TORT REFORM LEGISLATION MOVES OUT OF COMMITTEE
Legislation that would establish that a benevolent gesture or admission of fault made by a health care provider to a patient will not be admissible as evidence in the event of a medical professional liability action was voted out of the House Judiciary committee earlier this week. House Bill 495 would allow physicians to speak to their patients regarding issues of care without fear that making benevolent statements will be used against them in court. This legislation, also known as the “I’m Sorry” bill, is supported by the PAFP. It was unanimously voted out of the House Judiciary committee and will be sent to the floor of the House for consideration. Click here to read a copy of the legislation.
NEW TRAINING MATERIALS AVAILABLE FROM OIG
Physician education training materials focused on Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse have been created by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The educational materials were produced to educate physicians about the Federal laws designed to protect the Medicare and Medicaid programs and beneficiaries from fraud, waste and abuse. The materials summarize the five main Federal fraud and abuse laws – the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark Law, the Exclusion Statute and the Civil Monetary Penalties Law – and provide tips on how physicians should comply with these laws in their relationships with payers, vendors, and fellow providers. To view these new materials, visit the OIG website.
AAFP RELEASES HEALTH CARE REFORM TIMELINE FOR PHYSICIANS
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has created an actionable timeline in order to help physicians remain in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA, which began implementation in 2010, contains a number of deadlines that physicians must comply with. the timeline was designed to assist physicians in defining actionable items for each year of implementation. The timeline is also broken down into size of practice. Click here for a copy of the AAFP timeline.
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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
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.
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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
RESEARCH DAY REGISTRATION
Come see the 30+ research projects submitted by students, residents, faculty and fellows! Free for students; affordable one-day rate for residents and physicians. Included: presentations through the day, lunch plenary, posters, awards reception. Great networking opportunity; take notes to plan your future research projects! Register now! http://www.pafp.com/pafpcom.aspx?id=58
PRIMARY CARE CAREER FAIR: March 4-5 in Harrisburg, PA.
Free registration for attendees + travel scholarships available!
Affordable rates for residency programs and other non-profit prospective employers
Education sessions and networking, dedicated exhibit hours, food, prizes. For more details and registration, go to: http://primarycarecareers.eventbrite.com/
AAFP NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011
Apply for AAFP student scholarships and attend the 2011 National Conference in Kansas City, MO!Applications open now! Go to: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/cme/aafpcourses/conferences/nc/scholarships.html
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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
xxxxxxxxxxxxxinitiatives 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.
LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE A COLLEAGUE FOR FP 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.
GET IN THE SWING AND SIGN UP NOW TO SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
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.
AFFINITY PARTNER’S INSURANCE DISCOUNTS CAN OFFSET AAFP/PAFP DUES
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.
NEXT ISSUE OF KP WILL BE ONLINE AT END OF THIS MONTH
The next issue of Keystone Physician is in production and will be distributed via email to all members at the end of February. This digital magazine is full of information PAFP members need on legal updates, compliance issues, advocacy and practice management and more… Winter 2011 is coming to your inbox. Look for it soon! Remember, if you have trouble accessing KP, please contact editor Don Schumaker at dschumaker@pafp.com.
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