MMS News & Announcements
Good News, Bad News in New Wait Times Study
Patients’ wait times for new appointments at primary care practices in Massachusetts continue to be long, according to the latest MMS Patient Access to Care Study released this week. Wait times in Western Massachusetts tend to be significantly longer than in other regions. However, the study also found that a significant majority of primary care physicians are still accepting Medicare and MassHealth.
New Rules for Written Prescriptions Take Effect in Massachusetts
Massachusetts physicians and other authorized prescribers must now use tamper-resistant prescription pads for all written prescriptions, for all drug schedules, including Schedule VI. The rules took effect on July 1, pursuant to state legislation passed last year. These tamper-resistant pads must meet the federal requirements for writing Medicaid prescriptions on tamper-resistant pads, which have been in effect since 2008.
Read the requirements for Medicaid prescription pads, including some vendors to consider.
Prior Authorizations: Tips for Physician Practices
The MMS has published a new guide to help practices navigate the complex prior authorization processes at health plans. Deleted sentence is redundant to first sentence. It also provides contact information and policies at each major health plan operating in Massachusetts for imaging, procedures and drugs.
Download the guide. (Available only to MMS members; login required.)
Benefit Buzz: Free Webinar on Meaningful Use Stage 2 - What You Need to Know
As the focus shifts from recording and reporting to care coordination and patient engagement, it’s important to know whether the same EHR you used for Stage 1 will be prepared to handle the changing demands of Stage 2. During this program, sponsored by athenahealth, learn how you can prepare your practice for the next level of this crucial incentive. Wednesday, July 24, 12:15 p.m. Register here.
Education Programs and Events
Live CME Activities
Women’s Leadership Forum: Women in Medicine – Competition, Collaboration, and Team Leadership
Thursday, September 26, 2013, 5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Principles of Palliative Care and Persistent Pain Management: Tools to Integrate Into Your Practice
Friday, September 27, 2013m 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Caring for the Caregivers IX: How do we Reduce Physician Stress and Burnout?
Thursday, October 3, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
CME Accreditation Orientation
Tuesday, October 15, 2013, 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Managing Workplace Conflict
Thursday, October 17, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday, October 18, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Save the Date
Physician Leadership in the Changing Health Care Environment
Jointly sponsored with The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University.
Three certificate programs will be offered:
- Friday and Saturday, September 20-21, 2013
- Friday and Saturday, January 24-25, 2014
- Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, 2014
Location: Waltham, Mass.
Online CME Activities
For additional risk management online CME activities, visit www.massmed.org/cme.
This Week in Health Care
Mass. ACOs in Medicare Pilot Save Money
Four of five accountable care organizations in Massachusetts participating in Medicare pilot programs have spent less money than projected.
Analysis: ACA To Add More to Premiums
An analysis by a consulting group says that the Affordable Care Act will add an average of 3.7 percent to health care premiums in Massachusetts, on top of typical base rate increases.
Policy Commission Prepares for First Grants to Hospitals
The new state Health Policy Commission is preparing its first offering of grants to as many as 30 hospitals, made possible by a surcharge on hospitals as provided by the state’s health care cost containment law passed last year.
Study Says EHRs Help To Cut Costs
A study of claims data for patient care comparing three Massachusetts communities that adopted EHRs to six that did not showed that EHRs help to reduce the costs of care.
CMS May Issue Star Ratings to Hospitals
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is considering issuing star ratings to hospitals to make it easier for patients to compare the quality of care at hospitals.
Quincy Medical Center President Resigns
Without offering a specific reason, Daniel Knell has resigned as president of Quincy Medical Center, only saying that “several incidents have ignited public debate” over leadership of the hospital.
New England States Battle Heroin
New England states are experiencing a stark rise in heroin use, and one reason being given for the increase is the restrictions on doctors prescribing painkillers. The tighter supply of pain pills, experts say, has pushed users to heroin, which is cheaper and easier to get.
UMass Memorial Medical Center Names New CEO
Patrick L. Muldoon, president and chief executive of Central New England HealthAlliance hospitals since 2004, has been selected as the new head of UMass Memorial Medical Center.
UMass Makes Down Syndrome Breakthrough
University of Massachusetts Medical School researchers have accomplished what it considered a breakthrough for Down syndrome, in shutting down the extra chromosome that causes the developmental problems and intellectual disabilities.
Cancer, Chemo Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk
A Boston study found that people with cancer may have a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, especially if they’ve been treated with chemotherapy.
Sharp Drop Reported in Local Childhood Obesity
A study by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has found a sharp drop in childhood obesity in Greater Boston, but the reasons for it aren’t clear.
Gap in Disparities Between Blacks, Whites Narrows
A report from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that racial disparities in the U.S. have narrowed between blacks and whites, with notable gains in life expectancy for blacks.
