Newsletters

POSTED: December 13th, 2017
POSTED IN: EM Pulse - The Official Newsletter of MOCEP, November/December 2017,

As the weather turns colder in Missouri, your MOCEP board and office would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season! However, even though we are looking forward to spending the upcoming holidays with our family and friends, your colleagues at MOCEP are also anxiously watching the approaching winter storm in Jefferson City (also known as the new legislative session).  Several topics have caught our attention this year, most notably the never ending saga of the “avoidable ED visit.” 

Specifically in regards to “avoidable ED visits,” we have been successful in keeping the story active in the press and focusing attention on the potential ramifications for patients who have had their claims denied.  Ridiculous stories have been shared such as the saga of patient who was hit by a car and received an extensive trauma evaluation only to have his claim denied because he was diagnosed with only “contusions and abrasions.”  We need to continue sharing our stories and, if possible, find a couple of patients who might be willing to share their stories publicly.  If you can help with this request, please contact our executive director at [email protected].  In addition, we have continued to share our concerns with the Department on Insurance, the Attorney General’s office and our state representatives and senators.  Please be on the lookout for calls to action as this issue continues to heat up over the next few months.

While on the topic of continuing issues, we are still actively following the CME requirements with TCD regulations.  As you may remember, we were successful in moving authority of the CME requirements for TCD regulations for emergency physicians away from the Department of Health and Senior Services and to the Board of Healing Arts (BOHA).  This topic was discussed with BOHA in 2016, but we have not heard back since.  Please let us know if you encounter any problems with CME for TCD accreditation or any other concerns with the TCD system. 

Finally, please save January 24^th on your calendar for the next MOCEP Advocacy Day in Jefferson City.  You can sign up on our website at www.mocep.org.  We are planning a great line up speakers and topics for the morning session and will help arrange appointments with your representatives and senators in the afternoon.  This is a great opportunity for you to have your voice heard in the capitol!

If you have any other questions, concerns or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or our executive director at [email protected].

 

Sincerely,

Jonathan Heidt, MD, MHA, FACEP
President – MOCEP
Columbia, MO