NJ Adopts FY 2011 Budget with Healthcare Tax Hike
         Governor Chris Christie on Tuesday signed legislation increasing the $200,000 cap on the gross receipts tax paid by ambulatory healthcare facilities to $350,000.  In 2010-2011 the cap on the gross receipts tax will be about $315,000 due to the way in which the tax is collected.  Despite support for the tax increase from sectors of the healthcare community, MSNJ opposes all taxes on healthcare and therefore remained opposed to this sizable increase of an existing tax.
          Thankfully, MSNJ was successful in at least securing a change from the original proposal which would have removed the cap on tax liability entirely, which would have exposed some facilities to millions of dollars in tax liability.  In this sense, the 350,000 cap is a significant improvement over the original budget proposal.
          MSNJ has proposed a one year sunset provision for the tax increase and looks forward to working with the Administration to produce state healthcare policy that reflects the Governor’s objective to reduce the tax burden in New Jersey.

HEALTH SYSTEM REFORM: New Requirements Kick-In
          Physicians are beginning to feel the effects of the healthcare reform law enacted in March of this year. For example, the PECOS registration requirement is driven by a CMS Interim Final Rule necessitated by the new law. (See the article below in Medicare.) At the same time, the law spawns a number of new requirements and rulemaking initiatives.
            The intent of these laws was to prevent activities that undermine the financial integrity of Medicare, Medicaid, and state CHIP programs. Some new requirements follow:
Physicians relying on the in-office ancillary services exception to the prohibition on physician self-referral must inform patients in writing that they may obtain services elsewhere under certain circumstances. Read more….

HIT: Conference Call on Temporary Certification Rule
          The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is hosting an informational call to provide an overview of the recently released final rule to establish a temporary certification program for electronic health record (EHR) technology.  The rule establishes processes that organizations will need to follow in order to receive temporary certification by the National Coordinator to test and certify EHR technology. Participants will hear an overview of the final rule, and be able to ask questions.  Physicians interested in the details of the temporary certification program should participate on the following call:

Friday, July 2, at 11:00 a.m. EDT
Call-in Information: Phone Number: 800-769-9420
Participant Passcode: 3533556

            Transcripts of each phone call will be made available on the ONC web site, within 48 hours of each call. For more information about the temporary certification program and the final rule, please visit http://healthit.hhs.gov/certification.

MEDICARE: 2.2% Fee Increase Implementation
          CMS required contractors to start processing claims with the updated, 2.2% fee increase, by no later than today, July 1, 2010. As we go to press, Highmark Medicare Services has an announcement on its website dated June 28 that outlines its schedule for processing claims at the updated rate. Highmark intends to adjust payments for services rendered in June at the reduced rates, automatically, without the need for resubmission beginning on July 9. Members are urged to revisit the Highmark website for updates and details. As we go to press, the updated fee schedule, effective June 1, 2010 through November 30, 2010, has not yet been posted on Highmark’s web site. This is a concern to our members who are non-participating providers. MSNJ has formally requested that Highmark post the updated fee schedule as soon as possible.

               Participation Decision Deadline Extended to July 16
            CMS is offering physicians, whose current participation status is non-participating, the opportunity to become participating. Read more.
           
               PECOS Enrollment Deadline Update
            Yesterday, in response to the advocacy efforts of the AMA, MSNJ, and others in organized medicine, CMS announced that it will “not implement changes that would automatically reject claims based on orders, certifications, and referrals made by providers that have not yet had their [PECOS] applications approved by July 6, 2010.” [Press Release of CMS (June 30, 2010)]. This announcement comes on the heels of data and input provided by our members and practice managers to CMS demonstrating that complying with the deadline was not feasible, despite their best efforts to do so.
            MSNJ has been urging physicians who treat Medicare patients to enroll through PECOS as soon as possible. This was made more urgent when a CMS Interim Final Rule (IFR) published by CMS in May accelerated the deadline from the end of the year to July 6 for those who “order and refer.”  It is important to note that CMS still considers July 6 the effective date, however, it is looking more closely at how to implement the IFR and will take all comments into consideration as to how it will proceed.
            MSNJ believes that the Affordable Care Act, passed in March of this year, only addressed Medicare enrolled physicians who certify or order home health services, durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) , and that the accelerated deadline should not have been applied to all ordering and referring physicians. Nonetheless, it is imperative that all ordering and referring physicians take steps and make good faith efforts to enroll through PECOS as soon as possible. Physicians who have opted-out of Medicare are not required to do so.  

RED FLAG RULE: Deadline Extended for MSNJS Members Pending Litigation
          MSNJ members are covered by the delayed enforcement of the Red Flag Rule by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC Chair, Jon Leibowitz, made a statement at the AMA meeting in Chicago in May that the agency agrees with the AMA and medical societies’ position that the reach of the regulation goes too far. The issue remains as to whether Congress must exempt physicians from the rule or whether the FTC could make the change in rulemaking.  What is clear is that the FTC will not enforce the rule against members of the Medical Society of New Jersey while the litigation challenging the scope of the rule is pending. For details on the FTC position, read the most recent issue of American Medical News.

MENTAL HEALTH: NAMI Convention
            The 2010 National Alliance on Mental Illness National Convention has kicked off at the  Hilton Washington in Washington, DC. The 4-day event features seminars and networking meetings from agencies such as NIMH and DOD, as well as briefings from PhDs and authors from around the United States. Check out NAMI’s website for photos, recaps, highlights and Twitter updates as they happen.

MSNJ Welcomes Disney Institute to Princeton on July 20, 2010
            You spoke, and we listened! Disney’s Approach to Quality Service for Healthcare Professionals program is returning to Princeton, NJ! Every hospital, clinic, group medical practice, dental practice, or freestanding medical care provider has the opportunity to distinguish themselves through the delivery of quality services.
            A one-day local workshop, Disney’s Approach to Quality Service for Healthcare Professionals program will show you the importance of attention to detail in everything Disney does -- from training its Cast Members (employees) to treating every Guest (patient) as a VIP.  You will hear the stories and see how Disney best practices can be easily adapted to your healthcare delivery organization.
            IMPORTANT: Please use the Medical Society of New Jersey promotional code MSNJMNE to receive $50 OFF PER GUEST when registering. Additional group discounts are available.
            TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER GO TO: www.KeysPrinceton.com
No prerequisite training required.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
            IVR Eligibility Enhancement for Medicare Advantage & Secondary Payment
            Highmark Medicare Services has enhanced the eligibility option within the IVR to voice additional Medicare Advantage and Medicare Secondary Payer information. Read more

            Participation Decision Deadline Extended to July 16
            CMS is offering physicians, whose current participation status is non-participating, the opportunity to become participating. Read more.
           
            New Medicare Secondary Payer Edit M433
         Effective July 6, 2010, there will be a new Medicare MSP Edit M433 that will validate that the other payer approved amount field (2400 AMT) is greater than or equal to the other payer paid amount field (2430 SVD) when both values are submitted.  Read more.

EVENTS TRAINING RESOURCES
NaviNet Introductory Webinar for MSNJ Members
 Topics will include:

• How to navigate within NaviNet
• An overview of all health plans available via NaviNet as well as an introduction to the newest available health plans.
• Best practices for incorporating NaviNet into your office workflow
• A review of available transactions for health plans
• The role of the NaviNet Security Officer

Click below to register:
Thu, Jul 22, 2010 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

Implementing an Evaluation & Management Audit Plan in Your Practice Workshop
Two dates
Thursday, July 8, 2010 from 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
            Community Medical Center, Toms River, N.J.
Thursday, August 5, 2010 from 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
            Bergen County Medical Society, River Edge, N.J.
           
            This workshop is being presented by Nicole Martin, CPC and is being offered at no charge to members of the Medical Society of New Jersey. We will spend the first hour learning the basic concepts of evaluation & management documentation/coding requirements as they relate to professional medical office services. The second hour will be spent reviewing and coding together. Two (2) redacted progress notes and discussing real world strategies for implementing an audit plan in your practice. Register online.

Athletic Trainers' Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ) Sports Concussion Summit
            Program will cover care of concussion injuries with keynote address by Robert Cantu, M.D., noted neurosurgeon from Emory Hospital in Massachusetts. Event will also include a one-hour roundtable discussion. The course has been approved for 11 Prescribed credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Register online.

            Monday, August 2, 2010 from 7:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
            Wyndham Hotel, Plainsboro, N.J.

MSNJ Notes & Reminders
            The next meeting of the MSNJ Board of Trustees will take place on Wednesday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Peter's Hospital, 254 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick.