Progress Notes :: Feb. 4, 2011

Progress Notes :: Feb. 4, 2011 :: Issue 11



INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE: --ACO TOOLKIT NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC --IRS ANSWERS QUESTIONS ON REIMBURSEMENT OF OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS --VACCINE UPDATE WEBCAST ON MARCH 2; FREE LIVE CME WEBCAST --PRESENT AT APHA; HURRY, ABSTRACT DEADLINE FEBRUARY 11 --CRC SCREENING CME PRESENTATION AT STATE COLLEGE BREAKAWAY IN MARCH --FREE DINNER EVENT FOR RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS --PAFP AFFINITY PARTNER OFFERING LOWEST FLUZONE PRICES TO ITS MEMBERS --PAFP 2011 HOUSE OF DELEGATES MEETS MAY 13 IN YORK --WHO WILL BE THE 2011 FAMILY PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR? --THINK SPRING; SIGN UP NOW FOR PAFP’S GOLF BENEFIT --PAFP OFFERS EASY ACCESS TO NEW INSURANCE BENEFITS; DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

ON THE HILL With the new legislative session in full swing, PAFP staff has been busy on the Hill attending pertinent committee meetings, establishing relationships with key legislators and visiting old friends. As bills are being introduced, PAFP staff is working hard to determine if and how they will impact members and family medicine in the Commonwealth. PAFP staff will keep you updated as the legislative session progresses and will continue efforts to affect positive change for family physicians in Pennsylvania. CONCUSSION LEGISLATION GETS NEW LIFE THIS SESSION Legislation setting standards for managing concussions and head injuries in youth sports was reintroduced this session in both the Senate and House of Representatives. SB 200, introduced by Senator Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), and HB 200, introduced by Representative Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery), each identify who can remove an injured player from the field and who can authorize a return to play. While PAFP supports any effort to promote proper management of concussions and brain injuries, the PAFP Board of Directors is still considering this legislation and PAFP staff is working to ensure patient safety remains the number one priority when determining who is capable of clearing a student athlete to return to play. ACO TOOLKIT NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC The Brookings-Dartmouth ACO Learning Network has created a toolkit, which is now available to the public, outlining the steps to achieving successful implementation of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The ACO Toolkit includes the experiences of several organizations that have tried to form ACOs in the commercial sector and through Medicare and Medicaid pilot programs and the research of health care policy experts from across the U.S. Download your copy of the ACO Toolkit here or visit the Brookings-Dartmouth ACO Learning Network website for more information. CMS RELEASES NAMES OF PROVIDERS ELIGIBLE FOR PRIMARY CARE INCENTIVE Medicare contractors received the names and National Provider Identifiers (NPI), sent by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), of those providers eligible for the 10 percent primary care incentive payment. An additional 10 percent will be paid for Medicare primary care services. According to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), eligible providers must have a certain specialty designation and primary care services must comprise at least 60 percent of their Medicare allowables. The list of eligible providers, along with eligibility search tools can be found on most Medicare contractor websites. ENROLLMENT FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID EHR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS OPEN Registration for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs is now open. Providers must register in order to be eligible for incentive payments up to $44,000 for the Medicare program and up to $63,750 for the Medicaid EHR incentive program. In order to participate, all eligible providers must have a National Provider Identifier (NPI) and an enrollment record in the Provider, Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS); providers participating in the Medicaid EHR incentive program only do not have to be enrolled in PECOS. Providers who register for the incentive programs are not required to have an EHR system in place, nor are they obligated to participate in the programs once they are in progress. For more information and to register for the programs, click here IRS ANSWERS QUESTIONS ON REIMBURSEMENT OF OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS The Internal Revenue Service has recently published a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding changes to the reimbursement of over-the-counter drugs when using health flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements and health savings accounts. These changes, set forth in the Affordable Care Act, took effect January 1, 2011. According to the IRS FAQs, most over-the-counter medications will now require a prescription in order to be reimbursed. For a list of the FAQs, click here. (Back to top of newsletter)

UPDATE FOR STATE COLLEGE BREAKAWAY, MARCH 11-13 Early Bird Rates end February 11; SMART Workshop (Saturday AM) is FULL; Click here for online registration. Earn 19+ CME credits including–13 Patient Safety sessions Still spots left in the SAM Study Group on diabetes,Friday, March 11, 8 am – 4 pm (Lunch included). Conference hotel rates at The Nittany Lion Inn: $122 single, $132 double. The rate deadline is Feb. 8! (Back to top of newsletter)

VACCINE UPDATE WEBCAST ON MARCH 2; FREE LIVE CME WEBCAST “Be Prepared: 2011 Vaccine Update,” Wednesday, March 2, Noon – 1pm; Register today at www.pafp.com/vaccines. Every day is an opportunity to fight disease with immunization. But you must be informed in order to be prepared to recommend vaccination and answer questions. During this free CME webcast, you’ll receive a report from the February 2011 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, complete with primary changes and updates in the Recommendations. Learning objectives: (1) state the major changes in the 2011 U.S. vaccination schedule; (2) recall resources for staying current on immunization recommendations; (3)discuss ways to increase vaccination rates in the office. Presenters: Donald Middleton, MD, UPMC, Pittsburgh; Richard Zimmerman, MD, MPH, University of Pittsburgh Register today at http://www.pafp.com/vaccines PRESENT AT APHA; HURRY, ABSTRACT DEADLINE FEBRUARY 11 The APHA Annual Meeting will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 2 in Washington, DC, with the theme, “Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds & Bodies.” Primary care physicians are encouraged to submit an abstract at http://apha.confex.com/apha/139am/oasys.epl. The deadline is next Friday, Feb. 11. There was a dramatic expansion in primary care presentations last year and so many primary care initiatives are a perfect fit for this event. The Medical Care Section has special interest in primary care but also consider submissions to other sections. BE INFORMED: JOIN THE PHILADELPHIA HEALTH ALERT NETWORK The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) invites Philadelphia-area physicians to subscribe to the PDPH Health Alert Network (HAN). HAN sends email and/or fax messages about critical, time-sensitive public health information on emerging health threats, new PDPH guidance and ongoing disease outbreaks. Contact information is confidential and used for the PDPH HAN only. Visit hip.phila.gov to learn more about the HAN, infectious disease reporting and to see current disease surveillance data. To receive health alerts from PDPH, email hip@phila.gov or call 215-685-6670 with the following registration information: name, fax and/or email, medical specialty, practice or company name. PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION AND CME IN KEYSTONE PHYSICIAN MAGAZINE NEW! Tip sheets on adolescent immunization and child sexual abuse: Fall/Winter 2010 Adult immunization tip sheet: Summer 2010 Child abuse (FAQs for mandated reporters): Fall 2010 Clinical Scenario Series on Immunization (CME!): Summer/Fall 2010 Colorectal cancer screening tip sheets: Summer 2010 Health care worker immunization: Summer 2010 Safe medication disposal: Spring 2010 Snus and dissolvable tobacco: Summer/Fall 2010 Using PDSA cycles to implement better care (CME!): Summer 2010 PUBLIC HEALTH CME WEBCASTS Lots of free CME at www.pafp.com/onlineCME, most of which qualifies as patient safety. Topics include rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and colorectal cancer. (Back to top of newsletter)

CRC SCREENING CME PRESENTATION AT STATE COLLEGE BREAKAWAY IN MARCH Be sure to check out this informative and hands-on presentation on improving your CRC screening rates while meeting your Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part IV requirement. The session, “Meeting Maintenance of Certification Requirements by Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates" has four learning objectives: How to use a CRC screening improvement activity to meet Maintenance of Certification; Identify average risk patients for CRC; Learn about and how to use the Model For Improvement to increase CRC screening rates in your practice; and becoming familiar with and understanding the appropriate options for CRC screening. To register go to the online registration for the State College Breakaway (Back to top of newsletter)

DEADLINE APPROACHING! Submit your research abstract for Research Day, Saturday March 12. Deadline for submissions: February 11. Roomte discount: February 8; Research Day participation is a featured CME track in the State College Breakaway conference. Submit your abstract and register online at http://www.pafp.com/pafpcom.aspx?id=58 PRIMARY CARE CAREERS: PATHWAYS TO PRACTICE IN PENNSYLVANIA March 4-5 in Harrisburg, PA; Come learn about opportunities and incentives for practice in underserved areas and with underserved communities. Make sense of Loan Repayment Programs, learn how to evaluate employment contracts, network with prospective employers and so much more! Travel scholarships available are available on a first come, first served basis. For more details and registration, go to: http://www.pafp.com/pafpcom.aspx?id=352 FREE DINNER EVENT FOR RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS *"The Importance of Proper Documentation"* For more, go to: http://www.pafp.com/pafpcom.aspx?id=353 Guest speaker: Daniel F. Ryan, III, Esq, O’Brien & Ryan, LLP Monday, February 28, 2011, Hilton City Avenue, Philadelphia 6 pm, registration & hors d'oeuvres; 7-8:30pm, dinner & presentation Sponsored by PMSLIC To RSVP, please contact Dari Paulus at dpaulus@pmslic.com or call 800-445-1212 x5479 (Back to top of newsletter)
PAFP AFFINITY PARTNER OFFERING LOWEST FLUZONE PRICES TO ITS MEMBERS Members of Atlantic Health Partners through PAFP who pre-book Sanofi Fluzone by March 31 receive the lowest Fluzone prices! As you know, PAFP has strong support in helping our members lower their vaccine costs. AHP helps save money and advocates on your behalf with payers and manufacturers. In addition to offering our members the lowest prices for Sanofi Pasteur and Merck vaccines, AHP also provides the best terms for Sanofi’s Fluzone and High Dose Fluzone. PAFP members that join AHP (it’s free to join) and pre-book their Fluzone order by March 31receive AHP’s contract price discount, the maximum Sanofi 5% Gold Level discount and Sanofi’s online order and prompt pay discounts. Furthermore, AHP can save you money on pediatric, adolescent and adult vaccines when purchased directly from Sanofi and Merck. PAFP members joining AHP report strong satisfaction with the program, most notably for the savings, ability to make smaller purchases and customer support. Additional benefits offered by AHP: Medical supply discount program; Office and business supply discounts with Staples Advantage; MedImmune, Flumist discounts; and Discounted patient recall program. For more information, contact Jeff Winokur or Cindy Berenson at 800-741-2044 or info@atlantichealthpartners.com and details about how your practice can benefit from participation. PAFP 2011 HOUSE OF DELEGATES MEETS MAY 13 IN YORK The House of Delegates convenes 8:30 am-noon, Friday, May 13, at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York. All PAFP members are invited and encouraged to attend this annual business meeting. Participants will discuss member-submitted resolutions (note: these will be made available to members as soon as possible), as well as proposed bylaws changes (PDF of bylaws with additions highlighted in yellow and deletions crossed out). In addition, the annual meeting schedule on May 13 includes: (lunch included for participants) 1 - 2:30 pm Commission meetings 2:30 - 4:30 Board of Directors meeting 5:15 - 6:15 Awards and Inauguration of PAFP’s 2011-12 President and officers (hors d'oeuvres) 6:30 - 9:30 Celebration Dinner Dance (note: there is a fee for this event). On Saturday, May 14 the schedule includes: 8 - 9:30 am Regional Breakfasts followed by the annual Lila Stein Kroser, MD, Lecture 9:45 - 10:30 Reorganizational Board meeting 11:30 - 6 pm Fore! Family Medicine Golf Benefit to support the Foundation’s medical student initiatives at Heritage Hills. (note: there is a fee for this event). Click here for more information and to register online for the weekend’s events. WHO WILL BE THE 2011 FAMILY PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR? The deadline for nominations for PAFP’s 2011 FP of the Year Award is Friday, February 25. You can nominate a colleague or yourself. The annual award, the most prestigious sponsored by the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP), honors an outstanding, community-minded family physician who provides compassionate, comprehensive care. Nominees must be members of PAFP. Send nominations to: PA Academy of Family Physicians, 2704 Commerce Drive, Suite A, Harrisburg, PA 17110 (note: Please make sure materials submitted by mail are legible) or use the online form at www.pafp.com/FP2011. THINK SPRING; SIGN UP NOW FOR PAFP’S GOLF BENEFIT PAFP’s Foundation is hosting its fourth annual Fore! Family Medicine Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 14, at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York. Starting with lunch and registration at 11:30 am, the tournament fees also include cart and greens fees, an awards reception, prizes and contests, including several hole-in-one opportunities, and more. The tournament is open to the public and members are encouraged to bring a foursome. Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s medical student initiatives, including scholarship funds. Two-time defending champion Kevin Shaffer, MD (Erie) and his team are coming back to try for a three-peat. Any challengers? Contact PAFP’s Frances Myers at fmyers@pafp.com. PAFP OFFERS EASY ACCESS TO NEW INSURANCE BENEFITS; DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE You can now easily access the PAFP new insurance benefits through Asset MarketPlace’s call center. Insurance professionals are available to help you assess your protection needs and provide best options for Disability Income, Business Operating Expense, Long Term Care, Critical Illness and Life Insurance. Many PAFP endorsed policies include enhanced benefits and discounts available only to associationmembers. For more info contact the Asset MarketPlace call center at 866-482-2175 or email at info@assetmarketplace.net and indicate you are a PAFP member. (Back to top of newsletter)