|
April 9, 2007 |
|
IN THIS ISSUE
Law Professor: Scale Back Politics In Judicial Elections
Next
Medical Legal Committee Meeting: May 10
CMS Announces
NPI Deadline Extension
Our Bodies, Our Health
House Subcommittee Approves More 'Healthy Michigan Fund' Dollars
Michigan
Surgeon General Lands At HFHS
Trinity, HFHS Agree To Explore Ford's Sole Ownership of St. Joe
Healthcare In Clinton Township
Talk Issues With Lawmakers At Meet-n-Greet April 19
Detroit Receiving Physician Edits Urology Text
|
|
Click Here To Contact Us

|
|
Law Professor: Scale Back Politics In Judicial Elections
By PAUL NATINSKY
Michigan needs to stop allowing political parties to nominate state
Supreme Court Justices and elect them on a strictly non-partisan
basis, as is the case with all other state judges. This was the
message delivered by Wayne State University Law Professor Robert
Sedler, JD, to the Medical Legal Committee meeting at WCMSSM
Headquarters April 5.
While methods for selecting judges
vary considerably from state to state, Michigan has a long
"populist" tradition of electing its judges, said Sedler. A state
legislative panel is reviewing Michigan's process and considering
changes. Currently, Supreme Court Justices must be nominated by a
party, making them beholden, to some extent, to the party's politics
rather than their own judicial philosophy, said Sedler, who recently
testified before the committee.
Organized medicine in Michigan,
largely through MSMS, supported several current judges who are
supportive of medical liability reforms passed in the early 1990s.
That group includes Chief Justice Cliff Taylor who is up for
reelection in 2008.
Sedler said the medical liability
debate has shaped allegiances for both physicians' and trial
lawyers. Physicians have sided with Republicans, four out of five
current Republicans on the Court (which also contains two Democrats)
were appointed by liability reform zealot John Engler when he was
governor. Trial lawyers tend to support Democrats, who generally
lean toward measures that strengthen plaintiffs' rights.
Sedler said Democrats are likely to
campaign heavily against Taylor, whose defeat in 2008 could swing
the balance of the court.
Whether there will be any changes to
the process remains to be seen. Sedler agreed that the current
system makes it easier for interest groups, such as MSMS but also
trial lawyers, to influence the judicial process. It also makes it
simpler to for Supreme Court judicial candidates to raise money.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
Next Medical
Legal Committee Meeting: May 10
Medical Legal Committee Meeting
May 10, 2007
7:30am
WCMSSM Headquarters
New Center One Building
3031 West Grand Blvd, Suite #490
Detroit, MI 48202
Presenters:
Topic: Financial Planning
Keith Lublin, Fifth Third Bank
Gary Newstead, Fifth Third Bank
Back
to top
|
|
CMS Announces NPI Deadline Extension
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
announced last week that it is initiating a contingency plan that
extends the compliance date for the National Provider Identifier (NPI)
from May 23, 2007 to May 23, 2008. Physician practices, covered
under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA),
are required to get NPIs for the organization and their providers,
and submit those numbers on all HIPAA electronic standard
transactions, including claims. Medicare is requiring use of the NPI
on the revised paper 1500 claim form.
This contingency plan announcement mirrors MGMA's recommendation to
CMS in testimony before a federal advisory panel in January.
The CMS enforcement process is complaint driven and will allow
covered entities to demonstrate good faith efforts and employ
contingency plans. If a complaint is filed against a covered entity,
CMS will evaluate the entity's "good faith efforts" to comply with
the standards and would not impose penalties on covered entities
that have deployed contingencies to ensure that the smooth flow of
payment continues. Each covered entity will determine the specifics
of its contingency plan. Contingency plans may not extend beyond May
23, 2008, but entities may elect to end their contingency plans
sooner. Medicare will announce its own contingency plan shortly.
The NPI contingency plan permits Medicare and commercial insurers to
continue accepting legacy provider identification numbers until May
23, 2008. To avoid payment disruption after the compliance date,
physician practices should strive to enumerate their providers and
update practice management systems to accommodate both NPIs and
legacy identifiers. To facilitate billing, practices should send
their NPIs to all industry partners that require them.
MGMA has resources to assist you:
MGMA NPI frequently asked questions
MGMA NPI sample letter
MGMA NPI archived Webcast
Read the full CMS contingency plan announcement.
Access CMS NPI resources.
Back to
top
|
|
Our Bodies, Our Health
Altarum Institute Speakers Series
at the Detroit Science Center
MARCH–JUNE 2007
Altarum is proud to join the Detroit Science Center in presenting
the “Our Bodies, Our Health” Altarum Institute Speakers Series.
Each event in the series has been designed to enhance your
visit to the “Our Body: The Universe Within” exhibit at the Detroit
Science Center while also encouraging you to think in new ways
about your body, the systems that provide you care and the
many benefi ts of better health.
Thank you for joining us for this thought
provoking
and educational speakers series.
Scheduled Events:
APRIL 26, 2007 Our Health, Our Workforce
8 a.m. Can Michigan Make Employee Health
a Competitive Advantage?
MAY 3, 2007 Our Health, Our Bones
7 p.m. Why Should Bone Health Matter to You?
MAY 24, 2007 Our Health, Our Weight
7 p.m. Preventing Obesity in Children, Where Do
We Begin?
JUNE 14, 2007 Our Health, Our Genes
7 p.m. Does Family History Accurately Predict
Your Future Health?
To Learn More
Visit www.altarum.org
For questions regarding the “Our Bodies, Our Health”
Altarum
Institute Speakers Series, contact Jeff Moore, Altarum’s Chief
Development Officer, at
jeff.moore@altarum.org or call
(703) 575-1685.
ABOUT ALTARUM INSTITUTE
Altarum is a non-profit health systems research institute,
headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We provide independent
research, objective analysis, tailored technical assistance,
and consulting expertise to support the delivery of
high quality care to individuals, families, local communities,
members of the military, and veterans across our nation.
Back to
top
|
|
House Subcommittee Approves More 'Healthy Michigan
Fund' Dollars
The proposed state budget continues
to "morph." Here is the status of the House bill: Last week in the
state legislature, the House Appropriations Community Health
Subcommittee passed a measure that would, among other things,
increase spending for the Healthy Michigan Fund, which funds the
state's immunization registry and other preventive health programs.
The measure, which is the largest of the budget bills outside of
K-12 school aid, is $318 million more than the current year's
budget, but is $24 million less than what Gov. Jennifer Granholm has
called for in her executive budget recommendation. The general fund
portion of the budget would total almost $3 billion. Major changes
in the budget include funding all the Healthy Michigan Fund programs
(including the state's immunization registry), thereby rejecting the
governor's proposal to cut funding to 22 different projects. The
budget also eliminates funding for the Michigan Health Information
Technology Project in southeast Michigan. Furthermore, the budget
presumes savings of $23.9 million total, $10 million in general
funds, under a federal program that requires that all Medicaid
recipients have their citizenship verified. The bill now moves to
the full House Appropriations Committee. For more information,
contact Colin Ford at MSMS at (517) 336-5737 or
cford@msms.org. Also,
visit www.msms.org/advocacy
Back to
top
|
Michigan Surgeon
General Lands At HFHS
Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn
Wisdom, MD, - the nation’s first state-level surgeon general - is
joining Henry Ford Health System as vice president of Community
Health, Education and Wellness.
As a private-public sector executive, Dr. Wisdom’s time allocation
will be shared between Henry Ford and the state of Michigan. She
began her dual role April 2.
“During this challenging economic time we must identify creative
solutions to ensure we are doing all we can to promote and protect
the health of Michigan citizens,” said Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm.
“This partnership will allow Dr. Wisdom to continue the critical
work she is doing to promote healthy lifestyles across Michigan
while saving taxpayer dollars. I applaud the commitment of Henry
Ford Health System and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to create a
healthy Michigan.”
Last week, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation agreed to fund the Surgeon
General’s proposal working with middle school students predominantly
in the Detroit area and Benton Harbor. The Foundation is interested
in testing the sustainability of a “private-public” partnership for
the role of state surgeon general, and as such will fully fund Dr.
Wisdom’s continued state role.
In her new position at Henry Ford, Dr. Wisdom will lead quality
initiatives to address health care equity and health disparities;
and provide clinical leadership to community, health literacy and
diversity initiatives.
“In her role at Henry Ford, Dr. Wisdom will be able to test and
disseminate best practices in which the private sector can help to
shape and implement public policy on prevention, healthy lifestyles,
and reducing health disparities,” says Nancy Schlichting, president
and chief executive officer for Henry Ford Health System.
“Her continued tenure as surgeon general will be enhanced by her
‘on-the-ground’ experience in Detroit and southeastern Michigan
which can impact state-level public policy,” she adds.
Dr. Wisdom will continue to lead Michigan Steps Up, the statewide
healthy-lifestyles campaign she launched in 2004 with the Michigan
Department of Community Health and hundreds of community
organizations. Her ongoing state work also will include related
initiatives such as the Kellogg-funded middle school project and the
National Governors Association Healthy Workplaces program.
Her work in support of Governor Granholm’s initiatives for health
care access, and the Governor’s Blueprint for Preventing Unintended
Pregnancies will also continue, says Janet Olszewski, director of
Michigan Department of Community Health.
“Health disparities anywhere in our state affect us everywhere in
the state,” Dr. Wisdom says. “I am grateful for the increased
opportunity we will now have, through this ‘private-public’
partnership, working together to find new ways to close racial and
ethnic gaps in health outcomes, improve health care access, and
encourage prevention and healthy lifestyles for all Michigan’s
residents.
“The resources of Henry Ford Health System and the shared commitment
of our Governor along with expertise from state and local public
health will move us forward,” she adds. “This ‘local-motion’ will
fuel innovation that can measurably impact health and well-being not
only regionally, but also at the policy level for our state and
nation.”
Since her 2003 gubernatorial appointment as the nation’s first state
surgeon general, Dr. Wisdom has led Michigan’s public health
promotion and disease prevention efforts as well as advocating for
community-based health.
Before joining the state of Michigan, Dr. Wisdom was an emergency
medicine physician at Henry Ford who, also founded and directed
Henry Ford’s Institute on Multicultural Health.
Back to
top
|
Trinity Health and Henry Ford
Health System, which each own 50 percent of St. Joseph’s
Healthcare in Clinton Township, announced last week that they
have entered into a non-binding agreement to develop the sale of
Trinity Health’s half-interest to Henry Ford.
As joint-venture partners since 1990, Henry Ford Health System
and Trinity Health have collaborated to improve the range of
services provided by St. Joseph’s and to continuously examine
methods to improve health care delivery. Both Henry Ford and
Trinity Health are not-for-profit health systems with missions,
visions and values that align well with St. Joseph’s long and
proud history of serving the community.
The agreement between the two health care systems provides the
structure for an in-depth review of the proposed purchase. The
goal is to complete the due diligence during the next few months
and, if the decision is made to proceed, to finalize an
agreement by early summer.
If the sale is finalized, Henry Ford Health System is committed
to continuing St. Joseph’s strong and successful model of care,
including its private practice medical staff, leadership team
and associates known for their commitment to quality and
advanced clinical services.
“Both parties in this 17-year joint venture believe the
residents of Macomb County would be well served by a single
owner that can fully invest resources to build and strengthen
this comprehensive regional medical center, expand its services
in the community, and strategically position it as a leading
health care provider in a growing community,” says Michael
Slubowski, president, Hospital and Health Networks, Trinity
Health. “We remain fully committed to providing health care
services in metro Detroit.”
Trinity Health currently operates St. Joseph Mercy - Oakland in
Pontiac, St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia and the Saint Joseph
Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor, Saline and Howell, Mercy
Hospital in Port Huron, nursing homes, senior housing and home
care.
Says Nancy Schlichting, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health
System, “Henry Ford has been caring for families in this
community for decades. We believe that fully owning St. Joseph’s
would allow us to better serve the growing communities of
central and northern Macomb County, while strengthening our
regional health system.”
Henry Ford currently operates four medical centers in Macomb
County, owns hospitals in Detroit, Wyandotte, Warren and
Ferndale, and is building a 300-bed hospital in West Bloomfield.
“Henry Ford is committed to St. Joseph’s future,” said Bob Riney,
Henry Ford’s chief operating officer. “We are excited about
investing in new facilities, programs and technology to continue
St. Joseph’s premier reputation as the hospital of choice in
Macomb County.”
St. Joseph’s, established in 1899 by the Cincinnati-based
Sisters of Charity, was acquired in 1990 by Mercy Health
Services (now Trinity Health) and Henry Ford Health System in an
innovative joint venture. Although managed by Trinity Health,
St. Joseph’s has multiple clinical relationships with Henry
Ford, including affiliations with its nationally recognized
Heart & Vascular Institute and Josephine Ford Cancer Center.
Further information will be made available once the discussions
are completed.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Talk
Issues With Lawmakers At 'Meet-n-Greet' April 19
MSMS will hold the 10th annual
Greater Detroit Meet-n-Greet on Thursday, April 19, 6:30-9:00 p.m.,
at Fishbone's Rhythm Kitchen in Detroit's Greektown. This event is
designed to foster a connection between the medical community from
the greater Detroit metropolitan area and their state lawmakers.
Also, participants will have the opportunity to discuss health care
legislation and state budget issues. (View the 2007 MSMS Legislative
Agenda online at www.msms.org/legagenda.) Hors d'oeuvres and
refreshments will be available during the event, which will be
co-sponsored by MSMS, the Detroit Medical Society, Wayne County
Medical Society, and Wayne County Osteopathic Society. To RSVP,
contact Anne Lavender at MSMS at (517) 336-5736 or
alavender@msms.org.
For more information about state legislative advocacy, contact Colin
Ford at MSMS at (517) 336-5737 or
cford@msms.org. Or visit
www.msms.org/advocacy.
Back to top
|
|
Detroit
Receiving Physician Edits Urology Text
Richard A. Santucci, MD, FACS, Detroit Receiving’s
chief of urology, is the co-editor of a new book titled,
“Emergencies in Urology.” The book, representing the most
comprehensive guide to urologic emergencies, will be available for
purchase May 21, 2007, and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com.
Key points about the book include:
· All the figures in the book are drawn by Stephan Springer, the
world’s preeminent urologic illustrator.
· There is a wide scope of authors from around the world.
· There is also an all-encompassing scope of topic, with an attempt
to discuss all possible urologic emergencies.
· A section of "vignettes" where the world renowned urologists share
additional insights and clinical expertise with the reader.
Dr. Santucci, an associate professor at Wayne State University
School of Medicine, is one of the few Fellowship-trained
reconstructive urologists in the country. He completed his clinical
Fellowship with Jack McAninch, MD, at the University of
California-San Francisco, and a basic science Fellowship sponsored
by the National Institutes of Health at the Scripps Research
Institute in La Jolla, California.
Co-editor Markus Hohenfellner, is a highly regarded and well known
urologist, and serves as the chairman of urology at the University
of Heidelberg in Germany.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|

This publication brought to you by Natinsky
Publishing Network.
Problems seeing this email? You may view it online at http://www.wcmssm.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter contact
info@wcmssm.org |
|