In response to the recent cases of Ebola in the US, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released an updated bulletin with guidance on HIPAA privacy in emergency situations.The bulletin addresses sharing and safeguarding patient information, waivers, and other resources.Although the protections of the HIPAA Privacy Rule are not set aside during emergencies, the bulletin is meant to ensure that HIPAA covered entities are aware of the ways in which patient information may be shared under the Privacy Rule in an emergency situation.Additional OCR HIPAA privacy resources include an interactive decision tool and other materials for advance planning …

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) late Friday issued a final rule for physician reimbursement under Medicare in 2015. The final rule is similar to the proposed rule that CMS issued in July, with a few modifications. For example, CMS had proposed a payment rate of $41.92 for its chronic care management code, but the rate was changed to $40.39 in the final rule.In terms of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula for physician reimbursement, the agency notes that the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 "provides for a 0% PFS [physician fee schedule] update for services …

After nearly three decades in private practice, Texas physician Michael Burgess, MD now represents Texas' 26th District in the US House. Dr. Burgess has sponsored H.R. 5539, which would clarify that certain applicable manufacturer transfers of value to support independent certified/accredited medical educational programs and materials (including medical textbooks, peer-reviewed medical reprints, and journals) are exempt from reporting under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (Sunshine Act).Dr. Burgess' bill will ensure that efforts to promote transparency do not undermine efforts to provide the most up-to-date independent medical knowledge, and CSMS was proud to join other state medical societies and national specialty …

National Government Services has identified an issue with additional documentation request (ADR) letters for Medicare Part B claims were not sent in a timely manner. This impacted Part B providers from Connecticut and New York only.For the period of 9/17-10/20/2014, letters for claims requiring additional documentation to make a payment determination were not mailed.The cause of the issue has been corrected. Providers whose claims were affected by this issue were sent letters on 10/21/2014; however, the letter has the original issue date. The letters include the following statement:10/21/2014Supplemental NoticeDue to a technical systems issue, the date of the enclosed letter …

(October 22, 2014) -- CSMS President Robert Russo, MD and CSMS Legislative Chair David Emmel, MD were among those invited to participate in a roundtable on Ebola hosted by US Representative John Larson (CT-1) at Hartford Healthcare. Rep. Larson was joined by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Chris Murphy, and US Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-2) for the discussion, which was closed to the media. Also in attendance were CSMS Members Rocco Orlando, MD (Chief Medical Officer, Hartford Healthcare) and Jack Ross, MD (Chief of Infectious Diseases, Hartford Hospital), who spoke about preparations at their institution.The purpose of the roundtable was to …

Dear Colleague,As a Connecticut physician, you are well aware of the extent to which health insurance companies rate, rank, and categorize you and your practice.CSMS would like to offer you an opportunity to rate Connecticut’s health insurance companies. This brief survey will ask for your perspective on topics such as patient impact, timeliness of payments, claims denials, accuracy of information, and other important issues.Click here to take the surveyWe hope you’ll take a few minutes to complete the survey. Please feel free to forward the link to your colleagues – the more physician responses, the stronger our case will be.Thank …

The CDC has released new guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers managing patients with Ebola virus.This guidance contains the following key principles:1. Prior to working with Ebola patients, all healthcare workers involved in the care of Ebola patients must have received repeated training and have demonstrated competency in performing all Ebola-related infection control practices and procedures, and specifically in donning/doffing proper PPE.2. While working in PPE, healthcare workers caring for Ebola patients should have no skin exposed.3. The overall safe care of Ebola patients in a facility must be overseen by an onsite manager at all times, …

This letter to the editor by CSMS Vice Chair Steve Wolfson, MD was published in today's New Haven Register. The letter discusses physician concerns with current approaches to telemedicine.Click to read the full letter.

Effective for dates of service October 1, 2014 and forward, the Department of Social Services (DSS) will allow reimbursement for procedure code 90688 (Influenza virus vaccine, quadrivalent, split virus, when administered to individuals 3 years of age and older, for intramuscular use) under the physician office and outpatient fee schedule.Since procedure code 90688 is currently not supplied through the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Connecticut Vaccine Program (CVP), providers should use the appropriate vaccine and procedure code that is available through the CVP for HUSKY Health members 18 years of age and younger. Please refer to the Immunization Home Page …

The CDC has released a new Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisory with Ebola recommendations for health professionals.The HAN Advisory provides background information, as well as information about the clinical presentation and clinical course of Ebola, infection control, patient management, and diagnostic testing. To view the full advisory, which includes downloadable clinical guidelines, please click here. 

The Hartford Business Journal interviewed CSMS President Robert Russo, MD and CSMS Councilor Bollepalli Subbarao, MD about the changes in Connecticut's Medicare Advantage (MA) landscape following last year's abrupt and significant cuts by United Healthcare.Read the full story here.

In today's New Haven Register, the story Plan aims to aid patients waiting for liver in New England features a quote from CSMS member David Mulligan, MD.Dr. Mulligan is the head of the committee and professor in chief of transplantation and immunology at the Yale School of Medicine.

Nominations are open for the Hartford Business Journal's 2014 Healthcare Heroes Awards.These awards identify outstanding leaders in the healthcare industry who are the epitome of a "hero," and recognizes their excellence in helping others. The Health Care Heroes Awards identifies outstanding leaders in the health care industry who are the epitome of a "hero."Whether they are doctors, nurses, specialists or managers, join us in recognizing those individuals who embody the word "hero" and prove their excellence in helping others.In addition to an awards event on December 2, winners be recognized in a special issue of the Hartford Business Journal on …

Earlier this year, The Physicians Foundation, a non-profit group of physician and medical society leaders, conducted its third national survey of America’s physicians. The PF survey is instrumental in conveying physician opinions about the current state of the medical profession. National survey results Connecticut-specific resultsMany thanks to the CSMS members who participated in the survey, which was taken by over 20,000 physicians across the country.

The Connecticut State Medical Society joined more than 110 state and national specialty medical societies in signing a letter opposing H.R. 5304.H.R. 5304 is a bill that would inappropriately allow audiologists to have direct access to Medicare patients without a physician referral.It would also amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include audiologists in the definition of "physician."The letter was delivered to Speaker of the House John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi yesterday. The full text of the letter is available here. 

September 12, 2014 (New Haven, CT) -- The Connecticut State Medical Society presented U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) with the CSMS Legislator of the Year Award at its 2014 Annual Meeting.Since first being elected to Congress in 1990, Rep. DeLauro has consistently focused on improving the quality of life for her constituents, and she clearly understands that there is a direct relationship between her constituents’ quality of life and the quality of our healthcare system. More importantly, she understands that physicians need the ability to care for their patients without inappropriate intrusions from government or from health insurers who seek …

CSMS Presents 2014 Maloney Distinguished Service Award to Richard Torres, MD September 12, 2014 (New Haven, CT) -- The highest honor CSMS can confer upon a member, the Paul K. Maloney, Jr., MD Distinguished Service Award was established to honor the life and work of Dr. Maloney, an eminent physician known for his exemplary service, active engagement, and dedication to the community.The 2014 Maloney Award winner is Richard Torres, MD, of Bridgeport. The award was presented to Dr. Torres by CSMS President Michael Saffir, MD at the 222nd Annual Meeting of the Connecticut State Medical Society.Dr. Torres was selected as this …

CSMS Presents 2014 Healthcare Leader/Innovator Award to David Hass, MD September 12, 2014 (New Haven) -- The Connecticut Medicine Health Care Leader and Innovator (HLI) Award is presented to a physician at any stage of practice who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to leadership and innovation at a time of significant changes in the practice of medicine.The winner of the 2014 HLI Award is David Hass, MD, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine’s Division of Digestive Diseases, and a practicing gastroenterologist. Dr. Hass currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Fair Haven Community Health …

The September edition of Connecticut Medicine is now available online. Click here to view the digital edition. 

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (CT DSS) has released a new provider bulletin: PB 14-60: Reimbursement for Practitioner Services Rendered in a Facility Setting. If you provide care for patients in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CMAP), please review the bulletin for changes in reimbursement for practitioners based on the facility type code/place of service (FTC/POS) in which the service is rendered.