Robert Lee, MD, was installed as President of the Iowa Medical Society at the organization's annual meeting in Des Moines. Dr. Lee is a family medicine physician from Johnston. In addition, Victoria Sharp, MD, Iowa City, was elected President-elect. The Board also elected Jeffrey Maire, DO, Des Moines, to serve on the Executive Committee as Board Chair and K. John Hartman, MD, Davenport, was elected to serve on the Executive Committee as Secretary/Treasurer.
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To answer questions and receive feedback about the current reports – what is working and what is not and suggestions for improving this program – WPS Medicare and CMS are hosting a QRUR teleconference on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Physicians and practice administrators are encouraged to participate...
IMS has submitted formal comments as part of the public input period for Iowa Medicaid's Financial Alignment Demonstration Proposal for Medicare-Medicaid Members. As we first reported in the April 20, 2012 IMS Advocate, this proposal is in response to efforts by CMS to address the spiraling cost of...
The 2011 Iowa Board of Medicine (IBM) Annual Report is now available. IBM is an executive branch agency charged with the licensing and regulation of physicians (practitioners with a doctor of medicine degree or a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree) and acupuncturists. The ten-member Board is composed...
Measles was eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, but the importation of the disease from other countries remains a problem. Last year, the CDC reported 222 cases and 17 outbreaks in 31 states—more than four times the usual number. Last year was the worse year for measles in the U.S. in 15 years. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports that...
The CDC is urging Americans who plan to travel this summer to be up-to-date on vaccinations. CDC specifically cites the Olympics in London and the Euro 2012 soccer cup in Poland and the Ukraine as venues that draw many American travelers and could present an increased risk for measles infection. In...
If you are a student leader and could use some help paying for your medical education, the Iowa Medical Society would like to invite you to apply for a Leadership Award Scholarship through the Iowa Medical Society Foundation (IMSF).
All eligible candidates must be student members of the Iowa Medical...
Iowa's five-year plan for improving the health of the state has been released for public comment. More than a year in the making, Healthy Iowans: Iowa's Health Improvement Plan 2012-2016 focuses on 39 critical health needs based on input from local public health partners in all Iowa counties and more...
The AMA has been working hard to share problems with the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) stemming from conversion to the new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) electronic standard, Version 5010. CMS had originally delayed enforcement of the new standard from...
The American Medical Association (AMA) has introduced a new teaching guide to help physicians review insurer-provided practice data and use the information for practice improvement. Take Charge of Your Data is designed to help physicians understand and verify the accuracy of complex profile reports...
You can empower your practice to save time and money with free AMA Practice Management Alerts. Let the AMA bring important practice management and payer news to you. Sign up today to receive free, timely e-mail alerts from the AMA:
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The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate passed a bipartisan deal on February 17 that extends the payroll tax cut and avoids a Medicare fee cut for physicians for the rest of 2012. The bill passed the Senate 60-36 just after the House approved it by a 293-132 margin. President...
Continuing its commitment to provide physicians with expert resources on emerging payment models, the American Medical Association (AMA) has released a new how-to manual to help physicians evaluate, negotiate, and manage budget-based payment systems that are becoming alternatives to the predominant...
CSM has awarded low-interest loans to several applicants seeking to establish Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OPs) in their respective states. A proposal from Midwest Members Health, seeking to offer CO-OP coverage in Iowa and Nebraska, was awarded a loan of $112,612,100 to support its operations....
As part of President Obama's commitment to reducing regulatory burden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius has announced that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with International Classification of Diseases, 10th...
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