CMS has announced that it is extending the 2019 MIPS reporting deadline from March 31 to April 30, 2020. MIPS-eligible clinicians who have not submitted MIPS data by April 30 will automatically qualify for the extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy and will receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year. Members who have been actively participating in 2019 MIPS reporting through the AAD’s Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR), DataDerm, may submit data through April 20, 2020. CMS is also considering options for relief for participation and data submission for 2020.
CMS also announced that it will suspend data collection for the ASC reporting program for the first half of 2020. For those who participate in the ambulatory surgical center quality reporting program, the deadline for 2019 Q4 data submission is now optional. Q4 data that is submitted will be used. If it cannot be submitted, 2019 performance will be calculated on the data from the first three quarters of 2019. Additionally, CMS will not count data from the first two quarters of 2020 for the ASC program and it does not need to be submitted.
The AAD has assembled resources on COVID-19, including guidance on how to adjust to the outbreak in your clinic, legislative and regulatory updates that may impact you and your practice, information about the business implications of the outbreak, and the latest information on how to use teledermatology to provide care during the outbreak. Check out the Academy’s COVID-19 resources.
DW Insights and Inquiries: The profound dermatological manifestations of COVID-19 – Part 2
Our practice has made the decision to remain open for urgent and emergent cases. We have implemented the recommendations offered by Dr. Rosenbach listed in Part 1. I am so incredibly proud of my colleagues, staff, and residents for their dedication and resilience in this crisis situation. Regardless of the fact that I am at the age of risk for COVID-19, I cannot stand idly by. I am as careful as possible with repeated hand washing and keeping distance between myself and others. I even stopped wearing a tie should it be a source of transmission (that is just a hypothesis, but it gives me an excuse to let my neck breathe!). Our mutual decision not to close the office is based on the precept that it is best for us to see patients with significant illness in our office rather than have them go to an overburdened emergency room. Keep reading!
A legitimate concern
It seems wherever you look these days, someone is touting a false claim. Lose weight fast! Get rich quick! Cure your psoriasis! Our society finally seems to be waking up to scammers and attempting to combat these overpromises and spreaders of fake news. New economies of fraud are popping up constantly, and some aim to scam medical professionals. I was not aware of the issues discussed in this month’s Dermatology World cover story, False advertising. The article reports that rogue companies may misrepresent themselves as legitimate meeting vendors, and dermatologists may inadvertently surrender registration fees or housing deposits, thinking they are registering for a legitimate meeting. Read more from DW Young Physician Advisor Jenna O’Neill, MD.
The generic malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which is also used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is now experiencing a shortage. The drug was recently touted for its purported success against COVID-19. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has added hydroxychloroquine to its list of drug shortages, indicating that four of the eight manufacturers of the drug are currently in shortage.
The AADA is working with the American College of Rheumatology, Lupus Foundation of America, and Arthritis Foundation to send a joint letter to the Administration as well as congressional leaders to highlight the need for action to ensure that patients do not have disrupted access to this drug.
Join the Academy’s skin cancer measure testing project
The Academy is seeking participants for its new skin cancer measure testing project. Your participation will help build better dermatology measures for clinical practice, DataDerm™, and MIPS. These outcome measures will help you see which patients with skin cancer are improving.
Participants will be asked to provide data on five quality measures on skin cancer, including process and outcome measures addressing appropriate surgical margins, post-operative complications, dysplastic nevi biopsies, biopsy site photos, and tracking of recurrence.
FDA, M-CERSI to host virtual workshop on dermal absorption of topicals
The FDA along with the University of Maryland Center for Excellence in Regulatory Science (M-CERSI) will host a virtual workshop on dermal absorption of topical drugs and products on April 21-22. This workshop will highlight the advances in the recent assessment of dermal penetration using in vivo, in vitro, and in silico models. It will build upon a similar workshop sponsored by M-CERSI in July 2019. Learn more and register here.
From COVID-19 to private equity, candidates weigh in on timely issues
The AAD 2020 Election is now open. In a health care climate where the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving daily and dermatologists practice in many different settings, members posed timely questions for the candidates. Before you cast your vote, check out the Ask the Candidates forum to find out how the candidates responded to issues impacting the specialty and submit a question of your own.
Use your personalized online voting link or your voting access code to cast your vote for the AAD election March 21 through April 4. Available via AAD emails, the personalized online voting link will take you directly to the AAD voting site where you can view the ballot book and cast your vote. The voting access code can be used when you log in to www.esc-vote.com/aad along with your AAD member ID number to cast your vote.
Members who wish to receive a PDF of the 2020 AAD Election ballot book by email may request it at candidates@aad.org.
Members who wish to vote by mail may print their online secure voting ballot beginning March 21. NOTE: All ballots must be received by April 4 at 11:59 PM (ET).
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