Click here to go to TCMS Calendar of Events

For details, click on a headline:

Avoid PQRS 2015 Penalties Today

TMA ICD-10 Seminar Coming to Austin

New Austin Area Code

Cost-Effective Immunization Rates

Avoid PQRS 2015 Penalties Today

Introduced in 2007, Medicare's Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) offers physicians bonuses for tracking and reporting on clinical quality measures. In 2015, however, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will impose a 1.5-percent penalty on physicians who do not successfully report on this data. Physicians must act now because CMS will base the 2015 penalties on the quality data reported for 2013.

TMA has launched the Clinical Quality Tools page on the TMA website in response. It will be updated frequently to showcase the many new tools TMA creates as they are completed. The first set of these tools includes a series of prevention tools and interactive calculators.

TMA ICD-10 Seminar Coming to Austin

The TMA education team is bringing an ICD-10 seminar to Austin on May 15 from 1-4 pm in the TMA Thompson Auditorium, 401 W 15th Street.

This first seminar offers a detailed look at everything physicians need to know and do to prepare for ICD-10. The presentation begins with an overview of ICD-10, and then delves into real-world explanations of how to assess your practice’s readiness and to plan and implement a successful transition.

Presenter Denny Flint of Complete Practice Resources is a nationally recognized educator who sits on the editorial board for the ICD-10 Monitor, and is a certified professional coder through AAPC.

For more information and to register, click here.

New Austin Area Code

Central Texas will soon be adding area code 737, which will be assigned to new telephone numbers. Existing telephone numbers will not change.

Effective June 1, 10-digit dialing – the appropriate area code (512 or 737) plus the seven-digit telephone number – will be necessary for local calls to be completed.

Atlantic Health Partners

Cost-Effective Immunization Rates

TCMS has a strong resource in Atlantic Health Partners to help our members successfully address the financial and administrative challenges of providing immunizations to patients.

Atlantic can also help you best prepare for flu season. Providing the flu vaccine benefits both your patients and your practice. Strengthen flu administration efforts by making vaccination convenient, promoting flu products for the range of age groups treated and maybe most importantly, actively educating and promoting the need of immunization. Informing patients that your office provides flu vaccines may also help strengthen the patient relationship and better maintain your office as the source for all immunizations and other preventive services.  

In addition to providing our members with the lowest prices and best terms for Sanofi, Merck, and MedImmune pediatric, adolescent, adult and flu vaccines, Atlantic also provides:

• Vaccine reimbursement support and advocacy
• Lower prices for a wide range of medical supplies and related services
• Medicare Part D Program so physicians can administer Shingles and Pertussis vaccines
• Discounts for Migali Scientific refrigerator/freezers

To find out how Atlantic Health Partners can benefit your practice, email info@atlantichealthpartners.com or call 800-741-2044 and speak to Cindy or Jeff.

[back to top]