CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory: Advice for Health Care Providers Treating Patients in or Recently Returned from Hurricane-Affected Areas, Including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent this bulletin at 10/24/2017 02:49 PM EDT Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working […]
CSMS signed onto a MACRA recommendation letter to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce from the American Medical Association. CSMS was joined by over 70 national specialty societies, and the medical societies of all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. All of the signatories share a common interest in ensuring successful implementation of […]
September 27, 2017 (North Haven, CT) – At the 225th Annual Meeting of the Connecticut State Medical Society, Steven C. Thornquist, MD was sworn in as the 179th CSMS President. In his inaugural address, Dr. Thornquist spoke of the unique role of the physician: The practice of medicine allows us great insight into humanity. We […]
CSMS recently joined with more than 40 state medical societies and 33 national specialty societies in a letter to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) regarding the Maintenance of Certification (MOC). Acknowledging that physicians and certifying boards share the goal of patients receiving the right care, at the right time, in the right place, […]
The Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI) recently submitted a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma providing comments on the 2018 proposed rule for the Quality Payment Program (QPP), which encompasses MIPS and APM. The PAI Board is comprised of CEOs and former CEOs from nine state medical associations, including CSMS. The PAI letter encourages Medicare to simplify […]
National Physician Services (NPS) is a national healthcare information technology company founded by physicians in Connecticut over 12 years ago. NPS provides managed IT, application support, reporting, system integration and workflow automation solutions to the medical community. With experience and depth of an extenstive suite of solutions, NPS has a stellar track record in supporting […]
For Immediate Release July 25, 2017 (North Haven, CT) – CTHealthLink, Connecticut’s first state-wide health information exchange (HIE), uses technology developed by Diameter Health, the Farmington-based health information technology company. CTHealthLink is pleased to announce that Diameter Health has received National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) certification for 21 Electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs) for […]
For immediate release 7/14/14 (North Haven, CT) – Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has signed into law Special Act 17-22, which expanded eligibility for the Small Business Express program to include primary care physicians and physician offices, regardless of the number of employees. SA 17-22 provides new access to capital, making it easier for physician practices […]
They say the sun always shines on the Biondino Classic, and 2017 was no exception. Held at Great River Golf Club in Milford, Monday’s tournament offered bright, breezy weather — and a scenic, challenging course (Golf Digest calls Great River one of America’s Top 100 Golf Courses). Many thanks to our golfers, sponsors, and supporters, […]
(June 29, 2017) Yesterday, Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Commission accepted all of the recommendations made earlier this month, finding in favor of CSMS’ Freedom of Information Act request to the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID). “[CID] Commissioner [Katharine] Wade, acting in part through her deputy commissioners, is the official directly responsible for denying the complainant […]
From the HHS/ASPR Critical Infrastructure Protection Program June 28, 2017 If you are the victim of a ransomware attack Mitigating against this threat US-CERT Resources Sector ISAO and ISAC resources If you are the victim of a ransomware attack If your organization is the victim of a ransomware attack, HHS recommends the following steps: Please […]
Connecting for Better Care with New Statewide Health Information Exchange New: Webster Bank offers special CTHealthLink financing for CSMS members – customized for your practice. Learn more In support of its mission to improve the quality of care and safeguard the health of patients, the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) is pleased to announce CTHealthLink, […]
CSMS is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Maloney Distinguished Service Award and the 2017 Healthcare Leader and Innovator (HLI) 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, […]
For Immediate Release May 12, 2017 (North Haven, CT) – Today, Anthem announced that it is ending its effort to merge with Cigna. This is a significant victory for Connecticut physicians and their patients. CSMS President Jeffrey Gordon, MD welcomed the news, saying, “Today, CSMS and its local and national coalition proved that we can make […]
We’re halfway through the 2017 MIPS program year – is your practice where it needs to be? Join CSMS for this free one-hour MIPS Essentials webinar, and learn how your practice can succeed. Overview of 2017 MIPS participation MIPS components and scoring MIPS reporting options Live Q&A session – get real-time answers for your MIPS […]
CSMS applauds today’s decision by the US Court of Appeals to uphold the District Court ruling that blocked the Anthem-Cigna merger. “Since late 2015, CSMS has expressed serious concerns about the negative impact of the Anthem-Cigna ‘mega-mergers’ on patients and physicians. The anti-competitive effects of the merger would have forced patients to accept higher prices […]
https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00401.asp Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network April 18, 2017, 16:00 ET (4:00 PM ET) CDCHAN-00401SummaryThis Health Advisory describes the identification of emerging Shigella strains with elevated minimum inhibitory concentration values for ciprofloxacin and outlines new recommendations for clinical diagnosis, management, and reporting, as well as new recommendations for laboratories and public health officials. […]
You can now review your 2016 Open Payments data, which shows any payments drug or device companies say they made to you. If the data is wrong, you can dispute it and give those companies the chance to fix the data before the public can see it on 6/30/17. Data review is not required, but […]
For immediate release March 29, 2017 CSMS, KHS Partner on Physician-led Health Information Network for Connecticut In support of its mission to improve the quality of care and safeguard the health of patients, the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) is pleased to announce a new partnership with KaMMCO Health Solutions (KHS) to establish a […]
Below is the text of a letter signed by CSMS, the American Medical Association, and other state and national specialty societies. Click to view the PDF of the letter. March 21, 2017 Seema Verma Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 445-G 200 Independence […]
Statement attributable to: Andrew W. Gurman, M.D. President, American Medical Association “Today’s estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office underscore the AMA’s concerns about the AHCA as it is written: If this bill were to become law, CBO projects 14 million Americans who have gained coverage in recent years could lose it in 2018. For […]
CSMS Affinity Partner Webster Bank presented an informative program on cybersecurity for CSMS member physicians and practice administrators on February 22. Attendees were welcomed by Matthew Katz, CSMS EVP/CEO, and Jordan Arovas, Webster Bank SVP and Manager of Webster’s Specialty Banking Group. The presentation featured Laurance Selnick, Webster Bank SVP, Director, Treasury & Payment Solutions […]
A Clear Victory for Physicians and Patients For immediate release February 9, 2017 (North Haven, CT) – Connecticut State Medical Society President Jeffrey Gordon, MD and CSMS EVP/CEO Matthew Katz have issued the following statement in response to last night’s US District Court ruling: The Connecticut State Medical Society applauds the ruling made by US […]
CSMS Affinity Partner FAIR Health has released a new report, Improving Health Insurance Literacy in the State of Connecticut. Although Connecticut has been a leader in enrolling residents in health insurance, the FAIR Health paper finds there is still work to be done in improving low levels of health insurance literacy (HIL) among the newly […]
For immediate release January 23, 2017 (North Haven, CT) – Connecticut State Medical Society President Jeffrey Gordon, MD and CSMS EVP/CEO Matthew Katz have issued the following statement in response to today’s US District Court ruling: The Connecticut State Medical Society strongly supports the ruling made by US District Judge John D. Bates against the […]
CSMS President Jeffrey Gordon, MD was invited to speak at a press conference hosted by US Representatives Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) on the effects of ACA repeal on Connecticut. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman also participated in the press conference. In his remarks, Dr. Gordon acknowledged that physicians in Connecticut (and across the […]
CSMS executives provided a deep dive into Medicare’s new Quality Payment Programs (QPP) at today’s Demystifying MACRA program, presented by Qualidigm and the New England Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (New England QIN-QIO). The CME program provided physicians and practice administrators from across New England with an in-depth look at MACRA and its two Quality […]
PQRS is over (except for the 2016 data reporting), and MACRA’s Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) is here. To help you maximize your MIPS potential, CSMS members who have renewed their 2017 membership can receive The MIPS Navigator™ free of charge. The MIPS Navigator™ is an on-line tool that makes it possible for individual clinicians […]
It’s time to report your 2016 PQRS data! The deadlines vary by reporting method, so be sure to review the chart below and don’t miss out on the reporting window. Download chart here Remember: if you don’t successfully report 2016 PQRS data, you’ll be subject to a -2.0% PQRS payment adjustment in 2018. In addition, […]
2016 was a busy and successful year for CSMS. Our member physicians were active in state and national advocacy, research projects, philanthropy, education and other efforts. Click on the video below for a summary of the year. Thank you for being a member of CSMS. Your commitment made this year possible. With your continued support, […]
Dear Colleague, On behalf of the Connecticut State Medical Society, best wishes for a very happy and healthy holiday season. I want to thank you for your membership in CSMS. With your support, CSMS was able to serve as a strong advocate for Connecticut physicians and patients in 2016. Among this year’s important achievements, CSMS […]
After last week’s announcement (DEA Eliminates Informal Grace Period for Registration Renewals), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has largely reversed this decision with one minor change. From the American Medical Association: We recently alerted the Federation to a notice from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that effective January 1, 2017, the DEA was changing its […]
New medical research projects are placing Connecticut at the forefront of national medical marijuana research. Earlier today, the Connecticut Hospice hosted a press conference to highlight its newly-approved medical marijuana research project. CSMS member and AMA Delegate Ted Zanker, MD is the principal investigator for the research project, which is designed to reduce opioid use […]
Earlier this year, Governor Dannel Malloy issued an Executive Order establishing a Certificate of Need (CON)Task Force. The Task Force was directed to undertake a review and analysis of the state’s CON process and programs, and determine if changes are necessary to ensure quality of care and access for all state residents and the preservation […]
(Via the American Medical Association) Through a notice on its website, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently announced significant changes to its registration renewal process. Effective January 1, 2017, the DEA is eliminating the informal grace period which the agency has previously allowed for registrants to renew their registrations. Only one renewal notice will be […]
As we approach the end of 2016, please consider making tax-deductible donations to the CSMS Charitable Trust and the CSMS Physician Health and Education Fund (PHEF). Your support helps make a positive difference in the health of Connecticut. Since its founding, the CSMS Charitable Trust has awarded more than $500,000 to fighting hunger and homelessness. […]
The Quality Payment Program (QPP) final rule with comment period incorporates input received to date. To continue building on a user-centric approach, CMS is seeking feedback for future rulemaking. We welcome feedback from patients, caregivers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, Congress and others on how to better achieve the goals of the program. CMS is currently seeking […]
As HealthyCT moves into liquidation, providers should know: – You should continue to provide healthcare services without interruption to HealthyCT members. – You will be paid for covered services delivered to HealthyCT members per your contract. Claims will be processed as usual. – You should continue to submit claims for services as usual. The complete […]
(North Haven, CT) – The Connecticut State Medical Society Charitable Trust is pleased to announce its 2016 donations to the following organizations: AIDS Project New Haven American Liver Foundation, Connecticut Chapter, North Haven The American Red Cross of Connecticut, New Haven Channel 3 Kids’ Camp, Coventry CRIS Radio, Windsor The Diaper Bank, North Haven HAVEN, […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced an extension of the deadline to request an Informal Review of the 2017 Value Modifier (VM) payment adjustment. Originally November 30, 2016 at 11:59 pm ET, the new deadline is December 7, 2016 at 11:59 pm ET. Do I need an Informal Review? You need to […]
The Connecticut State Medical Society is proud to recognize three of our members who brought their commitment to physician advocacy to an even higher level by running for state House seats in this election cycle. William A. Petit, Jr., MD CT-22 Former CSMS Council Chair Dr. Petit unseated long-term incumbent Betty Boukus, running on a […]
To participate successfully in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs in 2016, providers must be in active engagement with a public health agency. Eligible professionals (EPs) must submit electronic public health data using certified EHR technology (CEHRT), except where prohibited and in accordance with applicable law and practice. 2016 Public Health […]
CSMS Affinity Partner FAIR Health has launched a free mobile app that enables both insured and uninsured healthcare consumers to estimate the costs of medical and dental services received in Connecticut. The app also has cost information for the neighboring states of New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Available in English and Spanish, the FH® […]
Connecticut Medicine is pleased to announce a new photo contest, with the winning images selected for use on the journal’s cover in 2017. CSMS members travel the world, and many have shared their amazing photos with us. Past Connecticut Medicine covers have featured member photos from Marrakech and Guatemala to Haiti and Nepal. This year’s […]
Nearly 200 physicians and guests from across New England were on hand for the 224th Annual Meeting of the Connecticut State Medical Society. Held at the Omni Hotel in New Haven, the evening featured: Jeffrey A. Gordon, MD was inaugurated as the 178th President of the Connecticut State Medical Society. Dr. Gordon, a hematologist-oncologist, is […]
On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) and Sen. Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford), the ranking Republican member of the Insurance & Real Estate Committee, called on the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) to “re-start” the Anthem-Cigna merger review process. Their letter, in response to last week’s decision by CID Commissioner Katharine Wade to recuse herself […]
The physicians of the Connecticut State Medical Society are deeply concerned by the recent EpiPen price spikes. The pens are a simple, reliable mechanism for delivering a pre-measured dose of epinephrine to patients experiencing life-threatening allergic reactions. EpiPen manufacturer Mylan has increased the price of the pens by more than 550% over the past eight […]
This week, the Office of the US Surgeon General is mailing a letter to nearly 2.3 million doctors, dentists, nurses and other healthcare professionals. It is a direct appeal from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, calling on these professionals to join a movement that can help stem our nation’s prescription opioid epidemic. The Surgeon General’s office […]
If you participate in Medicare Part B, you must complete a CMS revalidation application every 5 years. Not sure if you have to revalidate now? Use the Medicare Revalidation Look Up Tool to find if and when your revalidation is needed. It’s easy (and fast). Just enter your name and/or NPI, plus your state, then […]
The Connecticut State Medical Society presents the roster for the 2017 slate of General Officers of CSMS. This slate was nominated by the CSMS Nominating Committee on July 28, 2016, in accordance with the process set forth in the CSMS Bylaws. At the 2015 CSMS Annual Meeting, the CSMS Bylaws were amended to allow any […]
