DECEMBER 2006
The TMA and TMAA presidents will be the guest speakers at the annual combined meeting of the Midland and Ector County Medical Societies. You and your spouse or guest are cordially invited and encouraged to attend on this special dinner meeting.
DATE: Thursday, December 7th PLACE: MCM Elegante – Odessa TIME: 6:30 p.m.
RSVP by December 4th by leaving a message at 697-7154. Please specify if a vegetarian plate is requested.
Guest speakers will be Ladon W. Homer, Forth Worth pathologist and president of the Texas Medical Association, and Keely Hunsaker, DDS of Corpus Christi and president of the Texas Medical Association Alliance. Your support is needed for this annual visit by the TMA president. Encourage your spouse to attend with you to hear from the Alliance president also. See you there!
DUES ARE DUE! Invoices were direct mailed by TMA. You can pay online at the TMA website: www.texmed.org
Welcome to new members of MCMS:
Premila Singh, M.D. – with Midland Family Physicians – Pediatrics and Internal MedicineJohn K. Dorman, M. D. – NeurosurgeonRichard Bruce Culbert, M. D. – Opthalmology Specialty is vitreo-retinal surgery
Notes from the November 9th meeting… Election of officers was held with the following members to serve during 2007: President: David Watkins President-elect: Elvira Burns Secretary-treasurer: Terry Burns Past-president: Sherri Gillham
Special thanks to the 2006 officers: Sherri Gillham for an excellent job as president; David Watkins for his on-the-job training as president-elect; Elvira Burns for keeping us out of money troubles as secretary-treasurer; and Larry Buxton keeping an eye on everyone as past-president!
David Watkins would love a call from any member willing to serve on various committees …. Otherwise, he will call you!
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Nick Shroff and Leena Shroff as they retire from medical practice on December 15th. At the meeting, Nick Shroff was nominated for Honorary Membership status. This nomination will be considered by TMA. Nick has served in various leadership capacities, most recently on the TMA Board of Councilors and on the TMA Foundation Board.
Monthly dinner meetings of the MCMS Will continue to be held at The Garlic Press in Midland.
NATIONAL PROVIDER IDENTIFIER NUMBER will be required for all HIPAA covered transactions on May 23, 2007. Upon implementation, the NPI will be the sole provider identifier and will replace the multiple provider ID numbers you currently use. Use of Medicare UPINs, BCBS provider numbers Medicaid Ids, etc. will not be permitted as of May 23, 2007. It is suggested that two critical NPI steps be in place by November 23, 2006: 1) obtain your National Provider Identifier Number and 2) correctly implement your NPI number. Without your NPI number and knowledge of how to use it – your claims, prescriptions, and referrals can be adversely affected. To learn more about NIP and its implications, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/ GO TO Regulations and Guidance in left block; click on “More”. Scroll to HIPAA Admin. Click on National Provider Identifier (NPI) – All information you need is there. To apply online for your NPI, the web address is https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov
