Read on for Important NSYPMA-Only CPR & Legal Tips!
Don't miss out on crucial insurance updates, curated practice management tips, upcoming billing code changes, or timely legal advice. Stay up to date with our weekly CPR Billing & Coding + Legal tips, located at the end of each president's message.
A Message From Your President...
Hi everyone. It is with continued concern that I write this message. The CDC continues to respond to the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The governor of NY, DOH, state, and local agencies continue to respond swiftly as this outbreak continues.
This pandemic is now affecting people in 124 countries. Remember that 80-85% of people who contract this virus will self resolve. 12% of those who contract the virus will require hospitalization and 3% contracting the virus may require care in the ICU. This is an emerging rapidly evolving situation.
I have been in contact with APMA, our lobbyist in Albany, and have sent an inquiry to NGS regarding TELEHEALTH. We have been working on clarification on our ability to provide care to some of our patients through telehealth.
Medicare does allow podiatry to provide some level of care through telehealth. We continue to seek clarification for Medicaid patients.
REALIZE that telehealth has MANY limitations.
Telehealthcare MUST be initiated by the PATIENT.
APMA has an excellent WEBINAR on every aspect and LIMITATIONS of telehealth. It is a 19-minute video. PLEASE watch this webinar PRIOR to consideration of Telehealth with any of your patients. WATCH HERE
Again, the rules and restrictions limit our use of this type of care. Most likely a very small percentage of our patients will qualify for these services.
A summary of codes will be made available to the membership. There are 2 sets of codes. Each set of codes has 3 levels. One set of codes encompasses care over the telephone, and the other set of codes is through your electronic medical record.
AGAIN there are many specific guidelines that you must follow for reimbursement.
PLEASE make every effort to provide this care correctly.
I want to thank Dr. Nick D'Angelo for his continued hard work on this subject. I realize that as this pandemic expands in our state, many of us may face financial hardships. I have been in contact with APMA regarding this potential problem.APMA and NYSPMA are exploring many options to help solve these potential problems.
The Jaffe Management staff, our contract management company, are all working remotely due to the current environment. While they have each worked remotely individually, this is an unprecedented situation where they all must work from home for the foreseeable future. They will continue doing their best to respond to member issues but please realize responses may be delayed.
Our goal is to help and support the membership of NYSPMA through this difficult time We have created a COVID-19 web page full of resources and web links to help guide you through this current reality. It can be accessed HERE.
Also, if you have medical insurance needs that are changing, Creative Wealth Planning, www.creativewealthplanning.com/nyspma is ready to help you get the coverage you need.
Happy St Patrick's day
Stay safe and healthy.
Have a great week!
Dan Keating DPM
President NYSPMA
NYSPMA Legal Tip: Telehealth, HIPAA
By: Matthew S. Feldman, Esq., General Counsel
New York State Podiatric Medical Association
“Under this Notice, covered health care providers may use popular applications that allow for video chats, including Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, or Skype, to provide telehealth without the risk that OCR might seek to impose a penalty for noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules related to the good faith provision of telehealth during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. Providers are encouraged to notify patients that these third-party applications potentially introduce privacy risks, and providers should enable all available encryption and privacy modes when using such applications.
Under this Notice, however, Facebook Live, Twitch, TikTok, and similar video communication applications are public-facing, and should not be used in the provision of telehealth by covered health care providers.”
READ ON
Call for Bylaw Amendments and Resolutions
BYLAWS: The deadline for submitting bylaw amendments for consideration at the 2018 NYSPMA House of Delegates is Friday, April 17, 2020. Please submit with the Bylaw Revisions Form. Questions regarding the resolution process can be sent to Dan Kline, dkline@nyspma.org. All proposed revisions should be typed onto the Bylaw Revisions Form and submitted by email.
RESOLUTIONS: The deadline for submitting resolutions for consideration at the 2020 NYSPMA House of Delegates is Friday, April 17, 2020. Please submit the Resolution Form. Questions regarding the resolution process can be sent to Dan Kline, dkline@nyspma.org. All proposed resolutions should be typed onto the Resolution Form and submitted by email.
In light of the current COVID-19 outbreak, it is uncertain if the House of Delegates will take place in its current format as scheduled in late May. However, the business of the House will still take place in a format to be determined if the HOD has to be cancelled.
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[FREE] NYS-Compliant Opioid Prescriber Training
DPMs who took this 3-year training in 2017, when this new training requirement was introduced, will need to re-train in 2020
Complete your minimum of three (3) hours of course work or training in pain management, palliative care and addiction for prescribers with online courses through the University of Buffalo or Boston University - free of charge. Use the links below for the course work.
[NEW!] APMA Health Insurance: Small & Large Group Options
APMA has just released it's small group health care plan. The new plan's innovative structure allows small groups (less than 14 people) to purchase insurance at large group rates. With low deductibles ($500) and savings on premiums, this plan could save you a lot of money on quality health coverage!
Show your NYSPMA membership pride with our new merchandise section!
Check out our wide-array of NYSPMA-branded products HERE. Start your holiday shopping early! We have everything from whiskey glasses and cigar cutters to golf balls, t-shirts, and more!
Check out the NYSPMA Fall Prevention Program! Earn 1 CME, FREE to NYSPMA Members
Our fall prevention webinar is ready to be viewed. I am encouraging everyone to view this course for free CME, as we are doing this in cooperation with the Department of Health, as partners in the prevention agenda. Please take advantage of this member benefit, and help advance podiatry and add this important service to your practices. ACCESS THE WEBINAR HERE.
[NEW!] NYCPMConnect has launched!
Sign up now at https://nycpmconnect.com/ for access to an exclusive mentoring and networking community for NYCPM alumni and students!
Featured Member Partner Programs-
Updated Medical Insurance Plans for 2020-New Medicare Supplement!
NYSPMA through Creative Wealth Planning (CWP) offers a variety of medical, dental and eye care insurance with excellent customer service. CWP has just announced a new Medicare Supplement Plan, which can be viewed at www.creativewealthplanning.com/medicaresupplement . Other CWP plans for NYSPMA members can be viewed at www.creativewealthplanning.com/nyspma Creative Wealth Planning, LLC. CWP is an independent insurance brokerage firm with over 35 years of experience, specializing in group and individual medical insurance. CWP can design coverage for you, your dependents, and staff, as well as options for those covered by Medicare. CWP works directly with members to tailor plan options that are best suited to your needs.
NYSPMA Legal Tip: Translation and Interpretation Requirements for your Practice
By: Matthew S. Feldman, Esq., General Counsel
New York State Podiatric Medical Association
New York recently enacted the Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act in response to growing concerns about data security. The SHIELD Act amends the New York General Business Law to provide broader safeguards for consumer data by (1) expanding territorial application of data security protections; (2) encompassing more types of data; (3) expanding the definition of "breach"; and (4) effective March 21, 2020, imposing new data security requirements on businesses and employers.
The SHIELD Act broadens the scope of the previous protections in several ways. First, the Act applies not only to personally identifiable information but also to "private information", which is personal information in combination with any one or more of the following data elements: (1) social security number; (2) driver's license/non-driver ID; (3) account number; (4) credit/debit card number with security code/access code/password or other information that would permit access to the account; a username or email address in combination with a password or security question and answer that would permit access to an online account; and/or any unsecured health information held by a covered entity as defined by HIPAA. Second, while the previous protections applied only to businesses located in New York, the SHIELD Act applies to any person or business that owns or licenses computerized data that includes the private information of New York residents, regardless of the physical location of the person or business. In addition, the Act significantly expands the definition of what constitutes a breach requiring notice to affected persons. While previously a breach required "acquisition" of data, the Act requires only "unauthorized access."
Beginning on March 21, 2020, all persons and businesses covered by the SHIELD Act are required to develop, implement, and maintain "reasonable safeguards" to protect the integrity of private information..... READ ON: CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL VERSION OF THIS LEGAL TIP
Mr. Feldman is available for legal consultation if needed and can be reached by phone at (716) 852-5875 or by email at MFeldman@feldmankieffer.com
Weekly CPR Billing and Coding Tip of the Week: LCD and Policy Article Revisions Summary for March 5, 2020
CPR Tip by: Hoda Henein
Therapeutic Shoes for Persons with Diabetes & Surgical Dressings
Therapeutic Shoes for Persons with Diabetes
LCD
Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2020
COVERAGE INDICATIONS, LIMITATIONS, AND/OR MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Revised: Order information as a result of Final Rule 1713
CODING INFORMATION:
Removed: Field titled "Bill Type"
Removed: Field titled "Revenue Codes"
Removed: Field titled "ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity"
Removed: Field titled "ICD-10 Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity"
Removed: Field titled "Additional ICD-10 Information"
GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: "Prescriptions (orders)" to "SWO"
PA
Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2020
NON-MEDICAL NECESSITY COVERAGE AND PAYMENT RULES:
Revised: Order information as a result of Final Rule 1713
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC DMEPOS ITEMS PURSUANT TO FINAL RULE 1713 (84 Fed. Reg Vol 217):
Added: Section and related information based on Final Rule 1713
CODING GUIDELINES:
Revised: Format of HCPCS code references, from code 'spans' to individually-listed HCPCS
Revised: HCPCS codes referenced for inserts and modifications, to include A5514
ICD-10 CODES THAT SUPPORT MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Revised: Section header "ICD-10 Codes that are Covered" updated to "ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity"
ICD-10 CODES THAT DO NOT SUPPORT MEDICAL NECESSITY:
Revised: Section header "ICD-10 Codes that are Not Covered" updated to "ICD-10 Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity"
Surgical Dressings
PA
Revision Effective Date: 01/01/2020
POLICY SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:
Revised: Initial wound evaluation record specifications
Clarified: Direction on need for weekly evaluations
Added: Statement that the person doing the evaluation may have no financial relation with the supplier
Clarified: Ongoing evaluations as "weekly or monthly"
NYSPMA: Connect on Facebook & Twitter
NYSPMA has a Facebook page and is now on Twitter. These pages provide Association announcements and updates. We are always looking for great news stories to share on our pages. If you’ve recently been quoted in the media, received an award, launched a new project or have relevant news to share, please email info@nyspma.org.
Poster for Your Office: We have developed an 8 1/2 x 11 Full-Color Poster/Flyer that can be displayed in your office to encourage your patients to visit our consumer site, www.nyfoothealth.com, to stay up to date on the latest foot health news and get updates on diabetes, bunions, heel pain...and more.
