If you would prefer to view this online, go to:

http://www.dcmsonline.org/news/08-13-07.htm

 

DCMS News You Need to Know
From the desk of Jay W. Millson, Executive Vice President

jmillson@dcmsonline.org

August 13, 2007

 

In this Issue:

 

Ø      Deadline to make changes to NPI information extended to August 20

Ø      Your Input Needed for Planning Upcoming Educational Programs

Ø      BCBS Settlement Notice

Ø      2007 Beals & Shahin Awards – Deadline is this week!

Ø      Thanks to Sports Medicine Volunteers

Ø      Meetings Calendar / Educational Opportunities

 

The DCMS News You Need to Know is a newsletter that will be sent to DCMS members weekly or on an as needed basis.  Breaking news events, meetings and other important information will be communicated via this medium.  If you have any material you would like posted to this newsletter or DCMS Online, please e-mail the DCMS at dcms@dcmsonline.org.

 

Deadline to make changes to NPI information extended to August 20

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced it will give physicians until August 20 to make changes or deletions to their National Provider Identifier (NPI) information before the NPI registry is made available to the public on September 4.  Physicians previously had until July 16 to make any needed changes or corrections to information supplied in their NPI application, as well as to delete any "optional" information. CMS extended the deadline at the AMA's urging.

 

Among the information CMS plans to release is a physician's address. Therefore, we strongly encourage physicians to check the information supplied on their NPI application to ensure they did not furnish their home address and, if so, to change it to a business address. CMS permits physicians to delete any "optional" information supplied on their NPI application, so physicians may want to remove this type of information before August 20.

 

Visit https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do to make changes online using your user name and password. Or visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CMSForms/CMSForms/list.asp#TopOfPage to make changes on an NPI change-of-information form (No. 10114). Call (800) 465-3203 if you have questions.

 

The DCMS will be publishing NPI numbers in the 2008 directory so please make certain you review this information when directory verification notices are received in the coming days!

 

Your Input Needed for Planning Upcoming Educational Programs

The DCMS is negotiating with a consultant to provide professional coding and billing certifications for physicians and office staff approved by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).  In addition, the DCMS is interested in hosting a second educational program with a prominent, local health care attorney on a topic(s) of interest to our members.  In order to adequately conduct a needs assessment, your input via brief survey is greatly appreciated.  If you did not complete the survey last week, please click here to complete the  survey.

 

BCBS Settlement Notice

Don't miss your opportunity to receive your settlement payment. The BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) official settlement notice, claim form, and instructions were mailed to physicians on July 27, 2007.  These forms are also available on the FMA Web site at: http://www.fmaonline.org/phys/bcbsinfo.asp. Please note that Section D of the claims form should reference page 4 (not 3) for the list of eligible charitable organizations. Since the Florida Medical Association is a signatory to the claim, the Florida Medical Association Foundation is listed as one of the charitable organizations who can receive assignment of your settlement payment.  In order to qualify for a settlement payment, physicians must mail the completed and signed Claim Form NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 19, 2007. Please visit www.hmosettlements.com or www.ama-assn.org/go/settlements for more information. 

 

2007 Beals & Shahin Awards – Deadline is this week!

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2007 John Beals Award and the G. Shahin Award is August 15, 2007 The awards were established to recognize local physicians who published medical literature.  If you had an article published in a peer-reviewed medical journal during 2006, please login to the DCMS website (www.dcmsonline.org) and follow the Beals / Shahin Award link under “Quick Clicks” to submit your article for consideration. You will be asked to complete a brief form with contact information and publication details, and email an Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF file of your article as it appeared in print. There are separate categories for DCMS members and residents & fellows training in Jacksonville.  If you have any questions about the Beals / Shahin awards after reviewing the information online, please contact Marigrace Doran, webmaster, at mdoran@dcmsonline.org.

 

Thanks to Sports Medicine Volunteers!

The DCMS thanks all the physician who participated in this year’s JSMP pre-participation physicals for student athletes.  As always, this community service could not be provided without the volunteer support of physicians, other health personnel, and the staff of Nemours Children’s Clinic & Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital. 

 

Meetings Calendar / Educational Opportunities (www.dcmsonline.org) 

o     August 23-25, FMA Annual Meeting, Westin Hotel,  Hollywood, FL, Click here for details

o     September 8, Topics in Cardiology at Sawgrass Marriott Resort, Click here for details

o     Tuesday, September 25, DCMS / Navy Dinner Meeting at NAS Jacksonville Officer’s Club – Save the date and watch for details!

o     Thursday, January 17, 2008, DCMS Annual Meeting at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Touchdown Club – Save the date and watch for more details!

 

Duval County Medical Society  
555 Bishopgate Lane   *   Jacksonville, FL  32204
Phone: (904) 355-6561   *   FAX:  (904) 353-5848
www.dcmsonline.org   *  General email: dcms@dcmsonline.org


The mission of the DCMS is to promote the delivery of and access to high quality, ethical medical care for the community, and to serve as an advocate for physician members and their patients.