President`s Message... - IPA of Nassau/Suffolk Countries

October 2015
of Nassau/Suffolk Counties
A non-exclusive, not-for-profit, physician led IPA focused on helping independent
and community hospital-based physicians stay on the “frontline of healthcare.”
President’s Message...
Congratulations and thank you to our members who listened and
performed so well as to achieve a shared savings in our Blue
Cross/Blue Shield contract. The ENTIRE amount of the savings
has been allocated and distributed to participating physician
members.
This accomplishment serves several purposes. It provides good evidence that
when physicians are aware and understand the significance of quality metrics, they
work toward those goals. A shared savings distribution also serves as a financial
incentive to those hard working physicians by validating their performance. Lastly,
it demonstrates the effectivity of our IPA to gather, analyze, and utilize data to affect
individual behavior and bring about improvement in outcomes at best value.
Fee-for-service is going the way of printed media and the incandescent lightbulb.
Risk contracts both partial and full along with value based payments are here. By
2017, 50% of Medicare payments to providers will be value based!
Independent Physicians MUST group together and create high performing
clinically integrated networks that deliver quality care at value. The recent merger/
acquisition of several large insurance companies (Aetna and Humana - Cigna and
Anthem) underscores the need for strong alliances among physicians in a network.
Practice Management of America will be the management organization that will
enter into risk and value based contracting for the members of our IPA. It will
strengthen the clinical performance of our network and ensure our physicians are
fairly compensated.
Physicians have Intelligence
United Physicians have Strength
Strength and Intelligence have no Boundaries
John L. Franco, MD
President
Practice Management of America Launches!
Great news to share! Practice Management of America is moving forward!
We are pleased to announce that we are breaking ESCROW with over $2m
dollars with 35 investors. Michael Guarino, President of PMA shares his
thoughts with us; “Now is the time to take the lead in this ever-changing
healthcare environment, PMA gives us the resources to live the dream”.
There will be a private meeting for investors only on Wednesday, October
21st, to discuss next steps moving forward and delegating a board of
directors.
On behalf of Michael A. Guarino and the entire IPA team we “thank you” for
your continued support and look forward to the great days ahead.
Practice Management of America
Right
Care · Right Place · Right Time
®
In the News...
North Shore Hematology-Oncology
joins IPA of Nassau/Suffolk Counties
The Independent Physician Association of Nassau/Suffolk Counties, “IPANS” is
proud to welcome North Shore Hematology Oncology (NSHOA) to the membership
team.
NSHOA has been providing both hematology / oncology services within 10
locations throughout Long Island for over 35 years throughout. NSHOA physicians
and medical staff are highly regarded for their prestigious academic credentials,
years of training and experience, and commitment to excellence in cancer care.
But they are regarded by patients and their families for something that doesn’t
appear on certificates and diplomas: the confidence they engender and the
relationships they foster through attentiveness, responsiveness, and meaningful
communication. CEO and Oncologist at NSHOA, Dr. Jeffrey Vacirca states: “We
are excited to join this phenomenal group of physicians whose goal is to provide
the best care possible to the community”.
Local Community Hospital Physicians Join IPA
The IPA of Nassau/Suffolk counties is pleased to announce the addition of two
groups of community hospital physicians; Brookhaven Memorial Hospital and
John T. Mather Hospital.
Brookhaven Memorial Hospital is a non-profit community
hospital located in the town of Patchogue in Suffolk County
New York. BHH has 306 accredited beds and has a multidisciplinary health care complex designed to meet the
evolving needs of the 28 communities they serve.
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital is a non-profit
community hospital located in the town of Port Jefferson
in Suffolk County New York. Mather Hospital has 248 accredited beds and is
dedicated to providing a wide spectrum of health care services that provide the
highest quality of care to the residents of their community.
This addition further strengthens our presence in both Suffolk and Nassau counties
supporting full continuum of care for our patients. Right Care at the Right Place
at the Right Time.
South Shore Neurologic Associates
joins IPA of Nassau/Suffolk Counties
The Independent Physician Association of Nassau/Suffolk Counties, “IPANS” is
proud to welcome South Shore Neurologic Associates, P.C. as members. South
Shore Neurologic Associates, PC – is a comprehensive Neurologic care facility
which is dedicated to alleviating the symptoms of neurological illness, neurological
injury and chronic pain through excellence in patient care, advocacy, service,
education and research. They have been providing neurologic care for people living
in Suffolk County, Long Island since 1980 and have expanded their practice over
the years to set standards in neurologic care on Long Island; through research and
innovative treatments while providing comprehensive and personal patient care at
their offices in Islip, Patchogue, and Riverhead as well as affiliated hospitals.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign
that increases the awareness of the disease. While most people are aware
of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps necessary to detect the
disease in its early stages in an effort to seek treatment. Breast cancer is the
most common non-skin cancer among American women. One in eight women will
develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. But advances in breast cancer
treatment mean many women can expect to beat the disease and maintain their
physical. Have you had your mammogram today?
Cancer Treatment Centers of America http://www.cancercenter.com/breast-cancer/learning/?source=
MSNPPC&channel=paid+search&c=paid+search%3ABing%3ANon+Brand%3APhrase%3ANon+Br
and%3ECancer+Type%3A+Breast%3APhrase&k_clickid=6ae1f05c-16ae-49e0-b188-a2ea0e815430
Gaining Your Independence
As so many private practices are bought out or sold to
large hospital systems, some physicians are now looking
to break from these systems and become independent
again, reports Jeffrey Bendix with Medical Economics.
The majority of physicians are sick of the business
model of “seeing as many patients as they can and coding as high as they can”
that comes with working for a large health system. By embracing the “challenges”
of being independent, physicians can at least “practice medicine how” they want.
Bendix offers these tips for physicians looking to become independent: “consider
joining an independent physician association…find ways to save on property
costs…[and] review the fee schedule.”
For more information visit, www.medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com
Actual article link: http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/fightingback-part-2-quest-independence?page=0,0
North Shore Surgi-Center holds fundraiser for Suffolk County
Legislator Dr. William Spencer
The North Shore SurgiCenter located in Smithtown,
NY hosted a fundraiser
for Dr. William Spencer on
Tuesday, October 13th that
included over 50 attendees.
Dr. Spencer is seeking
re-election as a county
legislator for the 18th district. Dr. Spencer is currently the President of the SCMS
and a respected independent otorhinolaryngologist practicing in Huntington, NY.
Dr. Spencer has been a member of IPANS for several years and is committed
to the concerns of the independent physicians. Along with liability reform, Dr.
Spencer has been active enacting legislation to protect the welfare of Suffolk
county youth by limiting access to energy drinks.
To learn more about his campaign please visit the following website:http://legis.suffolkcountyny.gov/
do/do18/do18.html
Book Club
Less Medicine More Health by Dr. H. Gilbert Welch
You might think the biggest problem in medical care is
that it costs too much. Or that health insurance is too
expensive, too uneven, too complicated—and gives you
too many forms to fill out. But the central problem is that
too much medical care has too little value. Dr. H. Gilbert
Welch is worried about too much medical care. It’s not to
deny that some people get too little medical care, rather
that the conventional concern about “too little” needs to
be balanced with a concern about “too much”.
The American public has been sold the idea that seeking medical care is
one of the most important steps to maintain wellness. Surprisingly, medical
care is not, in fact, well correlated with good health. So more medicine
does not equal more health; in reality the opposite may be true. In “Less
Medicine More Health”, Dr. Welch challenges patients and the health-care
establishment to rethink some very fundamental practices. His provocative
prescriptions hold the potential to save money and, more important, improve
health outcomes for us all.
To learn more, visit: https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/videos/advanced-studyweekend-experts/dr-h-gilbert-welch-less-medicine-more-health/
Shortage of Physicians by 2025
The United States of America is facing an epidemic with a shortage of primary
care physicians and specialists. As the number of physicians are decreasing, the
number of patients are increasing due to insurance expansions, medical school
costs, population increase and the aging elderly communities’ lifespan. By 2025,
the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts that there will be
a shortage of about 12,500 to 31,000 primary care physicians and about 28,200
to 63,700 specialists. The important question: is how do we prevent this from
happening? Is there an alternative way to fix this issue?
In order to fix this problem, there needs to be a push by the federal government to
offer support for graduate medical school education. At least 3,000 more doctors
will be needed per year to meet the nation’s growing and aging population.
Additionally, Physicians continue to be hired by hospitals, giving up their
independence and autonomy, and lowering the quality of care for the patients.
Seeing as most hospital systems prioritize the bottom line over patients’ health, it
is crucial for the providers to prioritize and assist independent physicians, which
will keep the quality of healthcare high and the costs lower, and hopefully avoid
the shortage of physicians.
http://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20150303aamcwkforce.html
Pope Francis: Remember the Poor
When Pope Francis told Congress to remember the poor, Anthony
Tersigni took it to heart. For this CEO of Ascension, the world’s largest
Catholic health system, the fight against poverty is “the heart of all we
do.” Last year his hospitals provided nearly $2 billion in unreimbursed
charity care, including filling the void left by declining government health services.
Consistent with this message of care for the most vulnerable is Ascension’s
adherence to Catholic health directives, in spite of pressure from secular groups.
In November Tersigni will meet with Pope Francis to urge Catholic health care
providers to do even more for the poor, “even more creatively and intentionally.”
IPA of Nassau/Suffolk Counties welcomes our new members:
North Shore Hematology
Oncology Associates, PC
Hemotology / Oncology
East Setauket
Michael Berstein, MD
Roy Chen, MD
David Chu, MD
Joseph Cirrone, MD
Diane Clausen, MD
Noshir DaCosta, MD
Jerry George, DO
Regina Jablonski, MD
Christi Kim, MD
William LiPera, MD
Steven Montana, DO
Shahid Nawaz, MD
Yelda Nouri, MD
Stanley Ostrow, MD
Samir Patel, MD
Hasan Rizvi, MD
Gerry Rubin, MD
Edward Samuel, MD
Martin Silverstein, MD
GurmohanSyali, MD
Michael Theodorakis, MD
Jeffrey Vacirca, MD
Edward Condon Medical P.C
Endocrinology, Commack
Edward Condon, MD
Joyce Adedugbe, ANP
Michelle Lorge, ANP
Virginia Nicholes, ANP
Laura Teplitz, ANP
Tanima Yaibuathes, ANP
L.I. Digestive
Disease Consultants
Gastroenterology, East Setauket
Robert Baranowski, MD
Gary Bernstein, MD
William Cohn, MD
Eugene Coman, MD
Emily Glazer, MD
Howard Keschner, MD
Eugene Licht, MD
Seth Persky, MD
Magaret Cariola, NP
Kristina DeMarco, NP
Helena Joseph, NP
Seaford Family Practice
Internal Medicine PC
Internal Medicine, Seaford
Jeffrey Elfenbein, DO
Sheldon Elfenbein, DO
South Island Family Medical LLC
Family Medicine, Island Park
John Bedell, DO
Carolyn Castiglia,DO
South Shore
Neurologic Associates
Neurology, Islip
Bhupinder S. Anand, MD
Melissa Bernbaum, MD
David Besser, MD
Karen Blitz, DO
Cindy Jadoo, MD
Steven Rosen, MD
Patchogue
Antigone Argyriou, MD
Edward Firouztale, DO
Mark Gudesblatt, MD
Hos Loftus, MD
Samson Mebrahtu, MD
Khondukar Rahman, MD
Agha Raza, MD
Hugh Xian, MD
Riverhead
Ralph Mangels, DC
Henry Moreta, MD
Norman Pflaster, MD
Philippe Vaillancourt, MD
Myassar Zarif, MD
NEW INDEPENDENT
PHYSICIANS:
Adebukola Adeniran,NP
Adult / Geriatrics, Babylon
M. Jennifer DeMarco, DO
Family Medicine, Amityville
Robert Roche, MD
Internal Medicine, Bayport
of Nassau/Suffolk Counties
IPA Board of Director Members
John L. Franco, MD
President & Medical Director
Mohammed R. Azaz, MD
Family Practice
Edward J. Lipinsky, MD
Otolaryngology
Robert M. Lazar, MD
Gastroenterology
Paolo T. Coppola, MD
Emergency Medicine
Charles Rothberg, MD
Ophthalmology
Jeffrey Vacirca, MD
Hematology/Oncology
Steven S. Parry, DO
Family Practice
John Muratori, MD
Family Practice
Richard A. Schoor, MD
Urology
Michael H. Shanik, MD
Endocrinology
Marc R. Salzberg, MD
Emergency Medicine
Steven Q. Tuzinkiewicz, MD
Radiology
Itchak Schwarzbard, MD
Orthopaedics
IPA Executive Administration
Michael A. Guarino
Marissa T. Wolfe, MBA
Executive Director
Director of Acquisitions and Member Relations
John L. Franco, MD
Eric P. Schein, RPA-C
President/Medical Director
Associate Clinical Coordinator
Francis J. DiMotta, MSM
Joseph A. Lazar, JD
Chief Operations Officer
Senior Associate for Legal Affairs
Jo Ann Marino, RN
Steven P. Heisler, MBA
Director of Clinical Integration/Physician Liaison
Physician Membership Administrator
Taylor Whitehouse
Alexa Parry
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Quality Care Committee Members
John L. Franco, MD
Michael H. Shanik, MD
President & Medical Director
Endocrinology
Horia
L.
Vlase,
MD
Anthony J. Spadaro, MD
Mohammed R. Azaz, MD
Nephrology
Pulmonology
Family Practice
Who We Are...
Meeting the Holy Father
Michael A. Guarino, the Executive Director of IPANS, was an
invited guest to attend the fifth annual International Catholic
Legislators Network conference that took place in Rome, Italy
August 28-31, 2015. The private event included over 100
International Catholic Legislators from around the world and
Mr. Guarino was chosen for his work with Guiding Star – Life Choices promoting woman’s
health from the womb to the tomb.
During this conference the interaction with Pope Francis and this exclusive group was
fruitful, the group was asked to discuss and offer suggestions related to several key
issues that are impacting the Catholic community across the world. As a result of these
discussions, a document was developed by this group and presented to the Holy Father.
This document included discussion points on their commitment to promoting life in their
respective nations, especially in areas of abortion, Christian persecution and migration. As
many of you have witnessed some of these topics were presented by Pope Francis during
his address to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, PA this past September, 2015.
Another highlight of Mr. Guarinos’s visit was the amazing exchange he had with Pope
Francis directly, not only was he able to share his story of his 25 year old non-verbal classic
autistic daughter, he had the honor of exchanging zucchettos (skull cap) with Pope Francis
during his integration. This is a rare experience and certainly awe-inspiring for Michael.
of Nassau/Suffolk Counties
761 Middle Country Road, Selden, New York 11784
P: 631-698-1900 • F: 631-698-2100 • E: [email protected]