Momentum to Stop Pending Medicare Cuts: Have You Joined this Effort?
Friday, December 6, 2024
The UHC CEO was Murdered. How are Patients and Physicians Affected?
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Colleagues:
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in what appears to be a targeted attack Wednesday morning in Midtown Manhattan. A message left at the scene of the fatal shooting — “deny,” “defend” and “depose” — echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. In a world where physicians are murdered by disgruntled patients, or by anti-abortion activists as what happened to Dr. Barnett Slepian in Buffalo, now we have witnessed the murder of a health insurance executive. Just as MSSNY condemns the murder of physicians, MSSNY also condemns the murder of Brian Thompson.
Murdering insurance executives does not solve the problem of unfair insurance practices. The culture of UnitedHealthcare will not change, even though their PR department may declare otherwise. Instead, I suspect that UHC will now spend large sums on personal security for its executives, and the cost of those extra expenses will be passed on to patients and doctors in the form of higher premiums and more aggressive denial of payments. Not just UHC will respond this way. There is now a very real risk for copycat murderers of other executives. Other corporations will undoubtedly react to recent events accordingly.
One more tragedy of Mr. Thompson’s murder is that he has been denied time on earth and denied the opportunity to use that time to regret his past actions and atone for his financial sins. It may be that by visiting fatal mortal wrath upon his victim in this world, the murderer may have tempered the Divine wrath that Mr. Thompson would otherwise be facing as he now meets his Maker.
In any event, murder must be condemned. The victim’s loved ones are themselves victimized further by their loss. MSSNY condemns this murder, and we offer our condolences to his family. We condemn all murders and call upon all to curb any violent impulses.
All the best,
Jerome C. Cohen, MD
MSSNY President
Momentum to Stop Pending Medicare Cuts – Have You Joined this Effort?
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In a sign of legislative momentum, 41 senators including New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, are supporting efforts to prevent a pending 2.8% cut in Medicare physician payments that will go into effect Jan. 1.
The bipartisan letter led by Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., to Senate leaders says the cuts would interfere with the ability of physicians to provide high-quality care.
“These continued payment cuts undermine the ability of independent clinical practices – especially in rural and underserved areas— to care for their communities,” the letter said.
The Senate letter follows one from the American Medical Association (AMA) and 127 other state medical associations and national medical societies asking Congress to use these last few congressional days to prevent the scheduled cuts.
The letter to congressional leaders also urges Congress to provide a positive payment update for 2025. All 50 state medical societies including MSSNY as well as 77 national medical societies signed.
Earlier, a bipartisan coalition of 233 House members signed a Dear Colleague that called for a legislative fix to the cut and a payment update to reflect inflationary pressures, including 18 members of New York’s Congressional Delegation.
With few days left to legislate, the nation’s physicians are asking to make this a priority during the lame duck session. You can join in this effort by sending a letter to your Senators and Representatives from here: Take Action | Fix Medicare Now
Simplify and Save: Why Physicians Should Consolidate Retirement Accounts
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As a physician navigating your career and changing employers, you may accumulate multiple retirement accounts that can be costly and cumbersome. Consolidating these accounts into a single IRA can offer several advantages:
- Lower Fees: Each retirement account typically has management fees. Consolidating accounts reduces the number of fees, maximizing your retirement savings.
- Streamlined Maintenance: Managing multiple accounts can be time-consuming, especially when minimum distributions (RMDs) are required at the age of 73 or 75. Consolidation simplifies monitoring and compliance.
- Simpler Estate Planning: A single account ensures clarity for beneficiaries, making managing and distributing assets easier after your passing.
The process is easier than you think. Contact Lenny Marzigliano, Vice President of Investments/Wealth Advisor, now a proud partner endorsed by MSSNY.
If you’re a physician looking to take control of your financial future or feeling unsatisfied with your current advisor, now’s the perfect time to act. Don’t miss the market momentum. Invest in your success now!
- Strategies tailored to your unique goals, including retirement planning, investment management, tax and estate planning
- Consolidating retirement plans like 401(k), 403(b), 457 and IRAs
- Building customizedequity and bond (taxable/tax-free) portfolios
Contact Lenny Marzigliano today for a FREE portfolio review and a complimentary consultation:
- Direct:(631) 457-2037
- Office:(516) 763-9700
- Email:[email protected]
Discover the Physician’s Life Income Plan and learn more at our monthly webinar!
Your financial health deserves the same attention as your patients’—achieve financial peace of mind.
Beth Israel Medical Center Residents and Physicians File for Unionization
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Residents, fellows, and physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have officially filed for unionization with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Representing 850 medical professionals, the group seeks affiliation with the Committee for Interns and Residents (CIR), part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). This move aligns with a rising trend of healthcare unionization across Boston.
“BIDMC residents are joining a national movement to advocate for their profession and communities,” said CIR/SEIU President A. Taylor Walker, expressing confidence that unionization will address critical work and patient care issues. BIDMC has committed to following NLRB procedures while maintaining its stance that direct collaboration with trainees is the preferred path forward. If successful, this union would join two existing BIDMC unions and follow recent organizing efforts by residents at Mass General Brigham and Cambridge Health Alliance.
Beth Israel Medical Center Residents and Physicians File for Unionization (Paulus & Sonnad-Joshi, The Crimson, 11/26)
Prioritize Your Well-Being This Season: MSSNY’s P2P Program is Here to Help
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As we enter the busy and often stressful holiday season, it’s crucial to address the ongoing challenges physicians face, from safety concerns and overworking to feelings of loss and burnout. Without intervention, stress and burnout can lead to severe health issues, including depression, PTSD, and substance abuse.
MSSNY’s P2P program offers a lifeline for physicians, residents, and medical students to speak confidentially with a peer about work or life stressors. If you or a colleague could benefit from support, please reach out.
Contact P2P at [email protected] or 1-844-P2P-PEER (1-844-727-7337) and connect with someone who understands.
Abstract Reviewers Needed
MSSNY will once again hold a Residents/Fellows and Medical Students’ Poster Symposium during the 2025 MSSNY House of Delegates. We are seeking volunteers to serve as reviewers of abstracts for the symposium. January 6, 2025, is the deadline for submission of abstracts. Abstract review will take place between January 13 and February 3. If you are interested, please contact [email protected]
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Reverses Policy to Strip Coverage of Anesthesia for New Yorkers
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MSSNY joined forces with the NYS Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA) over the last few weeks to oppose a new Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield policy to no longer cover anesthesia for the full length of certain surgeries for beneficiaries in New York. Following public outrage over the misguided policy, the health insurer announced Thursday afternoon that it was reversing course following the expression of outrage by numerous high-profile policymakers across multiple states, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
MSSNY will continue to work with NYSSA and other specialty societies together with state lawmakers to ensure insurers keep their promise and that patients have full coverage for the care they need.
Physicians Again Call on Governor Hochul to Veto Latest Wrongful Death Liability Expansion Bill
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Physicians are again urged to contact Governor Hochul to request she again veto the latest version of legislation (A.9232-B/S.8485-B) to significantly expand liability against physicians and hospitals in wrongful death lawsuits. Physicians must continue their multi-pronged advocacy efforts to urge that she veto this latest version as well. Physicians should call Governor Hochul’s office at 518-474-8390 and write and tweet the Governor about Reducing Medical Liability Costs (p2a.co).
The latest version is slightly revised from earlier vetoed versions, but still holds the possibility to produce a 40% increase in medical liability premiums, based on a 2022 actuarial study that was updated this year to account for the new bill.
MSSNY has joined with over 40 county medical societies in a statement to the Governor urging comprehensive liability reform instead of one-sided proposals such as this that would exacerbate already challenging patient access to care issues we face, similar to a joint letter that MSSNY sent earlier this year together with 17 specialty medical societies.
Physicians must continue to publicly stand together to ensure the Governor again vetoes this well intended, but short-sighted legislation. If you are interested in sharing your story about what this will mean for patient care in your community, please contact [email protected] and include your name, county, and specialty with one to two lines on how this bill will affect your practice.
Last Leadership Session This Morning!
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Join MSSNY’s Women Physicians Leadership Academy (WPLA) this morning for “Leading Through Challenging Times.” Learn strategies from experts like Elisa Choi, MD; Nancy Neilsen, MD, Ph.D.; Kate Heilpern, MD; Beth DeAngeles, Ed.D.; Jane Simpson, DO, FAAFP; Mariia Bilorosiuk, MD. Elevate your leadership skills—register now
Opinion: Lawmakers must pass Medical Aid in Dying Act
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The Medical Aid in Dying Act, which is supported by more than 50 organizations including the Medical Society of the State of New York, has been pending for a decade in New York, and it’s imperative that lawmakers pass the legislation, writes David Leven of End of Life Choices New York, who adds that “medical aid in dying is a compassionate, safe, effective and ethical end-of-life option.” Leven notes that 11 other jurisdictions have successfully implemented similar laws and that a February poll shows that 72% of New Yorkers support the measure.
Full Story: The Buffalo News (N.Y.) (tiered subscription model) (11/28)
New Incentives for NYS Patient-Centered Medical Home Providers: Enhance Patient Care and Earn Additional Payments
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Retroactive to April 1, 2024, primary care providers recognized under the NYS PCMH program are entitled to an incentive enhancement of $4.00/PMPM for MMC enrollees and CHPlus members under 21 years of age, and $2.00/PMPM for individuals 21 years of age and older, in addition to the current $6.00/PMPM payment.
MMC Plans will be expected to calculate retroactive payments and furnish these payments to NYS PCMH-recognized providers in their networks. In 2025, to receive this enhanced incentive payment (in addition to the $6.00/PMPM), providers will be required to develop a workflow to refer patients to a Social Care Network (SCN) and submit an attestation by March 31, 2025, confirming their SCN participation. From April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025, all NYS PCMH providers will receive the incentive enhancement. Providers should refer to Column Bin the “NYS PCMH Payment” table below.
Effective April 1, 2025, NYS PCMH providers that submit SCN attestation by March 31, 2025, will continue to receive the incentive enhancement. Providers should refer to Column C in the “NYS PCMH Payment” table on the website. NYS PCMH providers that do not attest to participation in an SCN will receive the $6.00/PMPM NYS PCMH payment without the incentive enhancement. Providers should refer to Column D in the “NYS PCMH Payment” table on the website.
PCMH practices can submit attestations after the March 31, 2025 deadline and the PCMH practice will be included in the subsequent participation list for the additional $2.00 and $4.00 enhancement. PCMH practices that submit attestations after March 31, 2025 will forfeit the $2.00 and $4.00 enhancement beginning April 1, 2025 until the attestation is received. NYS DOH will release more details about the attestation form and process in the coming weeks. The attestation form will be available on the NYS Health Commerce System (HCS) website.
The attestation will be completed once, per physical site location, covering all recognized providers at that location. In preparation, practices should check access to their NYS Health Commerce website accounts. A link to the attestation form will be emailed to all NYS PCMH practices for completion using the NYS PCMH contact email address(es) on file with NCQA.
In order for MMC, HARP, HIV SNP, and CHPlus plans to calculate PCMH incentive enhancement payment, there will be an “SCN Indicator” on the monthly NYS PCMH file posted to the Health Commerce System that will track provider completion of the attestation. Plans will calculate provider payment based on the information corresponding to the “SCN Indicator”.
NYS DOH Webinar: Exploring the New Social Care Network Program
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The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) invites healthcare providers to a webinar on December 12, 2024, from 2:00-3:00 pm ET, to learn about the State’s new Social Care Network (SCN) program. SCNs will connect community-based organizations and providers to help Medicaid Members access critical services like housing support, food assistance, and transportation.
This session is ideal for leaders and providers involved in population health management, social care, and care management across hospitals, health systems, primary care practices, behavioral health organizations, and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). The webinar will outline the SCN program, providers’ roles, and opportunities for engagement.
Register now to secure your spot and gain valuable insights on how your organization can help improve access to health-related social needs services.
MSSNY Podcast: End-of-Year Health Legislation
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Catch the latest MSSNY Update podcast! Dive into key topics like PA supervision, hospital closures, liability expansion, and profile updates. Don’t miss this comprehensive look at 2024’s legislative impacts. Listen now to stay informed and ahead of the curve!
Evolution of Viruses: Why Do They Do What They Do?
Join MSSNY on Thursday, December 12, at 7:30 AM for the webinar “Evolution of Viruses: Why Do They Do What They Do?” by Stephen S. Morse, PhD, from Columbia University.
Learn about:
- Viral mutation and transmissibility.
- Vaccine development and antigenic evolution.
- Predicting and preventing epidemics.
Register now or contact Melissa Hoffman at [email protected] for details.
Discover the New Physician Life Income Plan!
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Please join us on Tuesday, December 17, at 6 pm for a webinar introducing the new MSSNY Physician’s Life Income Plan (PLIP). We are excited to announce our new exclusive member benefit, which is only available to our members!
The Physician’s Life Income Plan is a supplemental retirement program designed to lower taxes and protect assets. Some of the key features of this program include:
- Tax Advantages (tax-free accumulation, tax-free withdrawals, and tax-free distribution to beneficiaries)
- 100% Creditor Protection in NYS (a solution to possible liability legislation changes pending in NY)
- Full Liquidity (maintain access and control of assets at all times)
The largest Fortune 500 companies have used this strategy for almost 50 years. Now, through your MSSNY membership, it is available to physicians! Register Now
Registration Now Open: Arranging for Home Health Care – What Referring Physicians & Practitioners Need to Know
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Home health agencies offer a variety of services for patients with a variety of conditions. Eligibility requirements and qualifications can sometimes be overwhelming and often seem to be constantly changing. Learn more about referring patients to home healthcare agencies by registering for Arranging for Home Health Care – What Referring Physicians & Practitioners Need to Know on Tuesday January 14th at 7:30am.
Educational Objectives:
- Recognize the services provided by certified home health agencies, how the programs function, patient insurance coverages, and the initial and ongoing roles of referring/ordering practitioners.
- Identify the range of conditions and patients across the continuum that are served by certified home health agencies, and for which referral for services may be indicated.
- Summarize the criteria, documentation, and processes for patient referral to certified home health agency services.
- Examine the requirements for eligibility/qualification for referral, review/signature of orders and face-to-face certifications, calls from home health professionals.
Additional information or assistance with registration may be obtained by contacting Melissa Hoffman at [email protected].
The Medical Society of the State of New York is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Medical Society of the State of New York designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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Your Voice. Your Impact. Your Legacy: Join our Physician Sections!
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Join a MSSNY Section today and be part of a physician community that shares your interests, challenges, and goals. MSSNY Sections are your gateway to shaping policy, expanding your knowledge, and connecting with peers who understand your journey—no matter your career stage, practice setting, or background.
Minority Affairs Section (MAS)
We are a forum of MSSNY members for racial and ethnic population physicians to lobby on issues that impact the profession and the health of the communities they serve.
International Medical Graduates Section (IMG)
We are a MSSNY members-only forum for international medical graduates to collaborate on solutions for the unique challenges facing IMG physicians in the State of New York.
Women Physicians Section (WPS)
The section fosters leadership, advocates for gender equity, promotes women’s health, and supports the professional development of women physicians in New York State. Members only.
Organized Medical Staff Section (OMSS)
We are a grassroots physician organization, composed of MSSNY member representatives from organized medical staffs in hospitals, group practices, and other physician organizations. We keep you informed, and we can help your medical staff organization stay effective and strong. OMSS ensures that control of the quality and safety of care, treatment and services provided to patients resides with physicians.
