From: AMC/NOMA
SUBJECT: AMC/NOMA Notables
Date: October 30, 2001
AMC/NOMA provides print materials through fax blasts, our magazine
– The Cleveland Physician, fact sheets, mailers and through our Web site at www.amcnoma.org. Periodically
the physician members with email addresses will receive the AMC/NOMA Notables.
AMC/NOMA provides information on Bioterrorism/Disaster.
The AMC/NOMA Trauma and Emergency Care Committee has requested that the AMC/NOMA develop a special section on Bioterrorism/Disaster Resources and Guidelines. You will find this new section at the top of our Headlines page on our web site at www.amcnoma.org.
The Trauma and Emergency Care Committee of the AMC/NOMA is asking for physician volunteers in Cuyahoga and the contiguous counties. The list of volunteers will be kept in an AMC/NOMA databank. The databank will include physicians that are interested in providing assistance in the event that a terrorist act, emergency or disaster were to occur in our community. The AMC/NOMA is working with both the city and the county on response plans, and the databank information would be available for future use. To volunteer, simply email your name, address and phone number to amcnoma@amcnoma.org. Please indicate as the subject of the email that you wish to be added to the AMC/NOMA physician volunteer databank. Physicians may also volunteer by calling the AMC/NOMA at (216) 520-1000. For additional information, go to our Web site at www.amcnoma.org.
Ohio Department of Health
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health has requested that the AMC/NOMA send out
information as it becomes available from ODH. The
following information was just sent out by the ODH to all health departments:
During the past two weeks, the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory
(ODHL) has received about 700 suspected anthrax specimens. There is no
charge for testing these materials at ODHL. Thanks to the assistance of
the ODHL lab staff, the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency, all specimens are now in the process of
being cultured. To date, Bacillus anthracis has not been isolated from
any substances submitted to ODHL.
Incorrect phone numbers have been inadvertently given out; please use
the following contact numbers prior to submitting anthrax suspected
samples to ODHL:
During business hours (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.): 614-466-0265
After business hours: 614-728-3463 (for health department use only)
As of today, October 26, ODHL is resuming routine testing. Please continue to follow
the standard protocol for submitting these specimens (e.g., food and stool specimens) to
ODHL.
State Medical Board adds
new information to their web site
The Ohio State Medical Board has
recently added new information sections to their web site. New information
sections include: "Medical Board Alerts" which is currently focusing on anthrax
information for clinicians and anthrax antibiotics; "Frequently Asked
Questions" is broken down by provider to enable the user to find answers more
quickly; "Guide to Public Participation in Rule-Making" reviews information on
the laws under which the practice of medicine is regulated in the state of Ohio; and
"Pain Management Issues" which includes rules for pain management and a copy of
the board's survey concerning pain management.
You may connect to the web site now by clicking here www.state.oh.us/med
or use the "Links" area of AMC/NOMA website.
Medicare offers flu and
pneumonia vaccinations roster billing instructions
Nationwide Medicare has issued
instructions on roster billing for flu and pneumonia vaccinations. Two requirements must be met in order to use the
roster billing.
1. The only services that may be billed on a
roster are the vaccine and/or administration; and
2. The physician agrees to accept assignment
for flu and pneumonia claims. Physicians who
do not accept assignment must complete a standard HCFA-1500 claim form or submit claims
electronically.
A maximum of five rosters may be
attached to a single HCFA-1500 claim form. For
additional information and copies of the claim forms and required items, go to the
Nationwide Medicare web site at http://www.nationwide-medicare.com and review the November, 2001 Medicare
newsletter.
Sign up now for the Solving
the Third Party Payor Puzzle seminar
Once again the AMC/NOMA is
hosting our annual seminar entitled, “Solving the Third Party Payor Puzzle.” The seminar will be held at the AMC/NOMA offices
in our Presidents’ room from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., lunch is provided. There will be presentations from representatives
from Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Nationwide Medicare, United HealthCare of Ohio,
Medical Mutual of Ohio, Cigna Healthplan and the Ohio Department of Human Services
(Medicaid.) For more information contact the
AMC/NOMA offices at (216) 520-1000, or email a request to sign up for the program to stepic@amcnoma.org.
The cost for the entire day is $45.00 for members/staff and $100.00 for
non-members/staff.
Note: “AMC/NOMA Notables” includes links that
provide direct access to Internet sites other than the AMC/NOMA site, the AMC/NOMA takes
no responsibility for the content or information obtained on those other web sites, and we
do not have any editorial or other control over those web sites.