eProgress Notes / July 2019
MSMA, KCMS Co-Sponsor Advocacy Event for Physicians
When it comes to healthcare legislation, physicians are heard and respected by their elected leaders. Learn how you can make a greater impact on the medical profession and on patient care by attending Medicine's Muscle: Physician Advocacy 2019, on August 27 in Kansas City. MSMA is proud to co-sponsor this event with Kansas City Medical Society. Details at https://www.msma.org/mm-advocacy.html
New Member Benefit - Advocacy App
A new MSMA benefit makes it easier for you to connect with your legislators. MSMA has partnered with Phone2Action to give you the opportunity to quickly and conveniently send emails, post Tweets, and place phone calls directly to your elected leaders. The Phone2Action program will connect you directly to your local legislator’s office through phone or email, which makes getting involved in MSMA’s advocacy efforts even easier!
When there’s an issue that impacts the medical profession and patient care, MSMA will notify you via text message. The message will contain a link that, when clicked, sends an email, Tweet, or places a phone call to your state representative or senator.
MO HealthNet Fee Increase
The MO HealthNet Division fee-for-service maximum allowable rates for certain procedures in the Physician Program have been increased, effective for dates of service on or after July 1, 2019. This increase, contained in House Bill 11, was negotiated throughout the budget process and was passed during the legislative session. MO HealthNet will reimburse the lesser of either your usual and customary billed charge or the maximum allowable amount for the date of service billed. To see a list of procedure codes that received the increase, see the attachment to the provider bulletin from DHSS: https://dss.mo.gov/mhd/providers/pdf/bulletin42-10.pdf.
SHINE of Missouri: Grant Funding Opportunity
Missouri is the recipient of the Physicians Foundation grant for getting interconnected through the Show Me Information Network Exchange. The grant assists with the interface costs for independent physician practices. There is still funding available and here is how it is being allocated.
Missouri grant allocation plan:
QPP Participation: Preliminary 2018 Data
CMS published information on the preliminary participation data for the Quality Payment Program (QPP) during 2018. Key findings include:
MPHP and Missouri Board of Healing Arts
Your Missouri Physicians Health Program met with the Board of Healing Arts Impaired Physicians Liaison Committee July 24. Mary Fahey, Kay O’Shea, and Lisa Thomas, MD, represented MPHP. MPHP participates in meetings with the Board to ensure review, discuss and agree on appropriate treatment facilities for Missouri physicians. MPHP details are available at: www.themphp.org.
MSMA On the Road
Thursday, September 26 / Social 5:45 p.m. Dinner Program 6:30 p.m. / Darr Agricultural Center – William H. - Christopher S. Bond Learning Center / 2401 S Kansas Expwy, Springfield MO
Program: (1.5 hours of CME credit) - Physician Wellness: Recognizing trauma in patients and ourselves; building resilience
Speakers: Dena Wisner Hubbard, MD, FAAP, Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine, Children’s Mercy Kansas City Assistant Professor of Pediatrics UMKC and Kayce Morton, DO, FAAP, Pediatric Hospitalist, CoxHealth, Springfield
For more information, email Cathy Leiboult, GCMS Executive Director, at director@gcms.us.
MSMA District 5 Councilor Lisa Thomas, MD, will give a presentation and update on the Missouri Physicians Health Program at the Boone County Medical Society meeting on Sept. 3. Dr. Thomas is the medical director for MPHP and also serves on the BCMS Board of Directors. All BCMS members and their guests are invited. Click here for more information and to RSVP to attend.
When it comes to healthcare legislation, physicians are heard and respected by their elected leaders. Learn how you can make a greater impact on the medical profession and on patient care by attending Medicine's Muscle: Physician Advocacy 2019, on August 27 in Kansas City. MSMA is proud to co-sponsor this event with Kansas City Medical Society. Details at https://www.msma.org/mm-advocacy.html
New Member Benefit - Advocacy App
A new MSMA benefit makes it easier for you to connect with your legislators. MSMA has partnered with Phone2Action to give you the opportunity to quickly and conveniently send emails, post Tweets, and place phone calls directly to your elected leaders. The Phone2Action program will connect you directly to your local legislator’s office through phone or email, which makes getting involved in MSMA’s advocacy efforts even easier!
When there’s an issue that impacts the medical profession and patient care, MSMA will notify you via text message. The message will contain a link that, when clicked, sends an email, Tweet, or places a phone call to your state representative or senator.
- Sign up to start: Text MOMEDICAL to 52886 (message and data rates may apply)
- Watch for notifications on legislation or policy changes
- Act (click a link) to connect with your legislators
MO HealthNet Fee Increase
The MO HealthNet Division fee-for-service maximum allowable rates for certain procedures in the Physician Program have been increased, effective for dates of service on or after July 1, 2019. This increase, contained in House Bill 11, was negotiated throughout the budget process and was passed during the legislative session. MO HealthNet will reimburse the lesser of either your usual and customary billed charge or the maximum allowable amount for the date of service billed. To see a list of procedure codes that received the increase, see the attachment to the provider bulletin from DHSS: https://dss.mo.gov/mhd/providers/pdf/bulletin42-10.pdf.
SHINE of Missouri: Grant Funding Opportunity
Missouri is the recipient of the Physicians Foundation grant for getting interconnected through the Show Me Information Network Exchange. The grant assists with the interface costs for independent physician practices. There is still funding available and here is how it is being allocated.
Missouri grant allocation plan:
- Physician groups with signed participation agreements for SHINE will be considered eligible for grant funds.
- Each group can receive a grant equal to 75% of their interface fees.
- No group practice will receive more than $10,000 grant allocation.
- Funds issued on a first-come, first serve basis.
QPP Participation: Preliminary 2018 Data
CMS published information on the preliminary participation data for the Quality Payment Program (QPP) during 2018. Key findings include:
- MIPS participation rates increased between 2017 and 2018 from 95 to 98 percent.
- Small practice participation increased from 81% to 90% from 2017 to 2018.
- The number of Qualifying Advanced Payment Model Participants nearly doubled, from 99,076 to 183,306 clinicians from 2017 to 2018.
MPHP and Missouri Board of Healing Arts
Your Missouri Physicians Health Program met with the Board of Healing Arts Impaired Physicians Liaison Committee July 24. Mary Fahey, Kay O’Shea, and Lisa Thomas, MD, represented MPHP. MPHP participates in meetings with the Board to ensure review, discuss and agree on appropriate treatment facilities for Missouri physicians. MPHP details are available at: www.themphp.org.
MSMA On the Road
- Advocacy Training
- Buchanan County Medical Society
- West Central Medical Society
- Greene County Medical Society
Thursday, September 26 / Social 5:45 p.m. Dinner Program 6:30 p.m. / Darr Agricultural Center – William H. - Christopher S. Bond Learning Center / 2401 S Kansas Expwy, Springfield MO
Program: (1.5 hours of CME credit) - Physician Wellness: Recognizing trauma in patients and ourselves; building resilience
Speakers: Dena Wisner Hubbard, MD, FAAP, Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine, Children’s Mercy Kansas City Assistant Professor of Pediatrics UMKC and Kayce Morton, DO, FAAP, Pediatric Hospitalist, CoxHealth, Springfield
For more information, email Cathy Leiboult, GCMS Executive Director, at director@gcms.us.
- Boone County Medical Society
MSMA District 5 Councilor Lisa Thomas, MD, will give a presentation and update on the Missouri Physicians Health Program at the Boone County Medical Society meeting on Sept. 3. Dr. Thomas is the medical director for MPHP and also serves on the BCMS Board of Directors. All BCMS members and their guests are invited. Click here for more information and to RSVP to attend.
