Wisconsin Medical Journal
107 #7
107 #7
Medigram - October 2, 2008
NEWS BRIEFS
Reminder: Tuesday’s Green Bay forum to feature lawsuit update, Congressional candidates
The 2008 Congressional elections are quickly approaching and the Wisconsin Medical Society’s lawsuit to restore $200 million to the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (IPFCF) is working its way through the courts. The Brown County Medical Society is sponsoring a special Health Care Forum Tuesday, October 7 at the St. Norbert Howard Theatre in the Bemis Center in Green Bay. This event is being held to give members and others the opportunity to hear from candidates in the 8th Congressional District and to receive an update about the Society’s IPFCF lawsuit. The evening gets underway at 5:30 p.m. and includes the following:- Reception featuring music from Heid Music, hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.
- IPFCF lawsuit update (video presentation and key messages to assist you in talking to your patients, community members and local media; legal update, financing and Q&A).
- Open Forum on Health Care Policy with candidates Congressman Steven Kagen, MD, (invited) and John Gard (confirmed).
Physician input sought on Healthiest Wisconsin 2020
Development of the next state health plan, "Healthiest Wisconsin 2020," is underway and physicians are encouraged to participate in one of six Community Engagement Forums being held across Wisconsin in October and November.Hosted by the Healthiest Wisconsin 2020 Strategic Leadership Team and the University of Wisconsin Partnership Program, the forums are being held to tap the wisdom of Wisconsin communities and public health system partners to:
- Respond to the proposed Healthiest Wisconsin 2020 framework (vision, mission and principles).
- Make recommendations for the Healthiest Wisconsin 2020 priorities.
- Create opportunities to work together to implement Healthiest Wisconsin 2020.
- Develop a Healthiest Wisconsin 2020 network.
- Stand on the principle that collaboration is the key to success.
AMA, specialty societies comment on proposed E-prescribing rule
In response to a proposed rule on electronic prescriptions for controlled substances, the AMA and 33 specialty societies last week submitted these comments to the Drug Enforcement Administration.The proposed regulations, which were published in June, would allow physicians and other authorized prescribers to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled substances. These regulations would also permit pharmacies to receive, dispense, and archive these electronic prescriptions.
An article examining some of the issues associated with e-prescribing of controlled substances appears in the current issue of Government Health IT. Click here to read “Doctors and the DEA: Proposed rules that would let doctors electronically prescribe controlled substances could raise the security bar in ways that frustrate health care providers.” For a summary of the proposed regulation, click here, or download the Federal Register Notice at this link.
QUALITY & EFFICIENCY
WHIO pilot program scheduled for first quarter 2009
WHIO will begin the process of selecting its first group of physician practices to test the processes and outputs of the WHIO reporting program. This pilot will be conducted during the first quarter of 2009 and will use “live” WHIO data.Click here to read more.
CAPITOL INSIDER
Mental health parity bill becomes vehicle for bailout package
In an example of how just about anything can happen in politics—and especially in Washington, D.C.—federal legislation to mandate mental health parity insurance coverage (H.R. 1424) became the vehicle for Congress’s second attempt at passing a financial bailout bill. U.S. Senate leaders used the popular parity bill (see last week’s Medigram for news on that passage) and amended it to include the massive bailout measure, hoping to garner enough votes for final approval in both houses.Wednesday night the Senate—reportedly in an attempt to put pressure on their House counterparts—passed the $700+ billion bill on a 74-25 vote. Wisconsin’s senators were split: Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Milwaukee) voted for the bill while Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Middleton) voted against. Presidential candidates John McCain (R-AZ) and Barack Obama (D-IL) both voted in favor.
The House may take up the bill late tonight or tomorrow; the first version of the bailout failed Monday in that house on a 205-228 tally. In order for mental health parity to become law, both houses must pass the exact same language.
For more information, contact Mark Grapentine.
Where are the Presidential candidates on health care issues?
With 33 days left until election day, many physicians are searching for additional information on the Presidential candidates’ views on health care. Below are a variety of sources you can use to learn more.Candidates Web sites Think Tanks American Medical Association For more information, contact Mark Grapentine.
YOUR PRACTICE. YOUR FUTURE.
DHS: Ensure a successful transition to NPI and ForwardHealth interchange
The Department of Health Services (DHS) wants to ensure physicians and clinics are prepared for implementation of the new claims processing system ForwardHealth interchange, especially as it relates to correct submission of claims with National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers. The ForwardHealth Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) department at EDS is conducting targeted outreach to provider organizations that have identified issues with correct billing of NPI numbers on claims submitted to the current Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). They are offering focused technical assistance to provider organizations in the form of conference calls or on-site meetings to resolve any outstanding issues or questions about correct submission of NPIs, taxonomy codes and ZIP codes.DHS encourages all physician clinics to take advantage of this additional technical assistance, if needed, to assure success when interChange is implemented in November. The biggest area of concern is for providers who have only one NPI for multiple Medicaid Billing Provider service locations (One NPI-to-Many Medicaid legacy provider numbers). DHS says provider organizations should review the following areas of NPI readiness:
- Be sure that all NPIs for Billing and Rendering Providers, for all Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus provider certifications have been reported to EDS. If they have not been reported, please do so immediately using the NPI web application or using the NPI paper reporting form here.
- Make certain that you know the correct Medicaid designated taxonomy codes and ZIP+4 codes to be used in submitting claims.
- Begin submitting at least small batches of claims with NPI, taxonomy and ZIP+4 codes to the current MMIS prior to implementation to validate correct billing.
- Confirm that your Trading Partner has tested with ForwardHealth interChange and they are prepared to submit claims for your organization with the appropriate NPI, taxonomy codes and ZIP codes.
FOUNDATION FOCUS
2009 grant application deadline approaching
Medical students register participants at a health fair for uninsured and/or underserved populations in Dane County made possible, in part, by a grant from the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation.
The deadline to apply for a grant from the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s Grant Program is Monday, October 13, 2008, 4:30 p.m.
The Foundation’s Grant Program focuses on providing support for physician-led, community-based programs to improve health through education and outreach. Limited funding is also available for research focused on outcomes or the dissemination of outcomes research. The Foundation gives preference to those programs that include a letter of recommendation from a Wisconsin Medical Society member and/or have direct involvement of a Society member. Medical students are eligible to apply on behalf of their student organizations. Approximately $65,000 is available for 2009 programs.
For details and application materials, click here.
© Wisconsin Medical Society - All rights reserved - 2008
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