A survey of independent physicians from the Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI), conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, shows the challenges in patient care caused by high-deductible health plans. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, patients’ large and growing share of out-of-pocket healthcare costs posed challenges for individuals, families, and independent physicians. […]
“…During this unprecedented national health emergency, physicians and other health care professionals have been putting themselves at risk every day while facing shortages of medical supplies and safety equipment, and making critical medical decisions based on changing directives and guidance. These physicians and other health care professionals are now facing the threat of years of costly litigation […]
Immediately after the formal announcement of a change in leadership at DPH, CSMS penned a letter to DPH Acting Commissioner, Dr. Deidre Gifford, congratulating her on her latest appointment, thanking her for her continued service to the state and providing an update on physicians’ contributions and areas of continued focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. A […]
We’re excited to share that we have a limited supply of 3-ply, disposable and protective face masks (not N95) that we would like to distribute to our members at no cost. These masks can be used by you and your staff for office use or by you and your family in the community. We’re allowing members […]
In a lengthy bulletin released on May 11, 2020, the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) provided responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program’s (CMAP’s) response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) To access the full bulletin, click here.
In a letter to Governor Lamont dated April 23, 2020, CSMS requested clarification of Section 6 of Executive Order 7V by indicating that physician immunity from liability extends equally to the treatment of non-COVID-19 patients through telehealth, audio-only interactions and in-person treatment, in the course of providing medical services in support of Connecticut’s response to […]
Through media and government, we are working on proper reimbursement for Telehealth services. For more information, click here.
We are trying to a develop a coalition and mobilize a unified front to address emerging health related issues, such as developing proactive crisis counseling models to focus on impending crises in physical, psychological and financial areas. To get involved or remain informed contact cwagner@csms.org
We continue to monitor and give feedback on Executive Orders from the Governor on issues that impact physician practices. To view all COVID-19 emergency orders, click here.
We are working with the AMA to tap into CARES Act package to make it available to physician practices. For more information, click here.
Open Payments: Review and Dispute Data by December 31 On June 28, CMS published program year 2018 Open Payments data along with updated and newly submitted data from previous program years (2013-2017). This data is available for review and dispute through December 31. Physicians and teaching hospitals: Review of the data is voluntary but strongly […]
Details on Surprise Billing Legislation from the American Medical Association: Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Greg Walden (R-OR), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have announced an agreement on legislation to end […]
The CSMS Legislative Committee is currently working to develop our 2020 Legislative Agenda – one that is in the best interests of Connecticut physicians, physicians in training, and patients. Here’s a sneak peek at the significant issues for the 2020 CT legislative session (February – May): High Deductible Health Plans Vaccines Vaping Red Flag […]
This holiday season CSMS invites you to donate to one (or both) of our charitable funds. Thank you for your generosity and support! CSMS Charitable Trust Founded in 1989, the CSMS Charitable Trust enables CSMS physician members to contribute to organizations fighting illness, domestic violence, poverty, and homelessness in Connecticut. A 501(c)3, the Charitable Trust […]
We are pleased to announce the kick-off of our sixth consecutive year of providing young physician leadership programs. Bridgeport Hospital is our newest partner to engage and train young physicians (less than 40 years of age or less than 8 years in practice) in healthcare leadership. The program kicked off with a cohort of 35 […]
On October 3, 2019, President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled, “Protecting and Improving Medicare for our Nation’s Seniors.” CSMS signed onto a letter with the AMA and many other medical and specialty societies to share our concerns with the broad, yet vague language in the Executive Order. Particularly the language related to the supervision […]
The following is a joint statement from the presidents of the Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York Medical Societies: “We commend the regional approach that the Governors of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York are seeking to address ‘cross-border” issues relating to cannabis purchase and use. However, our medical societies continue to have serious concerns […]
The Time’s Up Act, comprised of Public Acts 19-16 and 19-93, went into effect on October 1. The Time’s Up Act strengthens laws protecting employees from sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition to requirements regarding training and education, the new statute changes existing requirements of the posting of information about sexual harassment in the […]
President: Bollepalli (Bo) Subbarao, MD, New Britain President-Elect: Gregory Shangold, MD, Willimantic Vice-President: Ron Adelman, MD, New Haven Secretary: David Hass, MD, Hamden Treasurer: Jay Ginsberg, MD, New London Speaker of the Annual Meeting: Michael Carius, MD, Stratford Vice Speaker of the Annual Meeting: M. Natalie Achong, MD, West Hartford Immediate Past President: Claudia Gruss, […]
(North Haven, CT) “Our respective associations representing tens of thousands of physicians across the northeastern United States applaud the many members of the US Congress who are seeking to take action to protect patients from “surprise” medical bills. However, what is needed is a balanced, comprehensive solution to this problem, not a one-sided gift to […]
September 30, 2019 (North Haven, CT) – At the 227th Annual Meeting of the Connecticut State Medical Society Bollepalli Subbarao, MD, of Avon was inducted as the organization’s 181st President. A practicing Psychiatrist, Dr. Subbarao earned his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in India. He completed his residency in Psychiatry at the University […]
Tatiana Flowers – September 22, 2019 – Greenwich Time GREENWICH — Alyssa Williams was shopping at Target in Stamford nearly five years ago when her then-2-month-old daughter’s face turned blue. The baby was rushed to Greenwich Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with reactive airway disease. The infant was then transferred to Yale New Haven Children’s […]
In recognition of National Physician Suicide Awareness Day, The Physicians Foundation, today announced the launch of Vital Signs, a campaign to help raise greater awareness about the physician suicide epidemic and to provide physicians the tools to attend to their own well-being. “One physician commits suicide every day, the highest suicide rate of any profession […]
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 our comments on Burden Reduction RFI Click here to read the letter to CMS
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 […]
