WKU News

Kentucky Medical Group Management Association Fall Conference

Location: Bowling Green, KY

Date: September 20^th and 21^st

Sessions attended:

Preparing for ICD-10.  Bradley Carter, SVMIC. 

• Deadline for implementation has been delayed to Oct 2014. 
• Materials for assisting in conversion from ICD-9 to ICD-10 including forward and backward mapping. http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/2013-ICD-10-CM-and-GEMs.html
• Recommends 3-6 months of revenue as “cushion” to deal with anticipated payment delays during conversion.

Deal Breakers in Payer Contracts.  Penny Noyes, Health Business Navigators

• Discussion of most common payer contract items that can be detrimental to our practice
• Proposed alternative language that protects practice’s interests
• Monitoring that payments reflect negotiated terms of agreement

Washington Legislative Update.  Jeb Shepard, MGMA Government Affairs

• Current political landscape – Affordable Care Act, Sustainable Growth Rate
• Federal Quality Reporting Systems update.
• General compliance and administrative simplification updates.

KMGMA Business Meeting

• New officers installed
• 2 officers are from local practices
  • Traci Duff (CHC) is President Elect
  • Steve Sinclair (Graves-Gilbert) Treasurer

Kentucky Implementation of the Health Insurance Exchange & Consumer Protections.

• The exchange is a work in progress.  Only skeleton of program has been defined.  The exchange is scheduled to be operational in 2014.
• More information here: http://healthcarereform.ky.gov/
• KY Navigators will assist business and individuals in accessing insurance through the exchange.

KY’s New Prescription Drug Law and Upcoming State Legislative Issues. Cory Meadows, KMA

• CME requirement for prescribers: 1.5 hrs in 2013 and 1.5 hrs in 2014.  Topics include KASPER use, substance abuse screening and testing, etc…
• Sanctions – may include civil liabilities for prescribers.
• KBML fact sheets on website offer guidance, but read HB1 & KBML regs.