March 5, 2007

Editor's Column: Beating Down The Cost
Heavy Hitters Eye Bon Secours
Medicare PLUS Blue Reminder
Henry Ford Doc Elected To Michigan Pathology Board
Celebrating America's Women Physicians
Mind, Mood, Medicine
MSMS Accepting BOM Nominations

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Editor's Column:
Beating Down The Cost

By JOSEPH WEISS, MD
The automakers complain endlessly of the health care dollars that burden the sale of their cars, but find only one way to address the expense: beat down the cost. That is, find ways to pay doctors less.

With cars, there is another way to decrease expense: Put the auto together differently i.e., redesign the assembly line. The same applies to health care. The automobile companies can look for a different way to put together the components of care.

It is not necessary that this different way be a single-payer national health system, though fellow corporation giant Wal-Mart favors that proposal. The automobile companies could consult with the AMA. Its plan calls for national coverage of all children with government assistance for adults not covered by their employers. Or, automakers could develop their own health plans.

The domestic carmakers should stop complaining and start advancing change. The companies’ present way of assembling health care is outdated; they need to develop and market a new model.

Heavy Hitters Eye Bon Secours

By PAUL NATINSKY
All four major Detroit-area health systems are in the hunt for Bon Secours Cottage Health Services. That number rises to five if part-owner Henry Ford Health System is included in the mix.

A source close to the issue said the Detroit Medical Center, Oakwood Healthcare System, St. John Health System and Beaumont Hospitals have tendered closed bids for the Grosse Pointe-based facilities, which encompass 412 beds. Henry Ford Health System, which owns a 30-percent interest in Bon Secours Cottage will have the right of first refusal once the offers are evaluated, said the source. Bon Secours Health System of Marriottsville, MD, owns 70 percent of the system, which includes Bon Secours and Cottage Hospitals as well as 37 other east-side health facilities.

The source said DMC and St. John sent key executives to present their bid, including the CEO, chief financial officer and chief medical officer from each system. The source said it was presumed that Oakwood and Beaumont also sent top executives.

A decision on the deal is expected at the latest by the end of August, but could come as soon as April if the right deal is struck, said the source.

Physicians on staff at Bon Secours have concerns about the stability of referral patterns and the availability of primary care physicians if the hospitals are sold, said the source.

Medicare PLUS Blue Reminder

Here are a few billing tips for your Medicare PLUS Blue claims:

--Be sure you are submitting the claims to BCBSM
--Use Medicare coding rules
--Use the member's BCBSM contract number, NOT the Medicare number
--Use the provider's Medicare number and tax identification number, NOT the BCBSM pin

If you are having problems with claim resolution or have other concerns with the Medicare PLUS Blue program, you can contact Provider Servicing at (866) 309-1719. Provider Servicing is available to take your calls Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

You can verify eligibility information through CAREN and webDENIS for your Medicare PLUS Blue claims. Find more benefit information online at www.bcbsm.com (click on "Provider," then "2006 Medicare PLUS Blue").

For more information about reimbursement issues, contact Stacie Saylor at MSMS at (517) 336-5722 or ssaylor@msms.org. Get additional news and information from MSMS publications, such as Medigram, Michigan Medicine and the Monthly Top 10, online at www.msms.org.

Henry Ford Doc Elected to Michigan Pathology Board

Richard J. Zarbo, MD, DMD, chair of the Department of Pathology at Henry Ford Hospital, has been elected to the board of trustees of the Michigan Society of Pathologists.

The organization cultivates the highest standards in education, research and the practice of pathology, conducts scientific seminars and other educational programs and undertakes liaison on behalf of pathologists with other physicians, hospitals, and scientific organizations.

Dr. Zarbo also is senior vice president of pathology and laboratory medicine at Henry Ford, and program director of its pathology residency program.

Dr. Zarbo received his medical degree and his doctor of dental medicine degree from the University of Connecticut.

Celebrating America's Women Physicians

Changing the Face of Medicine
Celebrating America's Women Physicians
Exhibit at the Main Library, 5201 Woodward Ave. Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday, Noon-8 p.m. and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.. To schedule tours, please contact: Mary Kordyban, Assistant Manager, Business, Science & Technology Department (313) 833-1450 or (313) 833-1420. The activities listed below are open to the public and free of charge. Pre-registration is required for the March 24 event.

Book Talk: Letters to My Sisters: Plain Truths and Straightforward Advice from a Gynecologist
Ngozi Osuagwu, MD, FACOG

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, NOON
Skillman Branch Library
121 Gratiot at Library

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 6 P.M.
Hubbard Branch Library
12929 W. McNichols

A Fireside Chat with Local Women Physicians

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 6-8 P.M.
Main Library - Old Browsing
Hear local women doctors discuss their careers and how women have changed the face of medicine.

Girl Talk Luncheon: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Medical School and Being a Physician
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 11 A.M.-2:30 P.M.
Main Library - Explorers Room

Mind, Mood, Medicine

2007 Retreat for Women Physicians - "Mind, Mood and Medicine"
Friday-Sunday, April 13-15, Kalamazoo

The MSMS Foundation is proud to announce that the 2007 Retreat for Women Physicians will take place Friday-Sunday, April 13-15, at the Kalamazoo Radisson. This year’s event, titled "Mood, Mind and Medicine," will focus on the needs and interests unique to women physicians, including life transitions for women, scope of practice, epilepsy in women, sexual dysfunction, depression, and more.

Now in its fourth year, the Retreat for Women Physicians will provide attendees with the opportunity to network with colleagues while learning about topics that affect their personal and professional lives. Breakout sessions covering a wide array of topics will allow attendees to choose which sessions best suit their needs and interests.

The weekend also will include a number of recreational/non-medical opportunities, such as spa services and a Saturday evening showing of "The Women," by Clare Boothe Luce, at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the daily program will run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cost is $200 for MSMS & MMGMA members, $275 for non-members.

For more information or to register, visit www.msms.org/events or contact the MSMS Registrar at (517) 336-5784 or abatten@msms.org.

MSMS Accepting BOM Nominations

The MSMS Committee on Licensure & Discipline has begun the process of soliciting candidates who wish to receive the recommendation of MSMS for appointment to the Michigan Board of Medicine. On Dec. 31, 2007, the terms of five Board of Medicine members will expire. Of those five, four are eligible to be reappointed to a second four-year term. One position will be vacant and require an appointment by the governor. The Committee considers many key factors (peer review experience, board certification, and involvement in organized medicine) when selecting a candidate it believes to be qualified to serve in this capacity. The Committee will begin accepting candidates this month and will continue to do so through the end of April so that the recommendations may be brought to the July MSMS Board of Directors meeting for final approval.

For more information or to obtain a nomination application, visit www.msms.org/advocacy. Or contact Colin Ford at MSMS at (517) 336-5737 or cford@msms.org.

This publication brought to you by Natinsky Publishing Network.

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