The Weekly Dose           Bexar County Medical Society

Week of May 17, 2015

Vol. 4, No. 36

 

 

 

TO REGISTER, PLEASE CLICK HERE

In the market for a new car or truck?


 

Vehicle finance rates are as low as 1.65 percent* for up to five years!

 

Let the BCMS Auto Program  locate a new or pre-owned vehicle for you. Convenient online application for financing and vehicle/equipment requests can be found here

 

 

*with approved credit/credit score 740+


 

 

'Every Necessary Care and Attention: George Washington and Medicine'

 

 

UTHSCSA

Briscoe Library May 11-June 20

 

Exhibit developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health with George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, Museum and Gardens

For more information, contact

Anne Comeaux,

210-567-2426

 

TRENDING TOPICS

 

Doctors

Contact Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus today and urge them

to support $460 million allocation for Medicaid to Medicare

payment parity

 

 

By Mary E. Nava, MBA

Chief Governmental and Community Relations Officer 

 

The 84th Legislative Session is going fast, and with only 15 days remaining, a flurry of activity is taking place. During the past week, BCMS physicians, along with other TMA members from around the state, contacted members of the House Calendars Committee to urge that HB 1263, the bill that would have allowed direct access to physical therapists without a referral from a physician, not reach the House floor. The bill was never scheduled for debate. BCMS and TMA appreciate the support of all our members during these critical "Calls to Action." 

 

At the time of this writing, the House-Senate budget conferees are still meeting on the state budget considerations for the 2016-17 biennium.  Now, it's time to contact the offices of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (512-463-0001) and House Speaker Joe Straus (512-461-1000) to urge their support for the House proposal that would allocate $460 million in the General Revenue Fund to restore primary care physicians' Medicaid payments to Medicare parity. Please contact them today!

 

Another topic of much discussion during this session has been telemedicine. With the recent adoption of new telemedicine rules by the Texas Medical Board, this has also been a topic of great interest in the news media. To see BCMS President James Humphreys, MD, in an interview with News 4 WOAI, click here.

 

Stay tuned to this column as the 84th Legislative Session continues.  For more information on any of the items mentioned above, please check the BCMS website.

 

For local discussion on this and other legislative advocacy topics, consider joining the BCMS Legislative and Socioeconomics Committee by contacting Mary Nava. 

 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

 

 

LINRON® Bioskills Training Institute is now offering

ATLS, ACLS, and PALS courses in San Antonio

 

ATLS® Refresher Course: May 23

PALS Renewal Course: May 27

PALS Initial Provider Course: May 28-29

 

All courses have pre-test requirements and mandatory training materials.

For details call Yolanda S. Garza, RN, at 210-572-2434

 

To register, click here.

To see more classes, click here

 

 

Circle of Friends web logo 

 

 

Thank you to our BCMS Circle of Friends sponsors! This information is sent on behalf of a valued sponsor at the gold level, but it is not an endorsement. Donations from Circle of Friends sponsors help keep down the cost of dues and allow BCMS to continue to provide quality service to its members. The society continues its pledge to you and only will involve itself in services and programs that benefit you, the member, and your patients.

 

 

 

 

 

Physician Outreach Program

Office of Physician Advocacy 


 

In conjunction with Bexar County Medical Society, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is pleased to offer Individual, 30-minute mini-conferences for physicians and/or their office staff members.

 

YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

 

Ask questions impacting your practice, including:

·         Authorizations, benefits, medical policy and appeals;

·         Discuss specific claims issues including bundling;

·         Electronic filing and online tools specific to BCBSTX;

·         Marketplace.


 

Meet BCBSTX representatives.

 

Make connections you will be able to contact directly.

 

Get information about online and individual training opportunities.

 

There is no cost to participate in this outreach program!

 

Specialty trainers from provider education and customer service will be available, along with representatives from the provider relations and the office of physician advocacy. You will have the chance to discuss issues regarding BCBSTX Blue Choice PPO/POS, HMO Blue, Blue Advantage (BAV) HMO, as well as Marketplace and Blue Card issues.

 

WHEN:

Wednesday, May 20, and Thursday, May 21

Available times between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.


WHERE: 

Bexar County Medical Society

6243 W. IH-10, Suite 600, San Antonio 78201

 

CONTACT:

To schedule your 30-minute mini-conference, 

contact BCMS at 210-301-4391. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 About The Weekly Dose 

  The Weekly Dose is a service of the Bexar County Medical Society.

Some of the suggestions conveyed may not be applicable to your practice today, but the goal is to offer information over time that returns value in excess

of the cost of your membership.

If you would like to recommend future topics to share with your colleagues,

please submit them to the BCMS Executive Director at steve.fitzer@bcms.org.

All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

Copyright © 2015  Bexar County Medical Society, San Antonio, Texas.

 

 

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Bexas County Medical Society
| 6243 I-10 West, Suite 600 | San Antonio | TX | 78201