1. Revised ‘08 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Now Available
The revised 2008 Medicare physician fee schedule is now available at the NHIC website. In the waning hours of the 2007 legislative session, Congress passed a Medicare bill that postpones the 10 percent physician payment cut and instead provides a 0.5 percent increase for six months. The new fee schedule reflects this small increase.
Although Congress stopped the 10 percent across-the-board payment cut, physician reimbursement for many services will be lower in 2008 than in 2007 because of adjustments to the practice expense
and work RVUs and geographic payment formula. (The payment amount for each service under the Medicare fee schedule is the product of three factors: nationally uniform relative-value units (RVUs) for work and practice expenses; a geographic adjustment factor; and a nationally uniform conversion factor, which is used to convert RVUs into payment amounts.)
Physicians are encouraged to assess the impact the Medicare payment changes will have on their practices. It is important that physicians understand how the new fee schedule will affect their bottom line so that they can make informed decisions about Medicare participation for 2008.
Because Congress acted very late in the session to stop the physician pay cut, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reopened the participation decision period for an additional 45 days. Physicians have until February 15 to make any changes to your participation status. However, all status changes will be effective January 1, 2008.
Physicians are still faced with a 10 percent payment reduction on July 1, unless Congress revamps the hopelessly broken formula used to calculate physician pay (or acts again with another last-minute fix). With this cut looming, participation decisions become more complicated. While it is possible that CMS will again reopen the participation decision period, there is no guarantee that CMS will allow physicians to change their participation status in July, should the cut go into effect. Click here for more information on your participation option.
CMA will continue to fight aggressively for physicians and patients and will not relent until Congress reaches a long-term agreement to overhaul the Medicare physician payment system. Physicians cannot continue to practice in such an unstable environment, waiting year after year for Congress to act at the last minute to reverse such devastating cuts.
Click here for more information.
Contact: CMA's Reimbursement Help Line, 888/401-5911 or drice@cmanet.org.
2. Health Reform Financing Initiative Filed
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have formally filed an initiative intended to appear on the 2008 ballot that would finance their $14.4 billion health reform package. Their reforms, passed by the state Assembly last month, would only take effect if voters also pass the ballot measure.
The initiative would, among other things, raise the state tobacco tax to $1.75 a pack and require employers to dedicate up to 6.5 percent of their payrolls to cover employee health care or pay into a state-run insurance purchasing pool.
The reform package must still be taken up by the Senate. Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata has indicated that the Senate will not do so until Governor Schwarzenegger announces his proposed 2008-2009 budget (January 10) and the Legislative Analyst Office’s releases its analysis of the financing plan (likely some time the 2nd or 3rd week of January).
Perata is taking a more cautious approach to health reform. “When major legislation passes with great fanfare, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment, play to the cameras, and quickly go along,” Perata said. “It happened when the state enacted energy deregulation – only to create a crisis from which we’ve yet to fully recover. That’s not something I intend to repeat, especially on an issue as crucial to our state as the health of its citizens. The Senate will debate and act on health care reform when we have the facts to be sure we’re getting it right.”
CMA is already working closely with Senator Perata to address the deficiencies of the current proposal and make needed improvements.
Click here for more information.
Contact: Dustin Corcoran, 916/444-5532 or dcorcoran@cmanet.org.
3. CMA “Back to Basics” Seminar Series Trains Physician Office Staff in Proper Billing and Collections Procedures
CMA’s Center for Economic Services is offering a series of “Back to Basics” seminars to train physician office personnel in proper billing and collections procedures. Whether you’re new to the field or just want a refresher course, this seminar will teach physicians and their office staff how to take greater control of the practice’s bottom line
The next seminar is at the Stanislaus Medical Society (SMS) in Modesto on Jan 16. To register, download the registration form or contact SMS at 209/527-1704.
Participants will receive a copy of CMA’s billing and collections toolkit, Back to Basics: A Step-by-Step Guide to Maximizing Your Cash Flow. The toolkit, a $149 value, is the third in a series of practice management toolkits designed to help members become more successful in their practices. The toolkit can be also be used to test existing staff’s knowledge or as an interview tool to test new applicants’ skill level.
Click here for a list of all the currently scheduled seminars.
Contact: Stanislaus Medical Society, 209/527-1704.
4. Medical Students: Apply for the CMA Foundation’s
Community Leadership Grant Program
The CMA Foundation awards small grants to California medical student organizations to support projects that promote community health and well-being. The foundation reviews applications during the first week of each month and then awards grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 to worthy applicants.
All allopathic and osteopathic medical student organizations are eligible. Priority is given to projects for which funding traditionally is not provided by medical schools or community sponsors.
Applicants must supply a 250-word-maximum statement, on one page, describing the project or program and how it contributes to the community. It must be signed by the medical school dean to affirm the “good status” of the student organization.
Applications should be received in the CMA Foundation offices by the last business day of each month to be considered the first week of the next month.
Click here for more information.
Contact: Carol A. Lee, 916/551-2562 or clee@cmanet.org.
5. Free CME from CMA Foundation
The CMA Foundation is hosting a free obesity prevention CME program on Saturday, February 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Santa Clara County Medical Association.
This “Physicians for Healthy Communities” training is a presentation of the foundation’s Obesity Prevention Project. Presenters will outline the nature of the obesity epidemic and discuss strategies for understanding its diverse social, political, and environmental factors.
Click here for more information.
6. New 2008 Publishing Schedule
CMA is reevaluating its communications strategies in an effort to determine how best to communicate with members. As part of these efforts, CMA Alert will now be published biweekly (every other week) on Mondays. If you have any questions or comments about this new publishing schedule, please contact CMA Alert Editor, Katherine Gallia, 916/551-2074 or kgallia@cmanet.org.
7. Member Benefit of the Week: 5% off Long Term Care Insurance
CMA members receive a 5 percent discount on long-term care insurance purchased through Marsh. Long term care insurance is essential coverage that helps provide you with the financial assistance you need when a prolonged illness or disability keeps you from being able to care for yourself, whether in your home or in a facility.
The CMA member discount is also available to your spouse, parents, parents-in-law, and grandparents. Purchase a policy for both you and your spouse, and receive an additional discount. And if you’re an applicant in good health, you can save even more!
Members have two long term care insurance companies to choose from. The member discount applies to policies underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (rated “A+” by A.M. Best and Company) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company (rated “A++” by A.M. Best and Company), so you can select the company that best suits your needs.
Marsh can arrange to have a long term care specialist meet with you to discuss your needs. If you have any questions, please contact Marsh at 800/747-5123 ext. 7221 or e-mail CMACounty.Insurance@marsh.com.
Click here for more information on your membership benefits.
Contact: CMA's membership hotline, 800/786-4CMA (4262) or info@cmanet.org.
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