Medigram - August 23, 2007 | Wisconsin Medical Society

NEWS BRIEFS

Nominating Committee solicits nominees

The House of Delegates Nominating Committee is requesting nominations for the following Society offices: President-Elect for 2008-2009; Vice Speaker for 2009 and 2010 – Charles Rainey, MD, JD of River Hills (incumbent); AMA Delegates for calendar years 2009 and 2010 – Clarence P. Chou, MD of Milwaukee (incumbent); Kevin T. Flaherty, MD of Wausau (incumbent); Robert J. Jaeger, MD of Mosinee (incumbent); AMA Alternate Delegate for calendar years 2009 and 2010 – Mahendr S. Kochar, MD of Brookfield (incumbent).

The House of Delegates Nominating Committee will meet, Saturday, October 13 at Society Headquarters in Madison. The meeting will include an open session to allow for the individual nomination of candidates. The committee will present a proposed slate of nominees on Friday, April 11, 2008 at the annual meeting in Madison. Members of the 2007-2008 House of Delegates Nominating Committee are as follows: District 1— Amtul Ahmad, MD, of Kenosha; Barbara Hummel, MD, of West Allis; Lowell Keppel, MD, of Brookfield; Mahendr Kochar, MD, of Brookfield; Thomas Luetzow, MD, of Lake Mills; Edith McFadden, MD, of Milwaukee; Charles Rainey, MD, of River Hills; John Riesch, MD, of Menomonee Falls; Sridhar Vasudevan, MD, of Belgium; District 2— Susan Kinast-Porter, MD, of Albany; Michael Miller, MD, of Madison; Sandra Osborn, MD, of Verona; Molli Rolli, MD, of Madison; Tosha Wetterneck, MD, of Madison; District 3— Erik Gundersen, MD, of Onalaska; District 4— Andrew Braun, MD, of Stevens Point; Mary Jo Freeman, MD, of Wausau; District 5— Kevin Jessen, MD, of Fond du Lac; Valerie Zapolsky, MD, of Oshkosh District 6— John Hartman, MD, of Green Bay; Jennifer Philbin, MD, of Oconto; District 7— Andrea Hillerud, MD, of Eau Claire; District 8— David Saarinen, MD of Ashland; Specialty Sections— Maja Jurisic, MD, of Brookfield.

Communications to the Nominating Committee should be addressed to: Susan L. Turney, MD, Executive Vice President/CEO, Wisconsin Medical Society, PO Box 1109, Madison, WI 53701. Communications can also be sent via e-mail to noreenk@wismed.org. All candidates must submit a curriculum vitae with a cover letter by Friday, September 28, so that an agenda can be mailed to committee members. For more information, e-mail Noreen Krueger.

Wisconsin Medicaid to require NDC codes for all drugs and supplies: What does this mean for you?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last month released in the Federal Register the Final Rule outlining the implementation of reporting National Drug Codes (NDC) in order for state Medicaid agencies to receive drug rebates. The rule outlines 20 specific drugs to which this requirement applies, however, beginning January 1, 2008 Wisconsin Medicaid will require NDC codes reported on ALL drugs dispensed in a physician’s office or hospital outpatient department. Drugs provided for which there is no rebate available to the state will not be reimbursed, and immunizations are excluded from this requirement.

This requirement may directly impact your claim reporting, reimbursement, internal processes and more.

The CMS-1500 claim form instructions provide detailed information on how to report NDC codes, including what to do when it is necessary to report two or more NDC codes for one service. Instructions are on page 40 of this document at the National Uniform Claim Committee’s (NUCC) Web site. Reimbursement will continue to be based on the submission of the HCPCS code, and is not affected by the reporting of the NDC.

The NDC code is an 11-digit number composed of three parts: five digits for the manufacturer, four for the product, and two for the package size. However, there is no recognized standard format for NDC codes and oftentimes the manufacturer only lists 10 digits on the package. This would require a filler of zero to be added in varying positions depending on the format. Currently, Wisconsin Medicaid does not intend to provide this information, but is investigating ways to obtain the correct 11-digit NDC. It is expected that a Medicaid Provider Update will be released in the fall.

Meanwhile, CMS has provided a HCPCS to NDC crosswalk on their website that may be useful to physicians during this implementation.

The Wisconsin Medical Society intends to work with the Department of Health and Family Services during this period of transition and would like to know specifically how this Final Rule will impact your office. Please send comments to Penny Osmon at pennyo@wismed.org.

Participants sought for consumer education facilitator training

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) and the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) is seeking participants for a “train-the-trainer” session designed to teach participants how to facilitate three consumer education modules: Tools for Making Health Care Choices, Using Health Care Internet Tools, and How to Talk to Your Health Care Provider. The session is targeted toward community health educators, human resource managers, consumer advocates, community leaders, and others interested in engaging consumers in their health care, and the modules were developed to provide consumers with basic information about the health care system and to practice skills they can use to be active partners in their health care.

The training session is Tuesday, September 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wisconsin Hospital Association headquarters in Madison. For more information and registration materials, click here, or contact Kathleen Caron at 608.268.1817.

Medical College of Wisconsin and Children’s Research Institute establish new National Pediatric Kidney Disease Research Center

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $4.6 million over the next five years to the Medical College of Wisconsin to establish a Research Center of Excellence in Pediatric Nephrology at Children’s Research Institute. As one of only two such Centers in the country, it will build on current groundbreaking research programs at the College and Children’s Research Institute, expediting treatments for thousands of children with genetic, acquired or progressive kidney disease.

Click here to read more.

AMA launches multi-million dollar campaign to cover the uninsured

The American Medical Association (AMA) today launched a three-year, multi-million dollar national campaign called “Voice For The Uninsured” to spur action to cover the uninsured. The launch began with a Washington, DC press conference at the National Press Club and full-page ads in the New York Times and USA Today.

This year, the AMA is reaching out to voters and candidates to talk about the problem of the uninsured and the AMA’s solution. The second year of the campaign will focus on influencing Americans to vote for president with the issue of the uninsured in mind. The third year, post-election, the AMA will urge members of Congress to pass legislation to cover all Americans.

“The AMA campaign is grounded in the sad fact that one in seven Americans is uninsured,” said AMA President-elect Nancy Nielsen, MD. “That’s not just a statistic, it’s a tragedy. The campaign gives a voice to these 45 million uninsured patients who desperately need one.”

For more information about the campaign visit www.VoiceForTheUninsured.org.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps more than 57,000 Wisconsin patients

In just over two years, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has connected 4 million individuals who are uninsured or lack adequate healthcare coverage, including more than 57,000 in Wisconsin, to programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. Sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies, the PPA is the largest private-sector patient assistance effort helping low-income, uninsured and underinsured people obtain their medicines through more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. More than 2500 brand-name and generic prescription medicines are available through the participating programs.

“It is encouraging that the Partnership for Prescription Assistance has helped over 4 million Americans and more than 57,000 Wisconsinites in just two years”, said Dr. John Brill, President of the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. “Many more people may qualify for help and should take the time to call the toll free number or visit the Web site, it’s free and confidential and only takes a few minutes of your time.”

Patients who need help can call the PPA’s toll-free phone number (1.888.4PPA-NOW), where trained operators field calls in more than 150 languages, or visit www.pparx.org.

YOUR PRACTICE. YOUR FUTURE.

Medical Examining Board decides physician supervision not required for some certified registered nurse anesthetists

On August 15, 2007, the Medical Examining Board entered a decision and order concluding that Wisconsin law permits a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) who is certified as an advanced practice nurse prescriber (APNP) and who administers anesthesia to do so without a license to practice medicine and without physician supervision. A CRNA who is certified as an APNP must work in a collaborative relationship with a physician. A CRNA who is not certified as an APNP and who administers anesthesia is not required to have a license to practice medicine, but must provide patient services including the administration of anesthesia under the direction, supervision and inspection of a physician. To read more about this decision, click here.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Just two weeks left to save

There are only two weeks left until the “Early Bird” registration deadline for the Wisconsin Medical Society’s 2007 Midwest Coding and Practice Management Symposium, being held on October 14-16, 2007 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. You’ll save $80 when you register by September 7.

This year’s Symposium includes something for everyone. Topics include Collections, The Pitfalls of EMR, Critical Care, Chart Auditing and much, much more. You won’t want to miss it. To view the agenda and to register, please click here.

FYI: FOR YOUR INSURANCE

As a physician-owned subsidiary of the Wisconsin Medical Society, Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance and Financial Services, Inc. (WMSIFS) is dedicated to serving the insurance needs of the medical community. That's why we've launched the Physician Health Cooperative (see top story) — just one of many of the programs and services we offer. In fact, for over 25 years, we’ve provided thousands of physicians, clinics and hospitals with a complete range of insurance products and services. And since we’re independent, we work with a range of companies to find the right match for your needs.

To learn more about member benefits and the complete line of products and services offered through Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance and Financial Services, click here.

FOUNDATION FOCUS

Smiles from the Class of 2011

Thank you to all who participated in the 2007 White Coat Campaign to sponsor the Class of 2011.

The White Coat Ceremony at the Medical College of Wisconsin was held Friday, August 17 and the ceremony at the UW School of Medicine & Public Health is scheduled for Sunday, September 16. Participating physicians should watch soon for a thank you note from the student(s) they sponsored.

For more information about the campaign and other activities of the Foundation, click here.

A Reminder…

The grant application deadline for 2008 programs seeking funding from the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is Monday, October 15, 2007. Physicians, medical students and residents are encouraged to submit grant applications on behalf of their organizations to the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation for support of 2008 programs.

To view or download application materials and information on past grants click here. For more information, contact Renee Reback at 608.442.3720 or e-mail reneer@wismed.org.

FAQ

Question:
Can a physician get credit for prescription drug management in their medical decision making by simply stating “Continue Tegretol?”

Answer:
As long the physician identifies the medication and indicates that the patient should continue the medication, the physician would get credit, according to information presented during the E & M MDM/Probe Findings 99214 & 99215 Teleconference by WPS Medicare. WPS went on to state that they would look at the problems addressed at the visit, the documentation and the medical necessity involved as well.

If you have questions about this or other coding matters, click here to review our FAQ archives, or e-mail efaq@wismed.org.

QUALITY CORNER

Value-driven health care purchasing: Case study of Wisconsin’s Department of Employee Trust Funds

A recent report by The Commonwealth Fund examines the current and potential role of state and local governments, as well as public–private coalitions, in promoting value-driven health care. It summarizes an analysis of four major initiatives aimed at pursuing value in the health care system that are led by, or include, state agencies. These initiatives are examined in greater depth in four separate case studies, also published by The Commonwealth Fund. To read about the public–private value-based purchasing efforts in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Washington, and Wisconsin, click here.