Thursday September 9, 2010WSDA is looking for volunteers: Get Involved!
The WSDA e-News is your newsletter! All member contributions are welcome! We encourage you to submit articles, letters, practices tips to share in the newsletter, or send us a question you would like answered or your ideas for future articles. Email your contribution and suggestions to the WSDA office at smc@wsma.org.
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Facebook users: Become a fan of the WSDA’s page
For all you Facebook users, sign up as a WSDA fan and get frequent updates on WSDA activities. Don’t worry, as a fan of the page, we will not have access to your individual page (so we will not be able to view your vacation photos or hear about your weekend plans). To get to the WSDA’s page, go to www.washingtonderm.org and click on our Facebook link.
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WSDA 1st Annual Skin Cancer Screening Day
Calling all dermatology practitioners, we need your help! The WSDA is hosting a free skin cancer screening held on our state capitol to increase awareness around our indoor tanning legislation. We need volunteers to participate.
January 13, 2011, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Olympia, Washington
Please contact the WSDA office at smc@wsma.org or 206-956-3648 for more information.
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Don't Miss Out on the $350 Million UnitedHealth Group Settlement
October 5, 2010 is the deadline for filing a claim in the UnitedHealth settlement. In order to be eligible to file a claim you must have provided covered out-of-network services or supplies between March 15, 1994 and November, 18, 2009 to patients who were covered by a health plan insured or administered by one of the defendant companies: UnitedHealthCare, Oxford Health Plans, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, American Airlines, or any associated company.
Access the online AMA resource to file a claim.
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Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company Announces a $5 Million Dividend Distribution to Physician Owners
The Physicians Insurance Board of Directors recently announced that the company will distribute $5,000,000 in dividends to eligible members in September 2010. Those eligible will receive a pro rata share of the total dividend based on their individual premium written from January 1, 1982, through September 1, 2010. Physicians Insurance is a mutual company, where the physician insureds are owners who share in the company's success. With this year's distribution, Physicians Insurance has returned $15,000,000 to policyholders in the last three years.
In addition to the dividend as a means of rewarding members for the company's outstanding performance, premium credits are available to insureds through exclusive programs, including the company's ACCOLADES loss experience credit, now available in all service territories.
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AAD PSA Campaign: Melanoma Victim’s Story Featured
The AAD has introduced its new skin cancer public service advertisement (PSA) campaign for 2010 - 2011. The TV and print ads feature family members of a young woman who lost her life to melanoma. The compelling ads plead with people to reduce their melanoma risk by protecting themselves from the sun and avoiding tanning beds. The Academy has also distributed a radio PSA, “Wannabe,” which is a contemporary folk song performed by a professional recording artist. The radio ad encourages people not to tan and instead embrace their natural look. The new campaign has been distributed to more than 15,000 media outlets nationwide. In addition, the TV PSAs is being shown in select movie theatres in 17 markets (nearly 1,000 screens in total). The PSAs will be played in the “NCM First Look” segment before PG, PG-13 and R-rated movies. The theatres were selected for their
ability to reach the target audience – young women 14 to 25 years old.
For more information on this campaign, visit www.aad.org/psa
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Over-the-phone Interpretive Services Now Available
Health care providers can use over-the-phone interpretive services for direct contact (face-to-face) beginning September 1st.
Benefits of over-the-phone interpretation
- Access to rare languages – over 180 languages available
- Real-time access to a more comprehensive network of interpreters
- No scheduled appointment is necessary
- Interpreters available on the phone within 30 – 60 seconds
Notes:
- No authorization required on open claims. Check claim status prior to ordering over-the-phone interpretive services.
- Provide the claim number, worker’s/victim’s full name, date of injury and language when you call for an interpreter.
- L&I does not pay for interpretive services for legal purposes. Payment is the responsibility of the attorney or other requesting party(ies).
| |
Pacific Interpreters |
|
CTS Language Link |
| State Fund claim: |
877-810-4721 |
or |
877-626-0678 |
| Self-Insurance claim: |
877-810-4723 |
or |
877-626-0678 |
| Crime Victims claim: |
877-840-2083 |
or |
877-626-0678 |
Additional information is available at http://www.interpreters.lni.wa.gov/ or contact Cecilia Maskell at 360-902-5161 or Mili235@Lni.wa.gov.
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Health care providers encouraged to sign up for Electronic Fund Transfers
The Washington State Medicaid program is asking its health care providers around the state to enroll in an Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) system to avoid the additional costs and time required to issue reimbursement checks, also called state warrants.
Under the EFT system, the providers’ reimbursement is simply deposited directly into a bank account. That saves the state the expense and work of issuing, addressing, and mailing checks to the providers, who range from hospitals and clinics to individual doctors, dentists and nursing homes.
The sooner providers sign up, the quicker they can start receiving the electronic transfers.
- Providers can download the EFT authorization agreement (DSHS EFT Form 18-633) from the Department’s Web site at: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ms/forms/18_633.pdf.
- Fax the authorization agreement to (360) 725-2144.
- DSHS will test the transaction first to verify that the deposit can be transferred successfully. Until the transaction works, providers continue to receive mailed checks.
- Once testing is complete, Medicaid will begin transferring the deposits electronically.
- Questions? Call Medicaid at 1-800-562-3022 Ext. 1-6132 or e-mail to askmedicaid@dshs.wa.gov
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New MQAC Rules for Office-Based Anesthesia and Analgesia Effective September 2, 2010
The newly adopted rules from the Medical Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC) governing safe and effective anesthesia and analgesia in office-based surgery settings are about to go into effect. The rules will require facilities administering anesthesia or sedation of certain types for office-based surgery to become accredited or certified. The rules and an accompanying concise explanatory statement are available at –
www.wsma.org.
Facilities must be accredited or certified by an entity listed in the rules within 365 calendar days of the effective date, September 2, 2010.
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New Rules on Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Now in Effect
The Medical Quality Assurance Commission adopted rules on non-surgical medical cosmetic procedures on January 14, 2010. The rules went into effect on June 6, 2010. There are two rules.
The first rule (WAC 246-919-606) establishes the duties and responsibilities of a physician who delegates the injection of medication or substance for cosmetic purposes or the use of prescription devices for cosmetic purposes.
The second rule (WAC 246-918-126) establishes the duties and responsibilities of a physician assistant who injects medication or substances for cosmetic purposes or uses prescription devices for cosmetic purposes. The rules do not apply to: (a) surgery; (b) the use of prescription lasers, non-coherent light, intense pulsed light, radiofrequency, or plasma as applied to the skin, which are covered in WAC 246-919-605 and 246-918-125; (c) the practice of a profession by a licensed health care professional under methods or means within the scope of practice permitted by such license; (d) the use of non-prescription devices; and (e) intravenous therapy.
For more information on the rules go to www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/mqac/RulesInProgress.htm.
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NPI Searchable Registry Now Available
NPI Registry Available from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System was made available on September 4, 2007:
Access the Registry at: https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/NPIRegistryHome.do
CMS has posted several documents on the CMS NPI web page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/06a_DataDissemination.asp to help providers.
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Membership Directory
The WSDA membership directory is a referral and communication tool for use among our members. Please visit www.washingtonderm.org to view the membership directory.
Member Directory Access Information:
Login: wsda
Password: Derm1
Please note, these are case sensitive
Encourage your colleagues to join the WSDA and help build a strong organization to support dermatology. To pay membership dues, log on to our website at www.washingtonderm.org or contact the WSDA office at smc@wsma.org.
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