Last week, the New York State Workers' Compensation Board released a bulletin announcing efforts to increase provider participation in the workers' compensation system and improve injured workers' access to timely, quality medical care
The proposals are centered around an increase to provider fees and adoption of the universal CMS-1500 form to reduce administrative burden. Additional measures include the launch of a portal and increasing the recognition of provider types in the system.
NYSSOS has issued a statement to the NYS Workers Compensation Board as they explore these proposals.
(excerpts)
We applaud the New York Workers’ Compensation Board for undertaking a multipronged approach to increase access to quality medical care for injured workers. We are optimistic the Board will use this opportunity to reflect and support the importance of the orthopaedic specialty and its role in advancing the appropriate care of an injured worker. We acknowledge the importance of a care team in providing services to the injured worker, however we caution the Board that delays in direct, appropriate care can result in high percentages of patients not returning to work, essentially increasing costs to the overall system. We stand ready to share our goal in returning the injured worker to maximal function, with the least residual impairment, and resume work safely in the shortest term possible.
We applaud the New York Workers’ Compensation Board for undertaking a multipronged approach to increase access to quality medical care for injured workers.
We are optimistic the Board will use this opportunity to reflect and support the importance of the orthopaedic specialty and its role in advancing the appropriate care of an injured worker.
We acknowledge the importance of a care team in providing services to the injured worker, however we caution the Board that delays in direct, appropriate care can result in high percentages of patients not returning to work, essentially increasing costs to the overall system.
We stand ready to share our goal in returning the injured worker to maximal function, with the least residual impairment, and resume work safely in the shortest term possible.
We remain vigilant as to the potential impact the proposals may have on access to care. We are committed to promoting and representing viewpoints of the orthopaedic community and it patients throughout this process.
April 28, 2018 - 10AM to 2PM
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Locate a Collection Site Near You
Database will be active on April 1, 2018. Search by zip code or city/state to find a collection site near you.
Partnership Toolbox
Download posters, handouts and other materials to promote National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Drug Disposal Information
The data submission deadline for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) is March 31.
Resources to help you meet the deadline:
For More Information:
ON A SEPARATE BUT VERY IMPORTANT NOTE, ANY PAPER CLAIMS THAT CONTAIN HANDWRITTING IN OTHER THAN THE SIGNATURE FIELD WILL BE RETURNED AFTER April 30, 2018 and will need to be resubmitted in a TYPED format!
Governor Cuomo's budget proposal includes a provision that would remove the physician supervision requirement for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and replace it with a poorly defined collaborative agreement. This proposal would lower the standard of care for the administration of anesthesia and put New York's patients at increased risk. Additionally, the proposal will grant up to 1,240 nurse anesthetists full prescribing authority upon obtaining a vaguely described "certificate," at a time when New York State is combating prescription drug and opioid abuse. This will exacerbate the crisis.
Email your state Assembly member and Senator to tell them to remove PART H in the budget bill S.7507/A.9507.
Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a table displaying the Alternative Payment Models (APMs) that CMS operates.
In the table CMS identifies which of those APMs CMS has determined to be MIPS APMs or Advanced APMs.
See the table here: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Payment-Program/Resource-Library/Comprehensive-List-of-APMs.pdf
Until recently, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was included on the Medicare inpatient-only (IPO) list.
The removal of TKA from the IPO has raised multiple questions.
Because of the significant amount of confusion surrounding this issue, AAOS is providing this list of frequently asked questions as an easily accessible resource.
Access resource: TKA IPO FAQs(2).pdf
The American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR)—an initiative of AAOS—is now offering a free educational blog to help improve orthopaedic care through the collection, analysis, and reporting of hip and knee arthroplasty data.
The blog will be updated each Wednesday and will cover a variety of topics, including:
Authorized providers are required to register with the Workers’ Compensation Board (Board) and update their office address(es) and contact information by January 15, 2018. This registration process will be an ongoing initiative every two to three years.
Health providers who have not registered by January 15, 2018 will
How to Register The Board will use the existing New York State Health Commerce System (HCS) for the registration process and future updates to your registration information.
Activity: WCB Registration Form: WCB Registration for Health Care Provider Data Entity Type: WCB Provider Data Entity Name: Please Select Name
Activity: WCB Registration
Form: WCB Registration for Health Care Provider
Data Entity Type: WCB Provider
Data Entity Name: Please Select Name
10. Select the Search WCB Provider button.
Search Entity (Validation of Information) When you select the Search WCB Provider button, you are brought to the Search Entity page. On this page, please do the following:
For instructions that include screen shots of the registration process, please email wcbcustomersupport@wcb.ny.gov with the subject “Provider Registration Instructions”. If you have general questions regarding health care provider registration, please contact the NYS Workers’ Compensation Board Medical Director's Office at (800)-781-2362, option 6.
As seen in the January 3, 2018 edition of AAOS Headline News
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a clarification to its policy on texting by healthcare providers.
A recent report from the Health Care Compliance Association suggested that CMS was requiring healthcare providers to halt all texting.
In response, the agency says that it "recognizes that the use of texting as a means of communication with other members of the healthcare team has become an essential and valuable means of communication among the team members. However, the agency states that the "practice of texting orders from a provider to a member of the care team is not in compliance with the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) or Conditions for Coverage (CfCs)," and goes on to note that, in order to be compliant with the CoPs or CfCs, "all providers must utilize and maintain systems/platforms that are secure, encrypted, and minimize the risks to patient privacy and confidentiality as per HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act] regulations and the CoPs or CfCs.
It is expected that providers/organizations will implement procedures/processes that routinely assess the security and integrity of the texting systems/platforms that are being utilized, in order to avoid negative outcomes that could compromise the care of patients."
> Read the complete CMS Statement
Questions? Please email Marie.Vasbinder1@cms.hhs.gov
On December 28, 2017, The New York State Workers' Compensation Board (Board) announced the establishment and release of a proposed Pharmacy Formulary.
Governor Cuomo signed into law in April 2017 legislation that required the Board to establish a comprehensive prescription drug formulary by December 31, 2017.
Publication in the State Register on December 27, 2017 commences a 60-day comment period (which expires on February 26, 2018). The draft formulary and the associated regulations necessary for implementation are available on the Board's website.
The current draft proposes a July 1, 2018 effective date. However, the drug formulary and regulations will not become effective until the regulations are adopted and a final implementation date has been determined.
The NYSSOS Board of Directors is reviewing the proposal at its January meeting. Anyone interested in sharing your feedback with the NYSSOS Board to be considered for incorporation with the Society's response, is asked to submit comments to: bgrey@nyssos.org
If you'd like, you can directly submit you comments on or before February 26, 2018. This includes requests to add/delete pharmaceuticals to the preferred list of the prescription drug formulary.
The Board will evaluate all comments received, and will consider necessary revisions as the process advances.
Advocating for the orthopaedic surgeon, patients and musculoskeletal health in New York.
info@nyssos.org 1-518-439-0000 Address: PO Box 38004, Albany, NY 12203
