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| PM News | |
The Voice of Podiatrists
Serving Over 15,756 Podiatrists Daily
June 25, 2014 #5,094  Publisher-Barry Block, DPM, JD
A partner of Podiatry Management http://www.podiatrym.com
E-mail us by hitting the reply key.
COPYRIGHT 2014- No part of PM News can be reproduced without the
written permission of Barry Block
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| PM NEWS QUICK POLL | |
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| STATE PODIATRY NEWS | |
Executive Director of NV Podiatry Board Charged with Embezzlement
The executive director of the Nevada Podiatry Board has been charged with embezzling thousands of dollars from that board’s accounts. Melissa Marie Heyden, director of the board for six years, was charged with allegedly writing checks to her husband Joel Chavez from the board’s bank account and falsifying board financial records to show the checks went to a board member.
She was arrested Monday afternoon and jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail on a felony charge of misappropriation/falsification of accounts. Heyden, 32, resigned the director’s position after being confronted with the charges. Attorney General’s Special Investigator Wayne Fazzino said Heyden admitted writing the checks. He said Heyden also said she was prepared to make restitution once the investigation is complete.
Source: Geoff Dorman, Nevada Appeal [6/23/14]
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| INTERNATIONAL PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS | |
Discolored Nails Can Be Due to Micro-Trauma: Canadian Podiatrist
Podiatrists, such as Dr. Marshall Baer of Victoria, are more concerned with improper summer footwear than the toenails. And as for toenails, Baer said a big cause of discoloration or curling can be traced to allowing them to grow too long. When toenails become too long, or are not properly maintained, they can be subjected to repeated pressure applications, or “microtraumas” inside a shoe such as when the toes are jammed into the toe.
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Dr. Marshall Baer |
“Repetitive micro-trauma injuries are the No. 1 cause of toenails to become discolored,” said Baer. “I see that all the time in my practice. A patient comes in and says ‘My GP says this is a fungus.’ I look at it and say ‘This is not a fungus, this is wear and tear on the toenail.’ ” The repetitive stress can also cause the toenail to lift off the nail bed and cause a painful blister underneath.
Source: Richard Watts, Times Colonist [6/23/14]
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| IN THE COURTS | |
MCO Not Vicariously Liable for Podiatrist's Alleged Negligence: MD Court
In an appellate decision by the Court of Appeals of Maryland on June 19, 2014, a large Maryland malpractice verdict in favor of a woman who lost a portion of her foot due to the alleged medical malpractice of her podiatrist, who was a listed provider through her managed care organization ("MCO"), was vacated because the podiatrist was neither an employee of the MCO nor its apparent agent.
The MCO's directory listed 38 specialists in podiatry within the MCO network, including the one chosen by the plaintiff for her foot pain due to a bunion on her foot. The plaintiff saw the podiatrist at his private office, which was not located at any of the MCO's primary care centers. The podiatrist's contract with the MCO (one of several MCOs in which the podiatrist participated) stated that the podiatrist was not an employee or agent of the MCO, and was an independent contractor.
Source: Insurance News Net [6/24/14]
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| MEDICARE NEWS | |
Doctors Can Bill Pharmacist Services 'Incident-To,' CMS Says
The federal government has taken another step to make the patient-centered medical home financially viable. Medical practices have explicit permission to bill Medicare for the services of a pharmacist on an incident-to basis. Pharmacists work directly with patients at both large integrated health systems such as Kaiser Permanente as well as a growing number of small, primary care practices. Their duties range from providing medication reconciliation and patient education to administrating immunizations and tests such as spirometry.
Some physicians have wondered if and how they should charge Medicare for the work of in-house pharmacists. One option is billing for their services as incidental to what a physician normally does, as if the physician had personally rendered them. Simply put, a physician is charging for someone else's services under his or her own Medicare provider number. Physicians frequently rely on the incident-to method to get reimbursed for the work of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Medicare pays 100% of what it would normally pay a physician, as long as certain requirements, such as direct supervision of auxiliary personnel, are met. They can be an outright employee, a leased employee, or an independent contractor.
Source: Robert Lowes, Medscape News via Dr. Russell F. Trahan [6/19/14]
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| QUERIES (NON-CLINICAL) | |
Query: Best Way to Sell a Practice
I am interested in retiring soon. What avenues are available to market and sell a podiatry practice and/or a building?
Name Withheld
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| CODINGLINE CORNER | |
Query: Sale of Practice and Billing New Patient Visits
Since I will be retiring in July, and will not be seeing patients, and the new doctor will have a different billing system, can he bill the patients he will see as new patients?
Thomas A. Zoldowski, DPM, Toledo, OH
Response: Whether or not the new doctor has a different billing system, the same rules apply. If the patient has been seen by the new physician or another physician of the same group practice within the last 3 years, the patient is considered established to that new doctor.
Joan Gilhooly, CPC, CPCO, Lebanon, OH
Codingline subscription information can be found here
APMA Members: Click here for your free Codingline Silver subscription
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| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1 | |
From: John Romans
Dr. Kass, please accept my apology as an unannounced service disruption is unacceptable. I’d like to provide a brief update on our activities.
One year ago, PADnet, along with the trade name BioMedix, was purchased by Collaborative Care Diagnostics (CCD) from BioMedix Vascular Solutions. In our first year of operation, we have secured our supply chain, launched our new Customer Care Center (T. 888-889-8997), converted our secure cloud-based services and applications over to a more robust server center, and entered into a strategic partnership with SureFit to deliver a comprehensive diabetic foot program to podiatric physicians (sales@SureFitLab.com) 800.298.6050 (SureFitLab.com/PADnet). We’ve also begun shipping our latest generation dual mode PADnet 2.0 device.
With these achievements completed, our focus has been on making sure all our clients have updated service agreements so we’re able to provide the service and support you expect and deserve. Knowing transitions are hard, particularly in light of the disruptions caused by the change in ownership of TRAKnet, we’ve created a Customer Appreciation Program called CAP, crediting accounts for pre-paid PADnet and/or TRAKnet services that may not have been delivered on by BioMedix Vascular Solutions.
That said, we clearly still have work to do. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you and others to review your account with the hope that we may continue to support your collaborative care efforts in managing patients with lower extremity vascular disease.
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| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 2 | |
From: Joseph Borreggine, DPM
Based on certain state laws and federal anti-Stark laws, a physician cannot have ownership in a pharmacy. However, certain specialty pharmacies currently have been aggressively soliciting podiatrists and other physician groups/specialties nationally to invest indirectly in these pharmacies.
In certain proposals, they state that they could provide incentive dollars to their physicians who provide initial pain evaluation surveys to their patients who receive specially formulated pain-relieving prescriptions.
They also state that further incentive dollars may be paid to...
Editor's note: Dr. Borreggine's extended-length letter can be read here.
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| RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NEWS STORIES) | |
From: Hartley Miltchin, DPM
Dr. Sev Hrywnak is a gem among our profession and deserves all the awards and accolades he receives. With his vast knowledge of podiatry, medicine, and healthcare in the U.S., he is truly a unique member of the podiatric community. His passion is teaching, informing, lobbying for positive change, and sharing much knowledge to students, residents, and peers.
Whenever I meet graduates from Scholl, I ask if they were taught by Dr. Hrywnak, and their immediate reply is usually "I will never forget what he taught me; he is one of the most giving professors I have ever had." This is a well deserved award for giving back to the less fortunate. We need more like him.
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Choose any or ALL (50 CME Contact Hours) from the 30+ CME Category-1 articles posted
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| CLASSIFIED ADS |
NURSING HOME OPPORTUNITY – STATEN ISLAND, NY
Nursing Home patient care opportunity. Staten Island , 1 morning (9-12) per week. Must have NY license, med mal insurance. Available August 1. You must be ethical. Quality care expected. call 212 794 0089
ASSOCIATE POSITION - CENTRAL NEW JERSEY
Immediate FT opportunity for an associate position leading to buy-in/partnership. Self motivated, hardworking individual surgically trained to join 30 plus year very well established practice with high patient volume. Competitive salary and benefit package. Send CV to jerseypod@gmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – CONNECTICUT
Immediate position for full time ethical and motivated surgeon for a busy single location practice. Competitive compensation available leading to buy in. Board certification a plus but must have excellent forefoot and rearfoot experience. Just miles from a residency training program with hospital privileges available. bfsoffice@4udr.com
WELL ESTABLISHED AND EXTREMELY BUSY PRACTICE - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Seeking surgically trained, Board Certified/Board Eligible podiatrist immediately. Competitive salary and benefits compensation offered for all aspects of care including surgery, office hours, nursing home and managed care. Spanish speaking is a definite plus. We have EMR and digital x-ray. Please email your CV and coverletter to ocpodiatryoffice@gmail.com
ASSOCIATE POSITION – NYC
Busy surgical podiatry group looking for a part time associate to start immediately. This position can lead to full time work within 6 months. Must be willing to rotate through offices in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Great opportunity for personal and professional Please contactdrlevy@starrettpodiatry.com.
ASSOCIATE POSITION – BROOKLYN, NY
Excellent opportunity for a motivated, ethical, and enthusiastic associate to join a successful, well established hospital affiliated practice. Must be residency trained PSR 24/36. Board eligible/certified by ABPS preferred. Must be component in forefoot and rear foot surgery. Competitive salary with incentives commensurate with performance. Email CV to manfootcare@aol.com or fax to: 718-875-3171
ASC STAFF PRIVILEGES AVAILABLE - NEW JERSEY
Fair Lawn ASC (ambulatory surgical center) is accepting applications for staff privileges. NJ license needed. Patient transportation available in the tri state area. Equity buy-in available. Call 516 476-1815 PODO2345@AOL.COM
PRACTICE FOR SALE – DELRAY BEACH, FL
Rare opportunity for turn-key practice in Delray Beach, Florida. EMR compliant. All office-based revenue. Full time busy practice. Owner willing to assist with transition as long as needed. Priced to sell. Serious inquires only please. Email for more information: podpractice55@gmail.com
OFFICE FOR SALE - S.E. FLORIDA
20 year old office, South Palm Beach County. Owners looking to semi-retire. Location in very busy section of Delray - Boynton. Serious inquiries only. Asking $175,000. Email reply - Bafamt@aol.com
MEDICAL OFFICE AVAILABLE - STATEN ISLAND
medical center with great parking in modern well kept multi office building. Concord, S.I., near bus, taxi, and highway. 1000 square feet (approximate), air conditioned, water available all treatment rooms, cabinets in place for purchase from previous Podiatrist. long lease available. Call 212 794 0089
SPACE TO SHARE - MANHATTAN AND LI
Desirable locations on Upper East Side, Gramercy, the Financial District, and Plainview (North Shore Long Island). Extremity MRI and cat scan available in selected offices. Call 516 476-1815 PODO2345@AOL.COM
PRACTICE FOR SALE- DAYTONA BEACH, FL
Established practice in beautiful Daytona Beach Florida for sale. Doctor retiring after 40 years in this location. Practice has included all routine podiatric care, minor surgeries, wound care providing diabetic footwear. Currently a part-time practice, but definitely has full-time potential. Email inquiries to: feetinflorida@yahoo.com
THREE OUTSTANDING PODIATRY PRACTICES FOR SALE - NYC
West Village practice, stunning location on Fifth Ave, asking 685K, fully furnished. 20+years. Middle Village podiatry practice asking 95K, with existing medical condo for 379K. Midtown podiatry practice, 10+ years, asking 95K. Call Jeff Tanenbaum, Tanenbaum Healthcare @Halstead Property Park Ave.,646-234-2226 , jtanenbaum@halstead.com.
PART-TIME PRACTICE FOR SALE - GLENDALE CALIFORNIA
Rid yourself of totally relying on insurance payments for your services by using fluid Silicone implants. Great financial potential for an informed Podiatrist willing to promote this knowledge. Part-time practice also includes Medicare and cash pay patient base. Great location with low overhead. 818-241-4781
PM News Classified Ads Reach over 15,500 DPMs and Students
Whether you have used equipment to sell or are offering an associate position, PM News classified ads are the fastest, most-effective way of reaching over 15,500 DPMs. for details, click here or write to: bblock@podiatrym.com or call (718) 897-9700 for details. For commercial or display ads contact David Kagan at (800) 284-5451
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| Disclaimers |
Acceptance and publication by this newsletter of an advertisement, news story, or letter does not imply endorsement or approval by Barry Block or Kane Communications of the company, product, content or ideas expressed in this newsletter. Podiatric Medical News does not represent the views, and is a separate entity from Podiatry Management® Magazine and Podiatry Management® Online. Any information pertaining to legal matters should not be considered to be legal advice, which can only be obtained via individual consultation with an attorney. Information about Medicare billing should be confirmed with your State CAC.
THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR
ENTITY TO WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS
PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.
If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an
employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please
immediately notify me and you are hereby instructed to delete all
electronic copies and destroy all printed copies.
DISCLAIMER: Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be
either timely or free of viruses.
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