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

http://www.dcmsonline.org/news/09-24-07.htm

 

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

jmillson@dcmsonline.org

September 24, 2007

 

In this Issue:

 

Ø      Join Us for Frightfully Good Time on Monday, October 29

Ø      2008 DCMS Dues

Ø      DCMS Nominating Committee

Ø      Retail Clinics in Jacksonville - DCMS Facilitates Dialogue 

Ø      Medicare Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP): 2008 Physician Election and Impact on Carriers

Ø      Pediatric Tuberculosis Seminars

Ø      DCMS Directory Verification Forms

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.

 

Join Us for Frightfully Good Time on Monday, October 29

All DCMS members, alliance members, residents, medical students & families / kids are invited for a social at the DCMS headquarters on Monday, October 29 from 6 – 8 PM.  There will be plenty of hot chili and cool beverages for all to enjoy.  There will be fun games for the kids and prizes awarded for the best costume (child & adult, male & female).  Please RSVP by October 23 to Patti Ruscito (admin@dcmsonline.org) with your name and the total number of guests (adults & children) attending.  This event is “ghosted” by the Duval County Medical Society Alliance and the DCMS.  Please join us!

 

2008 DCMS Dues

The statements for 2008 DCMS dues were recently mailed to DCMS members.  Congratulations to Drs. Harry Koslowski & Scott Trimas for being the first members to pay their dues for next year!  Thank you for your attention and commitment to remitting your DCMS dues in a timely manner.  We appreciate your membership!

 

DCMS Nominating Committee

If you are interested in serving on the DCMS Board of Directors, or as a Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the FMA House of Delegates, please contact Dr. Floyd Willis, DCMS 2008 Nominating Committee Chair by October 5, 2007.  You may also submit your requests to the Nominating Committee, via the DCMS, by fax (353-5848) or e-mail (jmillson@dcmsonline.org or admin@dcmsonline.org).  Please be sure to indicate your area of interest.  Note:  Physicians nominated to serve as a Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the FMA House of Delegates must be a member of both the DCMS and the FMA.

 

Retail Clinics in Jacksonville - DCMS Facilitates Dialogue

Much has been discussed and debated regarding retail clinics opening in Florida, let alone Duval County.  The DCMS Board of Directors was proactively approached by one of its members, Dr. Robert Forster, who serves as a consultant for "The Little Clinics" coming to Publix supermarkets throughout the state.  A former medical director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Dr. Forster addressed strategy, clinical model and the scope of practice being utilized by the TLCs to meet specific market demand.  In order to further facilitate this dialogue, the DCMS Board has requested that Dr. Forster post his presentation online and make himself available to the membership (robforster@bellsouth.net).  It is the Board's hope that this process will assist in identifying concerns and addressing them in an informed, meaningful fashion. Dr. Forster’s presentation will be available on the website by the end of the week.

 

Medicare Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP): 2008 Physician Election and Impact on Carriers

The 2008 Physician Election Period for the Medicare Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) will begin on October 1, 2007 and concludes on November 15, 2007. The CAP is a voluntary program that offers physicians the option to acquire many drugs they use in their practice from an approved CAP vendor, thus reducing the time they spend buying and billing for drugs.  The 2008 CAP program period will run from January 1 to December 31, 2008. Physicians are instructed to submit their CAP election forms to their local carrier.  As per Change Request (CR) 4064, local carriers are required to forward a list to the CAP designated carrier of all physicians and practitioners who have elected to participate in the CAP.  This list is due on November 22, 2007.  Additional information about the CAP is available at the following website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcquisforBios/01_overview.asp

 

Pediatric Tuberculosis Seminars

The Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center is sponsoring a series of educational programs about Pediatric Tuberculosis on 4 consecutive Wednesdays: 10/17, 10/24, 10/31 and 11/7 from 11:30 PM to 12:30 PM. The seminars are actually LIVE, but transmitted through the web ("Webinars"). The participants can hear the speaker as they see the slides, and there will be opportunities to ask questions through the internet and the speakers will answer the questions in the last 15 minutes.  Individuals can participate in one, some, or all 4 seminars.  Anybody can register and participate from their own desktop. However, a number of physicians have expressed interest in "group viewing" at Wolfson's Children's Hospital. If you would be interested in the group viewing, please let Louise Owens know via email. All participants can obtain FREE CME credits. Click here for more details.

 

DCMS Directory Verification Forms

If you have NOT RETURNED your DCMS Directory Verification form via fax or mail, please do so ASAP.  In order to stay on track with our 2008 Directory production schedule, we must have updated information by October 1 to be included in next year’s directory.  We will soon begin our proofing and we want YOUR information to be accurate!

 

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

o     Tuesday, September 25, DCMS / Navy Dinner Meeting at NAS Jacksonville Officer’s Club. Click here for more details and registration information.

o     Tuesday, October 2, EHR Workshop, Click here for more details (PDF brochure).

o     Thursday, October 11, 6 – 8 PM, JSMP Sports Medicine program at Brooks Health & Fitness Center, Click here for details.

o     Monday, October 29, 6 – 8 PM, DCMS Alliance Halloween Social at the DCMS, Click here 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.