Orthopaedic News & Updates
Wishing You and Yours a Healthy & Happy New Year!
January 2021
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Joseph Abate, MD (center) recipient of the 2017 Orthopaedist of the Year award at the MOA's 2017 Annual Meeting. He was congratulated by MOA Past Presidents, Dr. Samantha Spencer (L) and Dr. Murray Goodman (R). |
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In Memoriam
The MOA mourns the loss of long-time friend and Board member, Dr. Joseph Abate who died on December 19, 2020.
For 26 years, Dr. Abate served on the MOA Board and as President of the MOA from 1996-1997, until his retirement from the Board in 2016. In 2017, Dr. Abate was recognized and honored as the MOA Orthopaedist of the Year.
He will be remembered fondly and his leadership and commitment to the MOA, his colleagues and patients will be sorely missed.
To send share a memory or a note of condolence to his family, please use this link.
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Reminder: Beginning January 1, 2021, the State of Massachusetts mandates, unless covered by an exception, all prescriptions for controlled substances and medical devices must be issued electronically.
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2021 CPT Coding Changes In Effect January 2021
Additional Information
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The most extensive of the CPT changes, effective January 1, 2021, are related to E & M for new and established patients (codes 99202-99205 and 99212-99215). In addition to these changes, new guidelines, new codes have been added and several deleted with respect to the care and treatment of orthopaedic patients.
In addition to the information and handouts provided in last month’s Enews, the MOA is pleased to provide, courtesy of Garfunkel Health Advisors, documents and webinar recording from the recent online presentation, "CMS Finalizes Major Changes to 2021 E/M Coding and Documentation Requirements”.
In addition, please review this brief overview of the E & M new and established patient codes that has been provided for you and your billing and coding staff. Special thanks to Integrated Physicians Management Services, Inc., www.ipmscorp.com and phone: 860-282-4124, for sharing this helpful overview and summary of the changes.
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Omnibus Covid-19 Package Includes Support for Orthopaedic Surgeons |
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The MOA was pleased to support the national advocacy efforts of the AAOS and many other national specialty organizations to advance the policies found in the recent federal Covid-19 package. AAOS President, Dr. Bosco, summarized the package and outlined the key wins for orthopaedic surgeons including mitigating the impending Medicare reimbursement cuts for 2021 and a positive solution for surprise medical billing. READ AAOS President Letter.
MOA representatives held in-district legislative meetings to gain the support of the MA Representatives and Senators and issued several calls to action to MOA membership. Thank you to those who responded to the grassroots efforts. While there will be much work to be done in 2021, at both the state and federal levels, it is encouraging to see that when everyone works together for the collective good of the profession and patients, it can have a positive impact and outcome.
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MA Healthcare Bill Awaits Governor Baker's Signature |
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The House and Senate voted late last month (December 2020) to pass, An Act Promoting a Resilient Health Care System the Puts Patients First. A link to the final bill: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2984 , fact sheet and section by section summary of the bill can be found here.
Of primary relevance to the MOA is that the podiatry language in the Senate bill was NOT included in the final bill. This is an extraordinary win, considering every other scope of practice provision in the Senate bill was included in the final bill. In a nod to the physician community, the final bill also requires the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORIN) to ensure that advanced practice nurses be subject to requirements commensurate to those that physicians are subject to under the Board of Registration in Medicine as they apply to several aspects of professional conduct and discipline including malpractice coverage and profiles. This is similar to the MOA’s ongoing advocacy for a level playing field for podiatrists performing surgery and will play into the MOA’s opposition to podiatry in the next session.
The telemedicine provisions include full coverage for all covered services provided via telemedicine and a strong definition that includes audio-only. In addition, chronic disease management will be paid at parity for 2 years and other services at parity for the state of emergency plus 90 days.
Relative to Out-of-Network (OON), the bill imposes requirements on health care providers to notify patients of a health care provider’s network status before a non-emergency procedure occurs so the patient can avoid a surprise medical bill by making an informed decision about where they seek their care. Please see Section 25 of the bill for exact language of this provision.
Relative to OON reimbursement for emergency and nonemergency care, Section 71 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Health Policy Commission, the Center for Health Information and Analysis and the Division of Insurance to develop a report and make recommendations on establishing a noncontracted, OON commercial payment rate for emergency and nonemergency health care services. This report includes no requirement for public input and must be completed by September 2021, so the MOA will be working diligently to ensure a fair and open process.
As we begin the new year, the MOA Board and Lobbyist will be working to represent the interests and concerns of the orthopaedic community and the patients they serve.
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MOA 2021 Membership Renewal |
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Your participation and renewal is vital to the work of the MOA; supporting the profession, the practice and patients.
While this has been a challenging time for our profession and critical time for the health of our State, the Massachusetts Orthopaedic Association continues to advocate, inform, and support the orthopaedic community.
Even with the disruption of the 2020 legislative session, the MOA has been lobbying for sensible health care reforms, Covid 19 liability relief, telehealth parity and fair, objective out of network reimbursement. In addition, the MOA represented you during Covid 19 related discussions with the Division of Insurance, Department of Public Health and CMS.
During the most critical stages of the pandemic, the MOA worked to provide timely Covid 19 updates as well as share business and practice suggestions. Furthermore, we distributed telehealth codes and policies for all insurers to ensure safe patient care and fair practice reimbursement. And, while we were unable to hold the Annual Meeting this year, we offered a clinical webinar on Orthobiologics presented by Christian Lattermann, MD, to all orthopaedic surgeons at no cost.
We have much more work ahead to be done. Your continued involvement and dues renewal for 2021 is critical to the Association and vital to the ongoing advocacy efforts, educational programs, and representation by MOA for the entire orthopaedic community: private practice, hospital and academic employed. Now more than ever, your membership support is needed.
The MOA is your strongest ally and the only statewide association committed to effecting positive change for the orthopaedic community and patients while delivering value to members with the low annual membership fee of $300.00.
The MOA and its Board looks forward to serving the orthopaedic community as well as its patients in 2021.
Renew for 2021 Today - Three easy ways pay. Thank you.
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Online www.massortho.org
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Complete the form and enclose it with a check payable to the MA Orthopaedic Association.
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Arrange for convenient group billing, please call the MOA at 860-690-1146, or email your request to maorthoexec@gmail.com.
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Visit the New MOA Website
Update Your "Find a Surgeon" Profile
The MOA is pleased to launch the newly revised Association website. Visit today for timely updates, membership renewal and directory of surgeons* and be sure to update your profile.
*Please note that this area of the website is for current members (2020/21 dues paid) of the MOA. Once logged in, members will have the ability to request a password and manage their directory listing on our “Find a Surgeon” page and renew your membership. If you wish to join/renew, you can do so online and create your profile.
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