DCMS News You Need to Know

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

jmillson@dcmsonline.org

September 24, 2009

 

In this Issue:

  • Physicians’ Town Hall Meeting!
  • Physician Administration of H1N1 Vaccine
  • DCMS Accepting Nominations for Annual Awards
  • DCMS Calendar, Upcoming Meetings and CME Opportunities

 

Physicians’ Town Hall Meeting – October 5, 2009

The DCMS will host a Physicians’ Town Hall Meeting on Monday, October 5 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM to discuss current perspectives on Health System Reform, from the perspectives of Organized Medicine, Hospitals, and the Insurance Industry.  The meeting will be held at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Terry Conference Center.  A reception begins at 6:00 PM, followed by the town hall meeting from 6:45 – 8:00 PM, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. Please RSVP by September 25 via email to pruscito@dcmsonline.org or download the flyer and fax it to the DCMS office.

 

Physician Administration of H1N1 Vaccine

The Duval County Medical Society (DCMS) has been in close contact with officials from the Duval County Health Department (DCHD) to provide the most up-to-date and effective resources available for addressing H1N1 readiness and response.  Detailed information, updated regularly, is available 24/7 on our website:  (http://www.dcmsonline.org/H1N1Updates.aspx). 

 

The most recent and reoccurring question focuses on how physicians can obtain and charge for H1N1 vaccinations for immunizations.  Although a specific release date has not been determined, the DCHD is reporting that H1N1 vaccine will be available for distribution in mid to late October.  Physician practices can obtain H1N1 vaccine in two ways:

 

  1. Register with Florida Shots Online via  https://www.flshots.com/.
    Number of doses will be approved by the local county health department and provided at no charge*. 
  2. Requests for doses less than 100 can be ordered through the DCHD and picked-up locally by contacting Keecia King at:  Keecia_King@doh.state.fl.us or 253-2461.


*Ancillary supplies (needles, syringes, sharps containers, alcohol pads) will be provided at no cost with the doses. 

 

Physician practices should bill for administering the swine flu vaccine using G9141 (influenza A, H1N1, immunization administration) with a diagnosis code V04.81 (influenza). Payment for G9141 will be paid at the same rate established for G0008 (administration of influenza virus). When diagnosing the swine flu during office visits, use the new ICD-9 code, 488.1 (influenza due to identified level H1N1 influenza virus).

 

To ensure DCMS physicians are receiving the latest information, Dr. Robert Harmon, DCHD Director, will provide a brief update on H1N1 flu prior to the DCMS Bioterrorism, Disaster Response and Homeland Security Committee presentation on Tuesday, September 29 at 6:00 PM at the FSCJ Urban Resource Center.  Click here to download a flyer with program details and reservation information.

 

If you still have clinical or logistical questions that are not answered by these resources, please email or call Jay Millson for assistance (jmillson@dcmsonline.org or 355-6561 ext. 105).  In the meantime, please ensure your practice is prepared by visiting DCMS Online today http://www.dcmsonline.org/H1N1Updates.aspx.

 

DCMS Accepting Nominations for Annual Awards

Each year, the Duval County Medical Society is pleased to recognize the volunteer, civic and leadership efforts of our member physicians.  Nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 Clyde M. Collins, MD Humanitarian Award, the 2009 DCMS Community Service Award, and the 2009 Philip H. Gilbert Young Physician Leadership Award.  Visit our website to download the nomination form (available in Word and PDF format) for additional details.  The deadline for all award nominations is October 16, 2009.  Nominations will be reviewed by the DCMS Board of Directors at their November board meeting.  Winners will be recognized at the DCMS Annual Meeting on January 21, 2010.

 

DCMS Calendar, Upcoming Meetings and CME Opportunities

·        Saturday, October 3, Pink Ribbon Symposium, Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Click here for details.

·        Monday, October 5, Leading from the Front: Tools to Enhance Patient Safety, Hyatt Regency, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM – Click here for details

·        Monday, October 5, DCMS Physicians Town Hall Meeting and Reception at St.  Vincent’s Medical Center, Terry Conference CenterClick here for details.

·        Wednesday, October 7, Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, Non-operative Management of blunt Abdominal Trauma with Andrew Peitzman, MD, University of Pittsburgh, at UFHSCJ in the LRC Auditorium, 8:00 – 9:00 AM – Click here for details

·        Saturday, October 10, Topics in Cardiology CME sponsored by UFHSCJ, Sawgrass Marriott

·        October 24-27, 15th Annual Multidisciplinary Symposium on Breast Disease, Cairo, Egypt – Visit the website or click here to download a flyer

 

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.