Vascular Society of New Jersey

News
A Monthly Communiqué for the Vascular Society of New Jersey - December 2003

NOTE TO MEMBERS:
Effective November 1, 2003,
VSNJ has moved.

Please note new address:
214 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608

Same phone: 609-392-7553

Same fax: 609-392-2664

Same website: www.vascularsocietynj.org

From the President….Rocco Ciocca, MD
I would like to thank all who were able to attend the 25th anniversary celebration on November 15th. We had a wonderful reception and attended an entertaining performance. I would particularly like to thank Christine Higgins and Beverly Lynch for all of their very hard work setting up the event and assuring its success. We also need to acknowledge the very generous support of the event by Gore.
We now must begin to actively plan the Spring meeting, which will be held at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick on March 17, 2004. In addition to the usual presentations of scientific abstracts, we would like to make the meeting as topical and relevant as possible. We certainly would appreciate all ideas that members may have. I am confidant that we will develop and very exciting program.
While we have accomplished a great deal so far, I think there is much more that can be done. The Board of Directors and I will be working to develop an agenda of relevant issues regarding the practice of vascular surgery in this state. I hope that we can continue to have some impact and provide a useful service to our membership.
Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!

Congress Passes Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and “Fee Fix”
The Senate, in a close partisan vote, passed the “Medicare Prescription Drug Bill” which provides for major changes in the Medicare system setting up a prescription drug program for Medicare patients and derailing draconian cuts to physician fees. In brief, the major provisions of the legislation include the following:

The bill would block planned cuts in physician payments in 2004 and 2005 and instead provide a 1.5 percent increase for 2004.
In 2004 and 2005, seniors will be able to purchase a drug discount card until,
In 2006, Medicare beneficiaries could sign up for a stand-alone drug plan or join a private health plan that offers drug coverage. For more information on the new drug program, contact us through the Third Party Payer Coding Help Program.

Please note that the 2004 Fee Schedules are now on the Medicare web site for New Jersey. (Some practices may have also received a copy in the mail). These files contain the 4.5 % cuts. Now that Congress has passed the reform bill, these fees will need to be adjusted. It is recommended that physicians wait until the new fees are posted as a result of the passage of the 1.5% increase. You will have until December 31, 2003 to make your Medicare participation decision. Empire Medicare Services – New Jersey
http://www.empiremedicare.com/down.htm

Mark your Calendar!
Wednesday, March 17, 2003
Spring Vascular Meeting
RWJ Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ
Call For Abstracts. Please consider submission of a case presentation or abstract. Deadline January 17, 2004.

Exhibitor and Sponsorship Opportunities

To save important resources (time and money), we are building an email address list of members. The monthly report, and other important communications, can then be easily and efficiently emailed to the organization. Please provide your name and email address.

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