Today, Governor Hochul signed into law legislation requiring non-public schools to abide by the Concussion Management Awareness Act of 2011. NYSSOS has been a strong advocate of this legislation (S973/A8425).
Under the new law, non-public schools must now meet the same concussion training and protocol standards as public schools, including: requiring biennial training for coaches, physical education teachers, nurses and athletic trainers on the signs and symptoms of concussions and the guidelines for returning to school; requiring the immediate removal of a student from athletic activities if it is believed they have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury; authorizing schools to establish concussion management teams; and other provisions.
NYSSOS and our partners worked with Legislative leaders to ensure passage of the legislation, and after its passage in the Senate and Assembly sent a formal letter to Governor Hochul requesting that she sign the bill into law.
We are grateful to the Governor and the Legislature for providing these necessary protections for non-public school students.
NYSSOS Immediate Past President John DiPreta, MD made two important visits to state legislative allies this week to recognize their strong leadership on critical musculoskeletal policy initiatives, and to accept a special message from the lawmakers marking NYSSOS’ 50th Anniversary.
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh, (pictured in the blue suit) stands with Dr. DiPreta and holds the 2022 NYSSOS “Advocate of the Year” award, presented to him for his work in helping to ensure all patients have access to musculoskeletal care.
Senator Neil Breslin (grey suit and red tie), who co-sponsored with Assemblymember McDonald prior authorization reform legislation known as the “gold card” bill, presents to Dr. DiPreta a New York State Senate Proclamation honoring NYSSOS for its 50 years of service to the musculoskeletal community. Assemblymember McDonald also presented a New York State Assembly Citation to mark the NYSSOS milestone.
Midterm election could shift balance of power in state legislature. On the eve of the midterm elections, much of the political focus in New York is on the race for governor and some key Congressional races…(nystateofpolitics)
For Election Day, here's what to know and what to watch. A primer on everything from absentee ballot-counting to the races that matter..(timesunion)
Board of Elections: NY poll workers prepped with de-escalation training. Threats to democracy have remained a top issue for voters this year as a Russian businessman Monday admitted to interfering in U.S. elections and says he'll continue to do so…(spectrumlocalnews)
Ballot questions New York voters will be asked on Election Day. New Yorkers filling out their ballots on Election Day will find more than just candidates…(pix11)
Voting law changes allow formerly incarcerated New Yorkers to vote. This midterm election could be the first year that formerly incarcerated New Yorkers have their voice heard since their convictions due to a 2021 law that reformed voting laws in the state…(nystateofpolitics)
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Biden visit highlights dueling Hochul, Zeldin plans for New York's economy. The race for governor of New York this years been dominated by a debate over public safety, crime and how to fairly treat people accused of breaking the law…(nystateofpolitics)
Oregon could be 1st state to make health care a human right. Oregon voters are being asked to decide whether the state should be the first in the nation to amend its constitution to explicitly declare that affordable health care is a fundamental human right…(apnews)
Hospitals test the goodwill of Congress on Medicare cuts. Hospitals are pleading with Congress to postpone looming Medicare pay cuts, citing what they say has been an extraordinarily difficult year…(axios)
YouTube Health expands validation process for health information. As it attempts to combat health disinformation, YouTube is allowing certain healthcare professionals to apply for verification…(modernhealthcare)
WHO: Tuberculosis cases rise for the first time in years. The number of people infected with tuberculosis, including the kind resistant to drugs, rose globally for the first time in years, according to a report Thursday by the World Health Organization…(apnews)
The New York State Department of Health has extended its completion deadline for the cultural competency CME requirements to November 1, 2022 for physicians and other network providers of Medicaid Managed Care plans.
The requirement stems from the Mainstream Medicaid Managed Care, HIV Special Needs Plans, and Health and Recovery Plans Model Contract Section 15.10(c) requires that the MMCP “...ensure the cultural competence of its provider network by requiring Participating Providers to certify, on an annual basis, completion of State-approved cultural competence training curriculum, including training on the use of interpreters, for all Participating Providers’ staff who have regular and substantial contact with Enrollees.”
DOH’s notification indicates the requirement can be fulfilled through courses offered by US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Minority Health, Think Cultural Health. Only 1 of the 3 courses is necessary to fulfil the requirement.
Access a previously published DOH letter to Health Plan Administrators with more details about the requirements.
Fact Check: Gubernatorial debate between Zeldin and Hochul. The first and only gubernatorial debate is in the books…(cnycentral)
Governor Hochul Announces Steps to Protect New Yorkers from Respiratory Illnesses This Fall and Winter. Governor Kathy Hochul today announced steps the New York State Department of Health is taking to raise awareness of and protect New Yorkers against respiratory virus infections that are spreading this fall and expected to continue through the winter…(governor.ny)
Can independent voters make the difference in New York governor's race? For Tim Dunn, neither Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul nor her Republican opponent, Lee Zeldin, offer much for independent voters like him…(nystateofpolitics)
Concussion protocols are based on research of mostly men. What about women? Lindsay Simpson still has questions about her concussions…(npr)
(Albany, New York) The New York State Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons (NYSSOS) today announced that it has selected Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh, as the 2022 NYSSOS “Legislator of the Year.”
The award was presented to Assemblymember McDonald at the NYSSOS 2022 Annual Meeting and Symposium, entitled “50 Years of Service and Innovation,” which marks NYSSOS’ 50th anniversary.
Assemblymember McDonald was selected for the award based on his strong commitment to developing balanced and thoughtful solutions to the complex issues that abound in the arena of health care policy.
In particular, he has been a strong supporter of reducing administrative and regulatory burdens to better ensure patients everywhere have access to quality, comprehensive musculoskeletal care in New York State. His sponsorship this year of much needed prior authorization reforms (A.9908A) is just the most recent example of his leadership in crafting sound health care policy.
In presenting the award, NYSSOS President John DiPreta, MD, said of Assemblymember McDonald: “His is a voice of reason, compassion and firsthand knowledge that has been an indispensable element of New York’s efforts to meet the challenges of our healthcare system. On behalf of the New York State Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons, it is with great pleasure that we recognize Assemblymember John T. McDonald III as the 2022 NYSSOS Legislator of the Year.”
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh, said: "Thank you to the New York State Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons (NYSSOS) for the honor of being named as your ‘Legislator of the Year.’ As a health care professional and legislator, I believe that my experience as a pharmacist is an asset when considering and shaping legislation. Congratulations to NYSSOS on your 50th anniversary and I hope you have productive meeting and symposium.”
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About NYSSOS: Representing more than 800 orthopaedists across New York State, NYSSOS advocates for orthopaedic surgeons, patients and musculoskeletal health in New York State. NYSSOS is the orthopaedic community’s primary source of information and expertise concerning: legislative/regulatory advocacy (local, state and federal levels); practice trends and change; leadership training for national, state, and local issues and opportunities; assistance with establishing and maintaining a practice; and familiarity with state practice guidelines impacting the profession and patient care. Learn more at www.nyssos.org
This is a reminder that mandatory use of the CMS-1500 form went into effect on July 1, 2022, for professional services and durable medical equipment bills/reports. Facility-based services may continue to be billed on a UB-04 or CMS-1450.
You can read more about the requirements and form changes in the GovDelivery dated June 27, 2022.
Important: In the medical narrative attachment that accompanies the CMS-1500 form, health care providers must indicate (either at the top of the narrative, or otherwise prominently displayed) the injured worker’s temporary impairment percentage, current work status, and the causal relationship of the injury or illness.
If any of these elements are missing, the medical narrative report may be found legally defective, which means the injured worker may not receive benefits and you may not be paid for rendered services. You can use the Board’s medical narrative template to ensure you capture these elements.
Visit the Workers' Compensation Board’s (Board's) website for CMS-1500 news, FAQs, and more. The Board has also created a special webpage dedicated to sharing timely updates on various Board initiatives with a health care provider focus. Visit What Providers Need to Know to view the latest!
For CMS-1500 feedback and questions, email CMS1500@wcb.ny.gov. For clinical feedback and questions, email provider@wcb.ny.gov.
AAOS leadership, in conjunction with the Office of Government Relations, is hosting a second annual Orthopaedic Advocacy Week from August 1-5. Similar to the inagugural event in 2021 (see recap infographic), this completely virtual opportunity is designed to offer members simple, minute-long ways advocate for priority healthcare policy issues. All AAOS members in the U.S. are invited and encouraged to particiate. We need the engagement of members nationwide to amplify the orthopaedic voice! This year, we will focus our advocacy efforts on the following issues:
Below is a preview of the daily themes and related calls-to-action, which will be emailed to those who sign up and also available from this webpage during Orthopaedic Advocacy Week:
Sign up by July 29 to participate, encourage your colleagues to do the same, and let's get ready for #OrthoAdvocacyinAction!
In order to increase health care provider participation in the workers' compensation system and improve injured workers' access to timely, quality medical care, the Workers' Compensation Board (Board) made a strategic decision to transition toward making the CMS-1500 a required form.
Providers have indicated that the unique paperwork requirements currently in the workers' compensation system are time consuming to complete. To reduce the administrative burden and increase provider participation, the Board will consolidate and eliminate certain medical billing forms and convert to the CMS-1500, the universal claim form used by medical providers to bill the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as well as health insurers.
The initiative will leverage providers' current medical billing software and medical records while promoting a more efficient workers' compensation system.
The Board replaced the following forms with the CMS-1500:
The CMS-1500 must be submitted with a detailed narrative report to be considered a valid submission The Board has developed a template that providers can use to create the medical narrative report that accompanies provider submissions of the CMS-1500. A sample of the template can be found on the CMS-1500 Requirements page.
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
