Announcements
The 48th Annual Health Fair will be held on Saturday, August 10th at the American Bank Center. Call NCMS at 884-5442 for more information. Exhibitor and Sponsorship packets have been mailed out. The deadline for exhibitor registration is July 8th, 2013. Applications received after this date are subject to a $50.00 late fee. The deadline for sponsorship registration is June 25, 2013. Sponorship applications received after this date can not be guaranteed sponsor listing in publications. Health Fair 2013 Exhibitor Packet Health Fair 2013 Sponsorship Packet
Have you reviewed your profile on the TMB website? The information listed there is open to the public. Take the time to review your profile and contact the TMB with any changes and/or corrections. The TMB website is: www.TMB.state.tx.us
DocBooksMD is free to all NCMS members. To register, download the app from the iTunes App Store or Android Market, then follow the steps to complete your registration. You must know your NCMS ID# to finish your registration. Call the NCMS office at 884-5442 if you need to get that number.
Need more information on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR programs? Go to: CMS.gov/Regulations & Guidance/EHR Incentive Program
Have ethics questions? Check out the TMA Board of Councilor's current opinions at: www/TexMed.org/template.aspx?id=392#FEE
Need help with the Medicare FFS transition?
TMA's Novitas Resource Center tells you what you need to do right now, provides links to the Novitas transition website, gives you a heads-up on training events such as the upcoming webinar in mid-October, and lists the Novitas toll-free phone number established to answer your questions. That number is (855) 252-8782.
Unhappy with your physican ranking? There are ways to dispute insurance company rankings and tierings. Read the attached file for more information. AMA Guide to Disputing Rankings and Tierings
Need help with office staffing? NCMS has partnered with Favorite Staffing to offer this service to our members. Contact Brian Cleary at 210-918-8737 or email to: bcleary@favoritestaffing.com for more information.
Congratulations to our NCMS medical practices with 100% membership! They are: Cardiology Associates of Corpus Christi, Coastal Children's Clinic, PA, Radiology & Imaging of South Texas, LLP, Radiology Associates, and Thomas-Spann Clinic.
Hurricane season just started, NCMS recommends preparing your practice and patients for any disaster. Check out this important information on the following link. Emergency Preparedness Guide Have you registered with NCMS in case of an emergency? Please fill out the attached form and fax to 361-884-5478. Emergency Response Registration
Need more information on the 2011 e-Rx medicare program? Read the attached information sheet. 2011 eRx Claims Based Reporting Principles
The TMA Mobile App is available free to TMA members through a grant from TMA Insurance Trust and Texas Medical Liability Trust. To get this free, members-only mobile application, go to www.texmed.org/tmamobile/ from your iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, or Android device, and download it. You will need your TMA website user name and password to log in and use the app features. Call the TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-7955 or e-mail TMA Knowledge Center if you have questions or need help downloading the app. Mobile Directory Search Tips:
- You can search the mobile directory by first name, last name, city, county, specialty, ZIP code, or wildcard (partial values).
- To filter the results returned from a search, type additional words or partial words. For example, typing "78705 obg" will return all obstetrician-gynecologists in ZIP code 78705.
The TMB has resumed fining physicians that do not use the Texas Electronic Death Registration. See the attached information sheets to register and learn how to use the system. TER Information
CMS has more information available on the CQMs and how to successfully report them. See these files at:
https://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/55_EducationalMaterials.asp#TopOfPage and https://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/EHR_Webinar_Transcript.pdf
Want to know more about e-prescribing? Check out the following links: http://www.cms.gov/ERxIncentive/01_Overview.asp#TopOfPage and http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=22939
Are you considering opting out of Medicare? According to a recent survey, 50% of TMA physicians are considering that very thing. Check out the survey results in the attached file: TMA Medicare Survey results
Need help with a health plan ranking or tiering?The attached document that can be used for guidance when appealing ranking/tiering status with a health plan.It includes information that should be taken into consideration when filing an appeal and information that the health plan should comply with under the state law (i.e., appeal timeframes, measure being used, adequate data provided to make a determination, response to a face-to-face meeting request.) Ranking/Tiering Guide
Want to know more about EMR? The AMA website offers lots of information including self-assessment, vendor assessment, financing and implementation. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/solutions-managing-your-practice/health-information-technology.shtml
Physicians may sign up for EHR incentives through CMS. The registration guides are available in the attached links. Medicaid EHR Registration Guide Medicare EHR Registration Guide
CMS has changed PQRI to PQRS. The attached links give information on the certification process and eligibility. PQRS MOC Guidance Eligible Professionals
The Corpus Christi-Nueces County County Health District has issued several advisories for this area. They can be found in the following links. Pertussis Alert Q Fever Advisory Vibrio Advisory
The Corpus Christi-Nueces County County Health District would like all physicians to register with the Public Health Information Network (Tx PHIN). See attached link for registration information. Tx PHIN registration information
The Nueces County Medical Society recommends that everyone check their health on a regular basis. Dr. J. Stefan Walker has compiled a health assessment brochure that helps you evaluate your health status. That brochure and health maintenance information can be downloaded with the following links.
Health Assessment Brochure Women: Stay healthy at any age Men: Stay healthy at 50+
About NCMS
Founded in 1904, NCMS represents more than 750 physicians in Nueces County,Texas. Our Executive Board, various committees, and our support staff are available here.
Membership
Request a membership application, update your membership information for our records, view our Spotlight on New Members.
Physician Services
Things to make operating your practice easier-Texas Common Credentialing Application and Hassle Factor form
Active Member Roster
Use our online Member Finder to locate a member physician. A hard copy of our Directory is also available.
Magazine
Browse through major articles in the current edition of our bimonthly magazine, "Coastal Bend Medicine". Advertising and subscriptions are also available.
NCMS Notes
Monthly newsletter
Pictorial Directory
The 2011 - 2012 Pictorial Directories are still available at the Medical Society office, 1000 Morgan Ave, from 8am - 5pm. Please call 884.5442 for more information.
Event Calendar
A listing of our upcoming events may be found here.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship of Nueces County Medical Society events puts your business in front of 800 physicians of all specialties throughout Nueces County. CLICK HERE for details.
CME Opportunities
Looking for CME credits offered in the Coastal Bend? CLICK HERE
NCMS Alliance
Founded in 1927, the more than 150 physician spouses comprising the Alliance are involved in a variety of current activities on behalf of the health and well being of the community.
Visit the CMS website for everything you need to know, plus enrollment forms. http://www.cms.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/04_InternetbasedPECOS.asp
Check out the information on this website. http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=19986&terms=Hipaa+version+5010 AMA and BCBS webinars are available to help you understand the changes. For more information on the webinars, go to: http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=21009&terms=Hipaa+version+5010
Find out everything you need to know at this web site: http://www.cms.gov/ERXincentive/ Want to avoid penalties? See this article from TMA. http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=20498&terms=e-rx