Top things to know

Last Updated: November 16, 2020 at 1:14 PM

What You Need to Know

• Bars, restaurants and gyms, as well as any State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, must close in-person service from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily.

• Indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to no more than 10 people. 

• New travel guidelines are in effect that allow out-of-state travelers to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine. 

• A new cluster action initiative is addressing COVID-19 hot spots that have cropped up across the state.

• Go to New York's COVID Report Card to find COVID-19 positive case data for every school district in the state.

• To report violations of health and safety restrictions and requirements for businesses, gatherings and individuals, please choose the appropriate link below:

  • File a complaint about a business, location or incident in your community.

  • File a complaint against your employer or place of work.

• Go to forward.ny.gov to find: Industry guidance on re-opening; regional dashboards for monitoring how the virus is being contained; and information on loans for small businesses.

• New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health through December 31, 2020; must apply within 60 days of losing coverage.

• Health care workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access 24/7 emotional support services. Any New Yorker can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.

Following the killing of George Floyd, the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons, as a leader in surgery in the United States, recognized its responsibility to address the issue of structural racism within the American College of Surgeons and within the profession of surgery. A task force was appointed to evaluate these factors as a result.

The task force was chaired by J. Wayne Meredith, MD, FACS, MCCM, American College of Surgeons President 2020–2021, and populated by members who are committed to the issue of eliminating racism, who are senior leaders of the American College of Surgeons that have a strong understanding of its operations, and who are influential and empowered to make changes.

We concluded that current national attention provides an opportunity to potentially make great progress on the issue of structural racism in the American College of Surgeons and in the profession of surgery. As such, our recommendations are focused on antiracism and helping our own professional organization and our surgeons approach issues of race with excellence, skill and fidelity. 

In the report, we identify Five Focus Areas of Progress, which include:

• Just & Inclusive Environment
• Cultural Competency
• Diversity in the Workforce
• Public Health Research
• Advocacy & Legislative Reform

The report from the Anti-Racism Task Force can be accessed here. The Anti-Racism Task Force recommendations were enthusiastically endorsed by the American College of Surgeons Board of Regents, and the Board of Regents appointed a Regental Committee to expeditiously carry them out. 

All our recommendations are important; some can be completed quickly, some in an intermediate phase, and some will take years to accomplish. Over the next few months, the Regental Committee will communicate progress in implementing the Anti-Racism Task Force recommendations and share periodic updates on activities.

Thank you,

J. Wayne Meredith, MD, FACS, MCCM
President, American College of Surgeons
Chair, Anti-Racism Task Force

L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS
Chair, Board of Regents, American College of Surgeons

Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, FACS
Regent, Board of Regents, American College of Surgeons
Chair, Anti-Racism Committee

David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS
Executive Director, American College of Surgeons

For months, physicians and practice managers have been in crisis mode due to COVID-19 and have faced daunting challenges daily. What the future holds relative to the evolution of COVID-19 remains unknown, but it is certain that litigation for COVID-related claims is on the horizon and will impact physicians in all medical specialties and practice models.

According to attorney John E. Hall Jr., founding partner of Hall Booth Smith in Atlanta, Georgia, which specializes in defense of high-exposure cases involving hospitals and medical malpractice claims, COVID-19 claims are looming in the next one to three years. “The big-dollar plaintiff firms and the plaintiff conglomerates are already starting to advertise for these cases, and they're starting to file them,” Hall says. “There are over 800 cases filed already. Many of those are in the long-term care scenario but [they] are developing every day and in a variety of other areas.”

Are there existing medical liability protections in place? What types of claims are anticipated? What steps can physicians take now to prepare to defend claims in the future? These important questions were recently addressed by Mr. Hall and other expert healthcare executives and attorneys at The Doctors Company’s 2020 Virtual Executive Advisory Board (EAB) meeting.

Read the complete article

Top Things to Know

With the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services planning to implement payment cuts of up to 9 percent for surgical specialties in the next calendar year—jeopardizing operations for medical institutions and patient access to care while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread—it is critical that Congress take action to prevent these decreases. And as a surgeon whose perspective is highly valued by your representatives, your voice could be just the thing to get them to act.

You can tell your representative to say "No!" to Medicare cuts in just three clicks—go to SurgeonsVoice, fill out your information and submit your letter. This simple action could make all the difference in helping maintain patient access to vital surgical care.

Act now!

Purpose: The purpose of this weekly publication is to provide healthcare providers in New York State with a consolidated update of guidance released by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) related to the COVID-19 pandemic response. This will show only current guidance for any given topic and will be updated to reflect new guidance.

As a reminder, all advisories and informational messages (including webinar invitations) are distributed through the Integrated Health Alerting Network System (IHANS), an application housed on the Health Commerce System (HCS).

If you are not receiving IHANS notifications, please work with your site’s HCS coordinator. Additional COVID-19 resources may be found on the NYSDOH webpage under Information for Healthcare Providers.

Recordings of COVID-19 Weekly Healthcare Provider Updates are also available on the NYSDOH webpage

 ECONOMIC SURVIVAL STRATEGIES IN THE COVID WORLD

The Surgeon's Guide Series

Join the New York Chapter American College of Surgeons and its preferred wealth management education provider, AltfestPersonal Wealth Management, for an interactive webinar series that aims to answer your financial questions and provide peace of mind during this uncertain time.

Built upon ACS's Economic Survival Strategies in the COVID World initiative, each virtual event focuses on a different area of your financial life, and is led by an Altfest Personal Wealth Management expert in that field who is ready to take your questions.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The Surgeon's Guide to Taking Control of Student Debt

Date: Wednesday, September 30 from 7:30-8:30pm

Presenter: Ben Lake, CFA, CFP®, student debt expert and senior financial advisor at Altfest Personal Wealth Management

Overview: Just because you're paying down student debt doesn't mean you have to put your other financial goals on hold. Even in the midst of COVID-19, there are options for restructuring your loans and establishing a strategy to start saving for retirement and major purchases, such as buying your first home. Join this webinar for step-by-step guidance on:

• Choosing the right debt repayment plan
• Prioritizing financial goals beyond debt and making an action plan
• Establishing the right cash flow and savings plan for your needs

The Surgeon's Guide to Tax Reduction

Date: Wednesday, October 21 from 7:30-8:30pm

Presenter: Carolyn Yun, CPA, CFP®, tax expert and financial planning specialist at Altfest Personal Wealth Management

Overview: As year-end approaches, understanding the unique tax planning opportunities that apply to your situation could help save you money - whether you are an employed surgeon, in private practice, or residency. Join this webinar for actionable tax planning insights, including:

• Tax benefits and reduction opportunities for a lower income year
• Tax-aware investment and retirement strategies
• What the SECURE Act, CARES Act and recent tax law could mean for you

The Surgeon's Guide to Assessing Your Financial Health

Date: Wednesday, November 18 during the Annual Meeting

Presenters: Andrew Altfest, CFP®, MBA, President, and Mike Prendergast, CFP®, MBA, Director and advisor at Altfest Personal Wealth Management

Overview: Now more than ever, your financial health is vital to your personal health. At the Annual Meeting, join Altfest for an interactive guide to taking comprehensive control of your financial life, including:

• Understanding the current state of your financial health
• Evaluating variables and options to consider based on your current scenario
• Establishing short- and long-term goals, as well as informed next steps

Want to speak with a fee-only financial advisor now?

Schedule a complimentary consultation with Altfest at this link, or reach them at (212) 406-0850 or inquiry@altfest.com. Learn more about the firm’s comprehensive financial planning and investment management services for physicians at altfest.com/physicians.

New York Chapter American College of Surgeons (NY Chapter ACS) is pleased to announce it has selected Altfest Personal Wealth Management as preferred wealth management education provider for its members. 

NY Chapter ACS advocates for over 3,300 members throughout the state.  In so doing, its efforts improve the quality of surgical practice and care to patients in New York.  NY Chapter ACS is an affiliate of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).  Founded in 1912, ACS is a scientific and education association of more than 82,000 surgeons.

“Our relationship with Altfest demonstrates further NY Chapter ACS’s commitment to deliver value to its members throughout their professional lifecycle and beyond, especially through this challenging time,” said NY Chapter ACS’s President, Dr. Marina Kurian.  “Having Altfest as a partner enables members to receive custom tailored financial planning and investment management education as well as complimentary consultations on timely planning topics that are relevant to our members .  As the demands on our surgeon members seem set only to increase, we find it important to provide needed support and services to promote surgeon education, resilience, and well-being.  Our partnership with Altfest underscores this commitment to our members, and we look forward to The Surgeon’s Guide educational series, its contribution to our Economic Survival Strategies in the COVID World initiative.”

Andrew Altfest, CFP®, president of Altfest Personal Wealth Management, said, “We are honored to have been selected by NY Chapter ACS.  Since its founding in 1983, Altfest has served the distinct financial planning and investment management needs of physicians.  As NY Chapter ACS’s partner, we will continue to offer members timely, helpful, and usable financial planning information through a variety of means, including webinars, email communications, Advisor Call-In Days, and when appropriate, live events.  We encourage members to take advantage of our educational content, which includes timely topics such as government relief programs and opportunities to take advantage of in a lower income year, in addition to creditor and asset protection, student debt management, tax reduction strategies, and more. We are pleased to offer NY Chapter ACS members a dedicated educational advisor who is on call to answer pressing financial questions at members’ convenience.” 

“Given our many years of service to doctors,” Altfest continued, “we well understand the crucial part financial planning education plays in promoting their personal wellness.  Altfest Personal Wealth Management is gratified to have been chosen for this important role.”

To learn more about Altfest Personal Wealth Management’s comprehensive financial planning and investment management service for physicians, visit altfest.com/physicians. NY Chapter ACS members can schedule complimentary consultations on the financial topic of their choice at this link.

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