinicians on how and when to prescribe opioids for pain. This new guidance revamps the agency’s 2016 recommendations which some doctors and patients have criticized for promoting a culture of austerity around opioids. The American Medical Association’s Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force had for six years asked the CDC to reconsider its 2016 guideline which “has harmed patients with chronic pain, cancer, sickle cell disease, and those in hospice.” The AMA also said that the 2016 policies also failed patients who are stable on long-term opioid therapy, and it has denied care to post-surgical patients and those with an opioid use disorder. The new guidelines emphasize that opioids should not be the go-to treatment in many cases, pointing to evidence that other treatments and approaches are often comparable for improving pain and function. However, the recommendations make clear the guidance should not replace clinical judgment and that clinicians can work with patients who are in pain, even if that means continuing them on opioids. The Medical Society of the State of New York is a member of the AMA’s Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force, and supported the AMA’s quest to revise the guidance.
CMS Payment Rule Finalizes Steep Medicare Physician Cuts for 2023 – Congress Must Act!
With CMS finalizing this week the 2023 Medicare fee schedule CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule| CMS that will produce a cumulative 8.5% cut for physician payments starting January 1, 2023, physicians are again urged to contact their Respective Congressional representative and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand (Stop Cuts to Medicare Payments (p2a.co) to urge that they act to prevent this staggering cut.
Please let them know that any cut, let alone the cut of this magnitude, is intolerable as many physician practices attempt to recover from the pandemic can barely keep their doors open to continue delivering patient care and employing staff.
The cuts are based upon a variety of provisions that will expire at the end of 2022. 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.
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
“The rate cuts would create immediate financial instability in the Medicare physician payment system and threaten patient access to Medicare-participating physicians” stated AMA President Dr. Jack Resneck “The AMA will continue working with Congress to prevent this harmful outcome.”
Please let your legislators know that their constituents – your patients – will suffer from access issues if this cut is not prevented by the end of the year. Again, you can send a letter to your members of Congress from here: Stop Cuts to Medicare Payments (p2a.co).
We will follow with more information regarding key aspects of the 2023 Payment rule.
Spam VS Phishing: How to Spot the Difference
With the increased use of electronic communication, it is important to know the difference between spam and phishing. Both should be deleted when spotted and not opened!
Spam
Spam emails are unsolicited and irrelevant commercial emails, sent online to a bulk number of recipients. Oftentimes spam messages are from a company trying to sell you something. While these emails can be a nuisance, they are not considered malicious.
Examples of Spam:
- Advertising (retailers, dating sites, online pharmacies, gambling)
- Get rich quick schemes (You’ve Won!)
- Hoax virus warnings
- Chain emails
Phishing
Phishing is a malicious attempt to obtain sensitive information by disguising as a trustworthy website, person, or company. Requests for personal information such as a password, credit card, bank account number, Social Security Number, etc. are examples of information attackers in a phishing campaign might seek.
Examples of Phishing:
- Request personal information
- Direct users to open a link or unexpected attachment
- Verify account information and/or password
- Convey a sense of urgency
If you have questions about this or an insurance concern, contact MSSNY’s Director of Physician Payment and Practice, Heather Lopez, at 518.465.8085 X332 | hlopez@mssny.org.
Connect with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services and National Government Services on November 8
Join Heather Lopez, MSSNY’s Director of Physician Payment & Practice, an expert in practice management, billing, and reimbursement on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at 6 pm for the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services and National Government Services’ open agenda meeting. Members are encouraged to participate and open a direct communication line with policymakers that otherwise can be difficult to reach.
Less Stress, More Success: Overcoming and Preventing Healthcare Burnout with Dr. Geier
The coronavirus has not only created the biggest health crisis of our generation, but it has destroyed the stability within healthcare. Healthcare professionals are now battling many of the same issues Dr. Geier experienced during an episode of burnout early in his career. Through Dr. Geier’s story and the stories of others who have overcome tremendous obstacles, he inspires audiences to use burnout, COVID-19 and other adversities to emerge stronger and better than ever. Register now.
Credentialing and Maintenance Options Presented by STI Computers & MSSNY
Provider credentialing is a regulated process of assessing the qualifications of specific types of providers. This procedure requires providers such as doctors, and other allied healthcare professionals to show they have the proper education, training, and licenses to care for patients.
Did you know that:
- Over 54% of denials are related to provider credentialing
- It is now a State and Federal law to maintain and update your insurance demographics or risk penalties, fines and having your participation status revoked
- Billing a provider under the wrong NPI during enrollment is a compliance violation punishable through Fraud and Abuse with treble damages
- Insurance revalidation is no longer just Medicare
- Exclusions and Sanctions is a monthly process, and includes all employees, not just providers
Join our program which will advise you of regulatory changes. Become more knowledgeable of what you can and cannot do through an enrollment on-boarding. Learn options to keep you in the clear and focus your time on what you do best, being a doctor and not a secretary. Register Today.
Medical Matters: What’s Your Diagnosis? Psychological First Aid Interactive CME Webinar November 16, 7:30 AM
Psychological first aid is essential for physicians and other healthcare professionals in a myriad of situations. Learn more about psychological first aid by registering now for the next Medical Matters webinar: What’s Your Diagnosis? Psychological First Aid. This program will involve more interaction from participants in the form of a case study that you will answer questions to diagnose. Find out if you’re fully versed on psychological first aid on November 16th at 7:30am. You can also click here to view the flyer for this webinar. Faculty will be Craig Katz, MD, vice chair of MSSNY’s Emergency Preparedness and Disaster/Terrorism Response Committee.
Educational Objectives:
- Describe the basic tenets of psychological first aid (PFA)
- Identify resources to assist patients during and after trauma
- Describe a scenario and review questions and answers
Caring for Patients in Today’s Opioid Landscape, November 17, 3-5 PM
In 2021, overdose deaths in the United States reached a record high. At the same time, restrictions on prescription opioids strand many patients without adequate care. For policymakers and providers, ensuring quality patient care and reducing harm requires navigating an evolving landscape of restrictions and best practices. The New York State Department of Health Commissioner’s Grand Round will convene subject-matter experts to discuss New York State’s response to the opioid crisis and harm reduction strategies; the importance of using a health equity lens in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD); and guidance for treating chronic pain with opioids.
Learning Outcome
As a result of this educational activity, the learner will have increased and enhanced their knowledge and competence on equitably treating chronic pain and/or substance use disorder amidst the opioid landscape in New York State.
Objectives
By the end of the webcast, viewers will be able to:
- Describe trends in overdose deaths in New York.
- Describe the epidemiology of opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders among Black people.
- Identify best practices for treating pain using opioids.
- Recognize the ways that pain treatment is inequitable.
Salary Data and Contract Review: What You Need to Know with Resolve CEO Kyle Claussen Tuesday, December 6, @ 12 pm
Resolve has empowered over 10,000 physicians in their employment agreements leading to national recognition with various state and national physician societies. Kyle Claussen is the CEO of Resolve and a partner in the law firm of MorganTheeler, LLP. He received his undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University, his law degree from the University of La Verne College of Law, and his LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University. He is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and is one of the leading experts in physician employment agreements. Kyle has been featured on a variety of physician focus media sources including ZdoggMD, White Coat Investor, Physician Side Gigs, Physician Moms Group, Beyond Medicine, The Physician Philosopher, and others. Register Today!
MSSNY Job Board
Members have access to the MSSNY Job Board. Whether you are looking for the next step in your career or looking for your next hire, we have you covered!
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.
Concierge Practice for Sale Boca Raton Florida
FOR SALE: Established Independent Concierge Internal Medicine Practice in Boca Raton, Florida. Stable turnkey operation in a pleasant work environment. Ideal for someone with the desire to transition to a better approach to medical practice. Financing available.
Contact planahead2023@gmail.com.
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@msn.com for more info.
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
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.