Medigram - July 9, 2009 | Wisconsin Medical Society

NEWS BRIEFS

New FDA drug alert headed to internists and cardiologists, available electronically

An important FDA-required drug warning will be delivered this week pertaining to internists and cardiologists, as well as physician assistants in these specialties.

In the past, paper-based versions of time-sensitive, FDA-mandated drug warnings have been sent to physicians via U.S. mail, typically arriving weeks later. While paper-based warnings are still being sent out, physicians can now receive these alerts immediately via the Health Care Notification Network (HCNN).

The HCNN is free to Wisconsin Medical Society members and fulfills the new FDA guidance promoting electronic delivery of drug warnings. It is supported by many medical societies and medical liability carriers because it eliminates delay and reduces professional liability.

Click here to register for HCNN. If you have questions, please call 866.925.5155 or e-mail HCNN Customer Service.

Fact sheets on Chantix labeling changes available for physicians and patients

Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Chantix (varenicline), has prepared a series of resources for health care professionals and patients following recent concerns about skin reactions and other allergic responses, as well as changes to the way this drug is labeled. To read more about these changes and the reasons for these concerns, click here and here.

Town-hall meeting on RAC auditing to take place at Society in August

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with CGI Federal, the Region B Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC), is planning an August town-hall meeting to roll out the RAC auditing process for Wisconsin physicians. The meeting will be held at the Society headquarters, with representatives from both organizations in attendance.

Stay tuned to Medigram and other Society publications for details about this event. For more information, contact Penny Osmon at the Society.

Wisconsin State-Level Health Information Exchange Survey now available on-line

The Wisconsin State-Level Health Information Exchange (HIE) Survey, part of the Wisconsin eHealth Initiative spearheaded by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), is now available on-line. If you are interested in shaping the development of HIE systems in the state, or if DHS has identified your organization as a health care stakeholder, you may be eligible to participate. Click here to learn more about the survey and the eHealth initiative, and to complete the survey on-line.

Joint Commission seeks physician comments on field review

The Joint Commission has invited physicians and other health care stakeholders to comment on a field review involving proposed hospital requirements to advance effective communication, cultural competence and patient-centered care.

While effective communication is necessary for patient safety, it can be inhibited by language, culture, hearing or visual impairment, health literacy, cognitive impairments, and disease or disability. In addition, racial and ethnic health disparities are linked to poorer health outcomes and lower quality care. As the diversity of our nation continues to grow, there is a need to provide hospitals with more robust guidance to address the needs of the populations they serve. Therefore, your comments on this field review are essential.

The commenting period began yesterday and will continue for six weeks. Click here to read this document and/or provide input.

AHRQ seeks information on tools for redesigning HIT workflow

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is currently assessing research and evidence about the impact of health information technology (HIT) on workflow, how workflow issues are related to clinician adoption of HIT, and how HIT is linked to the safety, quality, efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery. As part of this effort, AHRQ is asking small- and medium-sized practices to share information on tools for analyzing and redesigning workflow before and/or after HIT implementation.

To learn how to submit comments to this project or to read the full notice about this initiative that was published in the Federal Register, visit AHRQ’s National Resource Center for Health Information Technology here. Responses to AHRQ’s questions may be e-mailed to WorkflowRFI@ahrq.hhs.gov, and all comments are due August 24.

These responses will be incorporated into a toolkit to assist small- and medium-sized practices in analyzing and/or redesigning workflow, either before or after HIT implementation.

DPH and DHS remind physicians to ‘think flu’ in July and beyond

The Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Health Services (DHS) are reminding physicians that H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is still in full force. While incidence of most typical seasonal influenzas declines during the summer, H1N1 does not seem to follow this pattern.

The most recent guidance on H1N1 testing and treatment is available here, and the Society’s H1N1 news page is located here. In addition, DPH and DHS invite health care professionals to download a “Think Flu” flyer here and distribute it to their colleagues.

If you have questions about this public health initiative, please contact DPH’s Diana Ditsch at 608.266.6677.

YOUR PRACTICE. YOUR FUTURE.

Biennial budget results in revisions to health care records laws—including copy fees

The 2009-2011 biennial budget (2009 Act 28), signed into law June 29 by Gov. Jim Doyle, modifies a number of the state laws that involve health care records related to patients’ access to their health care records and fees charged for these records.

Click here to read brief summary of the most significant revisions to these laws.

F.Y.I. FOR YOUR INSURANCE

When do you need to purchase life insurance?

As a member of the Wisconsin Medical Society, you can request affordable coverage today!

Many Americans are unwittingly putting their families at risk of a financial disaster. Nearly a third of Americans don’t have any life insurance coverage. And among those people that have coverage, 40 percent believe their current amount isn’t enough, according to Facts About Life 2006: America’s “Love-Hate” Relationship with Life Insurance (September 2006).

Why do so many people lack insurance protection? Many people put off purchasing life insurance because they cringe at the thought of planning for their own demise. However unpleasant it may be, your decision to purchase life insurance can impact your family’s plans for the future. That’s because a life insurance benefit can be used by your loved ones to pay for everything from final expenses like a funeral to living expenses such as mortgage payments, student loans and groceries.

But the persistent feeling among consumers is that, despite the odds, they are somehow immune to the hard reality of an untimely death. The truth is, a 35-year-old man has a one-in-six chance of dying before reaching retirement age. The odds are only slightly better for a woman of the same age, who has a one-in-nine chance of dying before age 65, according to The Changing Face of Mortality Risk in the United States by Daniel Theodore.

As a Wisconsin Medical Society member, you have the opportunity to request life insurance at affordable group rates. Take advantage of your Society membership and the benefits that go along with it and apply for the Member Life Plan today. Click here to apply, and click here to find out more about when you should buy life insurance.

Wisconsin Medical Society Life Insurance coverage is issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, 751 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. A Booklet-Certificate with complete Plan information, including limitations and exclusions, will be provided. Contract series 83500.

Loss prevention, higher deductibles may help your practice save money

There are more than 25 million small businesses operating in the United States today, yet many of their owners are not taking advantage of ways to save money on their insurance. In lean times like this, it is even more important to evaluate your business’s habits and consider ways to reduce spending while boosting profits.

Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance & Financial Services can provide invaluable advice to help protect your business. It is important to keep us informed about any changes in your business operations, such as a major purchase, expansions or changes in hiring or the nature of your operations. Remember to not skimp on important coverage or cancel coverage to save money.

Please contact your Wisconsin Medical Society Insurance & Financial Services agent directly or use our on-line contact form so we may tailor your plan to work with your specific needs.

QUALITY CORNER

Learn how to improve performance with organized delivery systems

A new Commonwealth Fund report called Organizing for Higher Performance: Case Studies of Organized Delivery Systems presents 15 case studies that illustrate how diverse types of organized health care delivery systems promote higher performance through information continuity, patient engagement, care coordination, team-oriented care delivery, continuous innovation and learning, and convenient access to care. These attributes are supported by values-driven leadership, interdisciplinary teamwork, integration and aligned incentives at the organizational and provider levels, accountability, and transparency. Commonly reported results include improved clinical quality of care and control of chronic diseases, increased patient satisfaction, shorter waiting times and reduced hospitalizations, emergency visits, and prescription drug expenses.

To read the report, click here.

FAQ

Question:
May I waive a patient’s co-payment or deductible?

Answer:
Health care professionals are prohibited from reducing charges to patients with health insurance coverage. Specifically, physicians and other health care professionals may not waive co-payments and deductibles for which the patient or patient’s responsible party is required to pay under an indemnity insurance plan, HMO or PPO plan. This prohibition does not apply to individuals covered by self-insured plans, nor does it apply to discount arrangements that do not involve a reduction or waiver of coinsurance or deductibles. A total waiver (where neither the patient nor the insurance company is billed), such as in the case of a professional courtesy, does not implicate this law. Waiving co-payments and deductibles may be considered insurance fraud.

For answers to other Frequently Asked Questions regarding legal issues click here (Login required. Click here for instructions.)