Below is an excerpt from an article published on January 15, 2020 in the Texas Society of Anesthesiologist Newsletter:
On the Shoulders of Giants: Legends of Texas Anesthesiology Gabor B. Racz, M.D., ChB, DABPM, FIPP
Grover E. Murray Professor
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Open Payments: Review and Dispute Data by December 31 On June 28, CMS published program year 2018 Open Payments data along with updated and newly submitted data from previous program years (2013-2017). This data is available for review and dispute through December 31. Physicians and teaching hospitals: Review of the data is voluntary but strongly encouraged. Use the Open Payments Search Tool to review publicly available data. If you believe any records attributed to you are inaccurate, you may initiate a dispute and work with the reporting entity to reach a resolution. Note: CMS does not mediate disputes. |
Texas Medical Board Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2019
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital reported that patients treated with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder show surprisingly significant improvements in adhering to medications for other chronic unrelated conditions.
Published in the journal Medical Care (2019;57[9]:667-672), the population-based, retrospective study reviewed medical records for more than 12,000 patients with a diagnosis of opioid use disorder (OUD) who were given buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist widely used to treat OUD. Expanded use of buprenorphine is linked with the national epidemic of opioid misuse. In 2016, approximately 700,000 Americans filled buprenorphine prescriptions—more than double the number 10 years earlier. However, a recent study found disparities in access to the medication. The rate of Medicaid-covered prescriptions for buprenorphine was much lower in states that did not expand their Medicaid programs in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.
Novitasphere, our free, secure internet portal, now provides users with access to Financial Information to obtain the following:
In addition, users are able search using the Financial Control Number lookup tool to identify the claim involved.
Important reminder! Effective January 1, 2020, all claims submitted to Medicare must be billed with the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) in place of the Health Insurance Claim number (HICN). Use the MBI Lookup tool in Novitasphere to obtain your patients’ MBIs! Angela from Professional Rehab Associates finds the MBI Lookup tool to be one of the most beneficial features in Novitasphere. “I love that when patients give us their old Medicare cards, I can still look it up to get their new ID number.”
DETROIT — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public about a counterfeit medication that is killing people.
The DEA says drug cartels of manufacturing mass quantities of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid that is lethal in some doses.
A DEA statement says the cartels are capitalizing on the opioid epidemic and the counterfeit pills are responsible for thousands of opioid-related deaths in America each year.
The Trump administration has launched a smart new salvo in the public health offensive against the opioid epidemic.
Addiction to these prescription painkillers and related street drugs continues to wreak havoc in communities across the nation. Last week, the White House announced the launch of a new website that will make it easier to find specialized medical care close to home.
This confidential, easy-to-use resource has a name succinctly summing up its mission — FindTreatment.gov. It also allows individuals to customize their search results beyond location, a feature that existing “find a substance abuse provider” websites often don’t offer.
Input Needed for 2020 Medical Quality Review Annual Audit Plan
The Division of Workers’ Compensation is asking for input on the 2020 Medical Quality Review Annual Audit Plan (Annual Plan). The Annual Plan sets the priorities for the Medical Quality Review Panel audits during the upcoming year.
More information is on the TDI website.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Search by zip code or city/state to find a collection site near you.
The Research and Evaluation Group has released a report on Texas pharmacy closed formulary outcomes. This study looks at injured employee outcomes such as return-to-work rates and health outcomes since the formulary was implemented.
Need just the key findings? Check the TDI website for our new snapshot tool on the pharmacy formulary report.
**Review and Dispute activities start on April 1st and can continue until end of the calendar year**
CALL FOR CASE STUDIES: The Texas Pain Society invites members and others to submit case studies to be considered for presentation at the 11th Annual Scientific Meeting.
The call for case study is open to Texas fellows and residents in a pain fellowship. Entries must be received before the cutoff date. All submissions will be reviewed by the committee and the top 5 submissions will be asked to present live at the TPS 11th Annual Scientific Meeting in October.
2019 Winners!
“Care must be a patient-centered experience. We need to treat people with compassion, and emphasize personalized care tailored to the specific circumstances and unique needs of each patient,” said Adm. Brett P. Giroir, M.D., assistant secretary for health. “This Guide provides more resources for clinicians to best help patients achieve the dual goals of effective pain management and reduction in the risk for addiction.”
The Samuel J. Hassenbusch, MD, PhD Continued Learning Scholarships are annual scholarships sponsored by the Texas Pain Society & Texas Pain Foundation and created to honor the memory of TPS Board Member, Dr. Sam Hassenbusch.
Dr. Hassenbusch was an advocate for teaching and spent a majority of his life teaching others what he had learned.
Texas Medical Association
By Joey Berlin
September 12, 2019
In the opinion, Attorney General Ken Paxton addressed three questions from Sherif Zaafran, MD, president of the Texas Medical Board (TMB):
Schade Hill ‐ Public Policy Pain Champion Award - Representative JD Sheffield, MD
Dr. J.D. Sheffield was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2012 to serve the citizens of Texas House District 59, which includes Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, McCulloch, Mills, San Saba, and Somervell Counties. He was re-elected to his 4th term in the 2018 March Primary.
Dr. Sheffield has been practicing family medicine in and around Gatesville for over 25 years. As the only rural physician in the Texas Legislature, Dr. Sheffield has been honored to serve on the House Public Health Committee for all three terms, and currently serves as Vice-Chairman.
Hassenbusch Continued Learning Case Study Presentations
CALL FOR CASE STUDIES: The Texas Pain Society invites members and others to submit case studies to be considered for presentation at the 11th Annual Scientific Meeting.
