AAPI CONNECTSACTION ALERT – FROM MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Dear Colleague:
We had emailed you few weeks ago about RED FLAG RULE. You may still be required to have a policy in place to prevent and/or identify identity theft in your offices.It is just a reminder.
We urge you to put this policy on your office stationery, fill in the blanks, and educate your staff on these few added responsibilities under this rule, which will become effective November 1st
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has mandated that physicians, among many other groups, must have a policy in place which will have your practice (1) identify, (2) detect and (3) respond to Red Flags Rules. Red Flags are patterns of behavior which indicate that possible identity theft has occurred. The AMA has developed an excellent policy on this which can be adopted by your office merely by filling in a few blanks.This policy is available on the AMA website to all physicians, not only AMA members. The AMA has prepared guidance on the Red Flag rule including a template for a compliance program which can be adapted by practices to their unique circumstances.
SGR FIX S1776
A fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate policy (SGR) of the Medicare fee schedule (S1776) was introduced by Senator Stabenow (D-Mi) last week. This Bill would eliminate the flawed SGR formula which is responsible for threatening physicians with a draconian decrease of 21% in Medicare reimbursement in 2010. The cost (of this Bill) to physicians would be a proposed 10-year freeze to physician reimbursement under the Medicare fee schedule. We are told this freeze in our reimbursement, is merely a placeholder for another proposal on physician fee increases, which is yet to be introduced.
We would vigorously support elimination of the SGR; but we believe a 10-year physician-fee-freeze, which would result in at least a 40% decrease in physician spendable income over a ten-year period, is too high a price. We definitely favor a fix in the SGR but not at any cost.
We urge you to write your senators and your Congressman supporting a fix for the SGR – but not at the price of freezing physician reimbursement for a ten-year period of time . To find contact information for your Senators and your Congressman CLICK HERE .
HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS USEFUL
SINCERELY
SUNITA KANUMURY MD
VP AAPI,CHAIR MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE