Medical Liability Premiums Increased by 5 Per Cent
Premiums for medical liability insurance policies will increase by 5 per cent according to a news release issued July 6 by the State Insurance Department. As noted in the release, this is the first increase in three years. Premiums had been frozen for the past two years. The increase applies to the policy year which began Thursday, July 1. Click for details.
New DOH Website Lets Physicians Check for "Doctor Shopping"
The Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement of the DOH is advising physicians of a new database that allows them to check if a patient has received controlled substance presectiptions from two or more practitioners and filled them at two or more pharmacies during the previous calendar month. Physicians who want to take advantage of this service should create an account at https://hcsteamwork1.health.state.ny.us/pub/top.html. Physicians who already have an HPN account can use it to access the system. Instructions on how to operate the system are on the "Practitioners" page at https://commerce.health.state.ny.us/. Physicians can also call the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement toll-free at 1-866-811-7957, option 4, for more information.
FTC Again Delays Red Flags Rule
The Federal Trade Commission is further delaying enforcement of the "Red Flags" Rule through December 31, 2010, while Congress considers legislation that would affect the scope of entities covered by the Rule. This announcement and the release of an Enforcement Policy Statement do not affect other federal agencies' enforcement of the original November 1, 2008 deadline for institutions subject to their oversight to be in compliance.
In the interim, FTC staff has continued to provide guidance, both through materials posted on www.ftc.gov/redflagsrule, and in speeches and participation in seminars, conferences and other training events to numerous groups. The FTC also published a compliance guide for business, and created a template that enables low risk entities to create an identity theft program with an easy-to-use online form (www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/redflagsrule/get-started.shtm).
As was the case previously, this enforcement delay is limited to the Red Flags Rule and does not extend to the rule regarding address discrepancies applicable to users of consumer reports (16 C.F.R.§641), or to the rule regarding changes of address applicable to card issuers (16 C.F.R.§681.2).
Fill Out Claims Forms for Out-of-Network Services
More than $350 million is available to help compensate physicians and their patients for 15 years of artificially low payments for out-of-network services. During the last decade, MSSNY worked with the AMA, the Missouri State Medical Association, the courts and regulators to expose and prohibit a price-fixing scheme used by UnitedHealth and other health insurers to underpay physicians and patients for out-of-network care.
Evidence of UnitedHealth’s improper business practices gathered in the course of the litigation was brought to the attention of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who confirmed the abuses with his own investigation. Under legal pressure from Attorney General Cuomo, UnitedHealth and several major insurers agreed to meaningful reforms that promise to help keep the system for determining out-of-network reimbursements free from further corporate manipulation.
The UnitedHealth settlement is governed by a series of court-imposed deadlines that physicians must follow. The current settlement deadlines include the following key dates:
July 27 – Deadline for filing objections to the settlement or for opting out of the settlement.
September 13 – Date for the final settlement hearing to consider any filed objections.
October 5 – Deadline for filing a claim to share in the settlement fund.
For more information, visit MSSNY's website.
In addition to the information available in the new settlement guide, the AMA offers members personal assistance from the AMA’s Practice Management Center, or call (800) 621-8335 for assistance if with questions about the settlement or filing a claim form. MSSNY members can also call 516-488-6100 ext. 320.
Dr. Robert Dracker and Dr. Jef Sneider Speak with local media about 21 percent cut to Medicare reimbursement rates
During a recent interview with Jim Mulder for the Post-Standard, Dr. Robert A. Dracker, President of the Onondaga County Medical Society, warned that “At a time when we are touting improved access through health care reform, a 21 percent cut is only going to decrease access, especially for people who are most needy.” To read the Post-Standard story in its entirety click here.
Dr. Jeffrey Sneider, an internist in Syracuse, also told WSYR TV that the cut to Medicare will reduce patient access to health care, noting that if the cuts are not repealed he will have no choice but to stop accepting new Medicare patients, and may have to close his practice. According to Dr. Sneider, "You can't just see more patients because if you're losing money on every patient, seeing more of them doesn't help." For more on the WSYR story, click here.
2010 Pictorial Directories Now Available!
The 2010 Pictorial Directory has arrived! To order your copy, which contains the most accurate contact information for Society members to date, as well as the contact information for a wide variety of medical and pharmaceutical services important to physicians and others in the health care industry, click here.
Physician Volunteers, Donations Needed for 2010 State Fair
The 2010 NYS State Fair will run from Thursday, August 26 through Monday, September 6. While it is true that the state fair is a few months away, we ask that our member physicians seriously consider volunteering this year to work a shift at the Medical Society of the State of New York booth. This is an excellent opportunity for physicians to promote their practices, and requires very little effort (the Medical Society does all setup, crowd control, and scheduling). If you do not wish to volunteer, perhaps you have materials to donate to the booth, or are aware of a source from which we can get free materials to distribute? In the current economy it has become increasingly difficult to get the "freebies" fairgoers love--pencils, rulers, bags, coloring books promoting child health and safety, informational pamphlets on timely health topics such as diabetes, obesity, the dangers of smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, osteoporosis, autism, arthritis, stroke and heart attack, etc., are greatly needed. Please contact Patricia Corasaniti, the Medical Society State Fair coordinator, at 424-8118 for details, or if you have information regarding free materials.
News From MSSNY |
