The Washington County Medical Society Meets on December 4

Join us at Café Del Sol East, 1130 Conrad Court, Hagerstown, MD, 21740 at 5:30 PM. Greet your colleagues and enjoy great food and drink! It’s happening in Hagerstown! RSVP to Cathy Peters @ cpeters@medchi.org.

BCMS Special Membership Zoom Meeting 12/17at 6pm

CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule Now Published

The Final Rule includes updated payment rates, updated telehealth policies, and new coding for caregiver training and social determinants of health services. It expands access to preventive and behavioral health care, addresses health equity, and incorporates lessons from value-based care models to strengthen primary care and accountable care organizations (ACOs). The rule also advances drug price controls under the Inflation Reduction Act and modernizes reimbursement for preventive services, telehealth, and advanced care management. These policies will take effect on January 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted. For a more detailed summary, please see the AMA MPFS Final Rule Summary.

DEA & HHS extend Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications through Dec. 31, 2025

As the end of 2024 approaches, the DEA and HHS announced a further extension of certain Telemedicine flexibilities to allow health care practitioners to remotely prescribe Schedule II-V controlled medications via telemedicine to new and existing patients through Dec. 31, 2025. As a reminder and per MD Code, Health Occupations, § 1-1003, Maryland law prohibits the prescription of Schedule II substances unless certain conditions are met. For more details, visit the federal register here or the DEA website here.

Unity Insurance: Helping Maryland Businesses Choose the Right Employee Benefits!

If you’re a small business owner in Maryland, choosing the right group benefits for your employees can feel like navigating a sea of options. One common point of confusion for many is understanding the difference between a Health Spending Account (HSA) and a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). While both help employees save money on medical expenses, the way they work, their tax advantages, and the rules governing them are quite different. Read more

Is Your Practice Losing Up to 20% Of Its Revenue? 

An MGMA poll in 2022 found that 40% of medical practices did not reach their revenue goals. If you’re “going it alone” consider boosting your practice’s earning potential with a physician-led consulting service that understands the unique demands of healthcare. Consult CMF  knows firsthand the fundamental drivers to success, including digital technology, operations, and practice management. Our tailored solutions are customized to help your practice achieve sustainable growth. Our Revenue Cycle Screen uncovers revenue leakage and delivers actionable strategies to streamline operations and maximize profitability. Don’t leave your practice’s success to chance. Partner with Consult CMF  and let us help you transform your practice by increasing revenue and reducing operational inefficiency. To learn more, visit ConsultCMF.com or call (443) 472-6529.

J & J Innovative Medicine is Leading Where Medicine is Going

J&J releases their eighth U.S. Pricing Transparency Report  which provides key data, analysis and insights that will help advance solutions to create a more sustainable, equitable and innovative healthcare system. Included in this issue is Transparency at a Glance. Please stay tuned for Transparency Rebates and Discounts from Johnson & Johnson.

Calling All Prescribers: Can You Help Maryland Addiction Consultation Service (MACS) With a Brief Survey? 

As part of an ongoing effort to understand the landscape of buprenorphine access, the Maryland Addiction Consultation Service (MACS) is surveying prescribers across the state. We would greatly appreciate your assistance with this effort by taking a few moments to complete this voluntary survey. The survey can be accessed online by clicking this link or by using the QR Code. Instructions to return this survey via mail or fax can be found by accessing the survey link.