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Oct. 18, 2015
Vol. 4, No. 58
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BCMS
physicians and staff visit with legislators
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bexar County
Medical Society
6243 I-10 West,
Suite 600
San Antonio, TX
78201
210-301-4391
www.bcms.org
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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,
All
rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
Copyright
© 2015 Bexar County Medical Society, San Antonio, Texas.
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