Click here for the full newsletter: January-February-2016
SCMS News January/February 2016
January 28, 2016 by ·
MyHIPAAGuide.com helps docs with privacy issues
January 26, 2016 by ·
After creating a six-page informational booklet on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Diane Evans watched her company’s trade show giveaway transform into a compliance must have. A seasoned journalist, Evans along with her business partner, Jason Edwards — both former professionals at the Akron Beacon Journal — created the resource booklet for the Ohio Dental Association trade show in Columbus this past fall as result of all the research they had been doing about HIPAA compliance for their joint venture, M.E.D Media Mart. “We’re media people at our core,” Evans said, adding that their company, a partnership of their two individual LLCs, has provided content and website development for small medical practitioners and large organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic. “In the process of working in this medical sector space … what we discovered was that there were a lot of people who seemed to be struggling with these ever-changing HIPAA guidelines.” Enter MyHIPAAGuide.com, a subscription service created by Evans and Edwards, and published by M.E.D Media Mart, designed to deliver its subscribers well-researched, comprehensive and up-to-date information on what they need to do to make sure they comply with all HIPAA rules and regulations.
Click on the link to read the entire article in Crain’s Cleveland Business: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160116/NEWS/160119821/former-journalist-helps-docs-with-privacy-issues
Use Code starkc25 for your 25% off discount.
“Doctor’s Day” Special 10th Edition
January 18, 2016 by ·
The Canton Rep is running some special rates for advertisers in our up coming Doctor’s Day Insert.
Click on the flyer for details: SCMS-DOCTORS-DAY-FLYER
Plan for Rewards, Not Fines
January 12, 2016 by ·
Practice Staff Breakfast February 24, 2016
Join us as we start the new year finding out about the 10 steps to HIPAA compliance, uniform reporting on meaningful use, and health insurance discounts.
RSVP:
Tell CMS during open comments: Go Easy on Older Docs
December 1, 2015 by ·
| Akron Beacon Journal op-ed challenges docs to speak out on future HIPAA rules; feds will take comments through Dec. 1
Read the op-ed on the Beacon Journal website , or the version below with links; join discussion at myhipaaguide.com Uncle Sam Invites Comments on Future EHR Rules; Tell ‘Em Go Easy on Older Docs By Diane Evans Through Dec. 15, federal regulators will accept public comments on the next set of rules that will shape the future of medicine in the transition to a super information highway for Electronic Health Records (EHRs). For health providers, this is a time to speak out. One idea: Why not suggest options to give leniency to older doctors struggling with the shift to technology late in their careers? By the government’s own estimate, in a report on A 10-Year Vision to Achieve an Interoperable Health IT Infrastructure, a fully functioning EHR system, for the cross-sharing of health records among providers, will take until 2024 to materialize. The technology is simply a long way off. Meanwhile, doctors are reporting data while the infrastructure for sharing it doesn’t exist. Now, for the first time, physicians will be reporting to the federal government on progress toward uniform objectives for the meaningful use of electronic health records. Those who meet requirements will be eligible for incentive payments from Medicare and Medicaid, while those who don’t may face penalties. In addition, audits are expected to begin in 2016. Amid this shift to a new, data-driven healthcare system, the nation needs older doctors to keep practicing to meet present needs of an aging population, as well as an expanded Medicaid system. If burdensome reporting rules encourage retirements, as some studies indicate, the building of an information highway may result in the unintended consequence of a bottle-necked road to seeing a physician. The likely result: Nurse practitioners will deliver a greater share of the nation’s healthcare.Some critics say the medical profession exaggerates a coming shortage of physicians. Yet concierge medical practices are growing in number, luring those willing to pay a premium to see a doctor quickly for extended-time visits. Last year, the New York Times reported on long wait times for doctor appointments as a new norm, and not just in traditionally under-served rural areas. The article pointed to one study that found patients waiting an average of 66 days for a physical examination in Boston, and 32 days for a cardiologist appointment in Washington. Think of what the wait times would be if mass retirements materialized, as suggested by findings of a 2014 survey of 20,000 physicians by The Physicians Foundation. Thirty-nine percent indicated plans to accelerate retirement due to changes in the healthcare system. Others reported plans to cut back on patient caseload or seek different jobs. The potential for disruption is even more startling when you consider the number of older doctors in practice. According to R. Jan Gurley, a physician writing on the blog of the University of Southern California’s Center for Health Journalism, one in three doctors is over 50, and one in four is over 60 – despite roughly 20,000 newly medical school graduates a year. Because of what’s at stake — potentially the very underpinnings of our nation’s healthcare system — health providers should speak out forcefully during the government’s open comment period. Yes, it is late in the rulemaking game for EHRs. But new rules are being written for 2018 and beyond, and modifications are being made to rules in effect through 2017. Would an outpouring of thoughtful, well-documented recommendations make a difference? In a democracy, the answer should be yes. The value of keeping older doctors in practice far outweighs the benefit of driving them crazy as they try to meet reporting requirements with often-clumsy EHR technology. The challenge is to find a middle ground. Diane Evans is a former Akron Beacon Journal editorial writer and columnist, and now publisher of the recently introduced MyHIPAA Guide, a news and information service for HIPAA-covered organizations trying to stay up with the seismic shift to a data-driven electronic health system. In addition to news, commentary and forums, MyHIPAA Guide has cataloged 40+ carefully-picked federal government resources, including tutorials, tool-kits and videos, organized around a 10-step compliance plan published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. During the public comments period on EHRs. MyHIPAAGuide.com is hosting a forums discussion that is open to all who would like to share insights on key points that should be conveyed to CMS and government regulators. This article first appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal. More by Diane Evans: Is HIPAA the New Tax Evasion Fallback for Law Enforcers? View recent tweets: @DianeatMEDMedia
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Mission Possible 2016
November 23, 2015 by ·
This year’s event will take place on January 30th beginning at 6:00pm at Brookside Country Club. This year’s recipients will be Hope Outreach Ministries, Community Services Gateway Apartments for the hard to house and formerly homeless, Quest’s new Regional Center for Opiate Abuse, and the SCMSA’s Medical Scholarship Fund.
We are looking for monetary sponsorships at three levels, $500, $1,000, and $1,500 with all levels receiving either 2, 4 or 6 tickets to the event. We are also looking for donations for the Silent Auction and items or services for the Live Auction. Please make checks payable to the SCMSA Charitable Fund and mail to the Stark County Medical Society office at 4942 Higbee Ave. NW Suite L, Canton, OH 44718.
There are a few changes this year, including a sit-down dinner, Live Auction, and the band LaFlavour playing after the Live Auction! We really want to make this a premier event in our community. We would love to have your help in achieving this endeavor. Please call, or e-mail, either Darlene Violet, Stacy Dulik, or Kevin Metz if you have any questions about this event.
Thank You,
Darlene Violet Stacy Dulik Kevin Metz
Co-Chair of Event Co-Chair of Event Executive Director of SCMS
330-477-6036 330-837-7948 330-492-3333
Opiate Symposium December 14, 2015
November 11, 2015 by ·
National & regional presenters including: Dr. Christina Delos Reyes, MD; Robert Garrity, JD, LISW-S, LICDC-CS; Chief Leonard Campanello, MACJ; Author Sandy Swenson; Keith Hochadel, M.Ed.; Donna Eleo, LPCC; Dale Batdorff; and the Collegiate Recovery Community from Ohio State University.
Who should attend: Medical professionals, Attorneys, Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice teams, Health & Human service providers, School staff, Business & Human Resources staff, Parents, Families and Students.
Presenter Highlights:
- Dr. Christina Delos Reyes will discuss different models for understanding substance use disorders and the disease of addiction, including the medical model. She will list the symptoms, major clinical manifestations, and diagnostic criteria for Opioid Use Disorder.
- Robert Garrity will describe the depth of opioid abuse in the medical profession on a personal level and list the steps involved in prevention, abuse, recovery and elapse. Mr. Garrity will cite differences in legal aspects as it relates to courts and professional boards.
- Chief Leonard Campanello will describe how the Gloucester Police Department chose to initiate a program to change the way they handle addicts who request help with their addiction to opiates. The program allows the individual requesting aid to be screened into the ANGEL program and transported to the local hospital where they will be assigned an ANGEL to guide them through the process to access treatment.
- Author Sandy Swenson will share her personal journey of finding a way to survive her son’s addiction and her own conclusion that “letting go is not the same as giving up”.
Location – Walsh University; 2020 East Maple Street, North Canton, OH 44720.
Cost– $15.00 per person will cover registration and include lunch. PayPal accepted at online registration.
Education credits – CEUs/RCHs/CMEs pending for applicable sessions.
Limited space, register by December 9, 2015. Contact Carrie Long, [email protected] with questions.
Click here for agenda: Opiate Symposium Agenda
Edward Jones Educational Workshop 11/12/2015 Brookside C.C.
October 27, 2015 by ·
Join us…At Edward Jones, we believe financial education is an important part of achieving your goals.
For more information click here: Edward Jones Educational Workshop
Student Loan Debt Management Webcast
October 22, 2015 by ·
Most early stage physicians leave medical school with a mountain of student loan debt and we’re sure our members are no exception. Paying off your loans can be a daunting task that directs resources away from other important financial matters like purchasing a home or saving for retirement. Many physicians admit that they could use additional education on how to best manage their student loans. To help educate our members, we are providing you with an excellent webcast produced by MEDIQUS Asset Advisors, that provides in-depth information about your loans and strategies for best managing them. Most importantly, they will detail strategies that allow you to pay down your student loans while still having resources left over to fund other important goals.
Please click the link below to view this webcast.
Student Loan Debt Management Webcast
We hope you find this information helpful and that it alleviates some of the stress caused by your student loans.
MEDIQUS Asset Advisors is a SEC Registered Investment Advisor offering investment advisory services and offers securities through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., www.ausdal.com, Member: FINRA/SIPC. MEDIQUS Asset Advisors and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc are independently owned and operated. MEDIQUS would like to remind viewers that individual questions should be discussed with an investment professional before making decisions.
Clarifying Questions and Answers Related to the July 6, 2015 CMS/AMA Joint Announcement
August 7, 2015 by ·
Clarifying Questions and Answers Related to the July 6, 2015 CMS/AMA Joint Announcement and Guidance
Regarding ICD-10 Flexibilities
Click here for details: Joint AMA-CMS FAQs July 2015 revised 7-31-15
