Notes From the IMG World

Summer 2017

 

New TMA IMG Chair: “Your Contribution Will be Invaluable”

Plano psychiatrist Sejal Mehta, MD, was elected chair of the TMA International Medical Graduate section at TexMed 2017 in Houston in May.

To kick off her two-year term, Dr. Mehta penned the letter below, encouraging her fellow IMGs to be as active as possible in the organization.

Greetings IMGs!

I am privileged to have the honor of serving as your Texas Medical Association IMG Section Chair at this critical time in medicine. The IMG section has a very vibrant history and even brighter future. IMG Section has been lucky to have several esteemed leaders in the past, who worked relentlessly for IMG interests.

IMGs!!!!

Why we are still considered IMGs? We have worked on American soil for years serving our patients. We are as American as anyone can be. We are in traffic jams for July 4 fireworks, rushing to post office on April 15 to fill our tax returns, and voting in every election deciding the country’s future. 

We are well assimilated, for sure. 

At the same time, even after two decades of practicing in this country, try applying for another state’s medical license. You will be candidly reminded that even at the peak of your career, you are still an IMG who needs to contact your medical school administration to verify your medical training, which took place three decades ago.

This is just one example. Each one of us has a story to tell. Each one of us has an experience to share. TMA-IMG Section is your voice. 

Can I give you numbers of current unmatched IMGs? Yes.

Will I do that? No.

Not now, not today.

Today, I want to reach out to each one of you and invite you to participate in the TMA-IMG Section. The IMG Section has the vision of being an inclusive and powerful voice for safe patient care and IMG physician advocacy at the same time. We are a beautiful rainbow on the medical service delivery horizon. Let’s add more colors to that rainbow.

IMG Section is undertaking several projects. Your contribution will be invaluable.

To let us know if you want to be part of this beautiful rainbow, contact Karen Kollar, staff to the IMG Section, at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1448, or karen.kollar[at]texmed[dot]org.

Stay tuned …

Excited to hear from you,
Sejal Mehta, MD, MBA
Chair, TMA-IMG Section 

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Deadline Looming to Comply With Medicaid Enrollment Requirement

What are you doing this summer? Planning a trip? Relaxing by the pool? Just going to keep working?

That all sounds good. 

But if you or your practice orders or refers for Medicaid patients — even if you do not otherwise participate in Medicaid — here’s something you better do: Enroll in Medicaid before Oct. 1.

If you already have a Medicaid provider number or have already enrolled as an ordering- and referring-only practice, you’re way ahead of the game. Go kick up your feet.

If you haven’t, you’d better get on it — Enrollment is required under the Affordable Care Act, and Oct. 1 will be here before you know it.

Enrollment applies to physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and other health professionals and providers — anybody in your practice who orders or refers for Medicaid patients.

It also applies to physicians who only care for dual-eligible patients — those who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid — and who order Medicaid-only services for those patients (the requirement does not apply to crossover claims). If that’s you, you must enroll as an ordering and referring physician.

“Good to know, but how do I enroll?” you ask? Click on the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) website. It’ll give you way more information than we can here.

Now, if you’re a physician whose only relationship with Texas Medicaid is to order or refer services to Medicaid clients, TMHP has developed an abbreviated enrollment application, which you can find here.

But wait, there’s more. There always is, isn’t there?

If you’re submitting a claim for services that require an order or a referral, you must include the National Provider Identifier (NPI) of the ordering, prescribing, or referring provider on the claim.

Furthermore, residents and interns at your practice will be able to order and refer using the supervising physician’s NPI, or they can use their own if they have one.

Very importantly, after Oct. 1, Medicaid patients who attempt to fill a prescription will be unable to do so if the ordering and referring physician or provider is not enrolled. Other examples of services that require an order or referral include:  

  • Clinical, radiological, or laboratory services;
  • Home health agency services;
  • Durable medical equipment;
  • Eyeglasses; and 
  • Hearing aids.    

The requirement applies to whether a patient is enrolled in Medicaid managed care or fee-for-service. 

So now you know. Enroll now so you can have a beach umbrella hanging over your head this summer instead of a deadline. 

If you have questions about any of this, call TMHP at (800) 925-9126. 

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Texas Stands Tall in AMA House 

Texans won big, in both political and policy arenas, at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association House of Delegates.

More than 100 Texas physicians, residents, medical students, and alliance members representing the Texas Medical Association, various sections, and national specialty societies participated in the June 10-14 meeting in Chicago. The Texas delegation left the meeting having elected both candidates it ran for AMA office and winning adoption of several Texas policy statements.

Among the most hotly contested issues were AMA’s stance on proposed changes to U.S. Medicaid funding and the imposition of maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements on physicians.

No Medicaid Block Grants 

The House of Delegates adopted a simple statement that AMA opposes caps on federal Medicaid funding, a key financing provision in congressional Republicans’ plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

“Capping Medicaid funding would be disastrous for patients by limiting medical responses to unforeseen events and medical innovations,” AMA Board of Trustees Member Carl A. Sirio, MD, said after the vote. “Physicians and states need the flexibility to respond.”

But, led by Fort Worth pediatrician Melissa Garretson, MD, delegates rejected a proposal for AMA to advocate a nine-point set of principles should Congress move ahead with a Medicaid cap. Dr. Garretson and others argued successfully that AMA should not “show its hand” in the face of heated debate on health system reform.

CME, Not MOC 

Physicians expressed their continued outrage at mandatory MOC requirements and at the national boards that administer the certification programs. Long lines of delegates queued at the reference committee microphones to debate MOC with physicians representing the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and other boards.

Two days later, the house unanimously adopted the reference committee report, which called for:  

  • Recognition that “high quality continuing medical education (CME) appropriate to that physician’s medical practice” is the best approach to lifelong learning for physicians;
  • The elimination of high-stakes examinations in MOC; 
  •  ABMS to continue to display publicly a physician’s initial board certification status even if the physician chooses not to participate in MOC; 
  • Further studies of how AMA can help state medical societies lobby for laws — such as recently passed by the Texas Legislature — that bar state licensing boards, hospitals, and insurance companies from requiring MOC; and 
  •  Further study of a proposal to oppose ABMS direct-to-consumer marketing that links MOC participation with improved health outcomes.  

Other Issues Merit Action

 Delegates addressed various other economic, legislative, and organizational topics. Among those, the house:  

  • Called for opposing laws that would deny entry or reentry to the United States of international medical students and international medical graduates who are in the country legally, and 
  • Adopted several resolutions advocating for better health care services for families held in immigration detention centers.   

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Focus on Member Services: Business of Medicine

Your TMA membership delivers expertise on the business of medical practice. Physician members turn to TMA for help with challenges such as contract negotiation and structuring salaries, and for access to dynamic programs like the TMA Leadership College.

If you're just starting out, a TMA practice setup can put you on solid footing from day one without costing you a fortune in time and money. 

As a TMA member, you also have access to resources that’ll help you run your practice “like a boss”: 

  • Business of Medicine resource center: Regardless of what stage of practice you’re in, TMA has tools to help you organize your finances, build a patient base, and make business decisions with confidence. 
  • Practice operations consulting: TMA’s experts can work with you to keep your practice at peak performance. Services range from an operations or revenue-cycle assessment to an embezzlement risk review. Custom services are also available.
  • Tools for surviving residency and beyond: Get convenient, on-demand access to the information you need to survive residency and to transition successfully into active practice .
  • Insurance: You can protect yourself personally and professionally using exclusive products and services from TMA endorsed vendors, TMA Insurance Trust, and Texas Medical Liability Trust. 

Visit the TMA website for more information on how TMA can help you with the business side of medicine.

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October Outreach: Get on Board

It’s not too early to start planning a TMA outreach event in October. Here are two opportunities that will allow you to help keep your community healthy: 

  • Hard Hats for Little Heads Month: Now in its 23rd year, TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads is going strong. Be part of the ongoing success by planning a bike helmet giveaway in October. You could give helmets at a fall or community festival, National Night Out event, or a stand-alone giveaway. 
  • TMA provides everything you need for a successful event: helmets, event signage, promotional flyers, educational handouts, and media relations support. When you purchase up to 50 helmets, TMA will match your purchase with free helmets. Helmets are $7.60 each, including shipping. Be sure to order your helmets and other supplies at least a month in advance.
  • Influenza Awareness Day: Be Wise — ImmunizeSM wants to have at least 12 flu shot clinics in October, which marks the start of flu season. Will you help? You can host your clinic any time during the month, from Influenza Awareness Day on Oct. 1 through the end of the month. If you can’t host a shot clinic, TMA has tools you can use to educate about the importance of flu vaccination (infographic and fact sheet).  

If you do decide to host or help at a Hard Hats event, TMA’s new helmet fit infographic shows kids how their helmet should fit and can help parents do a better job of fitting them. This new tool is available for you to use at helmet giveaway events or to post in physicians’ offices, schools, and other local spots where parents and kids gather. Feel free to download or request copies from TMA. 

To find out how you can get involved, contact Tammy Wishard, TMA’s outreach coordinator, or call (512) 370-1470. 

TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads and Be Wise — Immunize are made possible in 2017 through grants from TMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of TMA. Generous gifts from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, an anonymous physician and spouse, and TMAF Make-A-Difference donors make Hard Hats possible, and top donations from H-E-B and TMF Health Quality Institute make Be Wise possible. Both programs also are supported by TMA and TMA Alliance members and friends of medicine. 

Be Wise — Immunize is a service mark of the Texas Medical Association

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Are You Getting the Most From Your TMA Membership?

Check TMA’s return on investment calculator to see what other benefits and services you can tap into.  

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Connect With TMA on Social Media 

Are you keeping up with TMA on social media? 

TMA is very active on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn. We also have a robust YouTube channel with hundreds of videos by and about TMA. These pages help us communicate with our more than 49,000 members and keep you informed about news, events, member benefits, and our advocacy efforts.   

We hope you will follow, like, tweet, and engage with us. We’d also like to hear from you! If you have any social media questions or suggestions, contact Jen Rios in the TMA Communication Division at jennifer.rios[at]texmed[dot]org.   

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Register Now for TMA's Fall Conference

Registration is now open for the 2017 TMA Fall Conference, which is scheduled for Sept. 15-16 at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. This free member benefit lets you reconnect with colleagues and learn more about what’s new in Texas health care.

This year’s programming will feature a recap of the 85th legislative session. It also will include a discussion of the long- and short-term effects of abuse and neglect and other adverse childhood experiences. 

Register today and make your room reservation at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines. For more information about the conference, please visit the TMA Fall Conference website

Questions? Email the TMA Knowledge Center or call (800) 880-7955 Monday through Friday, 8:15 am to 5:15 pm central time.

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Deadlines for Doctors

TMA’s Deadlines for Doctors alerts you and your staff to upcoming state and federal compliance timelines and offers information on key health policy issues that impact your practice. 

8/31
Last Day of the Final Determination Period for 2017 Advanced Alternative Payment Models

10/2
Last 90-Day Period for the 2017 MIPS Performance Year

12/31
Last Day of the 2017 MIPS Performance Year

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TMA Education Center

The TMA Education Center offers convenient, one-stop access to the continuing medical education Texas physicians need. TMA’s practice management, cancer, and physician health courses are now easier than ever to find online.  

Seminars/Live Webcast
Modern Marketing for Five-Star Reviews
Austin
July 28

On-Demand Webinars
Innovation in Education for Cardiovascular Risk Patients: Heart Healthy Diet and Lifestyle

Making Discussions About Death and Dying Easier

HIPAA Training for Medical Office Staff

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Last Updated On

February 25, 2021

Originally Published On

September 13, 2010

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