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Top Story: New Medicaid regulations tie physician rates to access to care
Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released historic draft regulations that would establish guidelines for determining whether states have met the Medicaid access to care standard and other federal law standards when reducing provider reimbursement rates. READ MORE
Also in this issue:
- CMS adds new exemptions for 2012 e-prescribing penalty
- Is your practice ready for 5010? June 15 is National 5010 Testing Day
- Health insurers required to justify double digit rate increases
- CMA keeps watchful eye on deficit reduction debate, stays ready to fight for California physicians
- CMA urges congressional support for Medicare private contracting legislation
- Governor's budget proposal would shift Healthy Families kids into Medi-Cal
- CMA urges court to uphold financial solvency laws related to risk-bearing organizations
- Managed care contract negotiations: Resources for CMA members
- The new cmanet.org: The news you want, when and how you want it
- Free patient education materials now available to help promote the 2011-2012 Tdap school mandate
- CMA publishes guidance on concierge care and private retainer agreements
- CMS announces two new ACO models
- CMA publishes EHR resources for physicians
- There's still time to register for the California Health Care Leadership Academy
- Webinar (6/1): ICD-10
- Webinar (6/8): E & M Coding – Don't Leave Money on the Table
Featured Member Benefit:
Epocrates
California Medical Association members save 30 percent on all Epocrates mobile and online products. READ MORE
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1. New Medicaid regs tie physician rates to access to care
Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released historic draft regulations that would establish guidelines for determining whether states have met the Medicaid access to care standard and other federal law standards when reducing provider reimbursement rates. The regulation came in response to the California Medical Association's (CMA) Medi-Cal lawsuits, which were first filed in 2008 to stop a 10 percent Medi-Cal rate cut. The federal court ordered the State of California to reverse the cut, finding that it would irreparably harm access to health care for nearly 7 million Californians. This finding and the CMA's lawsuits will be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in October. (Download copies of CMA briefs filed in opposition to the State of California's writ petition, Maxwell-Jolly v. ILCSC, Inc., et al and Maxwell-Jolly et al. v. CPhA, CMA et al.)
"These regulations are significant because the federal government is acknowledging that Medi-Cal patient access to care must be meaningfully considered before states are allowed to make provider payment reductions," said CMA President James G. Hinsdale, M.D. "The Obama Administration agrees there is an obvious connection between payment rates and access to quality care."
Federal law requires states to provide Medi-Cal patients with the same access to care as the general population. However, there has not been a uniform framework for the federal government to make and enforce such determinations and many times the feds have not acted until long after rate reductions have taken effect. The regulation follows the recommendations from the well-respected Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), which require an open, public and transparent process.
The proposed regulations would require states to provide the federal government with appropriate data from credible sources on access to care that must be reviewed on a periodic basis. They would also provide for ongoing monitoring and a corrective action plan process for states that are not ensuring appropriate access to care. The regulations would, however, provide states with flexibility in how they meet these requirements. MACPAC recommended that the federal government review Medi-Cal patient needs, provider availability and the overall utilization of services in making such determinations.
CMA applauds the new framework because it will help to protect access to care. While the regulation does not take effect until 2013, CMA is asking CMS to apply the regulation to the current 10 percent Medi-Cal physician reimbursement rate cut that is slated to take effect on July 1, 2011, if it is approved by CMS.
CMA is urging CMS to deny the state's request to cut rates because the cuts are inconsistent with federal law, will irreparably harm patients, will increase costs to the state and federal government as patients are forced to seek care in ERs and will severely hinder the successful implementation of health care reform.
Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, (415) 882-3376 or emcneil@cmanet.org.
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2. CMS adds new exemptions for 2012 e-prescribing penalty
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that makes significant changes to the e-prescribing penalty program by adding more exemptions categories so that physicians are not unfairly penalized.
The previous rules required physicians in individual practices to submit at least 10 Medicare Part B claims with the electronic measure code eRx G8553 and an eligible encounter code by June 30, 2011, or face a claims payment reduction of 1 percent in 2012.
Physicians are still required to e-prescribe using a qualifying system and electronic measure code; but, through an online web portal, will have an opportunity to show eligibility for one of the following exemptions:
- Physician's practice is located in a rural area without high speed internet access
- Physician's practice is located in an area without sufficient available pharmacies for electronic prescribing
- Physician is registered to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid electronic health record incentive (EHR) program and has adopted certified EHR technology
- Physician is unable to electronically prescribe due to local, state or federal law or regulation (e.g., prescribes controlled substances)
- Physician infrequently prescribes (e.g., prescribe fewer than 10 prescriptions between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2011)
- There are insufficient opportunities to report the e-prescribing measure due to program limitations
Physicians will have to apply for an exemption from the 2012 e-prescribing penalty via the online web-portal by October 1, 2011.
The proposed rule can be viewed at the Office of the Federal Register website. It will be published in the Federal Register on June 1, 2011. The comment period closes July 25, 2011.
Contact: Michele Kelly, (213) 226-0338 or mkelly@cmanet.org.
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3. Is your practice ready for 5010? June 15 is National 5010 Testing Day
On January 1, 2012, physicians and others in the health care industry will be required to use the updated 5010 version of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) transactions standards to conduct electronic transactions such as claims submissions, eligibility verification, claims status, remittance advice, and referral authorizations.
To avoid rejected claims and cash flow interruptions, physicians should prepare for the transition by working with their vendors, clearinghouses, billing services, and payors to upgrade and test their systems to ensure that they are able to successfully implement the new standards prior to the compliance date.
To help practices prepare for the transition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that Wednesday, June 15, 2011, will be National 5010 Testing Day. National 5010 Testing Day is an opportunity for physicians, clearinghouses, and vendors to come together to test compliance efforts underway with the added benefit of real-time help desk support and direct and immediate access to Medicare Administrative Contractors. For more information on National 5010 Testing Day, visit the Palmetto website.
To assist physicians in this transition, CMA has published the resource sheet, "Are you ready for the Transition to HIPAA Version 5010?" The sheet, which includes practice tips for implementation from the American Medical Association and a list of additional resources for physicians, is available free to members in CMA's resource library.
For more information, see CMA medical-legal document #1606, "HIPAA Electronic Transaction Rule," also in the resource library. Medical-legal documents are free to members. Nonmembers can purchase documents for $2 per page.
CMA is also conducting a brief survey of physician practices to assess 5010 readiness. Take the survey.
Contact: CMA reimbursement helpline, (888) 401-5911 or mkelly@cmanet.org.
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4. Health insurers required to justify double digit rate increases
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on May 19, 2011, issued new rules that will subject health insurers to additional regulatory scrutiny before implementing large premium increases. The new rule, which takes effect September 1, 2011, requires independent experts to review any proposed premium increase of 10-percent or more for most individual and small group health insurance plans.
This regulation comes at a time when health insurance companies have reported some of their highest profits in years, while consumers continue to see steady and significant premium increases.
States will have the primary responsibility for reviewing rate increases. While federal officials acknowledged that they do not have the authority to stop unjustified rate increases, many states do have authority. HHS has already awarded $44 million in Affordable Care Act grants to states to help strengthen their oversight capabilities, and an additional $200 million for such grants is still available.
Starting September 2012, the 10-percent threshold will be replaced by state-specific figures that reflect the insurance and health care cost trends in each state.
The rule also requires insurance companies to provide consumers with easy to understand information about the reasons for the rate increases, posting the justification for those hikes on their websites as well as on the HHS Affordable Care Act website.
Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, (415) 882-3376 or emcneil@cmanet.org.
5. CMA keeps watchful eye on deficit reduction debate, stays ready to fight for California physicians
The California Medical Association (CMA) wants you to know about the important Deficit Reduction debate going on now in Washington, D.C. Both Republicans and Democrats agree on the need to reduce the deficit, but they are at odds on the approach. The outcome of this debate will have important implications for the Medicare and Medicaid programs and the way you practice medicine in the future.
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chair of the House Budget Committee, recently unveiled his Deficit Reduction Plan, which proposes to reduce the deficit $4 trillion by 2022 through spending cuts, tax cuts and other reforms. For health care, the Ryan plan proposes to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to provide block grants to states to fund the Medicaid program. This proposal allows states flexibility to run Medicaid programs that meet their local needs while capping the amount of federal spending. Additionally, Rep. Ryan proposes to give every Medicare senior a capped voucher to purchase coverage from a private health plan. He also proposes to eliminate the Medicare sustainable growth rate payment formula but did not provide any details.
Adding to the debate are President Obama's proposals to reduce the federal deficit and government spending. The president's plan would reduce the federal deficit $4 trillion within 12 years, with one quarter of the deficit reduction coming from tax increases on the wealthy and the rest from spending cuts. This plan builds on the Medicare, Medicaid and general health care savings attributed to the Affordable Care Act legislation by the Congressional Budget Office.
President Obama is also proposing to expand the authority of the Independent Medicare Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which is already slated to reduce Medicare physician payments when Medicare spending growth exceeds specific targets. He also recommends elimination of the Medicare sustainable growth rate and listed several ways to pay for it.
While the president's deficit reduction proposals are short on specifics, he is appointing several commissions to study the issue and make recommendations. In the meantime, U.S. Senate leaders have appointed a bipartisan team of six senators to develop a plan to reduce spending and reign-in entitlement programs, as well as the deficit.
Neither the Ryan nor Obama proposals are expected to be enacted this year. However, CMA is extremely concerned with both plans and will remain vigilant in our advocacy for California physicians. CMA has traditionally opposed block grants for the state Medi-Cal program because they disproportionately discriminate against California's already low federal matching rate and do not provide enough protections to handle increased patient caseload in down economic times.
CMA has also opposed legislation that would force all seniors into Medicare managed care. CMA has long advocated for seniors to have a choice of physicians and health plans. CMA is also advocating for seniors to be allowed to privately contract with the physician of their choice. (See, "CMA urges congressional support for Medicare private contracting legislation" in this issue of CMA Alert for more information.)
Finally, CMA continues to strenuously oppose IPAB, an unaccountable, non-elected Medicare commission that is mandated to make arbitrary cuts that will force even more physicians out of the program and limit seniors' treatment options.
Due to the dismal economic outlook and long-term budget crisis facing the state and federal government, CMA has asked a committee of physician experts to examine the various deficit reduction proposals and make proactive recommendations for reform that protect access to physicians and vital health care services for future generations to come.
CMA will keep you informed. We welcome your ideas and recommendations.
Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, (415) 882-3376 or emcneil@cmanet.org.
6. CMA urges congressional support for Medicare private contracting legislation
The California Medical Association (CMA) and 77 other state and specialty medical associations have sent a letter to Congress, expressing support for the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act (HR 1700). This bill, recently introduced by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), would help to preserve the patient-physician relationship by allowing seniors to continue to use their Medicare benefit, even with physicians who do not accept Medicare patients. CMA was actively involved in crafting this legislation, which will help preserve choice and access in the Medicare system at no additional cost to the government.
Currently, seniors who wish to see a doctor who does not accept Medicare must pay for all services by that physician out of their own pocket. The physician may not seek reimbursement from Medicare for the care provided, nor will Medicare reimburse the beneficiary – despite the fact that seniors have paid into the program in the form of payroll taxes throughout their working lives.
Under this legislation Medicare would pay its fair share of the medical services and allow patients, who voluntarily agree, to pay the rest.
Download a copy of the letter.
Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, (415) 882-3376 or emcneil@cmanet.org.
7. Governor's budget proposal would shift Healthy Families kids into Medi-Cal
On May 16, Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled his revised budget proposal for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. The plan relies on a combination of revenues, cuts and fund shifts to close the State of California's projected $9.6 billion deficit and establish a $1.2 billion reserve.
The "May Revise," as it's known, includes $6.6 billion in revenues from tax extensions and $2.25 billion in spending cuts. The proposal also utilizes $2.6 billion in revenue from higher-than-anticipated tax receipts due to the improving economy.
Although the California Medical Association (CMA) believes that the governor's proposed budget takes important steps towards addressing California's long-term structural deficit, we are concerned about the governor's plan to move all Healthy Families enrollees into the Medi-Cal program. This would add nearly an additional one million children to the state's already overburdened Medicaid system.
"While we understand the need for creative solutions to balance the state's budget and are willing to work with the governor and Legislature to achieve them, we are concerned that this proposal would simply dump our most vulnerable population into a system with no capacity to serve them." says CMA President James G. Hinsdale, M.D. "We simply cannot expand coverage without increasing the network of physicians to serve these new patients."
This latest move comes on top of the 10 percent Medi-Cal provider rate cuts, the cap on provider visits and mandatory copayments for Medi-Cal patients proposed in January and passed by the Legislature in March. CMA is actively working at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that the Medi-Cal provider rate cuts are not implemented. If these cuts are allowed to stand, California will not have the provider capacity to care for the influx of new Medi-Cal patients. In addition to the 1 million children that would be added to the Medi-Cal rolls by the elimination of the Healthy Families program, there will be 3 million uninsured who will be newly eligible for Medi-Cal in 2014 under the federal health reform legislation.
"We cannot continue to balance our budget by decimating our medical delivery system and have any expectation that we will be able to successfully implement federal health care reform in future years," says Hinsdale.
The governor's proposal also includes cuts to other health programs, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the Every Woman Counts program. His plan would also eliminate 43 boards and commissions, including the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and the California Medical Assistance Commission.
For more details on the governor's May Revise, see CMA's budget summary.
Contact: Carolyn Ginno, (916) 444-5532 or cginno@cmanet.org.
8. CMA urges court to uphold financial solvency laws related to risk-bearing organizations
The California Medical Association (CMA) has filed an amicus brief in the California Court of Appeals in support of a physician medical group in the case, Midcoast Care Inc. v. Nautic Partners, LLC, et. al. This case involves a risk-bearing medical group (Midcoast Care, Inc., in Santa Barbara) that contracted with a management services organization (MSO) that allegedly mismanaged its duties.
MSOs provide physician practices with a wide range of practice management and business services to help them remain viable in the changing health care environment. These services allow physicians to form and run groups, while maintaining clinical independence and control over patient care.
California law requires risk-bearing organizations to maintain sufficient reserves to be able to pay reasonably anticipated medical claims and to meet the needs of their patients. In this case, the trial court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over Midcoast's out-of-state investors leaving the MSO without recourse over the mismanagement of its business.
CMA urged the court to recognize the importance of upholding the laws that protect the financial solvency of such groups and its effect on patient care. Given the increasingly important role of MSOs in the viability of physician-led provider groups, physicians and patients must have assurances that these companies will be required to comply with California's complex managed care laws and regulations.
Download a copy of CMA's brief.
Contact: Samantha Pellon, (916) 551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org.
9. Managed care contract negotiations: Resources for CMA members
State law requires that all health plan physician contracts be fair, reasonable, and consistent with California rules and regulations. Physicians are reminded that they do not need to accept substandard contracts. You can and should negotiate your contracts.
The California Medical Association (CMA) offers a number of free resources and services to help members and their staff simplify the contract review and negotiation process:
Payor Contracting Toolkit: "Taking Charge: Steps to Evaluating Relationships and Preparing for Negotiations – A Focus on Payor Contracting" provides physicians and their office staff with practical tips and tools to help with the negotiation, implementation and ongoing management of complex managed care contracts.
Contract Analyses: CMA provides objective analyses of several health plan participating provider contracts. While these analyses are not intended to be exhaustive, they are designed to draw a physician's attention to issues that may warrant further inquiry or clarification.
Contract Amendment Action Guide: "Contract Amendments: An Action Guide for Physicians" is designed to help physicians understand their rights and options when a health plan notifies them of a material modification to a contract, manual, policy or procedure.
Financial Impact Calculator: It is important that physicians understand how a fee schedule can affect their practice's bottom line so that they can make informed decisions about participation in a health plan before contracts are signed. CMA has developed a simple worksheet to help physicians analyze proposed fee schedules and assess the impact fee schedule changes may have on physician practices based on commonly billed CPT codes.
Payor Profiles: CMA's payor profiles include information for each of the major payors in California, including important contact numbers, addresses, and quick reference links for payor interactions.
Best Practices Toolkit: "Best Practices: A guide for improving the efficiency and quality of your practice" offers a series of proven steps that solo and small group practices can take to improve many facets of their practice.
Medical-Legal Library (formerly CMA On-Call): CMA's Medical-Legal Library includes several documents that address managed care contracting, including but not limited to the following documents:
- #1070, "Managed Care Contractual Protections"
- #1055, "Contract Termination by Physicians and Continuity of Care Provisions"
- #1099, "Contract Termination or Exclusion: Action Plan for Physicians"
- #1040, "Exclusivity Provisions and Membership Requirements in Contracts"
- #1020, "Disclosure by Managed Care Plans (and their Contracting Medical Groups/IPAs)"
One-on-One Assistance: CMA's Center for Economic Services provides personalized education and coaching on managed care contracting issues.
CMA Contract Analysis Service: Physicians who are interested in personal legal advice and representation with respect to a specific contract or other business matter should contact their personal attorneys. CMA has also contracted with an outside law firm to provide individual contract analysis for CMA members at a discounted rate.
For more information on any of these resources, see CMA's Center for Economic Services page.
Contact: CMA reimbursement help line, (888) 401-5911 or economicservices@cmanet.org.
10. The new cmanet.org: The news you want, when and how you want it
The California Medical Association (CMA) recently launched a new website designed for easier, more intuitive navigation and loaded with a suite of digital tools that will help you get the most from your membership. One exciting new feature is the custom content alerts.
Just activate your web account and sign up for custom content alerts on the topics that are of interest to you and your practice. You will then be notified any time there is new content posted in one of your interest areas.
To sign up, visit your account dashboard and click on "my alerts" or simply mouse over the "areas of interest" listed on most website pages. You can also adjust the frequency and format that you receive alerts via the account dashboard.
You can also sign up for "content update" alerts, on any website page. By doing so, you will be notified any time the content on that page is updated. This will come in handy, for example, if you're following a specific bill listed in our Issues Database, or if you want to be notified if and when a document in our medical-legal library has been updated.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact CMA's member help center at (800) 786-4262 or memberservice@cmanet.org.
11. Free patient education materials now available to help promote the 2011-2012 Tdap school mandate
The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation has launched a campaign to promote awareness about California's new whooping cough (Tdap) vaccine requirement for 7th through 12th graders.
California is facing a whooping cough epidemic. In 2010, more than 8,000 confirmed, probable and suspect cases of whooping cough were reported to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) - the highest incidence rate in 52 years. To combat the high levels of disease and death from whooping cough that occurred in California in 2010, a new school immunization law will be in effect for the 2011-2012 school year.
All California students entering 7th through 12th grades must be immunized with the Tdap booster. The CMA Foundation's goal is to help reach the 3 million children who need to be vaccinated before they are allowed to go back to school this fall.
To help physicians educate patients about the new vaccination requirement, the Foundation has published a number of patient education materials, including a 7th through 12th grade immunization chart, a table tent, and reminder postcard. All of these materials are available in English and Spanish.
The CMA Foundation also encourages physicians to talk with parents about all of the recommended adolescent vaccines available (HPV, chickenpox, seasonal flu and meningococcal) when administering the required Tdap shot.
The Tdap patient education materials are now available for download on the CMA Foundation website. If you would like to order free printed copies of these patient education materials, please contact Leslie Barron, at lbarron@thecmafoundation.org or (916) 779-6630.
12. CMA publishes guidance on concierge care and private retainer agreements
Although concierge medicine has been around since 1996, the California Medical Association (CMA) has recently seen an increasing interest in the practice and related issues from physicians, patients and the media.
Responding to the demand for this information, CMA has recently published a newly-revamped medical-legal document with information and guidance about concierge medicine and private retainer agreements. Document #0117, "Providing and Collecting for Care through Concierge (Boutique) Arrangements or Private Retainer Agreements," is available free to members in CMA's online resource library. Nonmembers can purchase medical-legal documents for $2 per page.
Concierge medicine, also known as "boutique medicine," involves a patient entering into a private retainer agreement with a physician and paying a fixed fee for a package of specialized care beyond the types of services typically covered under health plans and insurance. CMA policy acknowledges concierge medicine as an option for providing medical care to patients in an ethically sound, patient-centered environment.
The new medical-legal document covers:
- Potential restrictions on retainer agreements by private insurance and Medicare;
- Types of services that may be offered through a concierge arrangement without running afoul of laws or contractual restrictions;
- Ethical guidance and additional peripheral issues that may arise with offering concierge care; and
- A sample retainer contract.
Contact: Samantha Pellon, (916) 551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org.
13. CMS announces two new ACO models
In the shadow of the heavily criticized accountable care organization (ACO) regulations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced two new physician ACO models.
The first model is called the Pioneer ACO Model, which CMS says "...provides a faster path for mature ACOs that have already begun coordinating care for patients." This model is intended for ACOs working with private payers. The CMS Innovation Center is currently accepting applications from physicians interested in participating in the Pioneer ACO program. Letters of intent are due by June 18, 2011.
CMS is also seeking comments on the idea of an Advance Payment Initiative, which would give ACOs an upfront shared savings payment "...helping them make the infrastructure and staff investments crucial to successfully coordinating and improving care for patients." Comments are due to CMS by June 17, 2011. The California Medical Association (CMA) met with CMS earlier this year, urging them to provide up front funding to help solo physicians form ACOs.
And finally, CMS is offering Accelerated Development Learning Sessions to help physicians form ACOs. For more information or to register, visit the CMS Innovation Center website.
CMA will be providing CMS with comments on these two new models. More information on the new ACO models and ACOs in general can be found at the CMS Innovation Center.
Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, (415) 882-3376 or emcneil@cmanet.org.
14. CMA publishes EHR resources for physicians
The 2009 federal economic stimulus package provides funding to promote the adoption of health information technology (HIT), the vast majority of which will be directed to physicians to subsidize the purchase and usage of electronic health records (EHR) systems. Beginning in 2011, qualifying Medicare providers stand to receive up to $44,000 under the program and qualifying Medi-Cal providers stand to receive as much as $65,000.
To receive these payments, physicians must not only implement an EHR, but must also demonstrate meaningful use of their EHR. Practices and groups that have already purchased EHR systems can also qualify for funds as long as they achieve meaningful use.
The California Medical Association (CMA) provides physicians with the tools and information they need as they are considering whether or not to implement an EHR, and if so, how to get started. Among the newly published resources are:
Electronic Health Records Desk Reference: This toolkit, funded by a grant from The Physicians Foundation, brings together tools and resources to help physicians make successful transitions to EHRs in their practices. The guide is designed to help physicians at every stage of the EHR implementation process, from understanding the federal incentive programs, to selecting and implementing the right EHR system and achieving meaningful use. It is available free of charge to all physicians in the CMA resource library.
CMA will also be in many parts of the state over the next month making presentations based on the EHR Desk Reference. Watch your county medical society publications for more details on presentations in your area.
Model EHR Vendor Contract: This model agreement is intended to provide an understanding of common provisions included in a typical EHR vendor agreement. The document provides examples of physician-friendly contract provisions, as well as examples of problematic provisions to watch for. The model contract is available free to members in the CMA resource library.
For more information on these and other EHR resources available to CMA members, visit CMA's HIT resource center.
Contact: David Ford at (916) 551-2554 or dford@cmanet.org.
15. There's still time to register for the California Health Care Leadership Academy
There's still time to register for the 14th Annual California Health Care Leadership Academy — June 3 to 5 — at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa in Indian Wells.
This year's academy will feature a slate of workshops designed to promote success in the brave new world of health system reform. Featured workshops include:
Strategies for Independent Physicians to Compete and Succeed: This workshop will provide practical information on business models available to help physicians with their practice in the new environment, how to improve quality and be positioned to participate in various payment models, and legal considerations concerning both physician and physician-hospital organizations.
Learning from Disney – Creating a Culture to Earn Patient Trust and Loyalty: This workshop will present principles from the Walt Disney Company that can used to inspire patient and employee loyalty and establish a reputation as "the best."
Other workshop topics include medical practice reengineering strategies, ICD-10 coding, how to effectively manage change, successful leadership in the new era, and how to assess physician-hospital alignment opportunities.
Academy workshops will complement general session presentations focusing on the policy and practical challenges of implementing federal health reform.
For more information or to register, visit the Leadership Academy website or call (800) 795-2262.
16. Webinar (6/1): ICD-10
Join us for an informative webinar on Wednesday, June 1, and learn how to master the next generation of coding. Participants will begin preparing now for the ICD-10 transition, which will make more than 200,000 new diagnosis codes effective in 2013. The new codes will be much more descriptive, requiring a good understanding of both anatomy and medical terminology.
The one hour webinar will be presented on June 1, 2011, at 12:15 p.m. For more information or to register visit the CMA event calendar.
Contact: CMA member help center, (800) 786-4262 or memberservice@cmanet.org.
17. Webinar (6/8): E & M Coding – Don't Leave Money on the Table
This webinar, designed for the experienced coder, will take an advanced look at medical records using documentation guidelines to identify ways to achieve a higher level of exactness needed to bill claims. Learn how to prevent coding errors and abstract medical necessity to ensure a high level of accuracy and consistency.
The one hour webinar, presented by Sunjanel Avecilla from the Practice Management Institute, will be June 8, 2011, at 6:15 p.m. For more information or to register, visit the CMA event calendar.
Contact: CMA member help center, (800) 786-4262 or memberservice@cmanet.org.
18. Featured Member Benefit:
Epocrates
California Medical Association members save 30 percent on all Epocrates mobile and online products. Epocrates provides point-of-care access (via mobile devices and the web) to information on drugs, diseases and diagnostics. A members-only link is required to access the discount.
For more information on these and other member benefits, click here or contact CMA at memberservice@cmanet.org or (800) 786-4262 (4CMA).