Jump to Navigation

SDCMS "News You Can Use" (2010.04.12)

by: San Diego County Medical Society
Published April 12, 2010

SDCMS "News You Can Use"
— April 12, 2010

Executive Director Comment on the SGR: The 21% cut in Medicare physician reimbursement that took effect on April 1, 2010 will get fixed in the next days. That’s not the real issue. The real problem is that we still have badly flawed Medicare reimbursement formula that has punished physicians for almost a decade. Click here to add your name to a petition to Congress for a permanent end to physician underpayment for Medicare, and forward it to friends and colleagues to sign as well. Click here as well to access a CMA flyer that you can place in your waiting room to encourage patients to get involved.

SDCMS E-Townhall • Tuesday, April 20, 2010, Noon
We will be conducting an electronic townhall to brief everyone on health reform, California issues, and to answer questions from the audience. No registering or password needed — simply click here on April 20 at 12:00pm and enter your name.

Executive Director Comment: SDCMS’ April 15, 2010, recovery audit contractor (RAC) seminar/webinar is “must-see TV”! If you don’t understand the impact and implications of a RAC audit, you are at risk. SDCMS members and staff should click here to download a registration form.

FREE SDCMS Members Social and Networking Event
This Friday, April 16, 2010, at the Rock Bottom Brewery, 6:30pm – 9:30pm. The first 100 individuals to RSVP to Jen Ohmstede at (858) 300-2781 or at JOhmstede@SDCMS.org are in!

Executive Director Comment: I can’t believe the entire San Diego County physician community has no gripes — so far we have received no submissions for our June 2010 issue of San Diego Physician magazine, which we are devoting to “The Hassles of Being a Doctor.” Here is your chance to vent! Let us know what your frustrations are, what you’d change if you could, and where you see the practice of medicine heading. Click here for submission details.

CONTENTS

  • Californians Don’t Support Cuts to Healthcare
  • The First Issue of "CMA Practice Resources" Is Now Available
  • SDCMS’ White Coat Gala (Installation Dinner & Dance)
  • UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Annual Benefit & Award Celebration
  • SDCMS Media Training • Saturday, May 22, 2010
  • Joint Commission Approves New Medical Staff Standard
  • Health Reform’s Next Challenge: Who Will Care for the Newly Insured?
  • Up-to-date Information on Health Reform From the Kaiser Family Foundation
  • CMS Nominee Dr. Berwick
  • Medicare Payment Audits Criticized in GAO Report
  • Palmetto to Conduct Free, Half-day, In-person Workshops April 16–June 10
  • H1N1 Spike in Georgia Raises Concerns of Possible Third Wave
  • Reduced (4-Dose) Vaccine Schedule for Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
  • Health Reform Law Gives Biologic Drugs 12-year Exclusivity
  • Gene Patents Rejected by Federal Judge
  • SDCMS SEMINARS / WEBINARS / EVENTS
  • SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTHCARE EVENTS

STATE

Californians Don’t Support Cuts to Healthcare
According to a new Field Poll, only 26% of registered voters support cuts to healthcare programs for low-income Californians and the disabled, while only 31% support cutting mental health programs.

The First Issue of "CMA Practice Resources" Is Now Available
The free, monthly email bulletin from the reimbursement experts in CMA’s Center for Economic Services is full of tips and tools to help physicians and their staff improve practice efficiency and viability.

LOCAL

SDCMS’ White Coat Gala (Installation Dinner & Dance) …
… will be at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay on Saturday, June 5, 2010, 6pm–11pm. Special Note: For those physicians who have been SDCMS members 33 or more years, in celebration of your long-standing membership with us, we would like to invite you to attend our White Coat Gala as our guest, free of charge! (Guest tickets may also be purchased at the standard ticket cost of $75.00 each.) Please contact Jen Ohmstede at (858) 300-2781 or at JOhmstede@SDCMS.org to RSVP or for additional details.

UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Annual Benefit & Award Celebration on April 24, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010. 6:00pm–10:00pm. Price Center Ballroom at UCSD. Silent auction, opportunity drawing, wine tasting, entertainment and award dinner. Proceeds will go to the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project. $175 per person ($150 of ticket price is tax deductible). Tables available at the $1,500 and $1,750 level. Student prices available upon request. RSVP to Anne Crane (acrane@ucsd.edu) or Carol Whitener (cbloomwhitener@ucsd.edu) by email or by phone at (858) 534-6160. Click here for more information about the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project.

SDCMS Media Training • Saturday, May 22, 2010
Please let me know if you are interested in our next interactive media training on Saturday morning, May 22. Details below. A fabulous, free opportunity to hone your craft. While mastery of the facts is great, we will not focus on the facts. We want you to focus on your media skills. If you have questions or comments or would like to reserve a space, please let me know at Gehring@SDCMS.org.

  • When: Continental Breakfast at 8:00am. Program starts PROMPTLY at 8:30am. We will finish no later than 11:30am.
  • Where: SDCMS Offices at 5575 Ruffin Road, Suite 250.
  • Dress: Business casual (no ties or formal stuff).
  • How: We will do a 15-minute introduction and background, divide into two- or three-person teams, and immediately go to one of three stations (TV panel, TV standup, radio, and print), each for approximately one hour.

FEDERAL

Joint Commission Approves New Medical Staff Standard
On March 18, the Joint Commission announced approval of revisions to medical staff standard MS.01.01.01 (formerly MS1.20) that are designed to improve patient safety. This standard will be surveyed for compliance beginning April 1, 2011.

Health Reform’s Next Challenge: Who Will Care for the Newly Insured?
The health system reforms signed into law in March will cover an estimated 32 million uninsured patients by 2019, but there may not be enough physicians to care for them. The nation likely will see a shortage of about 160,000 physicians by 2025 — leaving too few to keep up with the flood of newly insured patients seeking care for long-neglected health problems. Click here to read more.

Click Here for Up-to-date Information on Health Reform From the Kaiser Family Foundation

CMS Nominee Dr. Berwick
After a long leadership drought at the agency overseeing Medicare and Medicaid, the Obama administration has nominated Don Berwick, MD, a pediatrician widely renowned for his contributions to healthcare quality research and improvement to help lead the agency through the start of a critical system overhaul. CMS has been relying on a string of interim administrators since Mark B. McClellan, MD, PhD, stepped down in October 2006. Click here to read more.

Medicare Payment Audits Criticized in GAO Report
A March report from the GAO said CMS did not establish an adequate process to address payment system problems uncovered by the contractors either during the three-year initial pilot program of the RACs or in planning for the rollout of a permanent, nationwide version of the program. Click here to read more.

Palmetto to Conduct Free, Half-day, In-person Workshops Throughout California, Hawaii and Nevada April 16–June 10
Each workshop will include topics such as provider enrollment and Internet-based PECOS, recent Medicare program updates, J1 top billing and claim submission errors, the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) updates, and much more. Space is limited and different for each session, therefore, registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. To register or find out more about the workshops, log into your Palmetto GBA Workshops database account and register for the session you wish to attend. Workshop registration closes one business day prior to the event. Workshops of interest to San Diego providers:

  • April 21, 2010, 8:00am–2:00pm: Part B Webinar: Top 10 Billing Errors
  • April 28, 2010, 12:30pm–1:30pm: Part B ACT Webinar: Physical Therapy Billing
  • May 13, 2010, 8:30am–2:00pm: Spring Workshop Tour at San Diego Scottish Rite Center, 1895 Camino del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108

MEDICAL

H1N1 Spike in Georgia Raises Concerns of Possible Third Wave
A resurgence of the flu virus is happening throughout Georgia. During March, about 40 Georgians were hospitalized each week due to H1N1. That is the state’s highest mark of H1N1-confirmed hospitalizations since October 2009. The CDC is investigating Georgia’s spike in influenza activity and monitoring what some fear may be the start of a third wave of the virus. Click here to read more.

Reduced (4-Dose) Vaccine Schedule for Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (March 30, 2010)
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is recommending that a reduced (4-dose) rabies vaccine schedule be used for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in previously unvaccinated persons. Persons with altered immunocompetence should continue to receive the 5-dose vaccination series. The first dose of the 4-dose rabies vaccine regimen should be administered as soon as possible (day 0) after exposure. Remaining doses are administered on days 3, 7, and 14. Recommendations regarding RIG remain unchanged. Click here for the complete ACIP recommendations.

Health Reform Law Gives Biologic Drugs 12-year Exclusivity
Manufacturers of original biologic drugs will have at least 12 years before others will be able to use their data to produce and sell similar versions of the drugs, according to a provision in the new health reform law. The law gives the FDA the responsibility to implement a pathway for so-called follow-on or biosimilar biologic drugs. Unlike Europe, the U.S. had no formal process to approve generic versions of biologic drugs, which are produced through biological processes instead of chemical ones. Click here to read more.

Gene Patents Rejected by Federal Judge
A federal judge invalidated patents on a pair of genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer, finding that the patents violated long-standing precedents barring the patentability of natural phenomena, saying the DNA over which Myriad Genetics Inc. claimed a monopoly represented “the physical embodiment of laws of nature.” The court also rejected Myriad’s patent claims on a testing method in which it compared gene mutations to determine a patient’s predisposition for breast or ovarian cancer. Organized medicine declared the decision a victory that will pave the way for broader research and more accessible treatments for patients. Click here to read more.

SDCMS SEMINARS / WEBINARS / EVENTS
For Further Information on or to Register for Any of the Below Seminars, Webinars, or Events, Contact Sonia Gonzales at (858) 300-2782 or at SGonzales@SDCMS.org.

  • APR 15 • Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Seminar/Webinar • Thursday, April 15, 11:30am–1:00pm. Topics covered include: update and overview on CMS/OIG oversight, initiatives, and Medicare audits; overview of the RAC; implications to the healthcare industry; preparing with self-audits and professional activation compliance; reviewing insurance options; regulatory insurance overview; application of coverage to various enforcement initiatives, including RAC success stories; underwriting concerns and process. Click here for further information.
  • APR 16 • SDCMS Membership Social • Friday, April 16, 6:30pm–9:30pm • Mark your calendars to attend SDCMS’ upcoming Membership Social at the Rock Bottom Brewery. Only SDCMS member physicians can attend. Space is VERY limited, so please RSVP as soon as possible to Jen Ohmstede at (858) 300-2781 or at JOhmstede@SDCMS.org.
  • APR 20 • E-town Hall • Wednesday, May 12, 11:30am–12:30pm
  • APR 21 • Risk Management Seminar/Webinar — “eHealth: Telemedicine and Telehealth” • Wednesday, April 21, 6:30pm–7:30pm
  • APR 22 • Risk Management Seminar/Webinar — “eHealth: Telemedicine and Telehealth” • Thursday, April 22, 11:30am–12:30pm
  • APR 28 • Medi-Cal Seminar/Webinar • Wednesday, April 28, 11:30am–1:00pm
  • MAY 6 • IT Seminar/Webinar • Thursday, May 6, 11:30am–1:00pm
  • MAY 20 • Workers’ Compensation Billing Seminar/Webinar • Thursday, May 20, 11:30am–1:00pm
  • MAY 21 • Young and Resident Physicians Spring Social • Friday, May 21, 6:00pm–9:00pm
  • JUN 5 • 140th Annual SDCMS Installation Dinner and Dance • Saturday, June 5, 6:00pm–11:00pm • Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, 1441 Quivira Road, San Diego, CA 92109. For ticket information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jen Ohmstede at (858) 300-2781 or at JOhmstede@SDCMS.org.
  • JUN 10 • EMR/EHR Trunk Show • Late April, Early May — Watch for Updates
  • JUN 18–19 • Physician Leader’s Toolbox Workshop • Friday and Saturday, June 18–19, 8:00am–4:00pm
  • JUN 24 • Sexual Harassment Seminar/Webinar • Thursday, June 24, 11:30am–1:00pm
  • JUL 20 • Risk Management Webinar — “The Employee’s Role in Decreasing Liability Risks in the Physician Office” • Thursday, July 22, 11:30am–12:30pm
  • JUL 21 • Risk Management Webinar — “The Employee’s Role in Decreasing Liability Risks in the Physician Office” • Wednesday, July 21, 6:30pm–7:30pm

SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTHCARE EVENTS

"We learn geology the morning after the earthquake."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1888)

Read more about: H1N1, Healthcare News and Updates, Palmetto, SDCMS News and Updates, SGR, White Coat, News You Can Use

Find a Doctor

Search by specialty, location, health plans accepted, and more.