Quest Diagnostics’ Dr. Patrick James is leading this effort and serves as the chairman of the board of the Kansas City Area Life Science Institute, which recently held its annual dinner featuring keynote speaker Dr. David M. Livingston, the Deputy Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston. Dr. Livingston sits down with Nick Haines to point out how KC’s local hospitals, universities, and research centers, combined with strong civic support, are establishing our city as a leader in the future of life sciences.

For more information or to browse a listing of when the show will re-air visit http://thelocalshow.org.
 

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This FREE app for Metro Med members gives you quick access to your fellow physicians, local pharmacies and hospitals and provides HIPAA compliant message all on your smartphone! Click here for more information.
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CMS Quality and Resource Use Reports Are Now Available!

CMS reminds physicians in the area that we have released a Medicare Quality and Resource Use Report (QRUR) for physicians who provided Fee-For-Service healthcare to Medicare beneficiaries in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, or Nebraska during 2010.

Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS), jurisdiction 5 (J5) is making the QRURs available to the more than 20,000 physicians in this four-state area. The reports will only be accessible for 3 months following their release.

WPS haqs sent pre-notification emails to physicians or the point of contact that WPS records indicate the physician designated. These points of contact are asked to provide the reports to the physicians with whom they work.

What Should Physicians Do?
Get in touch with individuals you have designated as your point of contact with WPS – this could be an office manager, billing staff, etc. – let them know that you are interested in receiving your report as soon as it becomes available.

Registration information for upcoming feedback sessions are on the following CMS websites HERE  and HERE. These sessions are sponsored by the CMS National Provider Call Program and will provide opportunities to give CMS your feedback and comments about the reports. We will also share the registration information for these sessions with the CMS Kansas City Regional Office and WPS for distribution on appropriate listservs.

Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Tort Reform Case

On Tuesday, March 27, the Missouri Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Watts v. Cox Medical Center. In this case, plaintiff’s attorneys urge the court to overturn the noneconomic damage caps that were passed in 2005 as a result of MSMA’s efforts at tort reform. The full court heard the case, with the exception of Judge Zel Fischer, who recused himself. The law established a $350,000 cap on vague damages such as pain and suffering and mental anguish. MSMA, the Litigation Center of the American Medical Association and State Medical Societies, and other national and statewide health care associations filed an amicus brief in the case.
The oral arguments centered on the plaintiff’s right to a jury trial, and our opponents argued that any limit on non-economic damages violates that right. Their first argument was that the determination of damages is a fact-finding function of the jury, and allowing the legislature to enact the cap invades the province of the jury. Second, they argued that prior precedent established by the court was wrongly decided and should be overruled. The court upheld similar caps in 1992 in the Adams v. Children’s Mercy Hospital case. Although this fact may influence the court, it is not controlling. Other state courts have been split over whether their state legislatures may impose non-economic caps. There also was brief discussion during the argument concerning equal protection and due process.

The Court usually takes two to three months to deliver a decision. This can be extended if there are multiple opinions by the court.
Contact Jeff Howell at the MSMA for more information.

Programming, chaired by Lancer Gates, DO works with staff to:
Develop and coordinate all Society activities to include, member events, and other programs administered and supported by the Society.

• Events – Annual Meeting, Merck series, Plaza Art Fair and holiday open houses, Symposia
• Northland CARE/MetroCARE liaison
• KCMedNet and resident events
• Medical Directors Council

Communications, chaired by Michelle Haines, MD works with staff to:
Conduct the Society’s media liaison activities and oversight and supervision of the Society’s Publications

• Greater KC Medical Bulletin – quarterly magazine
• Bi-weekly e-newsletter
• Bi-annual pictorial directory
• Websites – metromedkc.org and kcmednet.com

Government Relations, chaired by Jim Kelly, MD is active during the Kansas and Missouri legislative session. The committee meets monthly to discuss legislation in addition to meeting with legislators as well as sets the Society’s public policy agenda.

Membership, chaired by Carole Freiberger, DO . The committee is charged to:

• attract new Society members
• retain current members
• supervise existing programs and initiate new programs which offer services to member

CMS Quality and Resource Use Reports Are Now Available!

CMS reminds physicians in the area that we have released a Medicare Quality and Resource Use Report (QRUR) for physicians who provided Fee-For-Service healthcare to Medicare beneficiaries in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, or Nebraska during 2010.

Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS), jurisdiction 5 (J5) is making the QRURs available to the more than 20,000 physicians in this four-state area. The reports will only be accessible for 3 months following their release.

Last week, WPS sent pre-notification emails to physicians or the point of contact that WPS records indicate the physician designated. These points of contact are asked to provide the reports to the physicians with whom they work.

What Should Physicians Do?
Get in touch with individuals you have designated as your point of contact with WPS – this could be an office manager, billing staff, etc. – let them know that you are interested in receiving your report as soon as it becomes available.

Within the next few days, we will post registration information for upcoming feedback sessions on the following CMS websites HERE  and HERE. These sessions are sponsored by the CMS National Provider Call Program and will provide opportunities to give CMS your feedback and comments about the reports. We will also share the registration information for these sessions with the CMS Kansas City Regional Office and WPS for distribution on appropriate listservs.

If you have questions about the WPS distribution of the QRURs, please visit HERE.

Programming, chaired by Lancer Gates, DO works with staff to:
Develop and coordinate all Society activities to include, member events, and other programs administered and supported by the Society.

• Events – Annual Meeting, Merck series, Plaza Art Fair and holiday open houses, Symposia
• Northland CARE/MetroCARE liaison
• KCMedNet and resident events
• Medical Directors Council

Communications, chaired by Michelle Haines, MD works with staff to:
Conduct the Society’s media liaison activities and oversight and supervision of the Society’s Publications

• Greater KC Medical Bulletin – quarterly magazine
• Bi-weekly e-newsletter
• Bi-annual pictorial directory
• Websites – metromedkc.org and kcmednet.com

Government Relations, chaired by Jim Kelly, MD is active during the Kansas and Missouri legislative session. The committee meets monthly to discuss legislation in addition to meeting with legislators as well as sets the Society’s public policy agenda.

Membership, the chair position is currently open. The committee is charged to:

• attract new Society members
• retain current members
• supervise existing programs and initiate new programs which offer services to members

MSMA Resolutions – Your Issues, Your Chance to Shape Medicine

MSMA House of Delegates resolutions can change the health care environment in Missouri. Submit your resolutions to lbremer@msma.org by February 10th for consideration.

For resolution writing tips, visit www.msma.org/annualconvention

Hear Fred Bloom, MD with Geisinger Health Systems talk about the patient centered medical and how that model fits within Kansas City and the local practice environment.

Listen HERE.

MetroCARE THANK YOU Party

Join Northland CARE/MetroCARE for an appreciation party for all that you and your staff do for the program. Mark your calendars for December 7th from 5:30 – 8:00pm. Join us for live music, great food and drinks and the one best view of the Plaza lights around as we say thank you for another great year of taking care of Kansas City! RSVP here.

Thank you to the sponsors and attendees of the 130th Annual Meetings, over 120 physicians and business leaders attended a special night at the Kauffman Stadium. Len Nichols, PhD, our speaker told the audience that change in health care reform begins and ends with physician engagement. You can read more about Dr. Nichols here at his website for payment innovation.

Congratulations to Steve Reintjes, MD winner of the iPad raffle, proceeds supporting the MetroCARE program.

Holidays on the Plaza

• Residents (& a guest) are invited to network with fellow area Residents as well as Metro Med members on December 1st. Click here for more information.

• MetroCARE THANK YOU Party. Join Northland CARE/MetroCARE for an appreciation party for all that you and your staff do for the program. Mark your calendars for December 7th. RSVP here.

Interested in hosting a party in Metro Med’s office? Contact us for details, 816.531.8432.

Metro Med is celebrating 130 years of helping physicians thrive in Kansas City! Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 27th for our 130 Annual Meeting.

The event will begin at 5:30pm at the Kauffman Stadium, with the reception in the Hall of Fame Museum. Parking is available in Lot M and use Gate C. Staff will be onsite to direct you further.

Len Nichols, will begin speaking at 6:50pm and dinner starts at 8pm. Ask how your practice or hospital can get involved – don’t miss out on this piece of Metro Med history!
 
 

Metro Med Physicians Forming IPA

For more on the Independent Physician Association (IPA) being formed by Nate Granger, MD CLICK HERE for the Business Journal article. The next meeting is November 10th at 6:30pm at Metro Med’s offices, interested independent primary care doctors are especially encouraged to attend.
 
 

Dinner Meeting on the Future of Oncology Care in KC

A joint meeting with the Hematology/Oncology Roundtable and the Medical Directors Council will be held on November 3 starting at 6pm at the Plaza III Steakhouse. CLICK HERE to download a flier for more information and to RSVP.

Guest speakers include community leaders, Drs. Lee Newcomer and Roy Jensen who will lead an informal discussion on various local and national initiatives happening in greater Kansas City.

Did you know that Metro Med and Merck have teamed up to provide renowned speakers on a variety of topics to present FREE dinner meetings to area physicians. This quarterly program has grown into one of best kept secrets and this past Wednesday’s presentation on Models for Patient-Centered Care: Improving Chronic Care Management was one of the best yet! An engaging, knowledgeable and entertaining speaker, William Warning, MD fielded questions and open dialog from those in attendance. If you are interested in receiving a Merck toolkit on chronic care management, email here.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – for the last of this year’s series, Wednesday, November 30th. Dinner starts at 6:30 in the Intercontinental’s Rooftop Ballroom. Hear a great speaker and get a fabulous view of the Plaza lights!
 
 

Celebrate the Plaza Art Fair’s 80th Year in Style

You and a Guest are invited to Metro Med’s Exclusive Members Only Art Fair Reception on Friday, September 23 from 5:30-8:30pm.
Join us in Metro Med’s 2nd Floor Plaza Office, 315 Nichols Road, Suite. 250. Music, Drinks & hors d’oeuvres, Private restrooms, Spectacular bird’s eye view of art fair are provided. You and your guest are invited to come and go throughout the evening.

RSVP here

Thanks to our sponsors – Capson and UMB Bank.

Translational research made the Chamber’s Big 5

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce outlined its 5 Big Ideas for the region, and translational research is a big part of that. This initiative will be led by Dr. Patrick James, senior managing director of Quest Diagnostics’ Kansas business unit and chairman of the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute . Area hospitals and research entities will work together on the bi-state effort. Read more here.

Interested in more about how you can impact research in Kansas City. Email Jill Watson to be a part of Metro Med/KCMedNet’s Clinical Research Task Force.
 
 

Changes in KC’s Health Information Exchange

CLICK HERE for an announcement from ehealthAlign’s Board chair.
 
 

130th Annual Meeting

Metro Med is celebrating 130 years of helping physicians thrive in Kansas City! Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 27th for our 130 Annual Meeting. The event will begin at 5:30pm at the Kauffman Stadium, with the reception in the Hall of Fame Museum. Speaker at 6:30pm and dinner starts at 8pm. Ask how your practice or hospital can get involved – don’t miss out on this piece of Metro Med history!