October 14, 2020

Celebrating 228 Years

1792 - 2020
HCMA - Leading the Change
Governor Lamont Announces Membership of the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group

Governor Ned Lamont announced his appointments to serve on the Governor’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group. The group will be responsible for advising the governor on preparations for a COVID-19 vaccine, including the optimization of a statewide vaccine distribution strategy, and communicating critical medical information about the vaccine with the state’s residents. Dr. Khuram Ghumman, president of the Hartford County Medical Association, and Dr. Leslie Miller, president of the Fairfield County Medical Association, were made members of the Allocation subgroup.  
HCMA will host a special hour long, light, enjoyable event, so mark your calendar and plan ahead with a bottle of wine or soda.
CMIC Group Rebrands as Integris Group
The CMIC Group has rebranded as Integris Group and reorganized into a Mutual Insurance Holding Company effective October 1, after having received approval by the Connecticut Insurance Department as well as from the CMIC Group board and its membership.
 
“Mutuality is at the core of who we are as a Company,” said Stephen J. Gallant, CEO of Integris Group. “This reorganization allows us to maintain that mutuality and continue to deliver comprehensive coverage and service while also enhancing our ability to compete in a rapidly changing market. By reorganizing into a Mutual Holding Company, we can look to broaden our products and services to better serve our insured providers operating in an ever-changing healthcare industry.”
 
In conjunction with its reorganization, the Company has also launched a new name, brand and website. 
 
“Our new name, Integris Group, honors both the integrity and stability with which we were founded as well as our vision for the future,” said Mr. Gallant. “It represents our core values as a company founded by and for healthcare providers, while also encompassing our continued expansion and growth.”
 
Later this fall, the Company will roll out new and streamlined portals for their policyholders and producer partners. These were created to provide an enhanced user experience with additional tools, resources and functionality.
 
“Investing in our members has been a focus of the Company for decades,” said Mr. Gallant. “Our new website and member portals were created with their needs at the forefront. We look forward to our policyholders and partners enjoying an improved user experience and welcome their feedback as we look to continually advance our platforms to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving industry.”
 
Originally a Connecticut based company established more than 35 years, the Company has expanded throughout New England and the mid-Atlantic, providing robust professional liability coverage and gold standard customer services to healthcare providers and facilities within its growing footprint. Integris Group is based out of its Glastonbury, CT headquarters, where it has resided since the 1980’s.
 
For more information on Integris Group, please visit the Company website at www.integrisgrp.com.
Community Health Center of Connecticut has extended hours at its COVID testing sites.

Most locations are now administering free COVID tests from 8:30 am - 4 pm. No appointment is required. CHC Connecticut also offers flu shots. Patients may be eligible to receive the shot before or after your test.
 
Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of these free tests, especially if you are an essential worker. Frequent testing plays an important role in halting the spread of the virus.
 
Click here to find a CHC testing site in your community.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Deadline Extended

Good news for Connecticut medical practices and other employers: the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities updated its deadline for employers to complete sexual harassment prevention training by giving a blanket 90-day extension of time for all employers. Previously, that deadline was set for October 1, 2020 and extensions were only granted upon request.

Now, with the Connecticut Governor extending the state of emergency through February 2021, the deadline for training has been extended to January 1, 2021 for all employers without the need to seek an extension.

CMS Unable to Disburse Incentive Payments for Some Physicians Due to Inaccurate Billing Information

For the second year in a row, CMS is again unable to disburse the 5% APM incentive payment to some clinicians due to inaccurate or outdated billing information. This Medicare incentive payment should have been disbursed earlier this year to clinicians who participated in Advanced APMs and met all criteria to become “qualifying APM participants” under the 2018 Quality Payment Program.

Of the 183,306 clinicians who qualified nationally, CMS is unable to verify billing information for 22,256 clinicians, up from 2,767 last year. This number seems high and is very concerning. Of note, the incentive is paid in one lump sum and given the COVID-19 circumstances, I’m sure many clinicians desperately need that money. According to the attached QPP notice, CMS is giving clinicians until Nov. 10 to update their billing information and claim their incentive payment by email.
 
Please see the attached APM Incentive Payment Notice here.
Please see the excel spreadsheet for affected NPIs and names involved here.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: CT Paid Family Medical Leave Act

Connecticut medical practices and other employers must register their business with the CT Paid Leave Authority starting November 1, 2020.
 
Below, find important information to help you navigate the CT PFMLA. If you have any questions, contact your accountant or other financial advisor.
HHS Will Be Disbursing Another $20 Million in CARES Act Fund

HHS announced that it will be disbursing another $20 billion in CARES Act Provider Relief Funds. Under this Phase 3 General Distribution allocation, physicians that have already received Provider Relief Fund payments may apply for additional funding that considers financial losses and changes in operating expenses caused by the coronavirus.

Recognizing the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased anxiety and depression in the country and behavioral health providers have continued to provide care through telehealth and other means, HHS also announced that the nation’s behavioral health care providers, including psychiatrists, are now eligible for funding. Previously ineligible physicians, such as those who began practicing in 2020, will also be eligible to apply. Physicians will have from October 5, 2020 through November 6, 2020 to apply for Phase 3 General Distribution funding.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), an estimated 18 million people in the U.S. misused prescription medications in 2017. Young adults ages 18 - 25 had the highest rates of misuse with 14.4% reporting non-medical use in the last year. Locally, 30% of teens who completed a survey reported taking a prescription medication from a family member in 2018.

All medications can be harmful if they are misused, however opioids are extremely dangerous. In 2019, there were 1,200 overdose deaths in Connecticut, up 18% from 2018. Of those, 94% involved opioids (both prescription and illicit opioids); 82% involved fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. The data shows Connecticut is on target to have even more overdose deaths this year.

Don't let your unused medications end up in the wrong hands. Read below to learn how you can properly dispose. Expired medications in a medical practice can also be taken to an authorized collection site. The DEA holds the event twice a year and many local police departments participate by hosting collection events.
CMS Releases Snapshot of COVID-19’s Impact on Medicare Population

CMS released the monthly update of data that provides a snapshot of the impact of COVID-19 on the Medicare population. The updated data show over 1 million COVID-19 cases among the Medicare population and over 284,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Other key findings:
  • The rate of COVID-19 cases among Medicare beneficiaries grew 30% since the August release to 1,562 cases per 100,000 beneficiaries.
  • Similarly, the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries grew 32% since the August release to 444 hospitalizations per 100,000 beneficiaries.
  • The rate of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations grew the most among rural beneficiaries, Hispanic beneficiaries, and Medicare-only beneficiaries (those who are not dually eligible for Medicaid).
  • Medicare Fee-for-Service (Original Medicare) spending associated with COVID-19 hospitalizations grew to $4.4 billion or just under $25,000 per hospitalization.
  • Data on discharge status and length of stay for COVID-19 hospitalizations remained similar to previously reported figures in the August release. 31% of beneficiaries went home at the end of their hospital stay and 22% died. Nearly half of the hospitalizations lasted 7 days or less while 5% lasted more than 31 days.

The updated data on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries covers the period from January 1 to August 15, 2020. It is based on Medicare Fee-for-Service claims and Medicare Advantage encounter data CMS received by September 11, 2020.
Congress Passes Measure to Fund Government Through Early December

Last week, the US Senate completed passage of H.R. 8337, legislation to fund federal operations until December 11, 2020 and is intended to avert a potential government shutdown prior to the November elections.  Among the important healthcare provisions of this legislation:

  • Extends the Medicare GPCI cost index floor, important for helping to prevent Medicare cuts to Connecticut physicians; and
  • For physicians who received Medicare accelerated or advance payments over the last several months, the legislation extends the period before repayment begins and the period before the balance must be repaid in full, reduces the recoupment percentage, and lowers the interest rate for payments from 9.6% to 4%.
2020 Elections

As a reminder, 2020 is an election year for every state Senator and state Representative. With the challenges that political campaigns are facing during the pandemic, incumbent legislators will likely have an even larger advantage than they normally enjoy when seeking re-election. It is almost impossible for candidates to attend large meet and greet events, and some campaigns have decided not to do any door knocking—a staple of many successful campaigns—out of an abundance of caution. This will make it especially difficult for political newcomers to increase their name recognition and defeat incumbents. Democrats are all but certain to retain majorities in both the House and Senate, and with President Trump on the ballot, may even gain some seats.

A recent study by Hearst Connecticut Media on voter registration across the state found that Democrats have gained a 1% increase in registered Democratic voters, and that Republican registration was down 1% compared to 2016 levels. Unaffiliated voters still make up the largest voting group in the state, representing about 42% of voters, although this group largely swings Democratic. Towns are also seeing record numbers of absentee ballots being requested now that Covid-19 has been listed as an accepted reason to vote by absentee. Over 425,000 absentee ballot applications have been processed across the
state so far, compared with just over 125,000 in 2016.
U.S. Medical School Applications Soar in COVID-19 Era

Global pandemic is prompting more young people to become doctors.

NYU said applications have jumped since it said in 2018 that it would make medical school free. Medical schools are reporting record application numbers as the coronavirus sparks a new wave of prospective students to become doctors.

Through the end of August, the number of applicants rose nearly 17% from a year earlier, marking an interest not seen in more than a decade, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, which administers the main medical-school entry exam. Compared with past years, this year’s numbers are unprecedented, said Patrick Fritz, a senior director with AAMC.

Coronavirus has put a spotlight on health professions, prompting young people to apply to medical school earlier than they might have before, schools and admissions coaches said. Some applicants may be looking to take advantage of less strict application requirements this year. Many schools have dropped the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, exam requirement, or have pushed application deadlines further into the fall. In a year of massive job losses, some may be lured by what appears to be a stable career.
Sniffing out the virus

Finland has trained some very good dogs.

The country today began offering coronavirus tests for passengers at Helsinki’s airport, conducted by canine specialists that have been trained to sniff out SARS-CoV-2.

Travelers who take the voluntary test are asked to rub their necks with a wipe to collect sweat samples, and then leave the wipe in a box. A dog trainer puts the box behind a wall, along with cans that contain different scents. Researchers say the dogs can detect a coronavirus-infected person in 10 seconds, with a 94 percent success rate.

Dogs have long been known to detect other illnesses, like cancer and malaria, and researchers say they are easily able to sniff out the coronavirus, even in a person who is asymptomatic. The exact mechanics are not yet known, but experts say the dogs are most likely identifying the presence of excreted virus in human sweat.