The Weekly Dose           Bexar County Medical Society

Week of Jan. 13,  2013 

Vol. 2, No. 18

How do you want

to be paid?

 

By John K. Wisniewski

BCMS CEO/Executive Director

  

 

After years of constant communication, we have cleared the first hurdle.

 

Washington universally accepts that the SGR formula is flawed.  Now the more challenging step is to design something that works.

 

Are we ready to measure and pay for quality? Is patient opinion relevant? Is compliance with preventive services important? How do you adjust for case mix or protect access in a risk-based environment?

 

Realizing that it took several years to communicate the flaws of SGR, it will take an incredible amount of leadership to reach a solution.

 

Let's not put this decision into the hands of others. This would be a good week to consider how you can contribute to organized medicine's effort to control our destiny. 

 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

 

 

Submit immunization data electronically

 

Physicians now can use their electronic health record (EHR) to submit adult and pediatric immunization data to ImmTrac, Texas' immunization registry operated by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

 

Part of Stage 1 meaningful use requires physicians to meet 20 of 25 criteria. Physicians must choose one public health measure from two in the menu set. One of two public health measures requires submission of immunization data to an immunization registry. To meet this measure, physicians must demonstrate the "capability to submit electronic data to immunization registries or immunization systems and actual submission according to applicable law and practice."

 

Detailed instructions on how to register for ImmTrac and how to submit data for the meaningful attestation requirements are on ImmTrac's website. Additional information is available on the ImmTrac FAQ page.

 

Physicians needing help with meeting meaningful use may want to turn to one of the Texas regional extension centers (RECs), established solely to help physicians with the EHR Incentive Program.

 

The RECs are able to help all physicians but may be able to discount services for primary care physicians. Details about the REC program are available on the TMA website in the REC Resource Center.

 

For more information, call the TMA Health Information Technology Department at (800) 880-5720 or email HIT by clicking here.

 

TRENDING TOPICS 

 

Legislators return

to Austin for 83rd Session

 

By Mary E. Nava, MBA

BCMS Chief Governmental and

Community Relations Officer

  

 

The 83rd Legislative Session convened at noon on Jan. 8 with the swearing-in of members of the Texas House of Representatives and Senate in Austin.

  

We congratulate Rep. Joe Straus, who was unanimously re-elected to a third term as Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, who was elected President Pro Tem of the Texas Senate.

 

I attended the opening-day ceremonies and also visited the 14 offices of our Bexar County state representatives and senators to meet the staff members we will be working with as the session moves forward.

 

Stay tuned to this column for more details on the latest happenings at the Texas Capitol.

 

 

Mary Nava (left) meets with District 25

Sen. Donna Campbell, MD, in Austin.  

 

  

Submit resolutions by Jan. 31 

 

If you have any issues you would like the BCMS delegation to consider submitting to TMA regarding change in policy, or a stance you would like them to take on a particular issue, it is time to submit the issue to the BCMS delegation in the form of a resolution.

 

A sample resolution form can be downloaded by clicking here.

  

Please return all resolutions by Jan. 31.

  

Email resolutions to Mary Nava at mary.nava@bcms.org or

send via fax to 210-301-2150.

 

 

For more information and local discussion on legislative advocacy, practice management and other issues, consider joining the BCMS Socioeconomics and Legislative Committee. For information, and to sign up for First Tuesdays, contact Mary Nava at 210-301-4395 or by email.

  

 

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

 

'How Teens Think' Symposium

 

Friday, Jan. 25 

The Winston School San Antonio

8565 Ewing Halsell Drive, 78229 

 

An afternoon ethics track will feature Henry Perkins, MD, on

"Surviving the 'Between Years':

Ethical Questions, Values, and

Decisions in Living with Teens."

 

The Winston School San Antonio and the UT Health Science Center San Antonio School of Medicine have been approved as continuing professional development providers by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for 6.25 AMA PRA Category credits for physicians. 3.0 of these hours meet the Texas Medical Board criteria for formal continuing medical education involving the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.

 

To register online or learn more,

click here. 

 

 

 About The Weekly Dose 

  The Weekly Dose is a service of the Bexar County Medical Society.

Some of the suggestions conveyed may not be applicable to your practice today,
 but the goal is to offer information over time that returns value in excess

of the cost of your membership.

If you would like to recommend future topics to share with your colleagues,

please submit them to the BCMS executive director at john.wisniewski@bcms.org.

All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

Copyright © 2013
 Bexar County Medical Society, San Antonio, Texas.

 

 

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