1. CMA Advises MDs to Begin EHR Needs Assessment Process Now
The 2009 federal economic stimulus package includes $19 billion for health information technology (HIT), the vast majority of which will be directed to physicians to subsidize the purchase and usage of electronic health record (EHR) systems. Beginning in 2011, qualifying Medicare providers stand to gain up to $44,000 under the program; qualifying Medi-Cal providers stand to receive as much as $64,000.
Many of the standards governing the subsidies will be worked out in the coming months. Given the lack of clarity about what EHR systems will qualify a physician to receive the federal subsidy, CMA believes that now is not the time to rush out and purchase a system. In the meantime, CMA advises physicians to begin the process of assessing their EHR needs, with an eye on what will work best for your specialty, the size of your practice, the stage in your career, and your comfort level with technology.
Because of the complexity and cost involved with selecting and implementing an EHR, it is imperative that physician practices plan accordingly. To help, CMA has created an HIT Resource Center. There, you will find the latest information, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to HIT-related resources for physicians.
CMA is closely monitoring the HIT standards development process, and will be updating the resource center as new information becomes available.
Contact: David Ford, 916/551-2554 or dford@cmanet.org.
2. FTC Says Physicians Must Comply with “Red Flag”
Identity Theft Rules
The Federal Trade Commission’s “Red Flag Rules” require financial institutions and “creditors” to develop and implement identity theft detection and prevention programs by May 1, 2009. Despite objections from CMA, AMA, and others in organized medicine, the FTC insists that physicians who regularly bill their patients for services (including copayments and coinsurance) are considered “creditors” and must develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs for their practices by the May 1 deadline.
CMA and AMA continue to urge the FTC to reconsider its interpretation of physicians as “creditors.” CMA believes the Red Flag Rules could impose an unnecessary burden on physician practices, which often already operate under severely strained conditions. CMA also believes the new rules are unnecessary for most physicians because the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) imposes strict requirements to safeguard the confidentiality and security of electronic patient information. Until further notice, however, physicians should begin to plan their compliance programs.
CMA will be hosting a live webinar on April 16 from 12:30 to 1 pm to help members understand and comply with the Red Flag Rules. For more information or to register, visit the CMA calendar. CMA is also preparing a written toolkit to help physicians develop and implement identity theft detection programs. The toolkit will be posted on the CMA website as soon as it is completed.
Contact: Long X. Do, 916/444-5532 or ldo@cmanet.org.
3. Blue Shield Will Reprocess Denied Claims for New CPT Codes
Blue Shield of California recently revealed to CMA that delays in loading new 2009 CPT codes into its claims payment system resulted in the incorrect denial of an as yet undetermined number of physician claims. Affected were claims with dates of service of January 1 to March 13, submitted with any of 225 new 2009 CPT codes. (Click here for a list.)
Blue Shield last week notified CMA that all codes have now been successfully loaded into its claims payment system. At CMA’s urging, Blue Shield has agreed to automatically reprocess all affected claims. Physicians do not need to appeal or resubmit claims. For more information, call Blue Shield Provider Relations at 800/258-3091.
Contact: CMA’s reimbursement helpline, 888/401-5911 or awetzel@cmanet.org.
4. Court Bars Hospital from Enforcing Economic
Credentialing Policy
A state court in Arkansas recently ruled that hospitals cannot deny staff appointments to physicians who have a financial interest in competing hospitals. This case is an important victory that preserves both the physician-patient relationship and competition in the health care marketplace.
In this case, Murphy et al v. Baptist Health, the court permanently barred the hospital from enforcing its “economic credentialing” policy on the grounds that it intrudes on the patient-physician relationship and is intended to suppress competition, rather than further patient care.
“As a matter of public policy, Arkansas protects the patient’s right to the physician of their choice,” the court stated in its ruling. “An act, such as Baptist Health’s Economic Credentialing Policy, that interferes with that choice, and that by extension, interferes with the patient-physician relationship, is contrary to public policy.”
For more information on this case and economic credentialing in general, see CMA On-Call document #1212 “Economic Credentialing and Exclusive Contracts.” On-Call documents are free to members. Nonmembers can purchase On-Call documents for $2 per page in the CMA bookstore.
Contact: Samantha Pellon, 916/551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org.
5. Federal Health Reform Discussions Pick up Momentum
The discussions on federal health reform are beginning to pick up momentum in Washington D.C. and around the country. CMA has been engaged at numerous levels in these discussions, making sure that the voices of physicians and patients play a central role as new health care policies are developed.
A delegation of CMA leaders—including officers, students, residents, and county presidents—was recently in Washington, D.C., meeting with federal lawmakers and Administration officials to discuss federal health care issues, including Medicare payment reform and health reform. On the issue of health reform, physicians focused on the importance of covering the uninsured and of maintaining individual choice and fairness in the health care marketplace. Another key message was the critical need for payment reform for government programs like Medicare and Medicaid to ensure that patients in those programs have meaningful access to their doctors.
Also, the third of six planned White House Regional Forums on Health Reform will be held in Los Angeles on April 6. The health reform forums bring together everyday Americans, key health care stakeholders, and elected officials from both sides of the aisle to discuss what must be done to change our health care system. CMA President Dev GnanaDev, M.D., a trauma surgeon from San Bernardino County, will be on hand to represent California physicians.
Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, 415/882-3376 or emcneil@cmanet.org.
6. Friday Is Early-Bird Deadline for CMA’s 12th Annual Health Care Leadership Academy
Physicians can now register for CMA’s 12th annual Health Care Leadership Academy, April 24-26 in Anaheim. This year’s conference will feature presentations on health system reform in a new era of Washington politics, the “medical home” and other emerging models for the delivery of quality care, the promises and perils of hospital EHR initiatives, health disparities, and more.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to select from 14 breakout workshops on topics ranging from survival strategies for practicing in a turbulent economy, to mitigating malpractice risk, developing leadership skills, and more. Physicians can earn up to 17.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits.
Register by March 27 and save $100. Early bird registration is $645 for members, $945 for nonmembers, and $245 for allied health professionals.
For more information or to register, visit http://www.caleadershipacademy.com
Contact: Roger Purdy, 916/551-2067 or rpurdy@cmanet.org.
7. Webinar: Legislative Update
Several hundred new bills of interest to physicians will have been introduced in the State Legislature by the end of March. On April 2, from 8 to 8:45 pm, CMA lobbyist Teresa Kline will host a webinar to discuss what physicians can expect from the new 2009-2010 legislative session.
During this 45-minute webinar, Kline will give a brief overview of CMA’s government relations operations, summarize CMA’s 2009 sponsored bill package, and highlight key bills that CMA will support and oppose in this upcoming legislative session.
To register, visit the CMA calendar. Space is limited so register soon.
Contact: Shannon Navarra-Lujan, 800/786-4CMA or slujan@cmanet.org.
8. Deadline to RSVP for CMA’s 35th Annual Legislative Leadership Day Is March 27
There’s still time to RSVP for CMA’s 35th Annual Legislative Leadership Conference — aka “Doctor Day”— Tuesday, April 14 in Sacramento.
Legislative Leadership Day is a unique event for California physicians and is free of charge to all CMA members. Attendees will receive a CMA health policy briefing and a short course on “Lobbying 101,” which will train them to become strong physician advocates and prepare them for the legislative meetings later in the day.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet one-on-one with your elected officials in the State Assembly and Senate to discuss important health policy issues that affect the practice of medicine in California.
If you plan on attending, please RSVP no later than Friday, March 27.
For more information, please see the CMA calendar.
Contact: Jennifer Williams, 916/444-5532 or jwilliams2@cmanet.org.
9. Save the Date: Ethnic Physician Summit
Mark your calendars. The CMA Foundation’s Ethnic Physician Leadership Summit has been scheduled for September 26 to 27, in Santa Clara. Admission is free for physicians, medical students, and members of community based organizations. The summit is presented by the CMA Foundation and the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations (NEPO). For more information, please visit www.ethnicphysicians.org.
Contact: Anna Gutiérrez, agutierrez@thecmafoundation.org or 916/779-6627.
10. IMQ Recruiting Physicians to Serve on Correctional Health Judicial Review Committees
CMA’s Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ), which administers the preeminent correctional health care surveying and accreditation program in the state, is seeking primary care physicians board certified in Family Practice or Internal Medicine to hear evidence regarding the quality of care provided by physicians in California detention facilities. As a Judicial Review Committee member for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, you would be part of a highly respected team that would participate in 1 to 2 hearings per year and will be compensated $200 per hour for time served plus all expenses. Hearings will be scheduled in various geographic locations in California, most probably in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
For more information, including an application form, visit the IMQ website.
Contact: Leslie Ann Iacopi, 415/882-5167 or liacopi@imq.org
11. Member Benefit of the Week: Rental Car Discounts CMA members receive discounts on car rentals from Avis and Hertz. Visit http://www.cmanet.org/benefits to find out how you can save up to 25 percent on your next car rental.
Members-only codes are needed to take advantage of these discounts. Visit the CMA website or call the member service center at 800/786-4262 (4CMA) to get your code.
Click here for more information on your membership benefits.
Contact: CMA’s member help line, 800/786-4CMA or twilson@cmanet.org.
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