SCAM WARNING -- INDIVIDUALS POSING AS EMPLOYEES OF NYS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

We are writing to warn our members about a recent scam being perpetrated by individuals posing as employees of the New York State Education Department (SED).  A NYSPA member was recently contacted by individuals we believe to be part of this ongoing scam.  The call appeared to come from the general phone number of the SED Office of the Professions.  The scammers knew the name and NPI of the psychiatrist and stated that the psychiatrist was currently being investigated by the FBI.  The callers claimed that the FBI had been trying to reach the psychiatrist for the past 10 days in connection with alleged criminal activity involving controlled substances and provided a docket number and a case number, both apparently fictitious.  The callers claimed that the psychiatrist’s medical license had been suspended and, most suspiciously, instructed the psychiatrist not to tell anyone about the call.  The scammers did not leave a call back number or provide anything in writing to the psychiatrist. 

2021 Medicare Update Webinar - Part 2

Presented by: Seth Stein, Esq. & Rachel Fernbach, Esq.
Webinar Date: December 14, 2020

2021 Medicare Update Webinar - Part 1

Presented by: Seth P. Stein, Esq. & Rachel Fernbach, Esq.
Webinar Date: October 20, 2020

CME - Recognition, Management and Prevention of Veteran Suicide

Please complete the Pre-Survey below to access a link to the presentation. After viewing the presentation, a post presentation test will need to be successfully completed to be eligible for CME credit. The CME certificate will be sent to the e-mail address you have provided.  

Effective January 1, 2022 - Please read the revised Accreditation and Disclosure Statements from the Westchester Academy of Medicine. 

Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Accreditation Requirements and Policies of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) through the joint providership of the Westchester Academy of Medicine and The New York State Psychiatric Association. The Westchester Academy of Medicine is accredited by MSSNY to provide Continuing Medical Education for physicians.

The Westchester Academy of Medicine designates this enduring materials activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category I Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure Statement
Policies and standards of the Westchester Academy of Medicine, Medicals Society of the State of New York and the Accreditation for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) adhere to the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and require all planners, faculty and all who have control of educational content identity, disclose and mitigate all financial relationships and real or apparent conflict(s) of interest related to the content of the presentation(s) to the learners.

The planner(s) and faculty participant(s) and all who have control of this educational content do not have any financial relationships with any ineligible company whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. 

Any discussion of investigational or unlabeled uses of a product will be identified.

No commercial funding has been accepted for this activity.

To begin CME Presentation, please click the link below:

Pre-Survey Test

Please click the link below to complete the Post-Survey/Test.

Post-Survey/Test

Thank you!

This program will be available until May 31, 2023

Notice of Good Faith Estimate of Non-Deductibility of NYSPA 2020 Dues

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 included certain provisions denying tax deductibility for the portion of dues paid to 501(c)(6) professional organizations that is spent on influencing state or federal legislation. The law requires NYSPA to provide its members with a good-faith estimate of the portion of their dues which is attributable to lobbying and therefore, is non-deductible for federal income tax purposes.

CME - Invisible Wounds of War: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury & Combat-Related Mental Health Issues

Please complete the Pre-Survey below to access a link to the presentation. After viewing the presentation, a post presentation test will need to be successfully completed to be eligible for CME credit. The CME certificate will be sent to the e-mail address you have provided. 

Effective January 1, 2022 - Please read the revised Accreditation and Disclosure Statements from the Westchester Academy of Medicine. 

Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Accreditation Requirements and Policies of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) through the joint providership of the Westchester Academy of Medicine and The New York State Psychiatric Association. The Westchester Academy of Medicine is accredited by MSSNY to provide Continuing Medical Education for physicians.

The Westchester Academy of Medicine designates this enduring materials activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category I Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure Statement
Policies and standards of the Westchester Academy of Medicine, Medicals Society of the State of New York and the Accreditation for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) adhere to the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and require all planners, faculty and all who have control of educational content identity, disclose and mitigate all financial relationships and real or apparent conflict(s) of interest related to the content of the presentation(s) to the learners.

The planner(s) and faculty participant(s) and all who have control of this educational content do not have any financial relationships with any ineligible company whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. 

Any discussion of investigational or unlabeled uses of a product will be identified.

No commercial funding has been accepted for this activity.

To begin CME Presentation, please click the link below:

Pre-Survey

Please click the link below to complete the Post-Survey/Test.

Post-Survey/Test

Thank you!

This program will be available until May 31, 2023

PTSD Resource Slides

COVID-19 UPDATES

As of August 24, 2020

In July 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it has renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency for an additional 90 days, until October 23, 2020.  As a result, the following waivers and/or relaxations will be extended at least through October 23, 2020.  

June 18, 2020 Telepsychiatry Webinar & Slides

Presented by: Rachel Fernbach, Esq.

Remote Access to Mental Health Care and Treatment During the COVID-19 Crisis

New York State has unfortunately become an epicenter of the COVID-19 public health emergency, with more confirmed positive cases than any other State in the nation.  During the COVID-19 crisis, the use of telehealth and telemedicine has become an essential tool in ensuring continued access to mental health care and treatment for impacted individuals. Both the federal government and the State of New York have taken significant efforts to ensure that individuals in need continue to receive essential health care and treatment through telehealth when in-person visits cannot take place.  On March 12, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 202.1 relaxing state requirements for the provision of telehealth in connection with the State disaster emergency, as follows:

HHS Stimulus Payments

On March 27, 2020, the President signed the CARES Act. The legislation included $50 billion for the Provider Relief Fund, allocated for general distribution to Medicare facilities and providers impacted by COVID-19, based on eligible providers' net patient revenue.

New Telemedicine Billing Instructions

CMS Updates
CMS has updated its original instructions for billing for telemedicine services. 

►        Use Place of Service 11 for telemedicine services provided to patients located in their own homes, with modifier 95.  This will be paid at the usual office/outpatient visit fee.

Urgent Telemedicine Update

The Centers for Medicare & Medicad Services has announced that additional emergency measures have been put into place to temporarily expand the use of telemedicine. These measures will include allowing providers to conduct telemedicine visits with patients who are located in their homes. The provider must use an interactive audio and video telecommunications system that permits real-time communication between the distant site (i.e., physician's office or other location) and the patient at home.

Telemedicine Software Offered by DrFirst

We would like to make members aware that DrFirst, NYSPA’s endorsed electronic prescribing software vendor, offers Backline, a telemedicine product that may be of assistance to private practitioners. Backline is available at a $300 annual subscription. DrFirst has assured us that the software product complies with all applicable regulations, including HIPAA.  

Telehealth Information From Commercial Carriers

To assist members in navigating telemedicine rules and changes to existing requirements, we have compiled the below links to the websites of commercial insurance carriers that have issued updated information regarding the COVID-19 emergency.  Please reach out to individuals carriers if you have any questions or concerns regarding individual policies.   If you encounter any problems, please let NYPSA know.  We will be adding links for information posted by additional carriers if and when it becomes available: 

Information Regarding the Use of Telemedicine Related to the COVID-19 crisis 

March 13, 2020
This afternoon, President Trump declared a national emergency and confirmed that Health and Human Services Secretary Azar has been granted the authority to waive existing laws to enable the provision of telemedicine services across the country. We await additional information from CMS, particularly regarding the lifting of current Medicare restrictions on the provision of telemedicine in a patient’s private home. 

2020 Medicare Update Webinar

Presented by: Seth P. Stein, Esq. & Rachel Fernbach, Esq.
Webinar Date: December 18, 2019

New York Enacts Historic Parity Reforms 

NYSPA is extremely pleased to report that the 2019-20 New York State Budget, approved this past weekend, includes landmark provisions aimed at enhancing parity for New Yorkers suffering from mental health conditions, substance use disorders and autism spectrum disorders. These provisions, called the Behavioral Health Insurance Parity Reforms (BHIPR), represent a comprehensive overhaul of the New York Insurance Law and seek to eliminate discrimination in coverage of care and treatment for mental health conditions, substance use disorders and autism spectrum disorders. The budget provisions apply to all health insurance and health benefit plans offered in New York State, including individual plans, group plans and HMOs.