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SDCMS "News You Can Use" (2009.08.17)

by: Tom Gehring
Published August 17, 2009

SDCMS "News You Can Use"
— August 17, 2009

We Want to Know What You Think About Federal Healthcare Reform!
Physicians: Healthcare reform has been on everyone's mind, so we've created a short survey — for physicians only, please — on federal healthcare reform. Would you please take the time (average time to take = 4–6 minutes) to let us know what you think on this topic? CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY. To access a number of official and reference healthcare reform resources at SDCMS' website, click here.

Have You Corrected Your CPPI Quality Data?
13,000 California physicians have been notified by the California Physician Performance Initiative (CPPI) of their raw and relative physician performance scores on 16 quality measures. These "scores" were based on claims data from United Health, Anthem Blue Cross, and Blue Shield PPOs, as well Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMOs. The letters do not contain the underlying data. CMA has serious concerns about the accuracy and integrity of the data used to establish these scores and the potential mis-use of these scores. CPPI has provided a reconsideration process that physicians can use to verify their data. CMA most strongly urges all physicians who receive the letter to request their data from CPPI and verify its accuracy. (Instructions for doing so are available here.) The deadline to request your patient data is August 28, 2009, but we urge you to do so as soon as possible. Click here for more information.

How the Heck Do I Buy an EMR? Should I Buy an EMR? Which One? Come to SDCMS' "EMR Trunk Show," Sept. 17, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., and Find Out!
Check out side-by-side demonstrations of 10 leading EMRs on Thursday, September 17, 2009, at SDCMS' "EMR Trunk Show," an all-day event hosted by SDCMS to allow physicians and office staff to see the major EMR/EHRs in operation, to meet the sales staff, and to learn HOW to choose an EMR. Executive Director's Note: If you have not made an EMR decision, or are about to, then this is a must-attend event. We will spread the educational portion out throughout the workday to accommodate everyone's busy clinical schedule.

CONTENTS

  • Update on Pandemic H1N1
  • MDs Urged to Check Their Medical Board of California Records
  • Blue Shield Fee Schedule Changes Take Effect October 1
  • CMA Objects to Obama's Misleading Statements about Physicians
  • FTC Further Delays Enforcement of Red Flags Rule to November 1, 2009
  • Mark Your Calendars to Attend the Following Upcoming SDCMS Seminars and Webinars!
  • Mark Your Calendars to Attend SDCMS' August 29 Young Physicians Social/Pool Party!
  • SDCMS Media Training for Physicians
  • Physician Leader's Toolbox Seminar • October 2 & 3
  • New Human Resources Member Benefits
  • EVENTS

MEDICAL

Update on Pandemic H1N1
Confirmed H1N1 cases continue to mount in San Diego County, and an acceleration of the pandemic is expected in the fall. The most affected age groups are those under 50 and especially those under 25. We expect a two-step H1N1 vaccine in November and December, but we urge seasonal influenza vaccination to commence as early as possible in late August or September. SDCMS plans to have five webinars in the next two months dealing with H1N1.

STATE

MDs Urged to Check Their Medical Board of California Records
The Medical Board of California (MBC) has recently updated their profile listing on their website. Physicians are urged to check their records! The new listing now includes a section for self-reported physician information such as board certifications and post-graduate training years. If you declined to disclose this information at the time you applied for your license, your listing may be incorrect. Please click here to check your record (Note: This profile change primarily affects MDs only; DOs are listed differently as their profiles do not list this new information.). If you need to make any changes to the information, please contact the Medical Board of California at, (800) 633-2322. If you would like to submit the changes in writing, please send it to:

The Medical Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815

Blue Shield Fee Schedule Changes Take Effect October 1
Blue Shield of California recently notified physicians of changes to its standard physician fee schedule that will take effect October 1. In a letter to physicians on August 1, Blue Shield notified physicians that it would be modifying payment levels for many CPT codes, some being increased and others decreased. Physicians are urged to calculate the financial impact the fee schedule changes will have on their practices. (Use CMA's financial impact worksheet, available at the members-only website.) The new rates are available at the Blue Shield website. Click here for more information.

FEDERAL

CMA Releases Press Release to Correct Health Reform Misinformation
While CMA has come out in qualified support of HR 3200 (click here to read the CMA president's letter) and is working hard on health reform (which includes preserving the doctor-patient relationship, increasing access to quality care, and helping reduce rising healthcare costs), CMA is also committed to accurately portraying the facts and to ensuring that physicians are not maligned. Accordingly, Dr. Gnanadev, CMA president, recently released the following statements:

  • "In the first example [click here to watch a town hall meeting in New Hampshire on August 11], he (President Obama) stated that surgeons make $30,000 to $50,000 to amputate a foot of a diabetic. This assertion is false. Medicare pays surgeons $589 to $767 for a foot amputation. Medi-Cal pays $420 for the same. Hospital and other associated costs may add up to the greater amount, but it is incorrect and misleading to suggest the surgeon's costs are responsible for that figure. We share the president's belief that we need to put greater resources towards primary and preventive care in order to keep people healthier and help address the nation's rising healthcare costs; however, preventive care will never obviate the need for qualified physicians and surgeons to take corrective action to improve or save people's lives."
  • "In the second example [click here to watch a press briefing on July 22], the president suggested that physicians take out children's tonsils to make more money. This implication is inaccurate and offensive. Doctors treat patients based on the health needs of the patient, not the financial incentives. When science suggests overutilization may be occurring, the medical profession has responded with improved guidelines to more fully inform physicians of the risks and benefits of any treatment or procedure."
  • "The California Medical Association is committed to reforming our health system to increase access to quality care and reduce rising healthcare costs. To achieve health reform, the American people must be able to trust our elected officials and the statements they make regarding healthcare. Patients trust their doctors. That trust is critical to an effective and successful doctor-patient relationship. We urge the president to stick to the facts and avoid the kind of misleading and inflammatory rhetoric that would erode that trust and derail our efforts to increase access to quality care and control rising health care costs."

FTC Further Delays Enforcement of Red Flags Rule to November 1, 2009
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has implemented a new regulation known as the Red Flag Rule, which requires "'creditors"' — including many physicians - to develop and implement identity theft detection and prevention programs that much serve three broad functions by November 1, 2009:

  • It must identify red flags (i.e., indications of identity theft) that may arise in a physician practice;
  • It must establish procedures to detect such red flags when they arise;
  • It must establish adequate response procedures to the red flags.

SDCMS has published several members-only resources to help physicians and their staff understand the scope and requirements of the Red Flag Rule. To access these resources, click here and sign in. For help with signing into SDCMS' website, contact Kyle Lewis at (858) 300-2784 or at KLewis@SDCMS.org.

LOCAL

Mark Your Calendars to Attend the Following Upcoming SDCMS Seminars and Webinars!

  • EMR/EHR Trunk Show • Sep. 17
  • HIPAA Webinar • Oct. 1
  • Financial Issues Seminar/Webinar: "'10 Strategies for Economic Survival"' • Oct. 15
  • Certified Medical Coder Course • Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, 20
  • Resident and New Physician Workshop: "'Preparing to Practice: What You Need to Know BEFORE You Begin Your Practice"' • Nov. 14
  • Risk Management Webinar: "'Electronic Health Records: Are You Ready?"' • Nov. 18
  • Risk Management Webinar: "'Electronic Health Records: Are You Ready?"' • Nov. 19
  • FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON SDCMS SEMINARS/WEBINARS/EVENTS, CLICK HERE

Mark Your Calendars to Attend SDCMS' August 29 Young Physicians Social/Pool Party!
All San Diego County resident and young physicians are cordially invited to attend SDCMS' Summer Young Physicians Social/Pool Party on Saturday, August 29, 4:00pm-8:00pm. This is a free event for physicians and their guests — vendors and sales reps are NOT invited. Come enjoy an afternoon and evening with your fellow physicians. Dress code is San Diego casual. Please RSVP to Jen Ohmstede at JOhmstede@SDCMS.org to let us know how many are coming. Jen will then email you the detailed directions (private residence in Rancho Penasquitos) so you can join us. We look forward to seeing you there!

SDCMS Media Training for Physicians
If you are interested in polishing your media skills, we have a couple of openings in our free media training for physicians this Saturday, September 26, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Email me at Gehring@SDCMS.org if you would like to participate!

Physician Leader's Toolbox Seminar • October 2 & 3
On Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3, we will conduct our Leader's Toolbox seminar, an exceptional opportunity to build your leadership skills and your network. This unique, small-group seminar will be held at SDCMS for no more than 16 physicians who are either leaders or leaders to be. The topics will include Strategic Planning and Execution, Leading Your Team, Building Your Team: Focusing on Hiring and Firing, Managing Your Time, Managing Your Organization's Money, Managing the Message: Communicating One-on-one, Speaking to Many, Emailing, and Making Formal Presentations, and Managing Your Meetings, Including Parliamentary Procedures. For further information or to register, email me at Gehring@SDCMS.org.

MEMBER BENEFIT

New Human Resources Member Benefits
SDCMS has contracted with an HR resource to get your HR questions answered free of charge. Please contact our physician advocate, Marisol Gonzalez, at (858) 300-2783 or at MGonzalez@SDCMS.org.

EVENTS

"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible."
— T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) (1888-1935)

Read more about: CPPI, Federal Healthcare Reform, SDCMS EMR/EHR Trunk Show, News You Can Use
About the author: <p>Mr. Gehring is executive director and CEO of the San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS).</p>

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