Inside the March 25, 2023 issue

AOMA Annual Convention
The Osteopathic Conversation
Cigna Revises Modifier 25 Policy
Let AOMA Accredit Your CME Program

CMS to Raise Medicare Adv. Pay Rates
National Osteopathic Medicine Week
AOA updates
Certifying Board Services
In the news

AOMA 2023 Annual Convention!

Regist er now for the 101st AOMA Annual Convention! It will be held April 27-30, 2023, at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas. This year's theme is Returning to Our Roots, and the CME will feature select special lectures developed to inspire physicians to sustain the osteopathic heritage while tides of change are sweeping through the medical profession. This convention should remind all osteopathic physicians to tend to the roots of the profession and be the anchor during shifting tides.

The Osteopathic Conversation

In preparation for the AOMA 2023 Annual Conference - Returning to Our Roots, now you can access a complimentary e-book and mini-lecture series about our historic Osteopathic philosophy in evidence-based terms, presented by James Keane, DO. The distinctive and valuable Osteopathic identity is rooted in our heritage and is consistent with current medical practice and evidence! A.T. Still developed the foundation for what is presented in evidence-based medicine.

We hope you'll join your colleagues April 27-30 at the Scottsdale Hilton Resort & Villas for the Annual Convention. Celebrate our Osteopathic profession and join the conversations about distinctive Osteopathic identity.

Be sure to access the complimentary CME offered with the e-book and mini-lectures. https://azosteo.org/renew/

Cigna Revises Modifier 25 Policy

Cigna has re-released its policy to require the submission of medical records with all Evaluation and Management (E/M) claims with CPT 99212-99215 and Modifier 25 when a minor procedure is billed. Download the Cigna policy here. CPT codes 99212-99215 and modifier 25 when a minor procedure is billed.

According to the policy, documentation can be sent in via fax or email (make sure the email is encrypted since it has PHI). The records can be submitted via:

dedicated fax number (833) 462-1360
email Modifier25Medica1Records@Cigna.com
electronically through the Cigna EDI approved vendor

The updated Cigna policy is scheduled to become effective nationwide on May 25, 2023.

AOA is in contact with Cigna and has expressed concerns and displeasure, and will continue to proactively advocate with Cigna on behalf of the osteopathic community and individual practices. We encourage you to hold Cigna accountable to meet the timely payment period.
Please direct any questions to physicianservices@osteopathic.org

Let AOMA Accredit Your CME Program

Did you know AOMA has dual accreditation from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)? As an accredited joint provider, AOMA offers AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ in addition to AOA Category 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B credits. Your AOMA team is available to help strengthen your CME programming and guide you through the process for dual CME credit. Please contact Teresa Roland at teresa@azosteo.org if you are interested in obtaining AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ or AOA credit for an upcoming CME program.

CMS to Raise Medicare Advantage Pay Rates in 2024

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will raise Medicare Advantage (MA) pay rates by 3.3% in 2024, and begin a three year phase-in of risk adjustment changes. The Biden administration finalized a proposal to raise Medicare Advantage payments by 3.32% in 2024, slightly above the 1% raise that it proposed.

The final payment rule released last Friday comes after an intense lobbying campaign from insurers who claimed that the original advance notice released in February would amount to a cut to plans. The agency also finalized changes to the MA risk adjustment model, but will instead phase the changes in over three years as opposed to implementation next year. Administration officials said that the goal of the rule is to help ensure pay is accurate to plans in the popular program. Click here to read the full report.

National osteopathic Medicine Week (NOM) April 17-23, 2023

Unite with nearly 142,000 osteopathic physicians and over 36,000 osteopathic medical students across the country who share one common goal: celebrating and sharing the unique body, mind, spirit approach DOs bring to health care.

Take time to thank a DO! The heart and soul of the osteopathic medical profession are DOs and osteopathic medical students, and NOM Week is the perfect time to extend gratitude to a DO who helped shape the physician or medical student you are today. During NOM Week, take the opportunity on your social media to pay tribute to a DO who has impacted your life as part of our #ThankaDO campaign. Be sure to use #ThankaDO and #NOMWeek.

Follow us on social media using #NOMWeek and #AZDOProud to take part in the celebration and spread the word about the DO distinction!

AOA Virtual Career Fair Coming Up on April 11

The AOA Virtual Career Fair is an online event connecting healthcare professionals with private practice employers, group practices, hospitals, health systems, and other recruiters around the country. The event is next week, Tuesday, April 11, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Certifying Board Services

Application deadlines are quickly approaching; see the upcoming deadlines below for May - June 2023. You are encouraged to include these dates in communications to your constituents. We will share application deadlines on an ongoing basis.

May – June 2023 Application Deadlines

American Osteopathic Board of Radiology Initial primary written exam – May 2 (final deadline)
American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology Initial primary written exam – May 6 (first deadline)
American Osteopathic Board of Surgery Initial primary oral exams – May 20 (first deadline)
Sports Medicine Initial and OCC exams – May 20 (first deadline)
American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology Initial primary written exam – June 1 (first deadline)
American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine Initial subspecialty and OCC exams – June 16 (first deadline)
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Initial subspecialty and OCC exams – June 16 (first deadline)
Sleep Medicine Initial subspecialty and OCC exams – June 16 (first deadline)
American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology Initial subspecialty and OCC exams – June 24 (first deadline)
American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology Clinical exam – June 30 (first deadline)

For questions on exam application deadlines, please contact Chaunessie Baggett, Associate Vice President, Certifying Board Services

In the news

This section includes helpful news links to recent articles that you may find useful or interesting in relationship to your practice as a DO.

In case you missed a past issue of the AOMA Dispatch, visit the archives here.

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