2-1-16 Physician Newsletter

PhysicianHarris County HCMS

Harris County Medical Society

Newsletter

The official publication of the Harris County Medical Society • Volume 58 • Number 2 • February 1, 2016

HCMS Member Appreciation Day

Attend the Harris County Medical Society (HCMS) Member

Appreciation Day on Saturday, Feb. 27. Bring your family and enjoy

free access to the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical

Science (The Health Museum) and attend a free one-hour ethics con-

tinuing medical education (CME) provided by the Texas Medical

Liability Trust on “Patient Today, Plaintiff Tomorrow: Essential

Communication Skills for Today’s Healthcare Providers” by James

Ruffin, PhD. The CME program starts promptly at 10:30 a.m. The

schedule is:

• All day free entrance to the museum for physicians and their

families to enjoy the kid-friendly and informative exhibits include:

Celebrating the new officers: pictured left to right, outgoing HAM DeBakey Cell Lab: Designed to inspire interest and educate the
President Dr. Lisa Ehrlich, Event MC and TMA President Dr. Tom public in biology and medicine.
Garcia, 2016 HCMS President Dr. Kimberly Monday, Keynote Amazing Body Pavilion: The newly renovated exhibit invites guests
Speaker Emily Friedman, outgoing HCMS President Dr. Bradford to take a tour of the human body.
Patt, and 2016 HAM President Dr. Alan Glombicki. You: The Exhibit: Enables guests to age themselves by 30 years,
change their features, and scan their internal organs and more.
New 2016 HCMS leaders McGovern 4D Theater: Take a journey into the alien landscape of
our own skin and find out all about the creepy, crawly things that

The Harris County Medical Society (HCMS) and Houston live on our body.
Academy of Medicine (HAM) held a celebration to welcome in • 10 a.m., CME Registration & Seating Begins - Physicians must
the new presidents and officers. The new presidents and officers sign in with HCMS staff to obtain CME credit. You and your family
were installed at the HCMS/HAM Installation of Officers & may enjoy complimentary museum admission up to 5 p.m., even if
Leadership Recognition ceremony on Jan.22 at the Houston you choose not to attend the CME program.
Petroleum Club. Texas Medical Association President Dr. Tom • 10:30 a.m., CME Program - Patient Today, Plaintiff Tomorrow:
Garcia acted as Master of Ceremony and introduced Dr. Essential Communication Skills for Today’s Healthcare Providers, by
Kimberly E. Monday as the 115th president of HCMS, Dr. Alan James Ruffin, PhD.
P. Glombicki as the 2016 HAM president as well as the other Reservations are required for the complimentary museum visit.
HCMS and HAM officers. During the evening, HAM honored Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. For more infor-
Dr. William Schaffner with the John P. McGovern Compleat mation and to make your reservation, go to www.hcms.org/events/
Physician Award. This national award recognizes a physician other
who embodies excellence, humane and ethical care, and com-
mitment to medical humanities. Ethics CME, networking and fun!

Dr. Monday, a board-certified neurologist, is in private prac- Network with colleagues in your community, enjoy dinner, and

tice at the Houston Neurologic Institute (HNI), which she co- receive ethics continuing medical education (CME) credit at your local

founded in 1997. HNI is affiliated with Memorial Hermann branch meeting. The branch meetings cover six geographical areas,

Mischer Neuroscience Associates. She completed her medical allowing physicians to develop referring and collaborative relationships.

training, neurology residency and chief residency at Baylor Each HCMS member is designated to a branch based on the zip

College of Medicine in Houston, followed by fellowship training code of his/her primary address. To find out your branch designation,

in clinical neurophysiology at Emory University in Atlanta see the “Listing by Specialty” in the HCMS/HAM Pictorial Roster. Your

where she specialized in intra-operative monitoring, diagnostic branch designation can be changed upon request. Each branch meets

sleep medicine, EMG and EEG. Board certified by the American three times a year and includes refreshments or dinner and drinks, as

Academy of Psychiatry and Neurology in adult neurology, well as CME credit, usually for ethics CME.

See NEW 2016 HCMS LEADERS continued on page 6 See ETHICS CME, NETWORKING & FUN! continued on page 5

HCMS Newsletter presented by the HCMS Community Health Improvement & Communications Committee

President’s Page It takes a village to protect medicine

(This is an excerpt from Dr. Kimberly Monday’s Installation Speech, Jan. 22, 2016)

Kimberly E. Thank you for coming this evening. This annual event allows us Doctors don’t push back, right? We chose medicine because despite
Monday, MD to say thank you to our peers, our statesmen, and our staff. And to the environment in which we live there is truly no greater profes-
President recognize, it takes a village to protect the practice of medicine. sion. Doctors will always care for the ill. It is our sense of empathy,
caring, and obligation that has been exploited by all healthcare
I first started thinking about this speech in December. I was on players. But things are changing…
the way to a holiday party, anticipated having more than one egg
nog, and called Uber. After a few minutes of polite chat, the driver Maintenance of Certification requirements have pushed doctors
asked me what I did for a living. I replied, “I am a physician” to over the edge. For those in the audience who do not know about
which he replied, “I am a physician, too. I am a cardiologist!” I maintenance of certification, it is an admirable effort started in the
thought oh my, is this what medicine has come to in 2016? 90s to ensure physicians were keeping up with appropriate CME,
reading their specialty journals, and required a test every 10 years
So what are the realities of caring for patients in Harris County to confirm we are updating and preserving our fund of knowledge.
in 2016? This effort quickly morphed into a profit-driven machine, with
onerous and meaningless requirements that provided no improve-
Our environment includes the fourth largest city in the country ment in patient care or outcomes. Guess what? The doctors said
with four large competing hospital systems. We are anchored by the NO. Boards are rapidly changing their requirements, the president
largest medical center in the world, which develops and offers cut- of the American Board of Internal Medicine issued an apology let-
ting-edge therapies. Twenty percent of our patients have no insur- ter, Newsweek and other publications have run stories empathizing
ance and our state did not expand Medicaid, leaving 56,000 Harris with physicians, and physicians are joining alternative models. We
County patients without insurance and millions of our tax dollars said no, and it is working.
going to other states’ coffers. The Harris County safety net system
recently tightened eligibility requirements; and our downtown safe- So how do we turn our environment around?
ty net hospital has been placed on a respirator. Our patients who Quality: We must be a leader in quality medicine. Not the
have insurance must find care in narrow networks that exclude top
facilities, top doctors, and needed medications. We have been meaningless abuse and arbitrary PQRS government measures, but
cajoled, bribed, and are now penalized if we do not use an electron- the standards of care our specialty societies set. We must track and
ic medical record; a record which does not interface with other publish our quality and our outcomes. Most importantly, we must
peers, hospitals, laboratories, or imaging facilities. If we use univer- refuse to cut corners or prescribe less to our patients.
sal technology to communicate about patients, i.e., texting, we put
ourselves at risk of HIPAA penalties. In this environment we are to Transparency: We must be a leader on transparency in billing.
provide quality care to our patients who want services and results We must post our charge master and our cash discount prices. And
immediately. If not satisfied, these patients have no problem jump- we must demand hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, DME com-
ing on the Internet to complain or giving us a less than desirable panies, device makers, and physical therapists do the same.
rating on their satisfaction survey.
Advocate and Report Patient Care Issues: Yes, we must report
So…these are just a few challenges. And, why would you NOT our own errors and those of our colleagues. We must change poli-
want to support organized medicine? There is no other group that cies to prevent further mistakes. Our batting average is expected to
exclusively advocates for the physician so the physician can advo- be 1,000, but we are human and we will make mistakes.
cate for his/her patient.
Similarly, we MUST report and chronicle how the effects of nar-
So you may think, “Did organized medicine fail if we are now in row networks, eliminated medications, and unrealistic deductibles
this challenging environment?” The ACA resulted in billions of are affecting patient care. Patients and employers should look to
dollars to hospitals, PHARMA, and insurers. The doctors did not doctors in making decisions about network adequacy and quality
ask for a fee increase or additional perks. We asked to fix the SGR of care.
formula so there was not the decision to be made every year about
treating Medicare patients. We asked for a national solution to tort Everywhere possible we should eliminate the middleman. The
reform, similar to the one we fought so hard to win in Texas with relationship for providing coverage should be direct and between
Prop 12 in 2003. Finally, we asked to improve electronic medical the patient and her physician or the employer and the physician.
records and health information exchanges so we could all talk to We need to be open minded and think outside the box about alter-
each other, look at prior testing and eliminate wasteful and dupli- native models that eliminate the noise, the resistance, the waste,
cate testing. and the excess. This will include telemedicine. We must protect
patients and ensure electronic encounters are used appropriately.
We walked away from the table 0/3. The AMA was promised
these things and at the 11th hour they were removed. The AMA To finish with my Uber driver. He is a cardiologist from
only represents 20 percent of physicians, unlike the Pharma, hospi- Vietnam. His mother died of heart failure and he became frustrated
tal, and insurance lobbies. Every specialty has their own lobbies at the lack of technology he had to offer his patients. He is starting
and those organ lobbies did not agree: Multisystem organ failure. over, at 39, to repeat his residency and fellowship so he can work in
the United States, the best place in the world to care for patients.
The good news is that it is not over. Doctors have an opportuni-
ty to turn this around. The political environment is right now. Please remember, all medicine, hospital admission, pharmaceu-
Patients and employers have reached the tipping point. We must tical prescriptions, or home health evaluations begin with a physi-
never forget that every health care decision begins with the doctor. cian’s order. This is not a power to be abused. It is a power for
We are the captain of the team. change and the most important power: to protect and advocate for
our patients.
You may be doubtful about doctors leading or forcing change.
I look forward to a wonderful year with a wonderful group of
physician leaders.

All articles in The Harris County Physician Newsletter that mention HCMS’ stance on state legislation are defined as “legislative advertising,” according to Tex. Gov’t. Code Ann. §305.027.
That law requires disclosure of the name and address of the person who contracts with the printer to publish legislative advertising in The Harris County Physician Newsletter. Greg Bernica,
Executive Vice President, Harris County Medical Society, 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004-7126.

The Harris County Physician Newsletter (USPS 960-580) is the official publication of the Harris County Medical Society. Offices: 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston TX 77004-7126, 713-524-
HCMS (4267), www.hcms.org. It is Published 16 times per year-twice monthly except in January, March, April, June, July, August, November and December which are monthly.
The subscription rate is $15.00 per year. Single copies are 75 cents. Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Harris County Physician
Newsletter, 1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004-7126.
2 Harris County Physician Newsletter / Feb 1, 2016 / www.hcms.org

Medicaid Corner
CMS extended Medicaid re-enrollment deadline

All Texas physicians who participate in Medicaid are required to re-enroll in the

Medicaid program, per the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In order to comply with this man-

date, Texas Medicaid physicians who enrolled before Jan. 1, 2013, are now required to re-

enroll by Sept. 25, 2016 (Please note this is a new date.) Last month, CMS extended the

date from March 24, 2016, to the new deadline Sept. 25, 2016, in hopes that this extension

will give physicians additional time to re-enroll into the program and avoid potential pay-

ment disruptions.

Physicians can re-enroll in the Medicaid Program by completing the paper enrollment

application or electronically by utilizing the Physician Enrollment Portal (PEP). To learn

more about how to re-enroll into Medicaid, go to www.hcms.org/Practice-Resources/

Medicaid/Re-Enrollment/. Presented by the HCMS Board on Socioeconomics

Quality corner: PQRS deadlines are near - Avoid

penalties in 2017

Physicians who do not satisfactorily report quality measure data to meet the 2015 PQRS
requirements will be subject to a negative PQRS payment adjustment on all Medicare Part B
Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) services rendered in 2017.
Deadlines in February 2016:

• 02/29/16: EHR Direct or Data Submission Vendor (QRDA I or III)
• 02/29/16: Qualified clinical data registries (QCDRs) (QRDA III)
Deadlines in March 2016:
• 03/15/16: Group practice reporting option (GPRO) Web Interface
• 03/31/16: Qualified registries (Registry XML)
• 03/31/16: QCDRs (QCDR XML)
Submission ends at 8 pm Eastern Time on the end date listed. An Enterprise Identity
Management (EIDM) account with the “Submitter Role” is required for these PQRS data
submission methods. See the HCMS PQRS web page at www.hcms.org/practice-resources/
quality/pqrs/ to review the EIDM System Toolkit for assistance.
For questions, contact the QualityNet Help Desk 1-866-288-8912 or via email at
[email protected] from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Central Time.
To receive email reminders on upcoming deadlines or important developments in health
care quality compliance, sign up for HCMS Direct at www.hcms.org/news/subscribe_
direct/. For more information, email [email protected].

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Presented by the HCMS Health Care Quality Committee

HIT Parade: March 15 - Meaningful Use (MU) and
hardship exemption application due

In late 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a new rule
requiring physicians to report 90 consecutive days of MU data instead of one year. This
caused a major stir, which resulted in CMS enacting a labor-intensive, case-by-case hardship
exemption process. The exemption provides a more streamlined hardship application process
where hardship exceptions may be considered for physicians. To be considered for a hardship
exemption your application must be submitted by March 15, 2016. CMS could continue to
offer case-by-case approvals of hardship applications through July 1, 2016.

For more information on this topic, please visit the HCMS website at www.hcms.org/
practice-resources/HIT/MU/. To receive email reminders on upcoming deadlines or impor-
tant developments in health information technology and quality compliance, sign up for
HCMS Direct at www.hcms.org/news/subscribe_direct/. For more information, contact
[email protected].

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
HIT Parade Presented by the HCMS Health Information Technology Committee

Tools at your fingertips

HCMS offers a multitude of helpful tools and grids neatly outlining information to assist 3
physicians’ offices with issues such as contacting health plans (i.e., eligibility, benefits,
preauthorization/certification etc.), finding a physician by language, how to bill for physi-
cian extenders, and much more! Go to www.hcms.org/Practice-Resources/Grids/.

Presented by the Board on Socioeconomics

www.hcms.org / Harris County Physician Newsletter / Feb 1, 2016

Medicare Corner: New 2016 Medicare Did you update your contact
physician fee schedule is here
information?

The first Medicare physician fee schedule without the SGR formula As a Harris County Medical Society member, your con-

attached has been announced. In April 2015, President Obama signed into tact information is available in the Harris County Medical

law the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). Society/Houston Academy of Medicine (HCMS/HAM)

This law repealed the SGR and commenced a new era in the way physicians Pictorial Roster as well as other HCMS/TMA search and

will get paid by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) communication tools so that colleagues can find you.

beginning with 2017 data affecting 2019 penalies. The new payment system Keep HCMS updated on your contact information to

is called the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). ensure that your information in these databases is correct

In the interim, the payment system will be based upon fee-for-service and to receive updates on your many HCMS and Texas

giving the conversion factor a boost of 0.5 percent per year until 2019. Medical Association (TMA) benefits.

However, the conversion factor did not increase due to adjustments for You should have received your Bio Card, a postcard from

“misvalued codes” which came from another law called Protecting Access HCMS reflecting the contact information we have for you on

to Medicare Act of 2014. Therefore, the 2016 conversion factor is $35.827, file, as well as board certifications. Please review the card and

in 2015 it was $35.933. return it by March 25, even if there are no changes.

In January, CMS discovered an error in the 2016 physician fee schedule Additionally, you can order extra copies of the Roster

and removed the schedule from the CMS and Novitas websites to correct on your Bio Card with FREE shipping. The 2016-2017

the error. On Jan. 11, 2016, Novitas published the individual CPT code HCMS/HAM Pictorial Roster will be delivered in July.

look-up and on Jan. 12, 2016, Novitas published the downloadable fee Free ethics CMEs and solutions
schedule.
If you or your staff downloaded the entire fee schedule or looked up the for your practice
individual CPT codes prior to Jan. 11, 2016, Harris County Medical Society
Attend the Harris County Medical Society (HCMS)
encourages you to review the codes to ensure the correct allowable is
reflected. To access the physician fee schedule or to learn more about the Business Expo on Saturday, April 16, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,
how to calculate the physician fee schedule, go to www.hcms.org/Practice- at NRG Center for three free ethics CMEs. Physicians and
staff are invited to enjoy the lectures and learn about business
Resources/Payers/Medicare/FeeSchedule/.
Presented by the Board on Socioeconomics solutions for your practice. HCMS holds the Expo as a free

Business of Medicine member benefit for physicians and their senior staff so they
can learn about the business side of medicine. CMEs offered:
Tips to help measure financial success • 9–10 am: To Be or Not to Be Employed, by Rocky Wilcox,
JD, Vice President and General Counsel at TMA
As we are one month into the new year, it is time to start tracking your • 10:45–11:45 am: Meaningful Use Modified Stage 2: 2015-
practices finances. Below is a list of basic metrics that can be utilized to 2017, by Shannon Vogel, Director, Health Information
measure the billing office or billing company’s performance. These meas- Technology at TMA
ures are designed to track the practices financial stability. • 2:15–3:15 pm: Patient Today, Plaintiff Tomorrow:
Essential Communication Skills for Today’s Physician, by
• Monitor and track the days in Account Receivables (A/R). The days James Ruffin, PhD of TMLT.
in A/R represent the average number of days it takes to collect pay- The Expo also includes a non CME Lunch & Learn pres-
ment. This number should be below 50 days. If the number increases entation at 12:30 pm on The Psychology of Happiness: The
then it is an indication that a problem is occurring. Below is the for- Effects of Positive Thinking on Health.
mula for tracking days in A/R. Go to www.hcms.org/events/business-expo/ to RSVP.
Register online to receive your free parking pass (a $12 sav-
- (Total Current Receivables-Credits)/Average Daily Charge ings). If you prefer to register by phone, call 713-524-4267.
Amount Register now and invite your colleagues and staff!
• Monitor and track the Accounts Receivables (A/R) in the 120 days
bucket. If this measure is increasing, then this is a red flag alerting you Spring Discovery Camps
to a problem with your billing department and/or billing company.
The formula to track this measure is listed below.

- Dollar Amount of the 120 A/R Bucket/Total Value of the A/R. Discovery Camps at the John P. McGovern Museum of
• Measure and track the Net Collection Rate. The purpose of monitor- Health & Medical Science (The Health Museum) take place
ing the Net Collection Rate is to determine the effectiveness of the from March 14-18, at a cost of $350. There will be three
billing office and/or billing company. The industry standard for the net groups, ages 5-7, 8-10 and 11-13. All camps meet from 9 a.m.
collection rate is 95 percent. to 3 p.m., with an extended camp day option available for
$15 per day per child. Lunch is not provided, only afternoon
- Payments/Charges-Contractual Adjustment snacks. Scholarship opportunities are available for families
• Monitor and track the Average Reimbursement per Encounter is a who demonstrate financial needs with a potential and need
measure that should be benchmarked against other practices in the for enrichment in an informal learning environment. The
same specialty. Below is the formula to track this measure. deadline to apply is March 1, 2016. Please email any scholar-
ship questions to [email protected].
- Total Reimbursement/Number of Encounters in a given time
period Camps are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For
To view additional resources to help improve your practices financial more information, visit www.thehealthmuseum.org, and
success visit HCMS Appeal webpage by going to www.hcms.org/Practice- click on Programs & Classes.
Resources/AppealsandTemplates/.
Presented by the HCMS Community Health & Communications Cmte
Source: Physician Practice
Presented by the HCMS Board on Socioeconomics

4 Harris County Physician Newsletter / Feb 1, 2016 / www.hcms.org

Public Health Focus: Travel-related Zika Virus Ethics CME, networking

Infection identified in the Harris County Area and fun!

Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) has received con- Continued from page 1
firmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that the Zika virus
has been confirmed in a traveler who recently returned from Latin America. The individ- New members of HCMS and physicians in
ual developed symptoms that are often associated with the Zika virus which include: their first- and second-year of practice can
fever, rash, and joint pain. Zika virus is spread through the bite of the Aedes species mos- attend these branch meetings for free! To reg-
quito. “Prevention is key to reducing the risk of Zika virus infection,” stated Umair A. ister for a branch meeting or to see other
Shah, MD, MPH, Executive Director of HCPHES. “Zika virus infections occur through- upcoming meetings in your community, go to
out the world. We encourage individuals traveling to areas where the virus has been iden- www.hcms.org/events/branch-meetings/.
tified to protect themselves against mosquito bites, and to contact their healthcare Upcoming meetings are:
provider immediately if they develop Zika virus-like symptoms.” There is no vaccine to
prevent or medicine to treat Zika virus infection. The CDC recommends that all people, Central Branch - Tuesday, Feb. 2
especially pregnant women, who are traveling to areas where Zika virus is found, should Rockets Game Night Out Social
take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to reduce their risk of infection of Zika virus as 1 hour Ethics CME, TMLT home study
well as other mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue and chikungunya. To learn more 6-7 p.m. - Networking & Social Hour & lite
about the Zika virus, please visit: www.hcphes.org and www.cdc.gov. bites
7 p.m. - Game Tip-off
Source: www.hcphes.org Toyota Center, Parking not included
Presented by the HCMS Community Health Improvement & Communications Committee
East Branch – Tuesday, Feb. 9
In Memoriam Risk Management Update & Current Trends in
Malpractice Allegations
Henry Arnold Cromwell, MD, an internist, died in 2015. He had been a member of Speaker: Mary Angela Meyer, JD
HCMS since 1974. 1 hour Ethics CME, TMLT
6 p.m. - Networking & Social Hour
Thomas Hyslop, MD, a general preventive medicine physician and public health and pre- 7 p.m. - Dinner & Program
ventative medicine physician, died June 30. He had been a member of HCMS since 1986. Holiday Inn - Channelview, Free Parking

Maria I. L. Moreno, MD, an anesthesiologist, died May 10. She had been a member of North Branch - Tuesday, Feb. 9
HCMS since 1962. Reimbursement & Revenue: New Possibilities,
New Pitfalls
Donald Henderson Nowlin, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and orthopedic surgeon of the Speaker: Sarah Fontenot, JD
spine, died Nov. 25. He had been a member of HCMS since 1963. 1 hour Ethics CME, TMLT
6 p.m. - Networking & Social Hour
David Frederick Peterson, MD, a pathologist, anatomic/clinical and medical microbiolo- 7 p.m. - Dinner & Program
gist, died Oct. 27. He had been a member of HCMS since 1974. Hilton Garden Inn Northwest, Free Parking

Elihut Ravelo Diaz-Arrastia, MD, a general surgeon and general practitioner, died Dec. Western Branch - Thursday, Feb. 11
5. She had been a member of HCMS since 1971. Reimbursement & Revenue: New Possibilities,
New Pitfalls
Have you renewed your joint HCMS/TMA Speaker: Sarah Fontenot, JD
membership? 1 hour Ethics CME, TMLT
6 p.m. - Networking & Social Hour
If you haven’t renewed your joint membership with the Harris County Medical 7 p.m. - Dinner & Program
Society/Texas Medical Association (HCMS/TMA), it is about to expire. Please renew it Houston Racquet Club, Free Parking & Free
today. It is an investment in the medical profession, your practice, your patients, and your Valet
community. HCMS and TMA need your support.
Southeast Branch - Thursday, Feb. 11
Avoid interruption of your HCMS and TMA benefits. Maintain your presence in the It All Adds Up: Big Wins for You and Your
four HCMS/TMA print, electronic and Smartphone membership databases so that col- Patients
leagues can find you. Ensure access to the HCMS and TMA Payment Advocacy Speaker: Clayton Stewart, Director, TEXPAC
Departments and receive actionable updates on incentives, penalties, and the many regu- 1 hour Ethics CME, TMA
lations coming your way. HCMS and TMA offer more than 100 member benefits to meet 6 p.m. - Networking & Social Hour
the needs of physicians in every setting and practice size. 7 p.m. - Dinner & Program
Cullen’s Restaurant, Free Parking
Renewing your membership is fast and easy. Use any of the options listed below:
Southwest Branch - Wednesday, Feb. 17
1. Detach the payment slip included in your dues statement and mail with your check Real Claims: Lessons Learned on the Front
or credit card payment to the address on the form; Lines
2. Renew online at www.texmed.org/join; or Speaker: Dan Ballard, JD
3. Set up an interest-free payment plan online at www.hcms.org/membership/become- 1 hour Ethics CME, TMLT
member-renew/ or by calling HCMS at 713-524-4267. 6 p.m. - Networking & Social Hour
7 p.m. - Dinner & Program
Your 2015 membership expired on Jan. 1, 2016. Your TMA/HCMS membership bene- Braeburn Country Club, Free Parking
fits will discontinue March 1, so be sure to renew today. If you have any questions, con-
tact HCMS at 713-524-4267. HCMS and TMA are here to serve you and rely on your
continued support.

www.hcms.org / Harris County Physician Newsletter / Feb 1, 2016 5

New 2016 HCMS leaders Continued from page 1

clinical neurophysiology and sleep medicine, she provides state-of-the-art electrophysiological therapy for movement disorders, including
deep brain stimulation programming, baclofen pump programming and vagal nerve stimulation for epilepsy treatment. She provides neu-
rological consultation for patients with epilepsy, movement disorders and sleep disorders, and directs both the EEG and sleep laboratories
at the Houston Neurological Institute.

Dr. Monday has been named a "Super Doc" by Texas Monthly Magazine and "Top Doctor" by both H Magazine and The Consumer's
Guide to Top Doctors. She serves on the Board of the Texas Neurological Society, is a delegate to the Texas Medical Association (TMA), and
chairs the Clinical Ethics Care Committee for MHMD, the Memorial Herman Physician Network. In addition, she serves on the Medical
Advisory Board for the Houston Area Parkinson's Society. She also is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. She was recently appointed to serve on the Harris Health System Board of Managers and is Chair
of Compliance. In 2015, she was appointed to the University of Texas College of Liberal Arts Advisory Council.

During her medical career, Dr. Monday has held many hospital and leadership positions: Chair of the Bioethics Committee at Bayshore
Medical Center (1999-2002) and Chair of Bioethics Committee of Southeast Memorial (2003-2010). She has hospital affiliations with:
Memorial Hermann Southeast, Memorial Herman-Texas Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Southwest, Memorial Hermann Memorial
City Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Greater Heights, St. Luke’s Patient Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center, and Clear Lake
Regional Medical Center.

The 2016 HAM President, Dr. Glombicki, is a gastroenterologist and hepatolgist. He graduated from the University of Illinois, Chicago
College of Medicine in 1981, and conducted internship, residency and fellowships at Baylor Affiliated Hospitals. He received his under-
graduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he serves as Educational Counselor for Admissions. He also studied
public health curriculum at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He is board certified by the American Board of
Internal Medicine in internal medicine and gastroenterology, and has been in practice 35 years. He is in private practice at the Houston
Digestive Diseases Consultants, which has three offices in Houston.

He currently is the Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine of the Liver Transplant Unit Gastroenterology Section at University of Texas
Medical School in Houston, and Delegate to the Texas Medical Association. He has held numerous positions in the medical community,
such as Medical Director of the Liver Transplant Unit at the Methodist Hospital, Protocol Review Auditor at the General Clinical Review
Center at Methodist Hospital, a member of the Utilization Committee at Tenet Medical Systems, Director of Motility and Endoscopy at
First Street Surgical Center, Ministry of Health Steering Committee at Abu Dhabi, Bahrain Hepatitis Symposia, President of Houston
Gastroenterology Society, President of HCMS Central Branch, a member of the Texas Medical Association Infectious Disease Committee,
Liver Clinic Director at the Hepatology/GI Clinic at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, founding President of the American Liver
Foundation of Texas, Assistant Professor of Medicine in Gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine, and serves on the National Policy
Committee of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). He also is the Boy Scouts of America Philmont National
Ranch High Adventure Coordinator/Wilderness Medicine Supervisor. He has affiliations with numerous hospitals in the area, including
Houston Methodist Hospital, The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, CHI St. Luke’s Health-Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, and multiple
Memorial Hermann Hospitals. Dr. Glombicki has won numerous awards for his work with patients, and is a leader in the medical commu-
nity. He has been awarded the US News & World Report Top Docs 1% Star Award. Since 2002, he has been recognized as America’s Top
Doctor by Castle Connolly. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American
Diabetes Association, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. His office speaks
multiple languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese (Cantonese) and Urdu.

Dr. Monday and Dr. Glombicki will each serve as president for a one-year term, ending Dec. 31, 2016. The HCMS Executive Board is
the governing board of HCMS and its members serve on the HAM Board of Trustees, the governing board of HAM. The four HCMS
Members-at-Large are the officers of HAM. The HCMS Executive Board officers for 2016 are: Kimberly E. Monday, MD, president; Lisa
L. Ehrlich, MD, president elect; Gary J. Sheppard, MD, vice president; and Mina K. Sinacori, MD, secretary/treasurer.

The HAM Board of Trustees for 2016 are: Alan P. Glombicki, MD, HAM President and HCMS Member-at-Large; George D. Santos,
MD, HAM Vice President and HCMS Member-at-Large; Bernard M. Gerber, MD, HAM Treasurer and HCMS Member-at-Large; and
Ronald S. Walters, MD, HAM Secretary and HCMS Member-at-Large.

The following council and board chairs and branch presidents also will sit on the 2016 HCMS Executive Board and HAM Board of
Trustees: Dexter G. Turnquest, MD, HCMS Council of Hospital Chiefs of Staff Chair; Tue A. Dinh, MD, HCMS Council of International
and Affiliated Medical Societies Chair; Michael J. Snyder, MD, HCMS Council of Specialty Societies Chair; Eric J. Haufrect, MD, HCMS
Board of Ethics Chair; James S. Guo, MD, HCMS Board of Medical Legislation Chair; Walter P. Moore, III, MD, HCMS Board on
Socioeconomics Chair; Charlotte M. Stelly-Seitz, MD, Delegation to the TMA Chair; Melissa A. Bogle, MD, HCMS Central Branch
President; Mohammad Ahmed, MD, HCMS East Branch President; Anita Jimenez-Belinoski, MD, HCMS North Branch President;
Swetanshu Chaudhari, MD, HCMS Southeast Branch President; Lindsay K. Botsford, MD, HCMS Southwest Branch President; Asra Ali,
MD, HCMS Western Branch President; James T. McDeavitt, II, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine, and Martin J. Citardi, MD, of The
University of Texas Health Science Center.

Volunteer to judge Science Fair

Calling all physicians, residents, medical students, and retired physicians to volunteer to judge the 57th Annual Science Engineering Fair.
The fair provides a great opportunity to help and guide young minds toward careers in the science and medical fields. The judging will be
on Saturday, Feb. 27, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the University of Houston Main Campus. For more information and/or to volunteer, contact
Trinh Nguyen at 713-524-4267, ext. 269, or [email protected].

Presented by the HCMS Community Health Improvement & Communications Committee

6 Harris County Physician Newsletter / Feb 1, 2016 / www.hcms.org

Sublease in a cardiologist office at 10021 South Main
Street, 77025. Only 5 minutes from the Texas Medical
Center. Ample free parking. Ideal for Internist and
Specialist. Can share nuclear stress, echocardiogram
machines. One flat rent negotiable. Full or part time.
For more information email [email protected], or
call 713-797-6000.

SugarLand Plastic Surgeon Retiring at the end of
March 2016. Upscale office to sublease, located on
Southwest Freeway. All furniture, including 5 Ritter auto-
matic exam tables, for sale. NexTech EMR and 20,000+
patient/contact database for sale. This is a great opportu-
nity for a surgeon looking to start up, or expand, his/her
practice. If interested contact Gina at 281-207-0500.

GP / FP / OC MED - Full Time Medical Office for Sale - Fallbrook Crossing, LLC, PM & R
Westside Established Practice 11734 FM, about 1257 sq. feet. Currently has certified Take Over Established Patient Base
x-ray facility, 4 exam rooms, x-rays / dark room, waiting
E&M Injured Patients room, business office, small physician office, and bath- Full Time - No Calls - No Rounds
Path to Equity Ownership room. Available for occupancy early 2016. Contact: Ownership Available
[email protected], or call 713-795-4963. Fax: 713-781-4056
Tel: 713-468-1272 Tel: 713-542-3480
Email: [email protected] Sugar Land: Medical office available for sublease.
Approx 1,500 square feet with 3 exam rooms, reception, A well established clinician group and behavioral
Medical office space available in Katy, TX in class A and private physician office. Fully furnished. Located on health care facility looking for a psychiatrist to evalu-
building. Physician looking to sublease 2 exam rooms to Highway 90 with easy access to Highway 6 and US 59. ate and treat children and substance abusers in our
a physician looking to expand their practice. In office lab, Contact [email protected] or 713-899-5822. detox program to open the fall of 2016. Medical
Infusion suite, shared waiting area, reception, and break Director responsibilities. Contact 713-383-0888, or email
room. Located near I-10 and Fry Rd. If interested email [email protected]
[email protected]

Classified ads are run on a first-come, first-serve basis. For rate information, call 713-524-4267. Advertising is subject to acceptance by publisher.
Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising. Publication of an ad is not to be considered an endorsement or approval by HCMS.

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