CMS Partners with Bar Association

Conference helps docs succeed in changing practice landscape

The Chicago Medical Society (CMS) joined the health law section of the American Bar Association to host the third annual Physician Legal Issues Conference on June 12-13 at the Palmer House Hilton. The conference, which began as an educational initiative of CMS, continues to grow in popularity, targeting all physicians and attorneys who practice health law.

This year’s program provided attendees with new insight into evolving trends and hot topics ranging from hospital contracting, to entrepreneurial medicine, to accountable care.

One-hour sessions had practical advice for physicians working in any setting or those just entering the profession. Participants learned about their options and strategies, medical staff trends and compliance issues.

Issues Transforming Health Care

Conference goers got timely advice on protecting themselves from income tax fraud. This crime of opportunity, which begins with identity theft, has made victims out of hundreds of physicians across the country, according to several speakers.

Widespread physician ID theft has led to collaborative investigation by the IRS, the FBI, and the Secret Service, attendees learned. Stolen personal information can be used to submit false claims or illegally procure medications.

Participants also gained knowledge about health data breaches and how to guard against them. The final omnibus rule on HIPAA broadens the definition of who and what is considered a business associate, placing more responsibility on doctors for protecting health information, including preventing breaches by their business associates.

Other popular sessions focused on social media pitfalls, trends in medical liability insurance, and physician wellness. These cutting-edge issues, while non-clinical, are transforming American health care, and thus are critically important to the practice of medicine.

CMS members get a big discount on the conference rate, which includes up to 15 credit hours toward physician continuing medical education requirements. For members who had yet to complete their 150 CME hours before the July 31 deadline, the conference came just in time.

Session presentations are available for purchase in a handy book compendium. (See ad on page 3 of the August issue of Chicago Medicine.) Each chapter is written by a nationally recognized authority, including physicians, lawyers, government and health care experts.

The book is an excellent reference for clinicians who want to stay abreast of current legal and regulatory issues impacting their practices. The publication (2014 Physician Legal Issues Conference) can be found at www.ShopABA.org.

CMS members may also access the conference presentations online as CME webinars. Please visit our Online Education.

Finally, CMS wants your ideas for next year’s legal issues conference. Our planning committee urges you to drop us a line. Suggestions and questions should be emailed to: cms@cmsdocs.org. (Please reference the 2015 Physician Legal Issues Conference.)