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IPA Board of Director Members March 2016

PAID
John L. Franco, MD Steven S. Parry, DO
President & Medical Director Family Practice
Pradeep Albert, MD John Muratori, MD of Nassau/Suffolk Counties
Radiology Family Practice
Gurmohan Syali, MD Richard A. Schoor, MD
Hematology/Oncology Urology A non-exclusive, not-for-profit, physician led IPA focused on helping independent
Christine Doucet, MD Michael H. Shanik, MD and community hospital-based physicians stay on the “frontline of healthcare.”
Family Practice Endocrinology
Horia L. Vlase, MD Marc R. Salzberg, MD President’s Message...
Nephrology Emergency Medicine
Injustice in the end produces INDEPENDENCE…Voltaire
Itchak Schwarzbard, MD
Words from the 17th century French philosopher ring true today.
Orthopaedics
As we enter our fifth year (yes, 5th!) The IPA of Nassau/Suffolk
IPA Executive Administration Counties is growing exponentially in membership, strength, and
relevance in the Long Island healthcare marketplace.
Michael A. Guarino Marissa T. Wolfe, MBA
Executive Director Director of Acquisitions and Member Relations Injustices have plagued physicians in many ways. Ridiculous overzealous
John L. Franco, MD Eric P. Schein, RPA-C governmental regulation and the gross unfairness of under-compensation are main
President/Medical Director Associate Clinical Coordinator issues the IPA is dedicated to address and correct. Recently, the dismantling of
Francis J. DiMotta, MSM Joseph A. Lazar, JD Health Republic has left countless physicians owed millions with very little recourse.
Chief Operations Officer Senior Associate for Legal Affairs Emblem Health has unfairly dropped many physicians from its panel with flimsy
excuse. Mega health systems are reimbursed three and four times that paid to
Jo Ann Marino, RN Steven P. Heisler, MBA
Director of Clinical Integration/Physician Liaison Physician Membership Administrator independent physicians for identical services performed in outpatient office settings
by equally qualified physicians.
Mitchell Brie Alexa Parry
Physician Member Liaison Administrative Assistant Yet, Independent Physicians continue to practice the Noble Profession.
Rosanne Beller Taylor Whitehouse Physicians must come together as independents and form clinically integrated
Marketing Manager Administrative Assistant networks that will demand best outcomes, cost transparency, value driven principles,
and fairness in reimbursement. Without these measures in place, the patient will
Quality Care Committee Members bear the brunt of the economically driven mega system that puts profits first.
John L. Franco, MD Michael H. Shanik, MD 2016 will bring our “Call to Arms” even louder and more effective for instituting
President & Medical Director Endocrinology exclusivity, clinical integration, and contracting by PMA.

To order your Five Wishes Brochures please contact the IPA Today at:
Mohammed R. Azaz, MD Horia L. Vlase, MD Anthony J. Spadaro, MD Our fight for justice and independence will NOT be ephemeral.

Use Your Custom Five Wishes Brochure

Family Practice Nephrology Pulmonology

Welcome Aboard to our

John L. Franco, MD
Newest Independent Physician Members

National Healthcare
Decisions Day 2016

April 16 | Have you signed yours?

Franco Cardiology, PC
Cardiology, East Patchogue
Joseph J. Franco, DO
President
North Shore Hematology Charles Goodwin, MD
Oncology Associates, PC Orthopaedics, Locust Valley
Hemotology / Oncology Gang He, MD
Louis Avvento, MD

ipasuffolkcounty@gmail.com or 631-698-1900
Island Gastroenterology Pathology, Smithtown of Nassau/Suffolk Counties
Consultants, PC Deepali Sharma, MD
Charles Jungreis, MD

to Spread the Word

Alexander Zuhoski, MD
Gastroenterology Radiology-Diagnostic The Independent Physicians Association of Nassau/Suffolk Counties
Rajkumar Mariwalla, MD Qazi Afzal, MD
Pulmonary, Patchogue
Bay Shore cordially invites Office Managers and Billing Staff to join us at
William DiSanti, MD
Katherine Freeman, MD Sumeet Anand, MD
Tarek Mousa,MD the Watermill to meet Keynote speaker Robert E. Goff, author of
Cardiology,Lake Ronkonkoma
Darius Sorbi, MD The Patient, The Doctor and the Bill Collector
1092 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 2N

Internal Medicine,West Islip

Noel D’Silva, MD Mindaugas Pranevicius, MD
James Bruno, MD Mr. Goff offers more than 40 years of experience
Commack, New York 11725

Sleep Medicine, Floral Park

of Nassau/Suffolk Counties

Kidney Doctors PLLC Neurology, Port Jefferson Station

Nephrology, Port Jefferson Station
Darren Kaufman, MD
Claudio Martincic, DO
Rupesh Mehta, MD
Xiaolei Zhu, MD
Mariwalla Dermatology
Dermatology
Robert Bacigalupi, MD
Douglas Diruggiero,PA
Laura Kruter, MD
Lawrence,Lieblich,MD
Kavita Mariwalla, MD
Marc Schumer, MD inside the healthcare and collections industries.
Paul Cooperman, MD Urology, Amityville
In addition, IPANS and invited speakers will be sharing
Family Medicine
Frank Sconzo Jr., MD
Franklin Square “best practices” as it relates to:
Surgery - Colon & Rectal
Mark Coronel, MD East Patchogue Billing • Collections • Assistance with Office staffing
Gastroenterology, Manorville
Warren Spinner, DO BCBS and Aetna contract updates, and much much more!
Lucelle del Rosario, MD Neurology, Port Jefferson Station
OB/GYN
Huntington Sherry Sussman, MD April 13, 2016 • 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Endocrinology, Smithtown
Corey Fox, DPM 8:30 am breakfast will be provided • 9:00 am session begins
Podiatry, Massapequa Edwardo Yambo, MD
Family Medicine, Deer Park Watermill
Gurmit Gill,MD
Imran Zaffer, MD 711 Smithtown Bypass, Smithtown, NY 11787
Pulmonary, Garden City
Gastroenterology,Huntington
RSVP by April 9, 2016 to: P: 631-698-1900 or E: ipasuffolkcounty@gmail.com
IPA News...
“Keeping Physicians Independent”
Do you know an employed physician who is tired of being told what he/she:
• must do
• cannot do
• facility he/she must refer to
• RVU value to reach
• tests allowed
• meetings to attend
Practice Management of America (PMA) is ready to provide essential resources to
assist those physicians who want to become independent. From revenue cycle to
EMR; PMA will take the necessary steps to assist physicians to practice medicine
independently. Please contact the IPA of Nassau Suffolk Counties at: Email:
ipasuffolkcounty@gmail.com or Phone: 631-698-1900.
IPANS Becomes an Exclusive IPA
IPANS will become an exclusive IPA over the next few months as discussed and
agreed upon at the last members meeting this past January. By becoming an
exclusive IPA we will stand together as we move towards implementing an “at-
risk” model. Furthermore, we will keep out the negative forces such as Northwell
Health. While we can’t be everything to everybody we WILL prevail for those
members that remain apart of IPANS and more importantly we will provide, “the
Right Care, at the Right Place, at the Right Time” for our patients.
BEWARE!!! Do You Know What You’re Signing?
As Healthcare Systems and Insurance Companies try
to control the market, many contracts will be presented
to you. Please be aware that these legal contracts may
place you in an untenable situation by forcing you into
an exclusive arrangement that will dictate what you can and cannot do. Your IPA
Team are here to assist you, please contact us at: ipasuffolkcounty@gmail.cor or
631-698-1900.
System Physician Independent Physician
R. Bonati
Who Do You Trust?
Local News...
CHS Purchases Beacon Health Partners
Catholic Health Services of Long Island (CHS) recently purchased the remaining
stake in Beacon Health Partners; the combined entities will be known as CHS
Beacon. Combining Beacon’s IPA with CHS’s Physician Hospital Organization will
create a network of more than 1,100 physicians. The network will reduce hospital
costs and readmissions, and deliver better care to patients, according to CHS
president and CEO Alan Guerci.
CHS Beacon will be working in the Delivery System Reform Incentive Program to
improve health care for more than 200,000 Medicaid recipients; and it will assist
in contracting doctors with commercial and government payors.
Visit www.chsli.org <http://www.chsli.org> for more information about CHS. Read the article at http://
www.chsli.org/news/chs-purchases-beacon-health-partners
IPA PQRS INITIATIVE: Are you registered with PQRS?
Time is running out…..if you have not registered with PQRS please
do so today to avoid penalties. The deadline for registering is
March 15, 2016. An IPANS team member has been reaching out
to every single IPA member to assist with registration. If you have not registered or
have not been in touch with one of our team members, please contact us today for
more information about avoiding penalties. Email: ipasuffolkcounty@gmail.com or
phone: 631-698-1900.
CMS approves reimbursement for Advanced Care Planning
End of Life
Effective January 1, 2016, CMS announced that two advanced
care planning codes are reimbursable:
• Code 99497: “Advanced Care Planning- 30 Minutes” for a
non-facility price is reimbursed at: $98.74
• Code 99498: “Advanced Care Planning- Additional 30
Minutes” for a non-facility price is an $85.90 reimbursement.
End of Life discussions continue to be an area that needs a greater level of
concentration and education. The Five Wishes program remains on the forefront
of our IPA. If you do not have brochures in your office please contact us at:
ipasuffolkcounty@gmail.com or 631-698-1900.
Book Club
The Patient, The Doctor and The Bill Collector
by Robert E. Goff and Jerry Ashton
The Patient, The Doctor and Bill Collector reveals the hidden
truths behind the crushing wave of medical debt drowning
more than 64 million Americans. Authors Robert E. Goff and
Jerry Ashton know the inside story on medical debt. Each
offers more than 40 years of experience inside the healthcare
and collections industries. They team up to deliver a scathing indictment of
America’s healthcare system. In simple and forceful language, they detail
how present approaches are rigged to fatten the wallets of hospitals, big
pharmaceutical companies, and insurance monopolies.
The Patient, The Doctor and The Bill Collector will help
you keep yourself and your family from being swept away
by the tsunami of medical debt endangering our future in
America. You will learn from industry insiders the shocking
truths that the debt collections industry, hospitals and
insurance companies do not want you to know.
Order your book today by contacting an IPA Team
Robert Goff and
Michael Guarino member at: ipasuffolkcounty@gmail.cor or 631-698-1900.
State and National News...
Why You Need to Take a Day Away From Your
Practice to Lobby in Albany on March 8, 2016
•T
 hink you pay too much in malpractice insurance
costs? The Trial Bar doesn’t care. They have introduced
legislation that will certainly increase your premium costs.
• The Proposed NYS Budget does nothing to compensate physicians for the
unpaid care they have provided to Health Republic insureds.
• We need to prevent insurers from offering patients narrow networks for
Exchange plans and denying patient access to out of network physicians.
For more information regarding Lobbying Day, please contact the IPA at:
ipasuffolkcounty@gmail.cor or 631-698-1900
Health Republic Failure Adds Chaos to Insurance Market
In December, Health Republic Insurance of New
York became the 12th co-op established under
the Affordable Care Act (out of 23 total co-ops
established) to fail, threatening to leave nearly
120,000 New Yorkers without insurance. Health
Republic failed because its premiums were not high
enough to cover members’ health expenses and its own internal costs, leading to
a $52 million loss in the first six months of business. Additionally, this failure has
led to confusion among providers, as so many people are now struggling to find
new insurance.
As an alternate, Fidelis Care - the state’s largest insurer on the New York State of
Health, according to Crain’s New York Business- engaged in an auto-enrollment
process that switched over affected Health Republic customers to one of three
other plans, as brought in by the state. These three plans are Fidelis Care,
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, and MVP Health Care. This issue exemplifies a
serious problem with the changing Healthcare marketplace, as stability has not
been there for these new state-run plans.
Do you have presence on the Web?
Your website is the most basic form of your company’s web presence
and is a must have in today’s healthcare market. Staying competitive
in your marketplace is the key to attracting new patients. Your positive
online presence does make an impact on your digital reputation, the
main prism through which patients see you. Patients are eager to find
a true healthcare advocate for their healthcare needs, and by having a
professionally developed website will unlock doors for many opportunities
where you can give them a welcoming invitation.
PMA is pleased to offer all members of the IPA
a customized website for ~ $1,000 which will
include website design and creation, domain
name as well as hosting fees in as little as 3
weeks. For additional information please contact
Marissa Wolfe at: E: marissa@wolfecare.com or P: 412-258-0787.
“Creativity is intelligence having fun” ~ Albert Einstein