MEDICARE EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR PECOS:  If you order Medicare services or refer patients for such services you now have until April 5 to determine if you are compliant with Medicare’s Provider, Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS).  CMS originally planned to stop payments January 1 to physicians who had not complied with the new enrollment policy, but pressure from AMA and other groups extended the deadline to April 5.

You may be one of the more than 200,000 physicians who have yet to re-enroll so check with your office manager. Contact Noridian or go to the PECOS websites for more information about how to enroll.

It’s important to note not only do you have to comply, if you list a referring physician on a claim that referring physician must also be in compliance before you to get paid.

PHYSICIAN MENTORS NEEDED:  Many medical students are anxious to mentor with active practice physicians as they contemplate their general or specialty practice future so the society, working with the university medical school, is compiling a list of physician mentors. If you’re interested in working with a student, contact Steve at the society 795-7985 or e-mail—steve5199@simplybits.net.

A HISTORICAL LOOK AT GUNSHOT SURGERY:  If you’ve never had the opportunity to hear Kenneth Johnson, MD speak plan to attend “Surgery for Gunshot, 1880 Contrasted with Today” scheduled for February 9 at the medical society. Dr. Johnson is one of the most skillful speakers in our community and well versed on Old West medicine including individual physicians who struggled to bring scientific medicine to bear on surgical problems and treatment innovation. 

Doors open at 6:20 p.m. Dinner, provided at no charge by the PCM Foundation, is served at 6:30 p.m. The lecture begins at 7. Please RSVP by noon, February 8 so we know how many meals are needed. Call 795-7985.

CONCERT BENEFITS PHYSICIAN ORGANIZATION:  The Berger Center, located on the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind campus, hosts pianist Kim Hayashi on January 30 in a one-night, $10,000 fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders. For ticket information or to sponsor call 325-8590.

WESTERN ICONS FOCUS OF HISTORY TOUR:  Join the History Committee on Saturday, March 13 for an all-day tour of Cochise County. Participants will visit the grave sites of Johnny Ringo and Warren Earp, tour stage stop ruins, the Old Cochise Hotel and train hold-up site plus other interesting locales. There is no charge; Stan Levin, MD will lead this jam-packed excursion. You may take your own car, or catch a ride. Call 795-7985.

RETIRED PHYSICIANS INTERESTED IN WORKING PART TIME: The society is putting together a list of retired physicians with an active Arizona license willing to occasionally work general practice coverage. If you’re interested contact the society at 795-7985.