Southern Tier Lyme Support, Inc and Binghamton University are offering 5.5 CME credits through Upstate Medical to physicians (MD and DO) at this years Southern Tier Lyme Conference. 

Registration for the May 5th conference at Binghamton University will open for medical professionals starting 2/15/2018 at www.southerntierlymesupport.org.  The cost of the conference is $75 for physicians and $5 for all other medical professionals and the public.

Thursday March 29, 2018
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Hyatt Regency
125 E. Main St.
Rochester, NY 14604

For more information and to register: www.starrochester.com 

Agenda highights advances in regional systems of care for stroke patients

Who Should Attend
This activity is intended for primary care physicians, internists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, emergency physicians, family physicians, radiologists, cardiologists, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and EMS personnel who care for patients with cerebrovascular disorders

Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity participants should be able to:

• Discuss key challenges in the prehospital care and management of acute stroke in both the ambulance and ED. 
  
• Identify and describe key risk factors in the treatment of stroke and protocols specific to NYS designated Stroke Centers. 
  
• Describe the indications and contradictions for dual anti-platelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention. 
  
• Describe the latest surgical & endovascular treatments for stroke patients. 
  
• Describe the role and importance of neuro-intensive care in stroke recovery
  

Fees 

$100 early registration, $150 after March 16th, 

Students: $50 early registration, $75 after March 16th

MCMS President Peter Ronchetti, MD discusses how prior authorizations requests from payers are costly and delay patient care. http://on.rocne.ws/2DVct4R  

Albany Report_Jan18.pdf

Attached is the latest issue of MLMIC’s The Albany Report, which  offers policyholders a concise, insiders’ view of pending legislative, regulatory, and political developments that have an impact on the New York State medical malpractice insurance marketplace. Highlights from this issue include:

EXPANSION OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS – The governor has 30 days to decide the fate of a bill that would modify and expand the statute of limitations in cases of negligent failure to diagnose a malignant tumor or cancer.

MLMIC AFFIRMATIVE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA – As an advocate of tort reform, MLMIC is in support of legislation in three specific areas.

PROPOSED EXECUTIVE BUDGET – A look at how the governor’s proposed 2018-19 executive budget impacts the medical malpractice market.

CMS Launches New Data Submission System on QPP.CMS.GOV for Clinicians in the Quality Payment Program

On Tuesday, January 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new data submission system for clinicians participating in the Quality Payment Program. Clinicians can now submit all of their 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data through one platform on the qpp.cms.gov website. Data can be submitted and updated any time from January 2, 2018 to March 31, 2018, with the exception of CMS Web Interface users who will have a different timeframe to report quality data from January 22, 2018 to March 16, 2018.  Clinicians are encouraged to log-in early to familiarize themselves with the system.

How to Login to the Quality Payment Program Data Submission System

To login and submit data, clinicians will use their Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) credentials.

• The EIDM account provides CMS customers with a single user identification they can use to access many CMS systems.
• The system will connect each user with their practice Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). Once connected, clinicians will be able to report data for the practice as a group, or for individual clinicians within the practice.
• To learn about how to create an EIDM account, see this user guide.

Real-Time Scoring

As data is entered, clinicians will see real-time initial scoring within the MIPS performance categories. Data is automatically saved and clinician records are updated in real time. This means a clinician can begin a submission, leave without completing it, and then finish it at a later time without losing the information.

Payment Adjustment Calculations

Payment adjustments will be calculated based on the last submission or submission update that occurs before the submission period closes on March 31, 2018.

Determining Eligibility

There are two eligibility look-up tools available to confirm a clinician s status in the Quality Payment Program. Clinicians who may be included in MIPS should check their National Provider Identifier (NPI) in the MIPS Participation Status Tool, which will be updated with the most recent eligibility data, to confirm whether they are required to submit data under MIPS for 2017. For clinicians who know they are in an MIPS APM or Advanced APM, CMS is working to improve the Qualifying APM Participant (QP) Look-up Tool to include eligibility information for Advanced APM and MIPS APM participants. We anticipate sharing this updated tool in January 2018.

For More Information

To learn more about the Quality Payment Program data submission system, please review this fact sheet or view any of the following training videos:

1. Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Data Submission
2. Advancing Care Information (ACI) Data Submission for Alternative Payment Models (APMs)
3. Data Submission via a Qualified Clinical Data Registry and Qualified Registry

Visit qpp.cms.gov to explore measures and activities and to review guidance on MIPS, APMs, what to report, and more. 

Go to the Quality Payment Program Resource Library on CMS.gov to review Quality Payment Program resources.

Questions?

Contact the Quality Payment Program at QPP@cms.hhs.gov or 1-866-288-8292 (TTY: 1-877-715-6222).

01/17/2018 - Initial Summary of Proposed 2018-19 State Budget

QPP Reporting for Performance Year 2017 – An Introduction

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 | 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM EST

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) allows clinicians to choose and report on measures/activities from three performance categories: Improvement Activities, Quality, and Advancing Care Information. This webinar will provide attendees with information on the QPP.gov reporting website and how to report collected data for the 2017 Performance Year.

Register here

Reporting Quality Data

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 | 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM EST

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) allows clinicians to choose and report on measures/activities from three performance categories: Improvement Activities, Quality, and Advancing Care Information. This webinar will provide attendees with information on the QPP.gov reporting website and how to report collected data for the Quality performance category.

Register here

The Medical Society of the State of New York is pleased to announce its January free Continuing Medical Education (CME) webinars.  Participation in the webinars will earn physicians one CME credit free of charge. The January schedule is as follows:

January 17^th at 7:30am - Medical Matters:  Mental Health and Disasters Overview
Register for this webinar here. 
Faculty: Craig Katz, MD
Educational Objectives:

• Explore the psychological impact of mass trauma.
• Provide physicians with a strong background on both the psychological symptoms and syndromes specific to mass trauma.
• Prepare physicians to conduct acute assessments and interventions. 

January 22^nd at 7:30am - Current Concepts in Concussion for Pediatric and Adult Patients
Register for this webinar here.
Faculty: Deborah Light, MD
Educational Objectives:

• Identify signs and symptoms indicative of concussion as well as red flags that indicate alternate or more severe pathology;
• Outline an appropriate management plan for a patient presenting with concussion including a return to “normal life" protocol;
• Describe methods for the primary and secondary prevention of concussion;
• Identify patients who would benefit from referral to a concussion specialist 

January 30^th at 7:30am - Veterans Matters:  PTSD & TBI in Veterans
Register for this webinar here.
Faculty: Emerald Lin, MD

Educational Objectives:

• Identify signs and symptoms of PTSD & TBI
• Examine evidence-based treatment modalities for PTSD & TBI
• Explore military culture and methods to overcome unique barriers to treatment intrinsic to military culture

To view all of MSSNY’s scheduled programs, click here and select “Upcoming”. 

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 each of these live activities 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. 

Additional information or assistance with registration may be obtained by contacting Melissa Hoffman at mhoffman@mssny.org.

UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENT & YOUNG ADULT (AYA) CANCER
A FREE workshop for healthcare providers. Click here for flyer.

JANUARY 26, 2018
8:30 AM - NOON

AL SIGL COMMUNITY OF AGENCIES
1000 ELMWOOD AVE. (DOOR 1)
ROCHESTER, NY 14620
Call (585) 563-6221 to reserve your spot!

Participants will view the award-winning documentary, Until 20, followed by a distinguished panel discussion in order to: 

• Better understand the unique and multidimensional challenges facing AYAs
  
• Facilitate effective communication with AYAs about goals of care at end of life

The Workers’ Compensation Board has initiated a registration process to update the list of health providers who are authorized to treat injured workers. 

As of December 19, 2017 over 6,000 authorized health providers have registered.

Authorized health providers are required to register by January 15, 2018. Health providers who have not registered by January 15, 2018 will:

• be removed from the public directory of authorized providers, and
• become ineligible for the Board’s disputed bill process.

The up-to-date list will ensure that an injured worker can easily identify Board authorized providers. 

How to Register

The Board will use the existing New York State Health Commerce System (HCS) for the registration process and future updates to your registration information. 

How to Access the Registration Form
1. Log in at https://commerce.health.state.ny.us
2. Select My Content > All Applications from the Main Menu.
3. Select P from Browse by list, and then add Person-based Electronic Response Data System (PERDS) to your application list by selecting + under the column add/remove.
4. On the top of the page, select Home.
5. On the home page, select Refresh My Applications List. 
If PERDS does not appear in My Applications List call (800)-781-2362, option 6.
6. Select PERDS on the My Applications list to open it. DO NOT click the information icon (i). 
7. Select the Data Entry tab located on the top left of page.
8. In the Activity field, select WCB Registration from the drop-down list.
9. The following default values will be shown:

Activity: WCB Registration
Form: WCB Registration for Health Care Provider
Data Entity Type: WCB Provider
Data Entity Name: Please Select Name

10. Select the Search WCB Provider button.

Search Entity (Validation of Information)
When you select the Search WCB Provider button, you are brought to the Search Entity page. On this page, please do the following:

1. The field Entity Id must be left blank for your initial registration.
   
2. Select the Profession from the drop-down list.
   
3. Complete the License Number, Birth Month and Birth Day fields. 
   
4. Select the Search button. 
   
5. If your information is correct, an Entity Id is displayed below the blue Search Entity line. Keep this number for your records. It is not stored in the registration form.
   
6. If the name that appears on the page is the same as it is on your license, click the Select button to proceed. If it is incorrect, select the Name Field Help icon for further assistance.
   

Complete the Registration Form
Complete your registration, be sure to click the Save All, Review & Submit and Submit to DOH buttons. This will ensure you are found on the public directory of authorized providers and remain eligible for the Board’s disputed medical bill process.

If you are registering multiple providers on their behalf, do not close the PERDS application after you register the first provider. For each subsequent provider: 

1. Select the Home tab located at the top left of the page (next to the Data Entry tab). 
   
2. Follow steps 7-10 in the How to Access the Registration Form section. 
   
3. Follow steps 1-5 described above in the Search Entity (Validation of Information) section.
   

Questions? 
For instructions that include screen shots of the registration process, please email wcbcustomersupport@wcb.ny.gov with the subject “Provider Registration Instructions”. 

If you have general questions regarding health care provider registration, please contact the NYS Workers’ Compensation Board Medical Director's Office at (800)-781-2362, option 6.