News & Updates
September 17, 2014
TOP STORY
Final Year to Earn Incentive Payment for Participation in PQRS MOC This is the final year that health care providers may earn an incentive payment for voluntarily participating in the 2014 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), as well as an additional PQRS Maintenance of Certification (MOC) incentive. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved the American Board of Surgery as an organization authorized to submit data for the 2014 PQRS MOC Incentive. This incentive allows physicians participating in PQRS reporting to earn an additional 0.5 percent on Medicare Part B charges by also participating in an approved MOC program "more frequently" than is required to maintain board certification.
POLITICS
Maine elections have implications for minimum wage, taxes, MaineCare Those issues and others hinge on who controls the governor’s office and Legislature, where all 186 seats are open.
Maine Voices: Three-way race for governor has just one outstanding candidate, legislators say Mike Michaud has long shown a gift for effective, pragmatic leadership, Reps. Sharon Treat and Janice Cooper say.
Eight Republicans, three Democrats withdraw from Maine legislative races The result is that several incumbents will run unopposed.
Polls show a close, two-way race for Maine governor A new poll released on Sunday from Public Policy Polling (sponsored by Maine Conservation Voters Action Fund) shows Governor Paul LePage and Congressman Mike Michaud statistically tied in the race for governor (Michaud at 43% and LePage at 42%) with Cutler trailing at 11%. The survey sampled 1,059 likely voters for a margin of error of +/-3%, at the 95% confidence level.
SURGEONS
Patient Warming's Not-So-Obvious Benefits Happier patients are just the beginning.
CMS Finalizes Changes to 2014 Medicare EHR Incentive Program In August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule changing the meaningful use stage timeline, along with the definition of certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT). Under the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, stage 2 has been extended to 2017 and, as such, Stage 3 has been delayed until 2017.
CMS is also providing― in 2014 only―more flexibility for providers participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program by allowing the use of the 2011 edition of CEHRT or a combination of 2011 and 2014 editions. Starting in 2015, however. all eligible providers will be required to use the 2014 edition of CEHRT. Access the 2014 EHR CERT quick reference guide.
Bariatric Surgical Center Accreditation Linked to Improved Rates of Patient Survival and Fewer Postoperative Complications Study authors cite evidence that conflicts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) decision to lift its requirement for facility accreditation for coverage of weight loss operations
National changes in liver transplant protocols favored by Pittsburgh doctors Pittsburgh transplant surgeons say they support a possible revamping of the liver distribution policy aimed at getting more organs to the sickest patients — and cutting waiting-list deaths — across the country.
Rotation Medical Initiates Post-Market Clinical Study of Rotator Cuff Repair System with Bioinductive Implant PLYMOUTH, Minn.--(Business Wire)--Rotation Medical, a medical device company focused on developing new technologies to treat rotator cuff disease, today announced that it has initiated a multi-center post-market clinical study evaluating the use of the Rotation Medical rotator cuff system in treating supraspinatus rotator cuff tendon tears. The study will be conducted with leading orthopaedic and sports medicine surgeons across the U.S., including Ted Schlegel, MD, from Steadman Hawkins Clinic, Jeffrey Abrams, MD, from Princeton Orthopaedic Associates and Timothy Codd, MD, from Towson Orthopaedic Associates/University of Maryland Medical System, among others.
Cryonics: Would you have your body frozen? Here's everything you need to know about cryopreservation — from how bodies are preserved to how to fund your own future freezing.
EDUCATION
Race Medicine: Treating Health Inequities from Slavery to Genomics Dorothy Roberts, J.D., will trace the U.S. history of race medicine—the practice of treating disease according to race.
18th Annual White Coat Ceremony The UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine celebrates its eighteenth annual White Coat Ceremony, honoring the first-year class.
Weight Loss Surgery: Diabetes Cure? Associate Professor of Medicine Richard Siegel, co-director of the Diabetes Center at Tufts MC, comments on the use of weight loss surgery as a treatment for individuals with type 2 diabetes
HOSPITALS
Maine Voices: Maine hospitals suffering because of state’s refusal to expand Medicaid They’re losing money at a time when extra federal funds could support 4,400 jobs and lift the economy.
Maine to appeal for reinstatement of Riverview hospital’s certification The state psychiatric center lost its federal certification after officials found problems that included the use of stun guns and handcuffs on patients.
Michaud unveils 10-point plan for improving Maine health care A keystone of the plan is expanding MaineCare coverage under the Affordable Care Act – a measure Gov. Lepage has vetoed five times.
Franklin Community Health Network to join MaineHealth Oct. 1 The Farmington-based health network got approval from the state Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday to join the Portland-based system.
Portland hospital revives consolidation plan PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — One of southern Maine's key hospitals is reviving plans to move from Portland's West End and consolidate at a newer campus elsewhere in the city.
TRAUMA
ER to receive $2.2M upgrade FORT KENT, Maine – If an ambulance patient comes into the emergency room of Northern Maine Medical Center with a busted leg or other trauma, that person has no privacy. With some upcoming renovations, to the tune of $2.2 million, that will change.
TELEMEDICINE
Telemedicine Association Grades States on Telemed Policies The American Telemedicine Association has released two state policy reports which identify gaps in coverage and reimbursement, and in physician practice standards and licensure.
Final Interstate Medical Licensing Compact Released The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) has released the final version of an interstate medical licensure compact intended to help physicians gain licensure in multiple states. The FSMB expects the compact to facilitate the practice of telemedicine and to expand access to care in underserved areas of the country.