Indianapolis Medical Society

News & Features

Delay Compliance on ICD-10 Code Set until October 2014

A proposed rule Description: PDF File issued April 9, 2012 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would delay implementation of the ICD-10 code set by one year and establish cost-saving administrative standards.

Responding to physician concerns, the proposed rule would move the compliance deadline to Oct. 1, 2014, in an attempt to give physicians and others more time to prepare adequately for the transition to ICD-10. The AMA has urged the agency to halt implementation of the massive new code set, which would pose considerable administrative challenges for physicians. The transition from approximately 13,000 to 68,000 diagnosis codes would require physicians to replace or revamp software systems, retrain staff, conduct detailed testing with payers and make numerous other changes.

In addition to the new compliance deadline, the proposed rule would establish an identifier that health plans would be required to use in electronic transactions. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), this and other administrative simplification changes in the proposed rule would save physicians and health plans as much as $4.6 billion over the next decade.

The unique health plan identifier would be a standard length and format, allowing physicians to automate claims processing and other time-consuming processes. The identifier is intended to prevent such problems as transaction rejections resulting from insurance identification errors and difficulties determining patient eligibility.

Insurance Complaint?

Are you having a problem with poor-quality MRIs or other tests as a result of an insurance company phoning patients with a lower cost option? The Insurance Commissioner has a great response regarding this type of complaint. Always contact the Insurance Commissioner with similar insurance company complaints. The complaint form is located here.

Make an Easy, No Hassle Donation to the IMSF

What if the Indianapolis Medical Society Foundation earned a donation every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our cause? Well, now it can!

GoodSearch: You Search...We Give!is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!

GoodShop: You Shop...We Give!is an online shopping mall which donates up to 30 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite cause.

And if you download the GoodSearch - the Indianapolis Medical Society Foundation toolbar, our cause will earn money every time you shop and search online - even if you forget to go to GoodShop or GoodSearch first! Add the Indianapolis Medical Society toolbar here.

Ask a Colleague to Join

IMS Members, please Ask Your Colleagues to join you in making the practice of medicine better for patients and physicians!

The IMS needs your support & the support of your colleagues to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of your patients.

Ask them to help "Carry the Load" for organized medicine in Indiana.

We've developed a template letter for you to send or email to your colleagues. If you have questions, please phone the IMS at (317) 639-3406 for more information.

Talent Gallery

The IMS wants to feature the creative talents of our Members. Please send your photographs or images of your creative work to Mhadley@imsonline.org for posting on our Talent Gallery and for use in the IMS Bulletin and other publications.

Project Health Needs You!

This is a tough year for funding. The economy has forced some funders to cut back dramatically and others to close their doors to grants this year entirely. That's why Project Health started an individual donor campaign. Many of you have already given - THANK YOU. But there is still a long way to go. Donations are tax deductible and checks should be made to the Indianapolis Medical Society Foundation's Project Health.

As most IMS members know, Project Health is the largest and longest charitable project the Indianapolis Medical Society Foundation has ever undertaken. Because of the medical talent of Project Volunteers, true "miracles" have occurred and lives have been saved. We are all very grateful for being able to be witnesses to these life-changing treatments. So, to all volunteer physicians, our sincere Thank You! As of 1/1/2012, the 1,200 volunteer doctors, hospitals and labs have contributed more than $20 million in care to Project Health patients.

For more information about Project Health, click here.

Transworld Systems

Transworld Systems for IMS Physician Members to receive cost effective, diplomatic and systematic service that resolves past due accounts. Transworld charges a fixed rate per account with special pricing for IMS Members only. The unit cost set for a practice is determined by the average number of accounts placed per month and is paid for on a monthly basis. 100% Profit Guarantee: If Transworld does not recover minimally two times what is paid to them for the cost of accounts, Transworld will either make up the difference between what was recovered and two times what was paid -or- management company will help you improve your cash flow and your bottom line! Phone Blake Collinsworth at (317) 843-9205 x26 for details!

Attention IMS Members - Do we have your correct information for referrals?

Your Medical Society wants to maintain accurate communication tools with all IMS Members. We suggest you use this easy web portal to update information used for the IMS Pictorial Roster, Physician Referrals, IMS Bulletin, IMS website and other communication tools. We hope this makes updating information easier and more convenient for you. If you want to check your current information, visit the IMS Physician Finder and do a search of your profile. If you have any questions or concerns or would prefer to call us with updates, please call (317) 639-3406 and ask for the Membership Department.