The HCMA will be closed on Monday, October 10th in observance of Columbus Day.
Pertinent Information
Urgent call for physician volunteers
Florida needs qualified health care practitioners to support recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Ian. Currently, there are over 200 shelters operating to serve displaced Floridians, and rescue efforts continue for those who did not evacuate. Immediate assistance for affected areas is provided by first responders, health care practitioners, government groups, disaster relief organizations, and affiliated volunteers who are already trained and ready to serve. It is important for health care practitioners to not self-deploy, but to instead register with trusted organizations so response efforts can be coordinated properly. You are encouraged to register, if you are able to volunteer, with Volunteer Florida to ensure you are placed where the greatest needs exist.
VOTE - Election Day is November 8th, 7am-7pm
Deadline to Register: October 11
Eligible individuals can register to vote at any time. The deadline to register in order to participate in an upcoming election is 29 days before the election.
Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Deadline: October 29
Vote-by-Mail Ballot Return Deadline: Received by the Supervisor of
Elections in the county of registration no later than 7pm, November 8
Early Voting Period, 7am-7pm:
- Hillsborough County: October 24 - November 6
- Pinellas County: October 24 - November 6
- Pasco County: October 26 - November 5
Check the Supervisor of Election websites below to find an early voting location near you.
https://www.votehillsborough.gov/
https://www.votepinellas.gov/
https://www.pascovotes.gov/
HILLPAC Endorsed Candidates
The Hillsborough Medical Political Action Committee (HILPAC) is a separate political arm of the HCMA. The HILLPAC Board has met and the following Hillsborough candidates have been endorsed for 2022:
- Janet Cruz (D) for Senate District 14
- Darryl Rouson (D) for Senate District 16
- Danny Burgess (R) for Senate District 23
- Susan Valdes (D) for House District 64
- Karen Gonzalez-Pittman (R) for House District 65
- Traci Koster (R) for House District 66
- Fentrice Driskell (D) for House District 67
- Lawrence McClure (R) for House District 68
- Mike Beltran (R) for House District 70
No endorsements were made for Senate District 20 or House Districts 62, 63, or 69.
Encourage a colleague to join!
Throughout all the changes in healthcare, your HCMA has remained a strong leader at the local, state, and national levels. Please encourage your colleagues in surrounding counties to join the HCMA as AFFILIATE members. Share this edition of Enews or direct them to our website to learn more about the HCMA and all the benefits we offer! Your assistance is appreciated as we continue to provide great benefits and services to members and the community.
ONC rules on information blocking
In April 2021, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) rules on information blocking went into effect. Information blocking is defined as practices that are likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI). Physicians, hospitals, electronic health record vendors, health information exchanges, and health information networks (also known as “Actors”), are all subject to ONC's regulations. Since April 2021, information blocking requirements have been focused on a narrow subset of EHI.
However, starting October 6, 2022, ONC’s information blocking requirements shift to the entire set of EHI. After October 6, physicians and other Actors will be responsible for the access, exchange, or use of the full EHI requirement. The attached document provides an overview of the information blocking regulations, EHI definition, and recommendations for physicians to prepare for the upcoming deadline.
AMA: New 2023 CPT code set includes burden-reducing revisions
Building on its efforts to reduce administrative tasks in medicine—a driver of burnout and a central pillar of its Recovery Plan for America’s Physicians—the American Medical Association (AMA) has released the 2023 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set. The nation’s leading data-sharing terminology for medical procedures and services, the 2023 CPT code set contains burden-reducing revisions to the codes and guidelines for most evaluation and management (E/M) services.
Modifications to the E/M codes for inpatient and observation care services, consultations, emergency department services, nursing facility services, home and residence services, and prolonged services are among 393 editorial changes in the 2023 CPT code set, which includes 225 new codes, 75 deletions, and 93 revisions. Click here for more information.
AMA Resources
TOOLKIT: Simplified Outpatient E/M Documentation and Coding
Reduce workload and unnecessary burdens in your practice by applying new time-saving E/M documentation and coding changes in just 4 steps with this new AMA STEPS Forward® toolkit. Learn More.
PODCAST: AMA STEPS Forward® Podcast Episode 33: Improve Patient Care with Collaborative Care Team Models. Dr. Jeff Panzer, family physician and Vice President of Care Transformation, and Erica Deming, Care Team Coordinator at Heartland Health Centers Chicago, discuss collaborative care team models and the positive impact this approach can have on patient care. LISTEN HERE: (Apple Podcasts | Spotify)
PLAYBOOK: PRIVATE PRACTICE PLAYBOOK – VIDEO OVERVIEW
Considering private practice but not sure how to get started? The AMA STEPS Forward® Private Practice Playbook is a free resource that highlights the benefits and challenges of opening and operating a private practice. Watch a Brief Overview and then Download the Playbook.
Sharpen your telehealth skills: 9 Tips for Doctors
Steven Shook, MD, virtual health lead at the Cleveland Clinic, and Kent Northcote, MD, medical director in charge of "webside manner" at telehealth provider MDLIVE, who both train doctors to communicate better via telehealth, shared some of their advice. See if some of it might work for you.
Are you prepared for a Cyber Attack?
Do you have the appropriate coverage in place to respond? The new vulnerabilities in the cyber environment have made securing a cyber liability policy critical. Let the professionals at Shea Barclay Group, an HCMA Benefit Provider, do a review of your current policy and give you the peace of mind your business is protected! Reach out to them today 813-251-2580. View Shea Barclay's short cyber security video by clicking here.
HCMA Foundation's Charity Golf Classic - another way to participate
Can't play? Visit the Foundation's Amazon Smile wish list for raffle prize donations. Raffle items are a big part of the day's fun - and another way we raise money on golf day! Please take a look at our wish list for an easy way to donate some raffle items:
1. Sign into Amazon
2. Review our Wish List!
For more information about the tournament, click here.
HCMA Database & Website - New and Improved!
In order to make use of our innovative new database and all of its features, all HCMA members need to create a password for their profile.
By setting up your profile, it will ensure that you have full access to our website in which you can update your office information, your home mailing address, RSVP to our events, pay dues, and receive all future correspondence from the HCMA.
Please follow these few simple steps to set up your profile:
- Log in to your HCMA account at www.hcma.net
- Click the orange sign-in icon located in the upper right-hand corner
- Enter your email address - IF YOU HAVE NOT CREATED A PASSWORD YET, click the "forgot password" link and follow the instructions.
If you have any questions please contact Anni Blackwell
