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

http://www.dcmsonline.org/news/11-30-07.htm

 

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

jmillson@dcmsonline.org

November 30, 2007

 

In this Issue:

 

Ø      First Professionals (FPIC) Announces More Rate Relief for Florida Physicians

Ø      DCMS / DCMSA Holiday Party – Monday, December 3, 6:30 – 8:30 PM!

Ø      Happy Birthday to our Oldest DCMS Member – Dr. Richard Johnson!

Ø      Congratulations Dr. Andrew Kaunitz!

Ø      The NPI is here. Are you using it?

Ø      Help Raise Funds for the JSMP … just by eating Bono’s BBQ!

Ø      2008 DCMS Annual Meeting – January 17, 2008

Ø      Meetings Calendar / Educational Opportunities

 

First Professionals (FPIC) Announces More Rate Relief for Florida Physicians

First Professionals announced yesterday they are implementing a 6.39% decrease in liability premiums. For the second year in a row, First Professionals Insurance Company (First Professionals) originally filed for a double-digit base rate decrease of 10 percent, which had been approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Unfortunately a Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (FIGA) assessment that totaled $4.2 million for FPIC reduced the impact of their filed decrease to 6.39 percent. As a member of the DCMS, you can also receive premium discounts just for being a member! Talk with your agent representative or contact FPIC’s Assistant Director of Society Relations Shelly Hakes, hakes@fpic.com or (800) 741-3742 ext. 3294.  Click here for a PDF with more details on the rate decrease.

 

DCMS / DCMSA Holiday Party – Monday, December 3, 6:30 – 8:30 PM!

DCMS members, residents, and their families are invited to the 2007 Family Holiday Party on Monday, December 3, 2007 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM (immediately following the DCMS Board of Directors meeting) at the DCMS headquarters, 555 Bishopgate Lane.  There will be goodies, games for the children, music, heavy hors d’oeurves, and beverages.  Santa will be making a visit, so avoid the crowded malls and plan for picture taking!  Please RSVP to Patti Ruscito with your name, and the number of adults and children who will be coming.  Click here for more details on the party.

 

Happy Birthday to our Oldest DCMS Member – Dr. Richard Johnson!

Dr. Richard P. Johnson will turn 100 years old on December 7!  Dr. Johnson has been a DCMS member since 1948, and is believed to be the oldest living DCMS member.  His son is planning a birthday party in his honor, with the fire department present to make sure the 100 birthday candles do not go out of control!  Congratulations Dr. Johnson!

 

Congratulations Dr. Andrew Kaunitz!

On November 15, DCMS member Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD received the William Heath Byford Award from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. This award is presented annually to an outstanding Northwestern  University alumnus in obstetrics and gynecology.  Dr. Kaunitz is Professor and Associate Chairman in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville.

 

The NPI is here. Are you using it?

Social Security Numbers (SSNs) Should Not Be Reported in FOIA-disclosable NPPES Fields

As CMS has mentioned in previous outreach messages and on the CMS NPI website, some health care providers have reported their Social Security Numbers (SSNs), or the SSNs of other health care providers, in their NPPES / NPI records in fields that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires that CMS make publicly available.  For example, there are instances where SSNs are reported in the “Other Provider Identification Numbers,” “License Number,” and “Employer Identification Number (EIN)” fields in providers’ NPPES / NPI records.  The information that providers report in these (and certain other) fields is fully disclosable by CMS to the public and, therefore, SSNs should never be reported in any of these fields.  It is imperative that providers immediately look at their NPPES / NPI records to ensure that they did not inadvertently report their, or someone else’s, SSN in a FOIA-disclosable field; if they did, they need to delete that SSN immediately and, if appropriate, replace it with the correct information (e.g., an EIN).  Providers must look in their NPPES records (https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/) in order to view all of the information they reported.  Click here for more details.

 

Help Raise Funds for the JSMP … just by Eating Bono’s BBQ!

On Tuesday, December 4 you have the opportunity to eat great BBQ at Bono’s and help raise money for the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program (JSMP).  Bono’s will donate 15% of its day’s bills to local nonprofits. Bring a copy of this flyer to identify yourself as a JSMP supporter, so you can be sure your donation gets credited to the JSMP. There are 4 announcements per flyers … so feel free to invite friends and relatives!

 

2008 DCMS Annual Meeting – January 17, 2008 at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Touchdown Club

The 2008 DCMS Annual Meeting will be held at the Touchdown Club, Jacksonville Muncipal Stadium on January 17, 2008. The evening begins at 5:30 PM with a full range of exhibitors.  At the dinner, Glenn Knox, MD will be installed as the 2008 President. Make plans to join us!  Click here for details and reservation form.

 

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

o     Monday, December 3, 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the DCMS, 2007 Family Holiday Party – Click here for details

o     Tuesday, December 4, Eat Bono’s BBQ and benefit the JSMP – Click here for details

o     Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 9:00 – 10:30 AM, at Shands Jacksonville, Michael Lu, MD, MPH will present a CME seminar on How to Build a Smart and Healthy Baby for Life – Click here for details

o     Thursday, January 17, 2008, DCMS Annual Meeting at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Touchdown Club – Click here for more details and reservation form.

o     Sunday, December 10, 2008, DCMS Ole Time Reunion at the Haskell Building – Mark your calendars and watch for details!


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.

 

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.