HCMA HCMA - Tampa Skyline
HCMA
  • Home
  • About HCMA
    • About HCMA
    • Why Join HCMA?
    • HCMA Officers
    • HCMA Staff
    • HCMA Foundation
      • About Foundation
      • Foundation Board
      • Grant Application
      • Contact the Foundation Board
    • HILLPAC
      • About HILLPAC
      • HILLPAC Board
      • HILLPAC Guidelines
      • Contact HILLPAC
  • For Patients
    • Find a Physician
      • Listing of all Physicians by Alpha
      • Listing of all Physicians by Speciality
    • HCMA Member Websites
    • Helpful Links
    • Helpful Phone #'s
    • Hospitals
    • Smoking Cessation
    • Living Will
  • Community Resources
    • Cover Florida
    • Foundation Grants
    • Stay Alive...Just Drive!
  • For Physicians
    • HCMA Members
      • Benefit Providers
      • CME
      • Executive Council Meetings
      • FL Disaster Volunteer Info
      • Medical Records
      • Pay Your Dues
      • Smoking Cessation
      • Update my Info
      • EMR Survey
    • Prospective Members
      • Reasons to Join
      • Benefit Providers
      • Membership Application
      • Contact us to Join
    • Advertise
      • The Bulletin
      • Membership Directory
      • Dinner Meetings
      • Golf Tournament
      • Website
      • Address Label Sales
    • Classified Ads
    • Expert Witness Guidelines
    • FL Health News
    • Helpful Links
    • Licensure Requirements
      • Initial Florida Licensure Info
      • Renewal Licensure Info
      • 2009 Legislative Bills/Affecting FL License
    • Opening or Closing an Office
    • Photo Gallery
      • HCMA Foundation Charity Golf Classic 2009
      • 2010 HCMA Inauguration Gala
    • PRN
    • Ask a Question
  • Member Benefts
    • HCMA Benefit Providers
  • Alliance
  • Contact Us

  • Find a Physician
  • Advertise & Sponsorship
  • Upcoming Events
  • Legislation
  • E-News
  • 2009 FMA Annual Meeting
  • HCMA Member Websites
  • Photo Gallery
  • Find a Physician by Alpha
  • Find a Physician by Speciality
  • The Bulletin
  • Membership Directory
  • Dinner Meetings
  • Golf Tournament
  • Website
  • Address Label Sales
  • 3rd Annual HCMA/USF Dean’s Lecture
  • Health Care Reform Seminar
  • 2010 FMA Legislative Achievements
  • 2009 Summary
  • Top 10 Rules
  • Click here for FMA Pac Contact
  • Current Events
  • 2009 Legislative Bills/Affecting FL License
  • 2009 House of Delegates Actions
  • 2009 FMA Annual Meeting Photos
  • HCMA Foundation Charity Golf Classic 2009
  • 2010 HCMA Inauguration Gala

 

Health News Florida

 

 

Dean's Lecture Series

 

 

HCMA Foundation Charity Golf Classic

 

HCMA Golf Tournament

 

 

 

 

 

HILLPAC

 

 

Tobacco Free Partnership Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



E-News - July 2010

 

 Art

 

Using his art as his vehicle, Erik channels success strategies in a unique and entertaining way.  His painting seamlessly becomes a visual metaphor for the fabric of his message.  You won’t want to miss the dramatic conclusion of his program!  His skill as an artist, a dynamic performer and a speaker will leave you with a message that is as memorable as it is impactful.  Erik’s sought after paintings hang in executive offices and corporate headquarters around the country.

 

SEATING IS LIMITED…

 

LIMIT 1 GUEST PER MEMBER – NO CHARGE

RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY SEPTEMBER 2ND.

 

RSVP to Julie at 813.253.0471 or kmills@hcma.net

 

CMS TO REVIEW PECOS ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Medicare Working with Ordering and Referring Providers and Suppliers to Streamline Enrollment Process

 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working with providers to address concerns about enrollment in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries continue to receive the health care services and items they need.  PECOS is the electronic system used to enroll physicians and eligible professionals into the Medicare program.

 

As part of those efforts, CMS will, for the time being, not implement changes that would automatically reject claims based on orders, certifications, and referrals made by providers that have not yet had their applications approved by July 6, 2010.   While more than 800,000 physicians and other health professionals have enrolled and have approved applications in the PECOS system, some providers have encountered problems.  CMS is continuing to update and streamline the process, and more providers have been enrolled in the past few days.

 

CMS issued an interim final regulation on May 5, 2010 implementing provisions of the Affordable Care Act that permit only a Medicare enrolled physician or eligible professional to certify or order  home health services, durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) , and certain items and services under Medicare Part B.  The new law applies to orders, referrals and certifications made on or after July 1.  The comment period for the regulation closes on July 6, after which the comments will be reviewed and considered before a final regulation is issued. 

 

The Affordable Care Act provisions and the regulation were designed as steps to prevent fraud in Medicare by ensuring that only eligible and identifiable providers and suppliers can order and refer covered items and services to Medicare beneficiaries.

 

Many physicians and other providers and suppliers have continued to make good faith efforts to comply with the requirements of the law and regulation.  These efforts will be a significant factor in determining the procedures and processes that will be incorporated in the final rule.

 

While the regulation will be effective July 6, 2010, CMS will not implement automatic rejections of claims submitted by providers that have attempted to enroll in PECOS.  However, until the automatic rejections are operational, providers should not see any change in the processing of submitted claims, they will continue to be reviewed and paid as they have historically been reviewed and paid.

 

Additionally, though CMS is taking a more deliberative approach to using the PECOS enrollment system, the agency will employ a contingency plan to meet the ACA requirement that written orders and certifications are only issued by eligible professionals effective July 1.

 

CMS will continue to send informational notices to providers reminding them of the need to submit or update their enrollment and will work with the provider community to provide guidance on enrollment and will process all applications expeditiously.

 

SPECIAL UPDATE: MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT CUT BLOCKED

The House of Representatives just passed the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010 (H.R. 3962) by a vote of 417 to 1.  This legislation contains provisions that block the 21.3 percent cut to Medicare physician payments until Nov. 30.  The Senate passed identical legislation late last week. The president is expected to sign the bill into law shortly. Practices will then see a 2.2 percent increase to Medicare physician payment for claims with dates of service from June 1 through Nov. 30. Look for further information in the MGMA Washington Connexion.

 

MGMA encourages members to use this six-month period of Medicare payment stability to urge Congress to comprehensively address Medicare physician payment cuts through the immediate repeal of the Medicare sustainable growth rate formula. 

 

FMA PAC MAKES LEGISLATIVE AND STATEWIDE CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONS

The FMA (Florida Medical Association) PAC Board of Directors met in Tampa on June 25th & 26th to issue endorsements for statewide and legislative candidates.  

 

“The FMA PAC’s endorsement and support provides a significant resource to candidates,” said FMA President-Elect and PAC President Madelyn E. Butler, MD.  “We are proud to stand behind those candidates who share our mission of protecting patients’ access to care.  We rely upon our county medical societies to interview candidates and make recommendations, and we are grateful to our Candidate Evaluation Committees for vetting the candidates to ensure that we continue putting our resources behind viable candidates who will truly champion our priorities.”

 

The FMA PAC Board of Directors unanimously endorsed Attorney General Bill McCollum in the race for Governor of Florida and Marco Rubio in the race for U.S. Senate.  Other highlights are as follows:

 

Statewide Races

 

Attorney General - Neutral

Chief Financial Officer - Jeff Atwater

Commissioner of Agriculture - Adam Putnam

 

Florida Senate Endorsements

 

SD 2 – Greg Evers

SD 8 – Senator John Thrasher

SD 6 – Bill Montford

SD 12 – Jim Norman

SD 14 – Senator Steve Oelrich

SD 16 – Jack Latvala

SD 20 – Alan Hays

SD 24 – Senator Thad Altman

SD 25 – Ellyn Bogdanoff

SD 27 – Kevin Rader (Democrat Primary)

SD 32 – Senator Jeremy Ring

SD 36 – Miguel Diaz de la Portilla

SD 38 – Anitere Flores

SD 40 – Rene Garcia

 

Florida House of Representatives Endorsements

 

HD 1 – Greg Brown

HD 2 – Clay Ingram

HD 3 – Rep. Clay Ford

HD 6 – Rep. Jimmy Patronis

HD 7 – Rep. Marti Coley

HD 8 – Rep. Alan Williams

HD 9 – Rick Minor

HD 10 – Rep. Leonard Bembry

HD 15 – Reggie Fullwood

HD 18 – Rep. Ron Renuart, DO

HD 20 – Rep. William Proctor

HD 22 – John Patrick Deakins

HD 24 – Dennis Baxley

HD 25 – Rick Joyce

HD 27 – Rep. Dwayne Taylor

HD 28 – Rep. Dorothy Hukill

HD 30 – Rep. Ritch Workman

HD 31 – Rep. John Tobia

HD 33 – Open Seat – Jason Brodeur

HD 34 – Rep. Chris Dorworth

HD 35 – Speaker-Designate Dean Cannon

HD 36 – Rep. Scott Randolph

HD 38 – Rep. Bryan Nelson

HD 40 – Rep. Eric Eisnaugle

HD 41 – Rep. Steve Precourt

HD 42 – Rep. Marlene O’Toole

HD 44 – Rep. Robert Schenck

HD 45 – Katherine Starkey

HD 48 – Rep. Peter Nehr

HD 49 – Rep. Darren Soto

HD 50 – Rep. Ed Hooper

HD 51 – Rep. Janet Long

HD 52 – Rep. Bill Heller

HD 53 – Rep. Rick Kriseman

HD 54 – Rep. Jim Frishe

HD 55 – Darryl Rouson

HD 56 – Rep. Rachel Burgin

HD 57 – Open Seat – Dana Young

HD 58 – Rep. Janet Cruz

HD 60 – Open Seat – Shawn Harrison

HD 61 – Rep. Will Weatherford

HD 64 – Rep. Kelli Stargel

HD 65 – Rep. John Wood

HD 66 – Ben Albritton

HD 67 – Greg Steube

HD 68 –  Jim Boyd

HD 69 – Rep. Keith Fitzgerald

HD 70 – Rep. Doug Holder

HD 71 – Rep. Ken Roberson

HD 73 – Jason Moon

HD 75 – Rep. Trudi Williams

HD 79 – Rep. Mike Horner

HD 80 – Rep. Debbie Mayfield

HD 83 – Patrick Rooney

HD 85 – Rep. Joseph Abruzzo

HD 86 – Lori Berman

HD 87 – Bill Hager

HD 88 – Rep. Mark Pafford

HD 90 – Open Seat – Irv Slosberg

HD 95 – Rep. Jim Waldman

HD 96 – Rep. Ari Porth

HD 98 – Rep. Franklin Sands

HD 100 – Rep. Evan Jenne

HD 101 – Rep. Matt Hudson

HD 102 – Rep. Eddy Gonzalez

HD 104 – John Patrick Julien

HD 108 – Rep. Ronald Brise

HD 109 – Cynthia Stafford

HD 111 – Rep. Erik Fresen

HD 112 – Jeanette Nunez

HD 113 – Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera

HD 114 – Ana Rivas Logan

HD 115 – Jose “Pepe” Diaz

HD 117 – Michael Bileca

HD 119 – Katie Edwards

HD 120 – Rep. Ron Saunders

 

GOLF COAST OIL SPILL FACT SHEET FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

In response to the Gulf Coast oil spill, the Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has released a fact sheet for health care providers. To download the fact sheet, click here.

 

DEA’S INTERIM FINAL RULE ON CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE E-PRECRIBING

On March 31, 2010, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published an interim final rule (IFR) permitting physicians to prescribe controlled substances electronically as of June 1, 2010. The IFR specifies the rules that physicians and other health care providers must follow in order to e-prescribe controlled substances. E-prescribing for controlled substances remains optional for physicians… Read More.

 

EMR/EHR SURVEYS TALLIED

The results of the March 2010 HCMA EMR/EHR survey have been compiled.  The HCMA received seventy-five responses. 

 

65 respondents were in a single specialty group – 26 have an EMR system

10 respondents were in a multispecialty group – 7 have an EMR system

 

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being completely satisfied) the thirty-three respondents who have an EMR system in place have an average 7.5 satisfaction rate. 

 

The EMR systems most represented in the survey are:

 

Name of system*

Number of respondents

Satisfaction ratings

Allscripts

4

3, 7, 7, 8

E Clinical Works

4

10, 6, 9, n/a

Intergy/Sage

4

10, 7, 9, 6

Athena Clinicals

3

8, 7, 8

Centricity/GE

2

8, 8

 

*Additional systems were represented

 

To receive the excel file which tallied the survey results, please contact Elke Johnston at the HCMA office: Elke Johnston or 813.253.0471.

 

Please note: the results of this informal survey are for HCMA members’ information only.  The results of this survey in no way reflect the thoughts and opinions of the Hillsborough County Medical Association, Inc., its officers, or its members.

 

PHYSICIAN LEGAL ALERT:  THE COMING THREAT OF RAC ADUITS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM           

On October  8, 2008, without great fanfare within the physician community, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken the  next  steps  in the agency’s “comprehensive efforts” to identify “improper Medicare payments and fight fraud, waste and abuse” in the Medicare program by awarding contracts to four permanent Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) designed to “guard the Medicare Trust Fund.”  See Attachment to read more…

   

 

July 2010 

FORE!!!! (TEEN)

Sponsor, Golf Volunteer Today…the HCMA Foundation’s 14th Charity Golf Classic will be held Thursday, October 21st at the beautiful Tournament Players Club of Tampa.  It’s never too early to secure your spot.  $130 per golfer includes greens fees, cart, lunch, dinner, and a great day out of the office – all for a good cause!  Sponsorship opportunities are also available. 

 

The HCMA Foundation is a network of physicians and local businesses dedicated to enriching our community. Partnership with the Tampa Bay business community is a fundamental goal of the HCMA, the HCMA Alliance, and the HCMA Foundation; and has been an essential component for success of the Foundation Charity Golf Classic. Due to the success of the Charity Golf Classic we have been proud to award grants to such organization as: The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, The Judeo Christian Health Clinic, MoreHealth, The Evelyn Shaver Scholarship Fund through the HCMA Alliance, and many others. The deadline for 2010 HCMA Foundation Grant Applications is February 15, 2010.

 

Contact Julie (kmills@hcma.net) or Elke (EJohnston@hcma.net) at the HCMA office for more information (813.253.0471).

 

STAT LAW

A monthly one page publication of the Physicians’ Counsel, offers the latest breaking news on medical-legal developments affecting physicians and health care providers.  Please review the attached July 2010 edition.  The information will also be published in the upcoming issue of The Bulletin.

 

THE HCMA HAS OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE

In Historic Hyde Park…10’ x 9.5’ (95 square feet), available immediately.  $350.00 per month lease inclusive of all utilities and parking.  Easy access to downtown and Tampa International Airport.  Additional amenities include:  use of conference rooms, use of in-house copy, postage, and fax machines, complete kitchen, security system and janitorial services.  Private entrance and restroom.  Security deposit required and minimum one year lease.  For additional information call Debbie Zorian, Executive Director, or Martha Brooks, HCMA Accountant, at 813.253.0471.

 

WELCOME KAY MILLS, HCMA’S NEW PROJECT COORDINATOR!

We are pleased to announce that Kay Mills, a professional administrative assistant with successful event management, has joined the HCMA team.  Be sure to stop by and say hello to Kay at the September 23rd HCMA/USF Dean’s Lecture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florida Doctors Insurance Company
Lesa Kemp
800-FLA-DOCS
www.fldic.com
HCMA Benefit Providers
 
West Coast Financial
(813) 269-7100
 
Lita Campbell, CLU, ChFC, CEBS New England Financial 302 Knights Run Avenue, #1000 Tampa, FL  33602 Tel 813-286-3862 * Fax 813-286-3855
 
Full Circle PR, A Medical Strategic Growth Firm
 
 
Medifieds

Physicians – Looking for a job, Medical Staff or
Medical Real Estate? 
Go to www.medi-fieds.com
Your medical classified source.

 

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2010 HCMA