DCMS News You Need to Know

From the desk of Jay W. Millson, Executive Vice President

jmillson@dcmsonline.org

November 20, 2009

 

In this Issue:

  • House Passes SGR Medicare Fix - Senate's Turn
  • Just What the Doctor Ordered?  You Decide...
  • Medicare 2010 Enrollment Program Extended
  • DCMS / DCMS Alliance Family Holiday Party
  • 2010 DCMS Annual Meeting
  • DCMS Calendar, Upcoming Meetings and CME Opportunities

 

House Passes SGR Medicare Fix - Senate's Turn

Yesterday, with a vote of 243-183, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3961, a bill that repeals the current Medicare physician payment formula, known as the sustainable growth rate (SGR).  The SGR would be replaced with a formula tied to the gross domestic product plus two (E&M services) or one (all other services), in addition to not compounding of debt like the SGR.  Focus now shifts to the Senate, which has only favored temporary patches up until this point, a proposal organized medicine has opposed.  Efforts will continue to avoid such draconian cuts to physician payment in an already financially unsustainable Medicare program.    Read the AMA summary of H.R. 3961. 

 

Just What the Doctor Ordered?  You Decide...

There has been much said about health system reform and how organized medicine should react to Washington's prescription for health system reform.  A recent article from an emergency physician in Sewickley, PA, Dr. Tom Doyle, provides a different prescription for the healthcare system and Americans in general.  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09284/1004304-109.stm#ixzz0UQ3TfNQc  Feel free to share your opinions to this article or the reform effort in general by emailing dcms@dcmsonline.org.  Opinions will be posted on DCMS Online on the Health System Reform page. 

 

Medicare 2010 Enrollment Program Extended

Due to recent revisions that were made to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the 2010 Annual Participation Enrollment Program end date from December 31, 2009, to January 31, 2010 – therefore, the enrollment period now runs from November 13, 2009, through January 31, 2010.  For more information, go to https://pecos.cms.hhs.gov/pecos/login.do 

 

DCMS / DCMS Alliance Family Holiday Party

The DCMS and the DCMS Alliance invite all DCMS members, residents, medical students and their families to a Holiday Party on Monday, December 7 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM (immediately following the DCMS Board of Directors meeting) at the DCMS headquarters in Riverside.  Enjoy music, beverages & heavy hors d’oeuvres, while the kids enjoy pictures with Santa, goodies & games!  Click here for details and a reservation form.  Please RSVP by November 30.

 

2010 DCMS Annual Meeting

Mark your calendars for the 2010 DCMS Annual Meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 21 from 5:45 – 9:00 PM at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium TouchDown Club West.  As in previous years, the evening will include exhibitors, an expanded poster research section, dinner, awards, and the instillation of incoming President, John Kilkenny, III, MD.  Click here for details and watch for more information.

 

DCMS Calendar, Upcoming Meetings and CME Opportunities

·        Friday, December 4, Laparoscopic CME Symposium, Miami, FL, Click here for details

·        Monday, December 7, DCMS / DCMSA Family Holiday Party at the DCMS, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, Click here for details

·        Thursday, January 21, 2010, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Click here for details!

 

The DCMS News You Need to Know is a newsletter that will be sent to DCMS members bi-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 DCMSonline, please email the DCMS at dcms@dcmsonline.org.

 

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 an access to high quality, ethical medical care for the community, and to serve as an advocate for physician members and their patients.