Providing monthly updates on PAI’s activities and QPP news for you and your practice. QPP Tip of the Month: Consider Virtual Group Participation in 2020 The election window to sign up as part of a Virtual Group for performance year (PY) 2020 begins October 1st. If you are part of a small-group practice of 10 […]

(TOPEKA, KANSAS, September 9, 2019) The Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN) and its subsidiary KAMMCO Health Solutions (KHS) announced today they have completed a secure electronic connection allowing the seamless sharing of data between MinuteClinic, a CVS Health company, and the KHIN/KHS network. The KHIN/KHS network connects over 6,900 health care organizations across the nation […]

This week, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut sent letters to Connecticut physician specialists informing them that they are being terminated from the Medicare Advantage Select Plan provider panel. The termination would take effect January 1, 2020.  It does not affect the physician participation status with the other Anthem Medicare Advantage plans or commercial […]

QPP Roundup: August 2019 Providing monthly updates on PAI’s activities and QPP news for you and your practice.     QPP Tip of the Month: Review Your QP Status for Advanced APM Participation The third snapshot period for determining 2019 Qualified Participant (QP) status will end on August 31st. Physicians part of an Advanced Alternative […]

CSMS joined with the Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI) and several state medical societies to submit a comment letter in response to the CMS Patients Over Paperwork Reducing Burden Request For Information (RFI). Click here to read the our comments on Burden Reduction RFI

In August, Claudia Gruss, MD, CSMS President; Steven Thornquist, MD, CSMS Immediate Past President; Stacy Taylor, MD, CSMS Councilor, also representing the CT Academy of Family Physicians; Mariam Hakim- Zargar, MD, CT Orthopedic Society Immediate Past President and CSMS Councilor; Michael Aronow, MD, CT Orthopedic Society President; Susan Schaffman, CT Orthopedic Society Executive Director; Debbie […]

The Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) joined the Office of the Healthcare Advocate and the Office of Heath Strategy to voice our strong opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed rule, “Nondiscrimination in Health and Health Education Programs or Activities,” HHS-OCR-2019-0007 (RIN 0945-AA11).  We believe it is critical to oppose this proposed […]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a proposed rule updating Medicare policies and providing payments for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) in CY 2020. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposals Payment Changes to Office/Outpatient Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services Reducing coding complexity by consolidating CPT coding from […]

In accordance with Section 4009 of H.R. 34-21st Century Cures Act (Public Law No: 114-255), CMS is updating the “Medicare Program Integrity Manual” with detailed changes to the LCD process. These changes were communicated in CMS Transmittal 863, issued on 2/12/2019. Please be aware of the LCD revisions and transition of all coding to related articles. […]

CSMS is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Maloney Distinguished Service Award. All CSMS members are welcome to nominate their colleagues for recognition of outstanding work. The Paul K. Maloney, Jr., MD Distinguished Service Award was established to honor the life and work of Dr. Maloney, an eminent physician known for his exemplary service, active […]

CSMS signed onto an AMA letter, with dozens of specialty and state medical societies throughout the country, to show unity throughout the federation of medicine concerning surprise billing.  The letter was directed at the Energy and Commerce Chair, Frank Pallone, Jr. and Ranking Member Greg Walden and the members of the Committee on Energy and […]

Now Available: 2018 MIPS Performance Feedback and Final Score Now Available: MIPS Targeted Review 2020 MIPS Self-Nomination Materials Now Available Now Available: 2018 MIPS Performance Feedback and Final Score If you submitted 2018 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data, you can now view your performance feedback and MIPS final score on the Quality Payment Program […]

CMS published several new resources: Cost Category and Quality Category User Guides provide additional technical details on how to participate in each of these categories. MIPS Eligibility Decision Tree helps physicians determine if they are eligible or exempt from MIPS participation. 2019 QP Methodology Fact Sheet provides an overview of how CMS makes QP and […]

PAI Comments on CMS and ONC Proposed Rules on Interoperability and Increasing Patient Access to their Health Information Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) released two proposed rules on interoperability, information blocking, and patient access to their health information: CMS Proposed Rule […]

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability category (formerly known as the Advancing Care Information category) changed significantly from previous years. Some of the key changes include: Revised to contain a single set of objectives and measures for reporting; Required use of 2015 edition certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT); and A new scoring […]

HUGE Step Forward on High Deductible Health Plan Fight!  We’re thrilled that our tireless efforts to get the legislature to address HDHPs paid off.  The budget includes the establishment of a task force, as specially requested by our HDHP coalition, to study high deductible health plans. The task force will include members of CSMS, Connecticut College […]

CSMS EVP/CEO Matthew Katz, recently participated in a National Government Services (NGS) listening session and would like to share some insight, tips, and tools with members.  See the list below to learn about the NGS updated website, Medicare identification cards, duplicate claims, annual wellness visits, and updates on revalidation. The NGS website has been updated […]

https://qpp.cms.gov/about/resource-library –  Quality Payment Program https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/story-page/patients-over-paperwork.html – Patients Over Paperwork https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-NetworkMLN/MLNGenInfo/Continuing-Education.html – Medicare Learning Network Continuing Education https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Look-Up-Topics/Medicare/New-Medicare-CardMessage.html  – New Medicare Card https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/medicare-diabetes-prevention-program/  – Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-ServicePayment/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/index.html  – DMEPOS Competitive Bidding https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeeSched/index.html  – Physician Fee Schedule/Care Management https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-andReports/Medicare-Provider-Charge-Data/OpioidMap.html  – Opioids https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-AssessmentInstruments/HospitalQualityInits/HospitalCompare.html – Hospital Compare Star Ratings https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-andGuidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/2019ProgramRequirementsMedicare.html  – Interoperability of Electronic Health Information

CSMS is one of more than 120 physicians’ advocacy organizations that signed a letter that was sent to congressional leaders to urge them to refine and improve the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), including replacing the 2020-2025 physician payment update freeze with positive payment adjustments, extending the Advanced APM bonus payments by six […]

On June 3, CSMS and the Physician’s Advocacy Institute (PAI) submitted comments to Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC Health IT) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the 21st Century Interoperability Proposed Rule. Click here to read the letter sent to CMS. Click here to read the letter […]

Group comprises 7 State Medical Associations with more than 180,000 physician and student members NORTH HAVEN, CT — With pressure mounting on state legislatures across the country to legalize recreational marijuana, a coalition of eight* state Medical Societies is calling for thoughtful and thorough consideration before rushing to legislate. “This is a public health issue, […]

Proposal backed by Congressional Physician-Members Would Protect Patients, Hold Insurers Accountable and Avoid Costly Legal Battles NORTH HAVEN, CT. — The Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) applauds the announcement of bipartisan legislation authored by physician representatives Raul Ruiz, MD, (D-CA), Phil Roe, MD, (R-TN), Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) and Joseph Morelle […]

The May issue of Connecticut Medicine, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS), “Finding Hope in the Battle Against the Opioid Overdose Crisis,” highlights some of the innovative strategies Connecticut’s medical community is forging to tackle this public health crisis and features dozens of experts from across the state, including: Regional […]

Due to the current increase in measles cases in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed the following summary for vaccination of adults against measles with measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Recommendations for vaccination and assessing immunity in adults have not changed since publication of the Advisory Committee on Immunization […]

The May issue of Connecticut Medicine, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS), “Finding Hope in the Battle Against the Opioid Overdose Crisis,” highlights some of the innovative strategies Connecticut’s medical community is forging to tackle this public health crisis and features dozens of experts from across the state. Guest editor, […]

State participates in the largest investment of private funds to assist physicians with sharing health information across medical practices The Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) in association with five other state medical societies and The Physicians Foundation, today announced the formation of the first of its kind $500,000 interoperability fund, known as The Physicians Foundation […]

Connecticut Attorney General Tong is leading a 44-state coalition antitrust lawsuit against TEVA Pharmaceuticals, 19 other generic drug manufacturers, 15 individuals in conspiracy to fix prices and allocate markets for more than 100 different generic drugs. Today, the Connecticut State Medical Society joined several legislators and other key health care advocates for a press conference […]

The May issue of Connecticut Medicine, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS), “Finding Hope in the Battle Against the Opioid Overdose Crisis,” highlights some of the innovative strategies Connecticut’s medical community is forging to tackle this public health crisis and features dozens of experts from across the state. Since 2013, […]

The Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (CT-AAP) are alarmed by the startling Department of Public Health (DPH) School Immunization Report that was released today. CSMS President Claudia Gruss, MD voiced concern over this newly released information: “the facts don’t lie, we know that immunizations are […]

This week CSMS joined forces with other state specialty societies (Connecticut Society of Plastic Surgeons, Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians, Connecticut Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery Society, Connecticut ENT Society, Connecticut Urology Society and the Fairfield County Medical Association) to encourage the Finance Committee to pass SB 1131 AN ACT CONCERNING THE AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS TAX.  […]

The Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that is required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for opioid analgesic drug products used in the outpatient setting, and to provide two helpful resources that are a part of the Opioid Analgesic REMS. We ask you to consider the development and/or distribution of […]

MICHAEL M. KRINSKY, MD, AND MYRON GENEL, MD From the Editors’ Desk, April 2019, Connecticut Medicine  There is a notion that marijuana is innocuous, and being relatively harmless, it should be legal for recreational use – that it is not really any more dangerous than, say, hula hoops. This idea is rampant, embraced by many […]

Providing monthly updates on PAI’s activities and QPP news for you and your practice. QPP Tip of the Month: Check Your Eligibility for 2019 With the close of the reporting period for submission of your 2018 MIPS performance data, physicians and groups should check their eligibility for the 2019 MIPS participation year using the QPP […]

Join CMS on April 10 for the 2019 MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Webinar CMS is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, April 10 at 1:00 PM ET to provide information about the Promoting Interoperability (PI) performance category of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in Year 3 (2019) of the Quality Payment Program. During the […]

CMS has contracted with Acumen, LLC to develop care episode and patient condition groups for use in cost measures to meet the requirements of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). As part of the development and maintenance processes, Acumen is seeking nominations from clinicians to participate in Clinical Subcommittees that will […]

The data submission period for the 2018 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) closed on April 2, 2019. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is currently in the process of reviewing all the data submitted. We would like to thank all of the clinicians who submitted their data, as well as the qualified clinical […]

We, the undersigned, as presidents of our state medical societies, have joined together to express our mutual opposition regarding our states’ approval of any policies that legalize recreational marijuana. We have serious concerns about the lack of scientific evidence that supports recreational marijuana use by adults and young adults. Most importantly, not enough research has […]

  The PQRS program ended on December 31, 2018, and CMS is retiring the website on March 29, 2019. All of the posted resources currently on the website will no longer be available after March 29, 2019. Please download or read any educational materials on the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) website before it retires. […]

The Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) members have discussed and debated the issue of aid in dying for many years. CSMS does not take this issue or policy lightly, nor do we wish to impugn those who have opposing views on this important matter. We believe that our position reflects our strong commitment to the […]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened the data submission period for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who participated in Year 2 (2018) of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Data can be submitted and updated any time until 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. CMS Web Interface users […]

You Have Less than 1 Month to Submit MIPS Year 2 (2018) Data for the Quality Payment Program The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially opened the data submission period for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who participated in Year 2 (2018) of the Quality Payment Program. Data can be […]

The Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) was one of nearly 100 state and national physicians’ advocacy organizations that signed a letter that the American Medical Association (AMA) sent to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to urge it to “provide guidance to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans on prior authorization (PA) processes through its […]

CSMS sent a letter addressing key concerns and recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force Draft Report.  The letter highlighted CSMS pain medicine specialists’ evaluation of the draft report and reflected the letter provided by the Connecticut Pain […]

Physicians may submit their 2018 MIPS performance data by using the CMS QPP submission portal through March 31 to avoid a negative payment adjustment in 2020. With the 2018 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting deadline fast approaching, you may be unsure of or need additional information on the steps needed to submit your 2018 […]

CSMS, medical and specialty societies throughout the county, collaborated with the AMA to voice concern to the House Ways and Means Committee about the impact that unanticipated medical bills are having on patient out-of-pocket costs and the patient-physician relationship.  The problem of unanticipated out-of-network bills is complex, and requires a balanced approach to resolve. As […]

Webinar Details Title: Eligible Clinician eCQMs with Substantive Changes for the 2019 Performance Year Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST Registration Link: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1894265/5BD0F208DD1DEB33D1A4775AE47FBE69 This one-hour session will provide an in-depth review of the following electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) with substantive changes for the 2019 performance year: Preventive Care and Screening: Body Mass […]

You can now check the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Participation Status Tool to view your eligibility status for the 2019 performance period under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Enter your National Provider Identifier (NPI), to find out if you need to participate in MIPS during the 2019 performance year. How CMS Determines Your 2019 […]

CSMS has been heavily advocating for the legislature to address the issue of High Deductible Health Plans and the impact they have on physicians and their patients.  This Thursday, February 7 we’re thrilled to be providing testimony at the public hearing of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee in SUPPORT of  Proposed S.B. No. 28 […]

New CMS Resources for eCQM Development: The Collaborative Measure Development Workspace. The Electronic Clinical Quality Measure (eCQM) Strategy Project is an ongoing effort of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is part of an ongoing commitment to promote efficiency through health information technology while decreasing burden to providers. CMS has now expanded the […]