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MMS News & Announcements
State Relaxes Regulations on Pharma Meals
Restrictions imposed in 2008 banning drug and medical device makers from treating Massachusetts doctors to meals and drinks in restaurants have been lifted. The move, which had been expected for several months, came this week in a formal action by the state Public Health Council.
The new rules now allow companies to pay for "modest" meals and refreshments for doctors as part of informational sessions about their products. No specific dollar limit was set, though the regulations define modest as "similar to what a provider may pay" for a meal when eating out. The council plans to hold a public hearing on Oct. 19, and will take written comments before issuing final regulations.
Study: Pending Medicare Cuts Could Cost 766,000 Jobs
The AMA and other health provider groups have released a new report stating that up to 766,000 health care and related jobs could be lost by 2021 as a result of the 2 percent cut of Medicare spending mandated early next year by the Budget Control Act of 2011. More than 17,000 of those job losses could occur in Massachusetts.
The MMS and more than 100 other state and specialty medical societies joined the AMA earlier this month in calling for federal legislation nullifying the 2 percent cut in payments scheduled for physicians who treat Medicare patients, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2013.
New Member Benefit: Secure Online Data Backup and Recovery Solution
MMS is pleased to announce a new preferred vendor and the latest benefit for members - VaultLogix, a trusted provider of cloud-based backup and recovery services since 2002.
VaultLogix's online backup solution allows medical offices to back up patient and operational data and transfer that data in encrypted form to their multiple, secure data vaults. Exclusive discounts are available to MMS members. Read more.
HIPAA/Meaningful Use Audit Video Now Free Online for Members
The PPRC and MMS Health Information Technology recently collaborated to produce a video on how to successfully complete a HIPAA audit and remediation for Meaningful Use attestation. This 20 minute video is in response to frequent questions to the PPRC on this subject and should be of broad interest to physicians as they pursue Meaningful Use. Click here to watch the video.
Garland Lecture to Feature "Emperor of Maladies" Author
Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, will be the speaker at the 37th Annual Joseph Garland Lecture, on Thurs., Oct. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Armenise Amphitheatre, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave., Boston. Dr. Mukherjee's topic is "Writing a History of Cancer: An Epilogue." The lecture is sponsored by the Boston Medical Library in the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine. For more information, contact Roz Vogel at (617) 432-4807 or rvogel@hms.harvard.edu
Ballot Question Materials Mailed to MMS Members in Massachusetts
Informational materials on this year's two health care ballot questions were mailed this week to all MMS members with a Massachusetts address. The MMS is opposed to both ballot questions. The materials include a one-page brochure on each ballot question, outlining the reasons for the MMS' opposition, and eight-page white papers outlining the key arguments for each proposal. All materials are in PDF format, and can be downloaded for free at www.massmed.org/ballotquestions.
Related links:
Education Programs & Events
Live CME Activities
Management of Carotid Artery Stenosis and Acute Stroke: How to Provide the Best Treatments for Your Patients
Saturday, September 29, 2012, 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Finance in an ACO World
Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
2012 Schwartz Center Speaker Series: Innovative Approaches to Partnering with Patients
Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., at The Inn at Longwood Medical, Boston, MA
CME Accreditation Orientation
Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Federal Funding Opportunities
Thursday, October, 18, 2012, 3:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Controversies in the Screening and Management of Breast Disease
Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Protecting the Protected Health Information in the Commonwealth: Health Data Security Training for Physicians
Thursday, October 25, 2012, 8:30 a.m.to noon. For more information, call (800) 322-2301, ext.7306.
Managing Workplace Conflict
Thursday, November 1, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, November 2, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Learning from Our Errors - The Road to Safety
Thursday, November 1, 2012, 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. For more information, call (800) 322-2301 ext. 7306
Directors of Medical Education Conference
Thursday, November 8, 2012, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, call (800) 322-2301 ext. 7306.
MSCO 2012 Annual Meeting: Burkitt's Lymphoma: From Uganda to the U.S.; a Personal Journey
Thursday, November 8, 2012, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Physician Contracting Basics WEBINAR
Friday, November 16, 2012, noon to 1:00 p.m. For more information, call (800) 322-2301 ext. 7306.
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Online CME Activities
* Also available in print. Call (800) 322-2303, ext. 7306.
Coming Soon: Acid Suppression Therapy: Neutralizing the Hype
For additional risk management online CME activities, visit www.massmed.org/cme.
Contact us at MMSContinuingEducation@mms.org
This Week in Health Care
Hospitals Bid for Higher MassHealth Paybacks Dismissed
The state's highest court has dismissed a lawsuit originally filed by seven hospitals, including Berkshire Medical Center and Boston Medical Center, that sought higher MassHealth paybacks to cover safety-net patients who rely on the Massachusetts version of Medicaid to cover hospital bills.
Tufts Medical, Vanguard Health Consider Alliance
The proposed alliance, while stopping short of a merger, could give Tufts and Vanguard more clout to compete for unaffiliated community and negotiate better contracts with insurers. Related news: MetroWest Medical part of new health system with Vanguard, Tufts
Steward Hires Away Top Surgeon from Mass. General
Steward Health Care has hired away a leading heart surgeon from Massachusetts General Hospital, part of the for-profit hospital company's strategy to win back patients who are leaving its system for routine surgical care at major Boston teaching hospitals. Related news:Steward Health Care is tight-lipped about its finances, but a picture of the private, for-profit hospital chain's first year in business is starting to emerge.
Brain Rehab Center to Close After 28 Years
The Neuro-Rehabilitation Center at Middleboro will shut down Nov. 30, news that has left 140 employees stunned and the families of its 107 residents worrying about the future.
Lowell General Closing Saints Cancer Center
The cancer center at the Saints Campus of Lowell General Hospital will shut its doors Oct.1, the latest development in the hospitals' merger process
Infected Mosquitoes Has More Communities Looking for Help
The recent string of human cases of West Nile virus as well as the discovery of EEE-virus-carrying mosquitoes are prompting some communities to consider joining a mosquito-control district.
Obesity in Massachusetts, and Related Health Costs, Projected to Rise
Nearly half of adults in Massachusetts -- 49 percent -- are projected to be obese by 2030 if the current trajectory continues, concluded a report by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
DOI Hearings on Payment Reform Law
The Division of Insurance is holding a series of meetings with interested parties to discuss implementation of various provisions of the health care payment reform legislation, Chapter 224, which was signed into law in August. Currently under review are proposed definitions applying to registration of risk bearing provider groups and implementation of mental health parity requirements for insurance companies. The Division is currently hearing input from providers, and comments can be sent to kevin.beagan@massmail.state.ma.us
