OCMS
We Represent Physicians Dedicated To Serving Their Patients.
The Orange County Medical Society is a non-profit, voluntary
membership, professional organization that represents the interests of physicians who practice
medicine in either Orange or Osceola County in Central Florida.
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OCMS
Please click here to go to the TGIFs.
In a final rule released Nov. 1, 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed that effective Jan.1, 2008, the Medicare physician payment schedule conversion factor would be cut by 10.1 percent to $34.0682. On Dec.19, 2007, however, Congress passed legislation that postpones this reduction for six months and instead increases the conversion factor by 0.5 percent from January through June 2008. Facing such a steep reduction in payments on July 1, 2008, many physicians may wish to review their Medicare participation options.
Physicians who wish to change their current Medicare participation or non-participation status for 2008 were required to do so between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, 2007. In light of the Congressional action, CMS is reopening the participation decision period for an additional 45 days. The new deadline to change participation status is Feb. 15, 2008, but participation decisions will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008. Carriers should have provided each physician in their area with a CD-ROM containing information about the 2008 participation sign-up and a "Medicare Participating Physician/Supplier Agreement." As actual payment rates will change significantly due to the recent legislative intervention, physicians will need to check the carrier web site or list serve for updates. CMS also publishes Medicare Learning Network articles for physicians outlining changes that will be in effect for the following year.
To help ensure that physicians are making informed decisions about their contractual relationships with the Medicare program, the AMA has developed a brief overview (click here to view) of the current situation with respect to the Medicare payment update for 2008 and the various participation options that are available to physicians.
Please click here to read the release
Please click here to read the release
The United States Congress has approved the “Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007” (S. 2499), legislation that prevents the scheduled 10.1 percent cut in Medicare physician payments and extends authorization for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The Senate approved the legislation by voice vote on December 18. The House quickly approved the legislation on December 19. President Bush is expected to sign the legislation into law later this week. The final compromise bill falls far short of the objectives hoped for and falls well short of the provisions included in the House approved "Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007" (H.R. 3162). However, the legislation prevents the application of the largest single year cut in the history of the Medicare program. While the final package is disappointing, we are hoping that more progress will be made toward a permanent fix by June 2008.
The following is a summary of the major provisions included in the "Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007” (S. 2499):
Physicians renewing their license for the second or subsequent time must complete the following CME requirements:
Note: CME must be completed between February 1, 2006 and January 31, 2008 (current licensing term).
All physicians must complete 2-credits of Domestic Violence every three licensure terms (or every six years):
MDs whose license expires January 31, 2008 must complete 2-credits of Domestic Violence before their license expires January 31, 2012.
MDs whose license was renewed by January 31, 2007 must complete 2-credits of Domestic Violence before their license expires January 31, 2011.
Physicians renewing their license for the first time must complete the following CME requirements:
Note: Physicians renewing their license for the first time are exempt from the 40-credit requirement and must complete only the two courses listed above.
Online CME is available through the FMA Web site at www.fmaonline.org.
In answer to the Supreme Court’s most recent decision to allow lawyers to use a legal waiver for their clients, enabling higher attorney reimbursement than what the law allows, the FMA has created a waiver for use by physicians who are members of both the FMA and OCMS, that will enable physicians to enter into an agreement with patients capping non-economic damages at $250,000. The FMA will be conducting seminars across the state to educate physicians about the legal issues and implementation process involved with using the waiver.
Click here for more information on the waiver.
To obtain a waiver, contact Melanie Boscan
(mboscan@ocms.org).
First Professionals Insurance Company (FPIC) announced a 6.39% decrease in liability premiums. Click here for a message from FPIC regarding the rate decrease.
As a member of OCMS, you can also receive premium discounts just for being a member!
Talk with your agent representative or contact FPIC’s Assistant Director of Society Relations Shelly Hakes, hakes@fpic.com or (800) 741-3742 ext. 3294.
If your practice uses the universal paper claim form known as "the 1500" you may need to contact the insurers and others with whom you do business to check about using a new form.
The National Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC) has released a revised version of the 1500 Health Insurance Claim Form that accommodates the reporting of the National Provider Identifier (NPI), an identifier that must be used by all entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
There will be a six-month grace period from Oct. 1, 2006, to March 31, 2007, during which physicians and other health care professionals can use either the current or revised version. The transition will be complete April 1, 2007, when the current form is discontinued.
The NUCC strongly recommends contacting health plans prior to submitting a claim on the revised form to ensure that the plans are prepared to accept it.
The AMA will have the revised form, in a variety of formats and quantities, available for purchase in September. Bookmark www.amabookstore.com or call 800.621.8335 to purchase.
Visit www.nucc.org for the 1500 Reference Instruction Manual, as well as other documents related to the revised form. (From the AMA E-Voice)
A tidal wave of Medicaid enforcement will soon come crashing to shore now that CMS has launched "an unprecedented effort" to stop Medicaid fraud and abuse.
Click here for details on this unprecedented effort.
Click here for general information from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) on volunteering for disasters. The last two years of active hurricane seasons have brought forth many questions from the physician and health care communities in general. I hope this information will better help you prepare for the season ahead.
The Virtual Medical Campus has compiled a list of resources for use by public health professionals when making disaster plans regarding patients with special needs. Patients living in Orange County with special needs can pre-register for shelters by calling 407-650-4047. For information visit: www.vmc.wvu.edu/hrsa/specialPopulations.htm.
A new publication from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) can help older adults learn to communicate more effectively with their physicians. "Conversando con su medico" is a 38-page Spanish-language publication that includes information on choosing a doctor, communicating effectively with the doctor and other health care providers, and working with an interpreter. The document also discusses sensitive issues such as incontinence or sexuality and can provide help in finding additional health information in Spanish. Visit http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/may2006/nia-17.htm for more details and information on ordering this and other Spanish-language materials.
The Department of Health and Human Services have released Pandemic Influenza Checklists to help facilities assess and improve their preparedness for a pandemic. As HHS Director, Mike Leavitt said at the recent AMA Advocacy Conference in Washington, "Pandemics happen." Being well prepared is the way to minimize the impact on the population. Everyone has a responsibility to see that the institutions they and their families have contact with from schools to churches to places of business have a preparedness plan.
Click here for the medical office checklist
Click here for the medical transport facilities checklist
Click here for the college and university checklist
Click here for the child care facility checklist
The Board of Medicine issued a new rule a few months ago that covered rules of telemedicine prescribing. This applies to internet prescribing but ALSO phone. The rule prohibits the writing of a prescription unless a patient evaluation, including a history and physical examination, has been performed. Click here to read the rule in its entirety.
Please visit the FMA Online for more information on living wills: http://www.fmaonline.org/patients/livingwill.asp
Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
The Orange County Medical Society is a non-profit organization that represents physicians from all sections of health care and medicine for Central Florida and Orlando.