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THE WEEKLY DOSE

 

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Oct. 18, 2015                                                                                             Vol. 4, No. 58

 

 

TRENDING TOPICS

 

BCMS physicians and staff visit with legislators

 

By Mary E. Nava, MBA

Chief Governmental and Community Relations Officer

 

Recently, several BCMS physicians attended area receptions honoring two of our state representatives and one senator:  Rep. Lyle Larson (District 122); Rep. Justin Rodriguez (District 125) and Sen. Jose Menendez (District 26).  

 

Many thanks to the following physicians who participated in these events:  BCMS President, James Humphreys, MD; Kaashif Ahmad, MD; Michael Battista, MD; Jun Beato, MD; Maria Tiamson Beato, MD; Amy Benedikt, MD; Alejandro Gonzalez, MD; Pam Hall, MD; Alex Kenton, MD; Jesse Moss, Jr., MD and Mary Wearden, MD.

 

 

Representing BCMS at a Sept. 30 reception at TopGolf honoring Sen. Jose Menendez were (l-r):  Jesse Moss, Jr., MD; Mary Nava; Menendez; Maria Tiamson Beato, MD and Jun Beato, MD.

 



On Oct. 14, BCMS members from Pediatrix Medical Group, led Rep. Lyle Larson on a tour of North Central Baptist Hospital's (NCBH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and later hosted a luncheon at Silo Restaurant.  Joining Rep. Larson (far right) in the Simulation Room of the hospital's NICU were (l-r):  Alejandro Gonzalez, MD; Michael Battista, MD and Mary Wearden, MD.

 



Pausing for a photo with Rep. Justin Rodriguez on Oct. 14 at Club Giraud were (l-r):  Jun Beato, MD; Maria Tiamson Beato, MD; Rodriguez; Michael Battista, MD and Mary Nava.

 

 

For local discussion on this and other government topics, consider joining the BCMS Legislative and Socioeconomics Committee by contacting Mary Nava.

 

 

MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENTS

 

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Leaving money on the table 

Coordinated care reimbursements going unclaimed

 

Doctors are missing out on thousands of dollars in Medicare reimbursements because they are not taking full advantage of a new federal program designed to promote and encourage coordinated care, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

 

The program pays an average of $42 per patient per month for non-face-to-face chronic care management services such as consulting with other doctors caring for the same patient.

 

CMS estimates 70 percent of Medicare beneficiaries, or roughly 35 million patients, are eligible for the reimbursement funding, but only about 100,000 have applied thus far.

One problem, according to Kathy Bryant, a senior technical advisor at CMS, is that doctors have to get permission from patients who are responsible for a 20 percent copayment. Others say that CMS has not provided enough information on how to properly bill under the codes.

 

"There is a concern all this documentation, along with their regular workload, is not worth it for the money they would receive," said Diane Calmus, government affairs and policy manager at the National Rural Health Association. "It's just too many hoops they would have to jump through."

 

But a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that physicians who use the service could see a substantial increase in annual revenue - as much as $77,295 per year if they use registered nurses to conduct annual wellness visits and other staff to handle more frequent management.

 

For more information on this topic click here.

 

SPREAD THE WORD

 



 

HISTORY LESSON

 

 

 

SPEAKERS BUREAU

 

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How would you like to see yourself on TV? 

Or be quoted in the newspaper?

 

If so then consider joining the BCMS Speakers Bureau and help us provide the local media with accurate and expert information on medical topics and issues of importance to the healthcare community.

 
News reporters looking for doctors to comment on medical topics in both English and Spanish often contact BCMS for help. The Speakers Bureau can be a resource for both the media and the general public while reflecting well on the medical community and can serve to benefit everyone. 

 

Click here to sign up.

 

SPACE FOR LEASE

 

 

A SILVER SPONSOR

 



 

Silver-level Circle of Friends sponsors contribute $3,000

or more to BCMS annually.

 

Support our sponsors; our sponsors support us!

 

 

 

Thank you to our BCMS Circle of Friends sponsors! This information is sent on behalf of a valued sponsor at the silver level, but it is not an endorsement. Donations from Circle of Friends sponsors help keep down the cost of dues and allow BCMS to continue to provide quality service to its members. The society continues its pledge to you and only will involve itself in services and programs that benefit you, the member, and your patient.

 

A SILVER SPONSOR

 



 

Silver-level Circle of Friends sponsors contribute $3,000

or more to BCMS annually.

 

Support our sponsors; our sponsors support us!

 

 

 

Thank you to our BCMS Circle of Friends sponsors! This information is sent on behalf of a valued sponsor at the silver level, but it is not an endorsement. Donations from Circle of Friends sponsors help keep down the cost of dues and allow BCMS to continue to provide quality service to its members. The society continues its pledge to you and only will involve itself in services and programs that benefit you, the member, and your patient.

 

Bexar County Medical Society

6243 I-10 West, Suite 600 

San Antonio, TX 78201

210-301-4391

www.bcms.org

 

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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 steve.fitzer@bcms.org.

All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

Copyright © 2015 Bexar County Medical Society, San Antonio, Texas. 

All rights reserved.

 

 

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Bexar County Medical Society
| 6243 I-10 West, Suite 600 | San Antonio | TX | 78201