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MSMS
Kalamazoo Physician Tom George, MD, Named MSMS Interim CEO
The Michigan State Medical Society recently began a new chapter with the announcement that Tom George, MD, took on the role of Interim CEO of MSMS effective November 18, 2022. As a long-time MSMS member, former state legislator, and practicing physician, Dr. George has the kind of unique expertise and experience that will make him an immediate and invaluable asset to MSMS and its member physicians across the state. Poised to provide leadership and direction from day one of his tenure, Dr. George intends to focus a great deal of his efforts on ensuring the association is meeting the needs of its members. “I’ve been a practicing physician and member of MSMS for 37 years now,” said Dr. George. “And over the years, there’s been no question that MSMS has made a significant and positive difference in shaping our state’s health care landscape through its advocacy efforts on behalf of Michigan’s physicians and the patients they serve. I intend to see that this society continues to provide that same kind of value and service to its members. That effort will be rooted in building strong peer-to-peer, doctor-to-doctor relationships with current, prospective and former MSMS members throughout the state.” His leadership comes at a fortuitous time for the society. With sweeping changes coming to Lansing’s political landscape, Dr. George’s decade of experience serving as an elected member of Michigan’s legislature will prove invaluable as MSMS works to position itself to best advocate for its members and promote the public health of Michigan’s citizens. “Changing leadership in Lansing presents new challenges, but also new opportunities for this society to make a real difference in the ongoing efforts to implement policies that will positively impact Michigan physicians and patients,” said Dr. George. “And while the political landscape may be shifting, our fundamental goal of working to promote the health of citizens of Michigan remains unchanged.” In addition to being a practicing physician at Kalamazoo Anesthesiology P.C., Dr. George also serves as Co-Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine. He has previously served as president of the Kalamazoo County Medical Society, the Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Historical Society of Michigan. While serving as Interim CEO of MSMS, Dr. George will continue practicing on a limited, part-time basis.
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MSMS Legislative Advocacy Alert
Tell Congress to Protect America’s Medicare Patients!
Physicians are facing another round of Medicare payment cuts by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Unless Congress acts by the end of the year, physician Medicare payments are planned to be cut by 8.42 percent in 2023 which would severely impede patient access to care due to the forced closure of physician practices and put further strain on those that remained open during the pandemic. These scheduled cuts will come in the form of: 1. CMS has proposed a 4.42 percent cut for all physician services in 2023 to offset payment policy improvements in office and facility-based visits. 2. No inflationary update. Physicians are the only providers whose Medicare payments do not automatically receive an annual inflationary update; during this time of record inflation on the heels of a highly disruptive pandemic, this statutory flaw amplifies the impact of proposed payment cuts.
When adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician payments
have dropped by 22 percent from 2001 to 2021. Physicians simply cannot afford to operate under the current payment system. Congress must reform the Medicare physician payment system to make it simpler, more reflective of realworld physician practice costs and more predictable for both physicians and CMS before it's too late! Recently, Representatives Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and Larry
Bucshon, MD (R-IN) introduced H.R. 8800 the "Supporting
Medicare Providers Act" to help address the flawed payment system and provide relief from the devastating cuts.
Click HERE to send a pre-written, editable letter to your lawmakers now!
In 2021, MSMS founded Michigan for Advancing Collaborative Care Teams (MiACCT) . The growing coalition of health care providers and patient advocacy organizations are both united and committed to growing, strengthening and preserving the physician-led health care team. MiACCT was created to be proactive instead of reactive. We want a proven, time-tested and patient-centered health care model that is led by physicians and supported by the best trained and most qualified care team members. The Saginaw County Medical Society is proud to be a member of MiACCT.
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MiACCT has drafted the Team Based Health Care Act legislation. Following is a proposed summary of the legislation expected to be introduced in early 2023: • Requires that an APRN/PA shall only practice as part of a physician-led patient care team with specific responsibilities within the scope of their usual professional activities. • Requires that an APRN/PA must maintain appropriate collaboration and consultation, as evidenced in a written or electronic practice agreement, with at least one patient care team physician. The practice agreement must include: o A process between the APRN/PA and patient care team physician for communication, availability, and decision making when providing medical treatment to a patient. The process must utilize the knowledge and skills of the APRN/PA and patient care team physician based on their education, training and experience. o The duties and responsibilities of the APRN/PA and patient care team physician. The APRN/PA and patient care team physician may not perform an act, task, or function that the APRN/PA or patient care team physician is not qualified to perform by education, training, or experience and that is not within the scope of the license held by the APRN/PA or patient care team physician. o A provision for appropriate physician input wherever needed, such as in complex clinical cases and patient emergencies and for referrals. o The practice agreement may require an APRN/PA to carry malpractice insurance. • Requires an APRN/PA to disclose to the patient at the initial encounter that he or she is a licensed certified nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse practitioner. • An APRN/PA may prescribe a controlled substance; however, the practice agreement shall clearly state the controlled substances prescriptive practices of the APRN/ PA, including the controlled substances the APRN/PA is or is not authorized to prescribe.
AMA Downcoding Resources
Effective January 1, 2021, major changes were made to the evaluation and management (E/M) services Current Procedural Terminology CPT® code set and reporting guidelines to reduce documentation burdens, simplify coding, and allow physicians to spend more time with patients. Unfortunately, some health plans are disputing E/M levels for submitted claims and implementing E/M downcoding programs that inappropriately—and often automatically, through claim editing algorithms—reduce payment for provided services. The AMA has created a new resource to support physician practices in navigating such payer E/M downcoding programs. The document offers examples of downcoding scenarios, sample plan communications, guidance on reviewing remittance advice to identify downcoding, and documentation tips to support successful appeals. Also included are sample downcoding appeal letters, which are available in an editable format on the AMA website.
