Online Course Save 10% On NYS Auto Insurance

The New York County Medical Society is pleased to offer you The American Safety Institute’s Six–Hour Safe Driving Accident Prevention Program, at a member–only price of $26.00. The on–line course is approved by the New York State Division of Motor Vehicles; by taking it, you can save 10 percent on your New York State automobile liability and collision insurance premiums (if you live outside of New York State, check with your own insurance company regarding discounts). You can also reduce your driver violation point total by a maximum of four points.
The course is flexible but must be completed within 30 days. You can work on it whenever and wherever you want — all you need is a computer and your login information; the ASI website remembers the section you last completed and puts you right back where you left off. ASI. will mail you a completion certificate within 14 days for you to present to your insurance company or agent for discount. You may take the course once every 36 months to maintain insurance reduction benefits. The insurance premium reduction applies to all motor vehicles principally operated by the motorist who completes the course. The discount can be applied to only one driver for each covered vehicle.
To get the Society discounted pricing, you must log on via the New York County Medical Society website. Go to www.nycms.org, member area, and put in your member name and password. (If you don’t know it, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Use Unused Meds to Do Good AND Reduce Med Waste

Since it’s sponsorship through New York County and the Clifford L. Spingarn MD, Memorial Education Fund, our members have donated over $470,000 in usable medications through Dispensary of Hope.
New York County Medical Society members donate excess sample medications to the Dispensary of Hope prior to expiration. Not only do they put medications in the hands of a patient in need, they also reduce their staff time, reduce medical waste, and help the community. Pledge to donate sample medications and the Dispensary of Hope will provide your practice with a donation bin and prepaid shipping. Participation is free.

• Pledge to donate excess sample medications today, atwww.dispensaryofhope.org/give-meds
• The Dispensary of Hope will contact your practice before sending a red donation bin with free return shipping.
• Place the unexpired sample medications you wish to donate inside the bin and UPS will pick it up. No charge to you.
• The medication will arrive at the Dispensary of Hope and be made available to low–income, uninsured patients across the United States. You receive an itemized receipt of the samples you donated for your records.

Pledge today at www.dispensaryofhope.org/give-meds You can also call Dispensary of Hope at (888) 428–HOPE

Payment Processing for You with CardConnect

In an industry that is rapidly evolving, we want our merchants to understand every aspect of their payment processing. Since 2002, CardConnect (formerly Charge Card Systems) has helped thousands of businesses streamline and simplify their payment processing while providing the best security solution available. As the endorsed Society credit card processor, members have access to our processing gateway. The gateway’s enhanced features allow CardConnect to provide reduced rates through level III processing and interchange management. The gateway also provides patented payment protection that keeps all processing records confidential and PCI compliant.
CardConnect keeps a close eye on interchange rates and we work to ensure our merchants are able to achieve the best possible pricing, all while minimizing fees and securing all of your payment processing data. As a Society member, CardConnect will take the time to educate you and serve as your advocate to all of your payment processing needs.
Interested in reducing your processing costs and protecting your business? Contact our Business Development Team at (877) 948–9733 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In Memoriam

Martin Ackerman, MD , died May 13, 2015. Doctor Ackerman received his MD degree from New York Medical College in 1943.
Saul Agus, MD. Doctor Agus received his MD degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1968.
Victor Baum, MD , died on March 27, 2015. Doctor Baum received his MD degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1942.
Perry Berg, MD , died on February 23, 2015. Doctor Berg received his MD degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1951.
Joseph E. Davis, MD, MPH , died on February 7, 2015. Doctor Davis received his MD degree from NY Medical College in 1953. Doctor Davis was a past president of the New York County Medical Society.
Ariel Distenfeld, MD , died on April 14, 2015. Doctor Distenfeld received his MD degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1957.
Menard M. Gertler, MD. Doctor Gertler received his MD degree from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in 1943.
Frederick F. Jaffe, MD. Doctor Jaffe receivd his MD degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1968.
Arnold Komisar, MD , died April 20, 2015. Doctor Komisar received his MD degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in 1975.
John Henry Laragh, MD , died on March 20, 2015. Doctor Laragh received his MD degree from Weill Cornell Medical College in 1948.
Solomon Liebowitz, MD , died on March 14, 2015. Doctor Liebowitz received his MD degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1957.
Richard Stuart Muchnick, MD , died March 29, 2015. Doctor Muchnick received his MD degree from Weill Cornell Medical College in 1967.
Avodah Komito Offit, MD. Doctor Offit received her MS degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1967.
Herbert Peyser, MD , died on April 5, 2015. Doctor Peyser received his MD degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1948. Doctor Peyser was a past co–chair of the Society’s Prescription Practices Committee.
Norman Pomerantz, MD. Doctor Pomerantz received his MD degree from University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1943.
Luigi Racanelli, MD , died on August 11, 2014. Doctor Racanelli received his MD degree from Universita Degli Studi Di Bari in 1947.
David H. Saxe, MD , died on December 13, 2014. Doctor Saxe received his MD degree from University of Michigan Medical School in 1937.
Robert S. Siffert, MD , died on February 18, 2015. Doctor Siffert receid his MD degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1943.
Bertram A. Slaff, MD. Doctor Slaff received his MD degree from SUNY Downstate in 1945.
Miltiades Zaphiropoulos, MD. Doctor Zaphiropoulos received his MD degree from Universite de Pierre Et Marie Crie (Paris) in 1939.

It’s Vacation Time: Get Fun Discounts

The Society is pleased to offer to the membership a unique entertainment internet discount program, Working Advantage. Discounts are offered in the following areas:
Entertainment: Savings up to 40 percent on movie tickets, museums, attractions across the country.
Theater & Events: A huge selection of theatrical productions, family events and sporting events nationwide is offered at a discount. Recent shows include Radio City Christmas Spectacular for 2015, Aladdin, and The Book of Mormon.
Shopping: Respected online vendors offer excellent discounts on apparel, accessories, books and music, electronics, flowers, gourmet food, office supplies and much more.
Gifts: Purchase discounted gift certificates in the areas above.
Advantage Points: Earn rewards while you save. Members can redeem points on selected items for a variety of products, including movie tickets and gift cards.
Postings will be sent to our members via e–mail. Members call the Society to receive a member ID number. You then can log on to www.workingadvantage.com to create a password.
To get your Society ID for savings, call Sony Hilado at (212) 684–4682.

Like Us On Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter

Check out the Society’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NYCounty Please be sure to "like" the page and share it with your friends and colleagues and encourage them to like it as well. Let’s keep a “buzz” going about our members’ issues and activities. Follow us @nycmedsociety as well.

Letter to the Editor — E–Prescribing Consequences

The following letter from a Society member is being sent to legislators and shared here, expressing concerns about patients when e–prescribing regulations go into effect next year.
I am writing this letter with regard to the upcoming mandate for e–prescribing in New York State. Although I understand the need for this regulation in the case of controlled substances, I believe that this requirement for all prescriptions could have catastrophic consequences for many patients.
As all physicians know, we often see elderly patients who are quite confused, many of whom also have language barriers, and who have difficulty in navigating the tremendously complicated medical system. Many of these patients have trouble relating basic information, much less the address and e–mail of their pharmacy. Often, they present prescriptions to several pharmacies, hoping to obtain a reasonable price. The patient might not be able to give the physician pharmacy information at the time of the visit. The physician might obtain this information later in the day, or perhaps the following day, but in the meantime, such a delay could have devastating results for the patient, especially for those needing antibiotics or cardiac medication.
In other cases, a patient could have pharmacy information, but find later that the chosen pharmacy has a depleted supply of the needed drug. If the patient had a written prescription, he or she could simply fill it at another pharmacy, rather than waiting to notify the doctor’s office of the need to resend the script.
These are not rare, unlikely situations. Physicians confront these types of cases every day. Many other potential problems exist, of course, but the ones that I have described are of such a serious nature, that I would like to think that these would be taken seriously, and this mandate reconsidered.
Sincerely,
Louis Dalaveris, MD
Ophthalmologist

We Mourn Past President Joseph E. Davis, MD, MPH

The Society mourns the passing of its past president, Joseph E. Davis, MD, MPH. Doctor Davis was a graduate of the New York Medical College in 1953, and earned his Master of Public Health degree at the Columbia University in 1986. He was board certified in Urology, and also was a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians.
Doctor Davis served as President of the New York County Medical Society from 1993 to 1994, but he remained active in the Society and the Medical Society of the State of New York following his presidency. He was a delegate to MSSNY, served as chair of the Society’s Public Health Committee, and at the time of his passing was an active member of the CME Committee at both the county and state levels.
At the time of his death, he served as Medical Director at Gramercy Surgery Center, PC, where his impact was such that the Center will be naming a wing in his honor in memorial to him. His distinguished career included more than expertise in his specialty, but also devotion to quality assurance and public health initiatives, including leadership and education on Tuberculosis, and a long–time effort to help needy children of single parents receive their camp physicals. He was loved and respected by patients and colleagues, and to the end was a true leader in this professional association and many others.
The Society mourns along with his wife Lois, children, and family.

Hire in Haste, Repent at Leisure OR Hire Smart and Relax

Winston Medical Staffing, endorsed by the New York County Medical Society, reminds physicians that to avoid putting the wrong person in your practice environment, take a few crucial steps first. Read about how to make a fast “smart” hire, in this free helpful booklet from Winston, The Need for Speed .
You can also get hiring help straight from the source by contacting Winston’s toll–free hotline for Society members at (800) 494–6786, extension 408. Speak to Ivy Kramerto meet your staffing needs with quality candidates for less money. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and find out about discounts for Society members.

Help Nepal

Society past president Margaret Lewin, MD , urges members not forget those still trying to help victims of the earthquake in Kathmandu. Help is still needed desperately. Please consider sending a tax–deductible contribution via www.Himalayan-Healthcare.org. All donations will go directly to the victims’ relief effort (minus 15% to Global Giving) and will be made available immediately.

Legal Reforms Long Overdue

The following opinion piece is provided by Tom Stebbins, Executive Director, the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York (LRANY).
Let’s start with this: scrap the phrase “Medical Malpractice,” or “MedMal” from your vocabulary. The phrase itself includes a presumption of guilt, and we all need to stop using it.
That said, doctors across the nation know that New York has one of the worst medical liability climates in the country. Our state has the highest medical insurance premiums, the highest per capita medicare costs, and the highest medical liability payouts in the country. In fact, New York now accounts for 20 percent of the nation’s total medical liability payouts, while accounting for only six percent of the nation’s population.
Why? Are New York’s doctors and hospitals worse than doctors and hospitals in every other state? Of course not. New York is home to some of the best doctors and hospitals in the nation, and leaders in nearly every field.
We also have more lawyers per capita than any other state in the United States. It is not a stretch to connect New York’s overabundance of lawyers with New York’s extremely high medical liability costs. Behind every lawsuit is a lawyer. And every lawsuit drives up the cost of medical liability insurance.
New York’s trial lawyers are well organized. They are one of the largest political contributors and lobbying organizations in the state. They are so powerful that Governor Cuomo recently remarked, “the trial lawyers are the single most powerful political force in Albany.”
For years, New York’s trial lawyers have used their massive political clout to block any chance of reform while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of liability to extremes. Under the guise of “privacy” or “patient safety,” the trial lawyers are working to advance an agenda that would send medical liability costs spiraling out of control.
But that may be changing. With the recent arrest of Speaker Sheldon Silver in a corruption scandal involving his outside income from a personal injury law firm, the trial lawyers’ grip on Albany may be loosening. Sheldon Silver, in his role as Assembly Speaker, has publicly blocked every attempt at meaningful liability reform over the past few decades, while claiming there was no conflict of interest with his millions in outside income as a trial lawyer.
Governor Cuomo has recognized the severity of New York’s medical liability crisis. He has publicly advocated for reforms, including a cap on non–economic damages, only to run into Speaker Silver’s roadblock in the Assembly.
With Silver out of power, we are calling on the Governor to champion medical liability reform. In addition to caps on runaway non–economic damage awards, we need to require timely disclosure of the so–called “experts” used by lawsuit mills. We need to stop frivolous cases before they start by requiring certificates of merit for these expects. And we need to link the interest on judgments, currently at an outrageous nine percent, to the federal funds rate, allowing doctors to appeal without facing prohibitive interest expenses.
We are facing perhaps the greatest opportunity for medical liability reform that Albany has seen in decades. Support the Medical Society’s and LRANY’s efforts. Join the lobby days, write letters to your local paper, use our online tools to connect directly to your elected officials. We have a great opportunity, but we cannot do it without you.

Free Resource on ICD–10

The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) is one of the permanent Board members of the Physicians’ Foundation. The Foundation is sharing information about a free resource to help physicians streamline their conversion to the use of ICD–10. Click on the links below to visit different components. It’s just one more benefit for you because of organized medicine.
A Letter From the Physicians' Foundation
Before October 1, many physicians' practices will spend countless time, money and other resources preparing for the transition to ICD–10. We at The Physicians' Foundation recognize what a near Herculean task it will be for physicians and their medical practices to deal with an increase from about 14,000 diagnostic codes under the present ICD–9 to roughly 68,000 codes under ICD–10! When asked in our recent Foundation survey, 50 percent of physician respondents said it would create a severe administrative problem, while 75 percent agreed that it will unnecessarily complicate the coding process.
With these expected hardships in mind, we would like to make you aware of a free resource designed to help physician's practices make this transition, ICD10Charts.com. ICD–10 Charts was developed by a medical student, Parth Desai, who saw the need for such a resource while working in his father's medical practice. Below we are providing Parth's description of ICD–10 Charts, for your information and for you to share with your members.
From the developer of ICD–10 Charts:

My name is Parth Desai, I am a first year medical student at Mercer University, and founder of ICD10Charts.com. I'd like to invite you to try our revolutionary new system that allows any medical practice in America to be fully prepared for ICD–10, using interactive tools specially designed with practicing physicians in mind. ICD–10 Charts is a collection of innovative ICD–10 training resources that can help streamline your entire ICD–10 implementation process and save your practice a considerable amount of time and money during this transition. All of our ICD–10 training resources were created purely to support hard–working physicians and will always be completely free and accessible to anyone.
The ICD-10 Chartbuilder is the focal point of our system, allowing any practice to make fully personalized ICD–9 to ICD–10 conversion templates, instantly. Every conversion template is custom–made to only include the ICD–10 codes needed for your practice, and can be printed, exported to your EMR, saved, and updated to fit your needs.
The ICD-10 Charts Training Academy includes over five hours of end–to–end ICD–10 training, specialty–specific ICD–10 training, and also a more concise version of the course for busy physicians and nurses. The goal is for practices to make the entire transition to ICD–10, using only these free services
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Pulmonology
OB/GYN
Cardiology
Dermatology
Family MedicineGastroenterologyAnd Many More..

Physicians' practices can follow the steps below to implement ICD–10 using our site:

• Visit ICD10Charts.com/chartbuilder to create a custom ICD–10 conversion chart. Simply copy and paste the most common ICD–9 codes from your practice into the Bulk Converter and click convert. Print your chart, export the codes to your EMR and save copies to begin familiarizing your physician's and office staff with the new codes.
• Go to ICD10Charts.com/training and have your staff complete the ICD–10 Charts Training Academy ICD-10 Training Course. Physicians and nurses can go through the abridged version of the course, ICD–10 Charts Training Academy for Physicians. Be sure to look out for new training modules every week.
• Join our mailing list at ICD10Charts.com/signup to receive the latest ICD-10 implementation resources and stay up-to-date in coding knowledge. Encourage your office staff to review and stay updated on all the newly released ICD–10 Charts Training Academy resources.

We are providing this information for your consideration because with the ICD–10 transition coming soon, we thought it important to bring this free resource to your attention. Please keep in mind that The Physicians Foundation is not responsible or liable for the consequences of any use of ICD–10 Charts.
We at The Physicians Foundation understand that a successful transition from ICD–9 to ICD–10 will contribute to the delivery of high quality medical care. We have provided this information about ICD–10 Charts, as part of our continuing effort to understand physician practice trends and help physicians deliver quality care to their patients in today's challenging healthcare environment.
Access Free Office Staff Tutorials
I.C. System, the Society’s endorsed collection services, gives you access to a number of webcasts that can help your staff and protect your practice. The two most recent ones available to members are below. Check out:

• Legal Landmines: What You Need to Know About the TCPA With the vast majority of cell phone users in the marketplace, understanding the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and its restrictions on calling consumer cell phones is more important than ever. Join this informative webinar conducted by Michelle Dove, IC System’s Corporate Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, and learn the following about the TCPA:
  What does the TCPA Regulate?
  What are the risks and penalties of noncompliance?
  How can you protect your office?
  Is your collection agency putting you at risk?
  Link to Legal Landmines on June 18, 2015, 12:00 noon (EDT).
• Collection Tips in 10 Minutes: I.C. System has developed a series of short webinars dedicated to helping your office with information related to collections.

Save $ on Everyday Office Purchases With No Hassle

Access Medical Purchasing (AMP), the group purchasing organization of the New York County Medical Society, helps practices save on medical, surgical, and office expenses by working with the member’s distributor representative to ensure contracted pricing is reflected when orders are placed.
In addition to the medical and surgical contracts available, members can also take advantage of discounts with FedEx, cellular service providers, Staples, OfficeMax, and other office and entertainment suppliers. AMP also offers exclusive contracts for sutures, custom surgical packs, used and new OR equipment, and lasers. Look out for opportunities soon for personal appointment assessments that your office manager can use to reduce your office overhead.
To learn more about AMP and enroll, visit www.accessmedicalpurchasing.com or call (855) 267–8700.

A Tip of the Hat

The following letter to the editor is from one Society member who uses the Society’sThird–Party Insurance Help Program, staffed by James McNally and Susan Tucker.
I am a member of the Medical Society and I just wanted you to know how incredibly responsive and helpful Jim McNally has been to me on several occasions. He is a great asset, and I applaud his competence, diligence, and communication skills.
Thank you for having him as a part of your team.
Sincerely,
Neil Rosenthal, MD
We agree, Doctor Rosenthal! Thanks for reminding other members of this great resource — part of your membership in the New York County Medical Society. To be referred for help on reimbursement issues with third–party carriers, contact Susan Tucker at (212) 684–4681.

McNally’s Corner

James McNally, and the Society’s Third–Party Insurance Help Program.
ICD–10 Implementation Delay Legislation Introduced: The American Medical Association (AMA) recently sent a letter to Rep. Ted Poe (R–TX) in support of his legislation, HR 2126, introduced in the US Congress to postpone the ICD–10 code sets required to be used by physicians in claim submissions as of October 1, 2015. The letter notes that:

“The differences between ICD–9 and ICD–10 are substantial, and physicians are overwhelmed with the prospect of the tremendous administrative and financial burdens of transitioning to ICD–10. ICD–10 includes 68,000 codes — a five–fold increase from the approximately 13,000 diagnosis codes currently in ICD–9.
Implementation will not only affect physician claims submission; it will impact most business processes within a physician’s practice, including verifying patient eligibility, obtaining pre–authorization for services, documentation of the patient’s visit, research activities, public health reporting, and quality reporting. This will require education, software, coder training, and testing with payers.”

Physicians can send a letter in support of this legislation to delay the ICD–10 implementation by clicking on the link here .
Meaningful Use Hardship Applications for 2014 are Now Available: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened up the application period for meaningful use hardship exemptions for 2014. Under the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, the agency offers financial incentives to physicians who meet requirements for “meaningful use” of an EHR system. Physicians who did not meet the requirements in 2014 will be penalized by two percent on their 2016 Medicare claims unless they meet criteria for a hardship exemption. Physicians may now apply for a hardship exemption to avoid the penalty. They are due by July 1, 2015.
Click on the link here to access the Hardship Exemption application .
Multi–physician practices seeking an exemption should use the hardship application form at the link here.
Instructions on how to complete these applications are available here.
CMS is Again Posting Physician Utilization and Payment Data: CMS is posting the second annual release of the physician and other supplier utilization and payment data located at the link below. This data involves information on services and procedures provided to Medicare beneficiaries by physicians and other healthcare professionals. The Physician and Other Supplier PUF contains information on utilization, payment (allowed amount and Medicare payment), and submitted charges organized by National Provider Identifier (NPI), Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code, and place of service.
Go to the link here.
It is recommended that you download the appropriate file by last name of the physician in Excel format to view individual data as these are very large files.
An FAQ page is also provided at the link here .
Inquiries regarding this data can be sent to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CMS Announces July 2015 Transition from IACS to EIDM: CMS would like to alert Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) participants and their staff to an important system update scheduled to be in place on July 13, 2015. The Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services (IACS) system will be retired, but current IACS user accounts will transition to an existing CMS system called Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM). The EIDM system provides a way for business partners to apply for, obtain approval, and receive a single user ID for accessing multiple CMS applications. Existing PQRS IACS users, their data, and roles will be moved to EIDM and will be accessible from the ‘PQRS Portal’ portion of the CMS Enterprise Portal at http://portal.cms.gov. Users will then access the PQRS Portal to submit data, retrieve submission reports, view feedback reports, or conduct various administrative and maintenance activities. New PQRS users will need to register for an EIDM account.
Please ensure that your IACS account is active, current, and you’re able to log in. This will help ensure a smoother transition to EIDM.
For additional assistance regarding IACS or EIDM, contact the QualityNet Help Desk at (866) 288–8912 (TTY (877) 715–6222) from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To avoid security violations, do not include personal identifying information, such as Social Security Number or TIN, in email inquiries to the QualityNet Help Desk.
Humana to Issue Digital Member ID Cards to their Subscribers: Humana will soon issue their subscribers a digital member ID card. This means that patients with Humana coverage may present a digital member ID card on their smartphone, instead of a physical member ID card. Patients may also choose to print a paper version from their MyHumana ID Card Center or to fax a copy of the card to your office from their smartphone. Humana “requests” that you accept a digital, fax or printed version of these patients’ ID cards when they visit your office for care.
However, physicians should be reminded that there are many drawbacks to the use of digital ID cards on Smartphones or computers due to the paucity of users skilled enough in working with these devices.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on the Humana Digital Member ID Cards follows:
1. Q: What is happening?
A: Humana members will soon have the convenience of a digital member ID card. This means that your patients with Humana coverage may present a digital member ID card on their smartphone, instead of a physical member ID card. Patients may also choose to print a paper version from their MyHumana ID Card Center or to fax a copy of the card to your office from their smartphone. We respectfully request that you accept a digital, faxed or printed version of these patients’ ID cards when they visit your office for care.
2. Q: What are the provider benefits?
A: Physicians and other health care providers benefit from digital ID cards in the following ways:

• A digital ID card means that your patients with Humana coverage will have the most up–to–date information on their account.
• A faxed version of the member ID card can be inserted easily into a patient’s paper record.

3. Q: What are the benefits for my patients?
A: Patients benefit from digital ID cards in the following ways:

• Patients with digital ID cards don’t have to keep plastic versions in their wallets anymore.
• As soon as a patient’s account with Humana is updated, the digital ID card is updated.
• Patients can fax a copy of the card to their physicians or health care providers from a smartphone.
• Patients can print copies to give to their physicians or health care providers using the MyHumana ID Card Center.

4. Q: How do patients access their member ID cards?
A: Please refer to the following for details regarding how patients can access their digital ID cards:

• All members can access a PDF of their Humana ID cards by logging in to MyHumana (registration required) and visiting the ID Card Center. Once logged in, the patient can print a paper copy. If the patient doesn’t have a password and user ID yet, it’s simple to follow the steps to set this up on Humana.com.
• Smartphone users can view their ID cards from the MyHumana mobile app. To search for the app, the patient can visit the app store for his or her phone and search for “Humana.” Once logged into the app, the member can find the Humana ID card on the phone. Using the MyHumana app, the patient can fax a copy to physicians or health care providers.

5. Q: Does this affect all Humana members?
A: Yes.
6. Is Humana the only carrier with digital ID cards?
A. No. Other carriers also have introduced digital member ID cards.
7. Q: Who can my patients contact with questions about their ID cards?
A: If your patients have questions about this change, please encourage them to contact Humana at (800) 4HUMANA or (800) 448–6262.
For guidance on all these issues, contact us through the Society’s Third–Party Insurance Help Program at (212) 684–4681.

What Medicare Professionals Need to Know in 2015 on YouTube

A video recording of the "PQRS/Value–Based Provider Modifier: What Medicare Professionals Need to Know in 2015" presentation has been posted to the CMS MLN Connects® page on YouTube. This presentation is the same as the webinars that were delivered on March 31, 2015 and April 7, 2015. A link to the video can be found here.

How To Report to the NYC DOH

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released its latest guide, “Provider Reporting: How to Report Diseases, Events, and Conditions to the New York City Health Department.”
The Guide provides a table of all reportable diseases, and events including instructions on how and when they should be reported.
Get it online.

In the News

New York County Medical Society Board member Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH was featured on the CBS Evening News on May 14, 2015 for a segment on a new study suggesting that a daily dose of Vitamin B3 can reduce the reoccurrence of non–melanoma skin cancer in patients. Doctor Krant is a board–certified dermatologist in private practice, and she discussed with CBS chief medical correspondent Jon LaPook, MD the implications of the study for patients. Check out the piece on http://cbsn.ws/1bT9MxG
Doctor William Rosenblatt , past president of the Society and the Medical Society of the State of New York, was interviewed in Modern Healthcare, in an article by Adam Rubenfire, “N.Y. e–prescribing delay sounds a cautionary note for others.” Doctor Rosenblatt, who is currently president of IDNY (Independent Doctors of New York, private practice physicians who don’t accept insurance) observed, “It's another unfunded mandate. It's going to end up costing you money and you have no choice in the matter.” The Medical Society of the State of New York, along with the county medical societies, specialty societies, and other groups, worked very hard to win the one–year delay of the e–prescribing mandate.

Hats Off

Congratulations to Society past president Malcolm D. Reid, MD, MPP, who was elected president–elect of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) at its Annual Meeting in May. Doctor Reid is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and heads the Department of PM&R at St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital, part of the Mount Sinai Health System.
Hats off to incoming president Michael Goldstein, MD, JD, whose article in the Health Lawyer on “Physician Medical Cooperatives using the Agricultural Model,” was referenced by John B. Wiles, MD, President of the Erie County Medical Society, in a recent Bulletin.
Congratulations to Society Past President Anthony A. Clemendor, MD, who is the recipient of the Society’s 2015 Nicholas Romayne Lifetime Achievement Award. Doctor Clemendor, who also was awarded MSSNY’s Henry I. Fineberg Award for Distinguished Service in 2009, is a graduate of the Howard University College of Medicine, board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Medical College where he served as a dean for 23 years. He is a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, and he has served the Society and MSSNY in a number of capacities over the year
If you or someone you know deserves a salute, send it to the Society’s Cheryl Malone at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fax to (212) 684–4741.

Honored to Present to You These New Members

The following 41 candidates for membership were presented to the Board of Directors of the Society.
Sarah S. Auchinloss, MD
Lionel M. S. Bissoon, DO
Keith M. Blechman, MD
Louis D. Carmichael, MD
Sheena Chenthitta, MD
Saad B. Chaudhary, MD
Won Taek Choe, MD
Alice V. Coghill, MD
Marc Andrew Cohen, MD
Kenechi Ejebe, MD
Jonathan Feistmann, MD
Kenton Fibel, MD
Adolfo Firbo–Betancourt, MD
Mary E. Fowkes, MD
Kai–Ming Fu, MD
David A. Godin, MD
Erin Jennifer Goss, MD
Lauren Helm, MD
Yili Huang, DO
Keyvan Jahanbakhsh, MD
Lila Joyce Kalinich, MD
Daniel G. Krauser, MD
Guy Lin, MD
Cathleen G. London, MD
Ross Francis MacDonald
Takashi Matsuki, MD
Alexander Mauskop, MD
Danyal H. Nawabi, MD
Sheldon Palgon, MD
Jason Pruzansky, MD
Martin Quirno, MD
Hector P. Rodriguez, MD
Gurmukh J. Sadarangani, MD
Noah Scheinfeld, MD
Patrick B.Senatus, MD
Sina Shah–Hosseini, MD
Ayman A. Shahine, MD
Michael Robert Shohet, MD
Suzanne R. Steinbaum, DO
Nicholas Tyau, MD

From the Front

This feature of MM “NEWS” introduces you to Society leaders as they explain their vision of organized medicine’s activities. This month, read the remarks of Joshua M. Cohen, MD, MPH, outgoing Society President.
As we approach the end of my term as President, I wanted to reflect on some of the some of the innovative ways the New York County Medical Society (NYCMS) has evolved over the course of this year. Back in September, the Board of Directors held a full–day retreat at the Society’s new offices. Your Board considered how our Society can increase its utility and relevance for our diverse membership. Some valuable take–homes from that day led to creation of programs and products that would achieve that goal.
One focus area that the Board emphasized that day was building relationships with other organizations. Over the year, we have implemented that strategy in numerous ways. In February, we held a highly successful legislative breakfast in partnership with the New York County Psychiatric Society at which multiple Senators and Assemblymembers spoke with our physicians about key healthcare issues being considered by the legislature. On May 12, the Society cosponsored an event with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) New York City Metro Chapter that looked at music and cancer, featuring the physician band No Evidence of Disease (N.E.D.). Our newly–formed Ambassadors Committee, under the direction of Board member Doctor. Conrad Cean, is a group of NYCMS members that have volunteered their time to the service of expanding NYCMS’s outreach initiatives to strategic groups, centers of influence, and associations for medical professionals in New York County.
Another target identified at the Board retreat was finding meaningful ways to engage young physicians by focusing on their specific needs as they begin their careers. In March, we held an innovative event entitled Referral Rounds at which young physicians met in small groups, shared information about their practice models and patient populations, and then rotated to another group where they repeated the discussion with new contacts. At the end of the night, each physician had met with over 30 other physicians and built new referral networks, a critical component to building a successful practice in a physician’s early career. Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive, and the event successfully generated new members for the Society. We intend to repeat and grow this event in the future with the plan of making it a member–only event, further increasing the value of membership for young physicians. A special thanks to Doctor Anthony Rossi and his entire Young Physicians Committee for their hard work on the event.
The Board also wanted to improve upon communications, both with our membership and externally. We recently signed a contract for the development of a brand new website that will improve member access to the valuable information and materials the Society provides, help with member recruitment and facilitate dues collection, offer member access to CME courses, and overall improve our Society branding. We also greatly expanded our social media presence, providing valuable real–time information on key issues in healthcare and growing our Facebook to over 550 likes and our Twitter to over 100 followers. We hope that as we continue to advance these avenues of communication we will be able to attract a wider audience and in so doing grow our membership.
At our Annual Meeting on June 2, I will describe other ways we have implemented our Board’s retreat action plan to increase the value of membership in the Society, and I hope many of you will be able to attend as I conclude my year as your President. Thank you for the honor of serving you over this past year, and I look forward to continuing to make our Society stronger as I move into my new role as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Nominated and Elected

These nominees were selected by the Society’s Nominating Committee at its meeting on February 25, 2015 and elected at the Society’s Annual Meeting on June 2, 2015. Matthew Bonanno, MD, President–Elect Scot B. Glasberg, MD, Vice PresidentM Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH , Secretary Ami Shah, MD, Assistant Secretary Wen Dombrowski, MD, Treasurer Jill Baron, MD, Assistant Treasurer Joshua M. Cohen, MD, MPH, Trustee (Five–year term) Board of Medical Ethics (Two–year term) Ksenija Belsley, MD Mimi Buchness, MD Eli Einbinder, MD Milton Haynes, MD Board Members At Large Conrad Cean, MD Arthur Cooper, MD Keith LaScalea, MD Mark Milstein, MD Risa Ravitz, MD Gabrielle Shapiro, MD Bijan Safai, MD Niket Sonpal, MD Naheed Van de Walle, MD Delegates to the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) Mimi Buchness, MD Anthony A. Clemendor, MD Joshua M. Cohen, MD Milton Haynes, MD Paul Orloff, MD Anthony Rossi, MD Alternate Delegates to MSSNY Ksenija Belsley, MD Conrad Cean, MD Arthur Cooper, MD Web Dombrowski, MD Dennis Gage, MD Stuart Gitlow, MD Heskel M. Haddad, MD Margaret Lewin, MD Bijan Safai, MD Daralyn Samuels, MD Niket Sonpal, MD A. George Thomas, MD Naheed Van de Walle, MD On June 2, 2015, President–Elect Michael T. Goldstein, MD, JD, will become the Society’s 177th President.

Meet the Executive Committee Candidates

Incoming president is Michael Goldstein, MD, JD. He is a graduate of SUNY Downstate in medicine and Pace University School of Law. Doctor Goldstein is board certified in ophthalmology and affiliated with Beth Israel Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital. He serves as a delegate to the Medical Society of the State of New York.
The candidate for president–elect is Matthew Bonanno, MD, who most recently served as vice president. Doctor Bonanno is a graduate of the American University Caribbean Plymouth Montserrat and a board certified plastic surgeon affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital. He serves as a delegate to MSSNY.
The candidate for vice president is treasurer Scot B. Glasberg, MD. Doctor Glasberg is a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine, is board certified in plastic surgery, and is affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital and Beth Israel Medical Center. He is president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The candidate for secretary is Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH. Doctor Krant is a board–certified dermatologist, and a graduate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She is a member of the Society’s Board of Directors.
The candidate for treasurer is Wen Dombrowski, MD, MBA, currently assistant treasurer. Doctor Dombrowski is a graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She is board certified in internal medicine/geriatric medicine and family medicine.

Get Your Doctor on Call Card Today

One of the unique services offered to you as a Society member is access to the Society's parking renewal program. The Parking Ticket Review Panel review members̓ New York City parking tickets to recommend dismissal to the New York City Parking Violations Bureau.
In order to take advantage of this valuable membership benefit, you must renew your“Doctor On Medical Call” card. Display the card in the windshield of your car with MD plates in order to be eligible for parking ticket dismissal. The card is renewed at a reasonable price of $25.00 for a one-year period ( The old card expires June 30, 2015; the new card is valid until July 1, 2015 — June 30, 2016) . Some restrictions do apply; you will receive with your new card a sheet describing these as well as the procedure to follow to request that a parking ticket be dismissed (please read them carefully).
To order your “Doctor on Medical Call” card, send your check for $25.00, made payable to the New York County Medical Society, to Parking Renewal Program, New York County Medical Society, 31 West 34th Street, Suite 7053, New York, New York 10001. If you have questions, call Lisa Joseph at (212) 684-4698.

From the Board Room

At its recent meetings, the Board of Directors of the Society did the following:

• agreed to open negotiations, after review and committee recommendation, with a financial planning firm and a professional employer organization;
• reviewed resolutions to be deliberated at the 2015 meeting of the MSSNY House of Delegates;
• agreed on a collaboration in CME activities with Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine;
• reviewed legislative and MSSNYPAC activity;
• accepted the slate approved by the Nominating Committee; and
• congratulated President Joshua M. Cohen, MD, MPH , on his successful presidency.

The next meeting of the Board will be in September.

Next McNally Sessions for Members

Mark your calendar for these next sessions with James McNally as part of the Society’sThird–Party Insurance Program. Sign up with Lisa Joseph at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or (212) 684–4698.
August 27, 2015, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.: Last Call ICD–10 Session , with James McNally . Corwin Hall, Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital.
December 17, 2015, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.: Medicare Update Session , with James McNally. Corwin Hall, Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital.

Society Brings Issues to State at HOD

The New York County Medical Society brought a number of important resolutions to the 2015 House of Delegates of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY).
Among actions taken on Society concerns:
Survival of Independent Practice: MSSNY should set up a task force to explore all legally permissible options for independent physicians to collaborate and create practice models to achieve the goals of diversity of service, economy of scale, and collective negotiations.
Changing Maintenance of Certification: MSSNY should advocate for a moratorium on the Maintenance of Certification and Maintenance of Licensure requirements of all medical and surgical specialties until it has been reliably shown that these programs significantly improve patient care; and MSSNY should direct its delegation to our American Medical Association to join efforts to make specialty board re–certification requirements practical, affordable and effective, such as an open book exam or demonstrated CME or meeting equivalent QI requirements.
Shared Savings and I–Stop: MSSNY should urge the New York State Department of Health and Department of Financial Services to require health insurers to identify cost savings they have experienced as a result of compliance with the I-STOP law, and those savings should be directed toward the development and distribution of EMR and electronic prescribing resources that are to be made available to active MSSNY members.
Dangers of Youth Football: MSSNY should encourage the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association to promote parental awareness of the potential dangers of tackle football.
Medicare Advantage Plans Seeking Chronic Condition/Diagnosis Data: MSSNY should urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop formal guidelines for chart requests that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans issue in anticipation of CMS “risk–adjustment/diagnosis data reviews” (reviews in which CMS investigates patients’ health status, with the intent of paying the MA plan more for patients with multiple chronic conditions than for patients with single conditions); and that these chart request guidelines for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans set limits on (1) the number of medical records that the MA plan is permitted to list in a single request of this type, and (2) the number of separate requests that the plan is permitted to issue to a physician practice within a given time period.
Forced Used of “Virtual “ Credit–Cared Payments to Physicians: MSSNY should educate its members, via e–news and the News of New York, that as of January 1, 2014, HIPAA regulations require health plans to offer physicians an Automated Clearing House (ACH) Electronic Funds Transfer (FEFT)_ payment option that does not charge percentage–based fees and if a plan does not send payment by the HIPAA approved EFT ACH Standard, the physician can demand that the plan revert to paper checks until such time that the HIPAA transaction standard is available.
Written Confirmation of Insurers’ Verbal (Oral) Information: MSSNY should urge CMS and the New York State Department of Financial Services to require all federal, state and private/managed care insurers in New York State to provide physicians with written documentation to support any information conveyed verbally (orally) by telephone representatives at the insurer’s Provider Call Center (Telephone Unit, Enrollment Area or Coding Policy Unit) by either e–mail and/or “fax back” systems.
Monitored Anesthesia Care and Pain Management: MSSNY Council will investigate a request that MSSNY urge CMS and the New York State Department of Financial Services to ask their carrier/insurer constituencies to reassess their coverage/reimbursement policies regarding the administration of Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) in conjunction with therapeutic pain injections, in light of the trend among some insurers to disallow coverage for MAC.
The New York County Medical Society congratulates Malcolm D. Reid, MD, MPP, its past president, for his election as President–Elect of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) during the May 1 – May 3, 2015 meeting of the House of Delegates of MSSNY. The Society congratulates its current president and MSSNY Councilor, Joshua M. Cohen, MD, upon his election as alternate delegate to the AMA. Finally, Society past president Zebulon Taintor, MD, took the gavel to begin a two–year term as President of the First District Branch, the Combined Medical Societies of the City of New York, withPaul N. Orloff, MD, elected as First District Branch Treasurer.
THE DELEGATION
William B. Rosenblatt, MD, Chair
Anthony A. Clemendor, MD, Vice Chair
Joshua M. Cohen, MD, MPH, Presidential Chair, MSSNY Councilor
Stuart Orsher, MD, JD, Chair Emeritus
Robert B. Goldberg, DO, MSSNY Past President
Malcolm D. Reid, MD, MPP, MSSNY Vice President
Michael Borecky, MD
Matthew Bonanno, MD
Mary Ruth Buchness, MD
Conrad Cean, MD
Eli Einbinder, MD
Michael Goldstein, MD, JD
Anuradha Khilnani, MD
Peter Lombardo, MD
Marlin Mattson, MD
Richard N. Pierson, Jr., MD
Edward W. Powers, III, MD
Gabrielle Shapiro, MD
Zebulon Taintor, MD
Eugene Weise, MD
Lana Kang, MD, New York State Society for Surgery of the Hand
Thomas Sterry, MD, New York State Society of Plastic Surgery
Naheed Van de Walle, MD, New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Robert Walther, MD, New York State Dermatological Society
Monica Pozzuoli, MD, Weill–Cornell Medical College
Harold Sirota, MD, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Karin Warltier, MD, New York University School of Medicine
Chelsa Tonelli, Medical Student, Touro