The Medical Society of the County of Albany

Hospital Self-Insurance Fund Lacking: The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) has requested the Governor to look into the issue of hospitals self-insuring against medical malpractice claims and whether the hospital self-insurance fund is adequately funded. MSSNY’s request was made as the result of joint legal filings made on behalf of a [...]

STARK IN-OFFICE ANCILLARY SERVICES EXCEPTION UNDER ATTACK
Question: I know that the Stark in-office ancillary services exception is important to our practice being able to profit from certain services we provide in our office. But I’ve heard that it is under attack. Is that exception still available?
Answer: The in-office ancillary services exception (“IOASE”) is perhaps [...]

LAURAN NEERGAARD
WASHINGTON (AP) – It’s not a “Star Trek” tricorder, but by hooking a variety of gadgets onto a smartphone you could almost get a complete physical – without the paper gown or even a visit to the doctor’s office. READ MORE HERE

FROM THE AMA:

On April 24, Representative Ted Poe (R-TX-2) introduced S. 1701, the “Cutting Costly Codes Act,” which would prohibit the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from replacing the current International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) with the ICD-10 diagnostic code set.  The bill also would require the Government [...]

FROM THE AMA:
SGR
The budget overview contains the following language on the SGR:
“The Administration supports a period of payment stability lasting several years to allow time for the continued development of scalable accountable payment models. Such models can take different forms, but all will have several common attributes such as encouraging care coordination, rewarding [...]

Many of MLMIC’s policyholders continue to receive solicitations from Risk Retention Groups (“RRGs”) promising lower premiums.  When considering the professional liability coverage offered by an RRG, physicians should be aware of the risks involved and should understand how the type of coverage presented relates to the amount of premium to be paid.  We suggest   physicians [...]

Question: Does the security risk analysis I attested to as part of Stage 1 Meaningful Use satisfy my compliance requirements under HIPAA?
Answer: No. The privacy and security requirements for Stage 1 of Meaningful Use include Core Objective & Measure 15 (http://ow.ly/ipolP), which is to “protect electronic health information created or maintained by the certified EHR [...]

By: Michael J. Schoppmann, Esq.
Developed through the offices of New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, a new law1 has been passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Cuomo that would “exponentially enhance the effectiveness of New York’s existing PMP to increase detection of prescription fraud and drug diversion.”2
The Internet System for [...]

Medical Society of the County of Albany Endorses Eat Healthy Albany
A Citywide Collaboration to Help Fight Obesity

Albany, NY – Eat Healthy Albany, the first citywide initiative to help fight obesity and inspire healthy eating changes, has been endorsed by the Medical Society of the County of Albany, Inc. Eat Healthy Albany was [...]

By Kathleen Haughney, Tallahassee Bureau
TALLAHASSEE Brace yourself for longer lines at the doctor’s office.
Whether you’re employed and insured, elderly and on Medicare, or poor and covered by Medicaid, the Florida Medical Association says there’s a growing shortage of doctors — especially specialists — available to provide you with medical care.  Read more HERE.