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January 30, 2015
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ICD-10 is one of the most significant changes in our industry’s history, and Oct. 1, 2015 is the go-live date. Now is the time to focus on preparing your practice and staff for the changes ahead. Join the MMS on Wed., March 18 at noon for a live webinar,
Clinical Documentation Requirements for ICD-10. It will help you understand the high-impact differences between ICD-9 and ICD-10, plan and optimize your clinical documentation strategies, and efficiently educate and train your staff.
More details here.
Related links:
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Effective February 1, 2015, physicians who wish to certify patients for medical marijuana must now do so electronically. Paper certifications will no longer be valid. Before certifying patients electronically, physicians must register with the state, after earning at least 2 CME credits relating to medical marijuana.
Patients must obtain their certifications electronically and be registered with the Medical Use of Marijuana Program to possess marijuana for medical use. Patients who previously had a paper certification must get a new electronic certification from their physician.
Read about registration instructions for patients and physicians.
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The February episode of Physician Focus with the Massachusetts Medical Society provides the physician’s perspective on the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs. Among the topics of discussion are the distinctions among chronic, acute, and terminal pain; how physicians balance the alleviation of pain and the risks of addiction; what physicians think can be done to reduce the abuse of the prescription medicines; and the responsibilities of the patient in using prescription medicines.
Guests are MMS President Richard Pieters, MD, a radiation oncologist at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester; Daniel Alford, MD, director of the Safe and Competent Opioid Prescribing Education Program at Boston University School of Medicine; and Barbara Herbert, MD, medical director of Addiction Medicine at Commonwealth Care Alliance in Boston and President-Elect of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Watch the episode online here.
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If you would like to become more involved in the MMS, consider participating on a committee or the Member Interest Network Executive Council. Committee appointments are for specific terms, usually three-year renewable commitments.
The application deadline is March 6. For committee descriptions and an application form, contact Sandra Manchester at the MMS Executive Office at (800) 322-2303, ext. 7012, or email
smanchester@mms.org.
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Live CME Activities
Unless otherwise noted, all events are held at MMS headquarters, 860 Winter St., Waltham
The above activities have been approved for
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Featured Online CME Activities – Risk Management Credit
The above activities have been approved for
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
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CMS Intends to Modify Requirements for Meaningful Use
White House to Overhaul Medicare Payments to Doctors, Hospitals
Fourteen States Report Measles Cases; Clinicians Cautioned
Fourteen states have reported more than 80 cases of measles in the last month, many of which are associated with the Disneyland outbreak. Arizona has reported seven confirmed cases of measles, including exposures in emergency rooms and public venues as recently as last week in Maricopa County, where the Super Bowl and the Phoenix Open PGA Tour are taking place this weekend.
Partners' Deal to Acquire Three Hospitals Rejected
A judge
rejected a deal this week that would have allowed Partners HealthCare to expand its dominance across Eastern Massachusetts by acquiring three community hospitals, saying a decision to allow the takeovers would have an enormous impact on the market and ratchet up consumer costs.
Insurer Advocate Seeks to Give State's Health Policy Board More Power
The Massachusetts Association of Health Plans is looking to upend the state's health care apple cart,
giving increased regulatory authority to the state organization tasked with reviewing health care cost increases and commenting on potential mergers.
Docs Pay House Calls During Storm Via Video Chat
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