FROM NYS WORKERS' COMP BOARD As of September 10, 2018, the Special Funds Conservation Committee (SFCC) will no longer be administering workers compensation, volunteer firefighter, and volunteer ambulance worker claims.
These claims are being transferred to new third-party administrators (TPAs), who will assume all claims administration services.
Notifying Injured Workers
Injured workers have been notified of the name and contact information of their new TPA, and have been advised to inform their legal representatives and medical providers of this change.
Medical Reporting and Billing
All requests for treatment authorization on and after September 10, 2018, must be sent to the correct TPA for the injured worker.
All medical bills received by SFCC in error during this period of transition will be forwarded to the proper TPA for resolution and payment.
Finding the New TPA
If you are providing medical treatment or legal representation for an injured worker who lists SFCC as their insurer on or after September 10, 2018, please inquire further, as the SFCC will no longer be the claims administrator at that time.
For information about the new TPA, the injured worker (or your office if you have previously submitted Form OC-400 or medical bills to the Workers Compensation Board for that person in that workers compensation case) may contact SFCC or the Workers Compensation Board.
Contact SFCC Buffalo: (716) 686-5700 Dewitt: (315) 445-9405 New York City: (212) 883-3900
Contact the Workers Compensation Board (877) 632-4996 general_information@wcb.ny.gov
Please note, the distribution of claims amongst the new TPAs does not follow any identifiable pattern (such as injured worker last name or injury date) that can be shared ahead of or after the transfer; however, the SFCC and the Board can provide this information to you on a case-by-case basis upon your request.
http://bit.ly/2018FluForm
ECHO® MOLST Launches September 13!
By Patricia Bomba, MD, MACP, ECHO® MOLST Program Director
At long last, the first ECHO® MOLST: Honoring Patient Preferences at End-of-life clinic will be held on September 13. The initial series will run for eight sessions through November 8. The weekly ECHO® clinics, which are like virtual grand rounds, combine mentoring and patient case presentations. See details on the ECHO MOLST flyer.
Space is limited to the first 50 “spokes.” A spoke is a single site that can include multiple physicians, nurse practitioners and other clinicians. Sign up now to participate by emailing Meg.Greco@excellus.com, ECHO MOLST coordinator. By registering now, you will be guaranteed a spot on the spoke and will receive onboarding training to make the most of ECHO MOLST.
Free CME will be provided. The University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Office of Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Office of Continuing Medical Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
ECHO MOLST provides seasoned physicians and nurse practitioners the opportunity to present challenging clinical cases and pose clinical, ethical and legal questions to the participants. MOLST experts will serve as mentors and colleagues, sharing their medical knowledge and expertise with physicians, nurse practitioners and other clinicians using the “All teach. All Learn.” ECHO model.
The launch of ECHO MOLST was delayed to the fall while awaiting new legislative changes and approval of the proposed revised MOLST form. The key target audience includes physicians and nurse practitioners who will be impacted by the new NYSPHL and MOLST form changes. The topics for the initial series is based on the “Core Elements for MOLST & eMOLST Education,” approved by the MOLST Statewide Implementation Team in 2014, that outline the educational needs based on clinical roles and the 8-Step MOLST Protocol. Combining the case-based ECHO model with the “Core Elements” will meet the needs of the target audience.
Project ECHO was identified as a platform for continued sustainable MOLST education in 2017. The core MOLST team from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (MOLST Program Director, Program Manager & Coordinator) attended ECHO immersion training in October 2017.
The ECHO MOLST planning group was formed in 2018 to launch ECHO MOLST: Honoring Patient Preferences at End-of-life. Members include the core MOLST team from Excellus BCBS: Patricia Bomba, MD, MACP, Katie Orem, MPH, Meg Greco, MPA and key leaders from IPRO, one of the nation’s premier quality evaluation organizations: Sara Butterfield, RN, BSN, CPHQ; Carolyn Kazdan, MHSA, NHA; L. Christine Stegel RN, MSN, CPHQ, Fred Ratto Jr., BA, CPH and Lynn Wilson, MS.
Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program: New Covered Service Call
Date: Wednesday, September 26
Time: 2 to 3 pm ET
Audience: Medicare fee-for-service providers
Register here for Medicare Learning Network events.
The 2019 Medicare and You Handbook includes information on the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, a new Medicare-covered service. Help your patients prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes and understand their treatment options. During this call, learn about the service, eligibility requirements, and how to refer your patients. A question and answer session follows the presentation.
The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) today announced the expansion of the inpatient detox facility operated by Helio Health in Rochester. The facility will now have 40 beds available, an increase from the previous total of 25 beds. These additional beds are expected to be operational by the beginning of 2019. The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, which already provides approximately $1.3 million for Helio Health services in Monroe County, is providing $450,000 in annual operational funding to support the new beds.
“We’re investing in treatment facilities across the state to help save lives, and ensure that individuals struggling with addiction have the resources they need to recover,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force. “We’re aggressively working to combat the opioid epidemic in New York, and the expansion of Helio Health in Rochester will provide additional beds for residents of Monroe County battling addiction and seeking services and support.
“Detox is a vital part of the OASAS continuum of care, and is the first step for many people in their recovery from substance use disorders,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s efforts to add more beds, more people in Monroe County will be able to access this service closer to where they live.”
Medically Supervised Withdrawal and Stabilization services offer medical assessment, information about recovery support, family treatment, clinical services, and medication to manage withdrawal symptoms. Detox programs are a short-term service designed to prepare and connect people to longer term treatment.
The Helio Health facility is located at 1350 University Avenue in Rochester.
New York State Senator Rich Funke said, “As a member of the Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, I will continue to advocate for additional treatment beds and support services for our community. Every individual deserves the chance to begin their road to recovery as quickly and efficiently as possible. I commend the organizations in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region for their continued efforts in our fight to address this growing public health epidemic.”
New York State Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “The opioid epidemic continues to plague our community, and I applaud Governor Cuomo and the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse for committing additional resources to this fight. I also wish to thank Helio Health for providing families with the treatment options they need. Detox is the first step to getting people on the road to recovery, and by expanding the number of beds available to individuals beginning that journey, we can reduce the harm that opioid addiction is inflicting on our families and our community.”
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. Visit CombatAddiction.ny.gov to learn more about the warning signs of addiction, review information on how to get help, and access resources on how to facilitate conversations with loved ones and communities about addiction. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website.
Registration is open for our "Innovation in Action" event on September 12! We'll be showcasing how technology is changing the trajectory of advanced heart failure, as well as new technology for opening diseased blood vessels. Register here: http://bit.ly/2PBHE7D
You're invited to participate in an expanded patient safety course this year – nearly all of the topics in the prior course will be covered in redesigned sessions plus we will have additional content on improvement and achieving high reliability.
The faculty of the Division of Healthcare Management in the Department of Public Health Sciences are pleased to offer an innovative program on improvement science. This is a “mini” certificate course designed specifically for health care professionals, trainees, and students from medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, hospital administration, and health services research.
Course Content The program, designed to increase your knowledge of how to improve healthcare quality and safety and to educate you on the latest theories on improvement science, consists of 11 sessions addressing topics such as leadership’s role in nurturing a culture of high reliability, an understanding of the science of errors and safety, the model for improvement in clinical practice, identification of “measures that matter” in healthcare, teamwork and communication techniques, performance improvement tools, ways to create a safer medication system, the challenges of health literacy and patient diversity, event reporting systems, designing care for to maximize value and safety, the impacts of information technology and safety, safety in clinical research and the business case for safety.
Registration Information
The registration deadline for the Rochester Improvement Science Education (RISE) Certificate Program is Saturday, September 22. Sessions will begin on Thursday, September 6, 2018, and will be offered twice per month on Thursdays, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There is no fee for this course. Course materials will be available online.
Existing MyPath/Achieve Users: Please refer to the attached instructions to register for the course.
New to MyPath?
Click here to create an account and begin the registration process.
Parking Information
Parking fees will be the responsibility of the registrant. A light snack will be provided beginning at 5pm.
Program Completion Successful completion of the program involves attendance at a minimum of 8 sessions. Those who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of participation from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Physicians, dentists, nurses, dental assistants, hygienists, pharmacists, radiology technologists and social workers will be eligible for up to a maximum of 16.5 hours of continuing education credits. For social workers, partial credit for this multi-part course may not be awarded. Learner must attend all parts in order to earn the certificate for contact hours. Physicians should note that medical staff privileges at SMH and HH, as well as participation in BCBS managed care products (including Blue Choice) require 50 hours of CME per year. Physicians insured through UR and MCIC Vermont for malpractice insurance will be eligible for a reduced premium through the premium differential program. Please see the documents below for further information. If you are unable to access any of the attachments, please feel free to contact Judy Hughes at 275-7712 or by email at judy_hughes@urmc.rochester.edu for another email version or fax copy. The materials are also available at the Quality and Safety Intranet Page for those who can access the URMC intranet.
Patient Safety Program Announcement_Share RISE 8.14.18-rp.pdf
Class Schedule_RISE_Fall_Share.pdf
Faculty List_Share.pdf
Registration Instructions for Existing MyPath Users.pdf
Don’t miss this opportunity to promote improvement science and patient safety by learning about the science, tools, and strategies for achieving safer patient care.
Robert J. Panzer, MD Chief Quality OfficerAssociate VP, Patient Care Quality & Safety Georgia & Thomas Gosnell Professor in Quality and Safety University of Rochester Medical CenterEmail: Robert_Panzer@urmc.rochester.eduPhone: (585) 273-4438Fax: (585) 273-1118Pager: (585) 275-1616 #1497
The Medical Reserve Corps. (MRC) is a program to recruit medical and non-medical volunteers that sign up to be notified of any emergencies or disasters in Monroe County where volunteers are needed to support the community. Notifications also go out for training opportunities and other non-emergency opportunities for the volunteers to help the community. This is a non-emergency opportunity for the members to get involved in the community, learn about general emergency preparedness, and to learn about the differences in the day to day struggle for people with disabilities. Instructions for signing up are attached here. Or, you may schedule a time to meet with Aaron Cignarale to go over the advantages of the MRC and how it can be used to really impact our community if we can get more people involved.
Aaron Cignarale Public Health Emergency Preparedness Specialist Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator Access and Functional Needs Coordinator Monroe County Department of Public Health Office of Public Health Preparedness 111 Westfall Road, Room 854 Rochester, NY 14620 Office: (585) 753-5453 Cell: (585) 478-4996 Fax: (585) 753-5131 aaroncignarale@monroecounty.gov
Sharing Federal Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic Wednesday, August 15, 20181:30 -3:00 pm Eastern TimeConference Call Only
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a Special Open Door Forum (SODF) for opioid prescribers to educate them on federal resources and strategies to combat the opioid epidemic.
The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare. This SODF brings together representatives from various federal agencies to discuss strategies and resources for safe prescribing as well as other opioid-related topics.
You will hear information from the following federal agencies:
We look forward to your participation.
Special Open Door Participation Instructions:
Participant Dial-In Number: 1-800-857-1738
Conference ID #: 7785347
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.
A transcript and audio recording of this Special ODF will be posted to the Podcast and Transcripts website at https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/PodcastAndTranscripts.html for downloading.
For automatic emails of Open Door Forum schedule updates (E-Mailing list subscriptions) and to view Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at http://www.cms.gov/opendoorforums/
Physicians have until October 15, 2018 to collect their supporting information and attest for achieving 2017 Promoting Interoperability.
Participating Eligible Professionals (EPs) can receive an $8500 per year incentive for each of up to four years of participation. Grant funded free technical services are available from Strategic Interests to assist with your current and future attestations for Stages 2 and 3 through the Eligible Professional 2 Program.
About the Medicaid Eligible Professional Program (EP2) Program and Services Available
The Medicaid Eligible Professional Program (EP2) is a New York State Department of Health (DOH) initiative providing FREE outreach, assistance, and support services. In the Buffalo and Rochester areas, NYeC has selected Strategic Interests as the supporting Technical Agent to assist providers in achieving the various stages of Promoting Interoperability. These free EP2 Services include:
Enrollment is a simple two-step process:
Below is a summary of the program and a comparison of the Stage 2 and Stage 3 objectives:
NYeC EP2 Summary.pdf
MU Objective Comparison.pdf
For more information or to enroll, email EP2@strategicinterests.com. Staff from Strategic Interests are willing to set up a videoconference call with you or representatives from the practice to review the program and answer any questions.
