Progress Notes :: Oct. 8, 2010

Progress Notes :: Oct. 8, 2010 :: Issue 3


[ADVOCACY] [CME] [PUBLIC HEALTH] [QUALITY INITIATIVES] [RESIDENTS & STUDENTS] [OTHER NEWS]

PAFP Legislative Update Legislation amending the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act of 2002 passed both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and is now in the hands of Governor Rendell. The bill, if signed by the governor, would lock in future basic insurance coverage requirements for participating healthcare providers by retaining the current coverage levels. It also allows for coverage levels to be revisited by the Insurance Commissioner in seven years. The governor has not indicated whether or not he will sign the bill into law. Practice Advocacy Update The Department of Public Welfare has launched an initiative to assist eligible TANF recipients in applying for Social Security Income (SSI) benefits. A letter to all medical service providers from DPW requesting assistance in this matter can be viewed here. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Program Integrity provisions have been outlined by DPW’s Office of Program Integrity. A presentation reviewing these provisions for service providers can now be viewed online. Implementation of ePrescribing Point of Care began on August 16, 2010. You can start using ePrescribe by logging onto the PROMISe™ Internet Portal.

AAFP Reminder 387 AAFP/PAFP members in Pennsylvania still need CME for 2010 to meet requirements. If you know you are one of these members who still needs CME, please make sure you get and REPORT those credits before December 31. Credits earned must be reported to AAFP. PAFP has plenty of CME available live and online. Go to http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafp/keystonephysician_2010summerfall/#/52 for online CME and to http://www.pafp.com/pafpcom.aspx?id=9 for live opportunities. More FREE CME in South Central PA PAFP's Southcentral Component Assembly is hosting its second annual Fall CME conference, from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. The conference is FREE and includes continental breakfast and lunch. Application has been filed with the AAFP for credit and determination of credit is pending. For more on the sessions, registration and parking information go to http://www.pafp.com/docs/2010%20South%20Central%20Assembly%20CME.pdf Still Room for More…but Hurry Members can still register for regional meetings in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Oct. 13) or Hershey (Oct. 20). The CME program includes dinner and a presentation on the PCMH and quality improvement. The program is FREE to PAFP members and one member of their staff. For complete information go to http://www.pafp.com/regional2010. Pittsburgh Breakaway CME Conference November 5 – 7 · Early Bird rates end October 9 (TOMORROW!!!) State College Breakaway CME Conference – Marc h 11 -13 · SAM Study Group - Friday, topic Diabetes · Sessions – Friday – Sunday · Research Day – Saturday · 15 Patient Safety Sessions, over 25 CME credits

Check out new webcasts; earn free CME credits Colorectal Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer yet is highly preventable. Check out these 3 supporting webcasts to learn more and improve your screening rates: · CRC Screening Guidelines · CRC Screening Toolkit · Systems Change to Improve CRC screening rates To register for these CME webcasts, click here. You also will find supporting tip sheets to download for quick and easy reference. October is “Medicine Abuse Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania Thousands of communities nationwide sponsored drug take-back events in late September. Pennsylvania has recognized October as “Medicine Abuse Awareness Month,” so please help to spread the word on safe disposal. Disposing of drugs through a take-back program is preferred and the Pennsylvania State Police recommends you check with local authorities to see if other events are being scheduled. If a take-back program isn’t available find detailed disposal information for patients in the “Spring Cleaning: Safe Medication Disposal” article in the Spring 2010 Keystone Physician, the PAFP member magazine (see links below). This issue also includes a warning about repackaging/redistribution of unused scheduled drugs. Article links: · Spring Cleaning: Safe Medication Disposal · Scheduled Prescription Drug Repackaging Strictly Prohibited Check out new CME webcast; download a free article A new CME webcast from the PAFP Foundation (go to Using MI To Help Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders) introduces motivational interviewing – for specific use with adolescents – as a powerful tool to guide patients to get the help they need. Check it out now and download a free article on MI, courtesy of the speaker. 1 Prescribed credit; 1 hour of patient safety CME. FREE Public Health CME updates These FREE CME webcasts expire soon. Find them at www.pafp.com/onlineCME . · Practical Application of Quality Improvement, 5 webcasts, 1 Prescribed credit each, expires 11/1/10 · ADHD...The Next Chapter: Struggling for Resolution of Dual Diagnoses, webcast and monograph, up to 3 Prescribed credits, expires 11/16/10 · Pharmacological Management of Adolescent Depression in Primary Care webcast, 2 prescribed credits, expires 12/1/10

PA REACH East Info The recipient agreement, effective Sept. 27, 2010, is now available for PA REACH East participants. PAFP is a PA REACH East subcontractor and can help you reach “meaningful use” with your EHR system. Although there are some upfront fees with this program through Quality Insights of Pennsylvania the return is substantial for each provider in a practice that reaches meaningful use, said PAFP’s Vice President of Quality Initiatives Lee Ann Grajales. For more information contact her at lgrajales@pafp.com or go to http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafp/keystonephysician_2010summer/#/10

Kevin Bernstein MS, a student at Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, has been elected to the board of the directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Bernstein was elected to a one-year term by the National Congress of Student Members and was confirmed by the governing body of the AAFP, the Congress of Delegates. As the student member of the board of directors, Bernstein is responsible for representing the interests and opinions of the National Congress of Student Members to the AAFP Board of Directors and Congress of Delegates. In addition, he will advocate on behalf of family physicians and patients nationwide to inspire positive change in the U.S. health care system. For the full AAFP news release, go to http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2010b/bernstein-boardofdirectors.html Residents & Students...Don’t miss the FMEC Northeast Region Conference, October 29 – 31, at Hershey Lodge & Convention Center. Student scholarship applications are available today to cover registration, hotel and conference meals. This is a great conference for everyone from first-year students exploring the specialty through those embarking on the interview trail. Great opportunities for residents include sessions on FQHC/CHC opportunities and networking lunch with employer/recruiters. PAFP offerings include Path to Practice Panel (Sat., 10am) & Clinical Camp (Sat., 2:45 – 5pm) Join the social media conversation with FP bloggers…http://fmec2010.blogspot.com/ Research Day is set for Saturday, March 12, 2011, in State College in conjunction with PAFP’s Live CME event, State College Breakaway. The call for abstracts is open. Submit your abstract online with your conference registration. Also, travel assistance is available for resident & student research presenters.

If you were not able to log in earlier this week for Social Security’s webinar, Applying Online for Disability Benefit, the online webcast is now posted at www.socialsecurity.gov. The enhanced online disability application is designed to reduce the time it takes to file for disability benefits. In addition, the on-hour webinar discusses other Social Security disability initiatives. One of PAFP's Own Is AAFP Board Candidate in 2011 Wanda Filer, MD (York) is officially a candidate for AAFP Board of Directors in 2011. Her candidacy for the 2011 slate at the AAFP Congress of Delegates in Orlando was announced at the recent national annual meeting in Denver.