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INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE:
ADVOCACY AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
-- BUDGET UPDATE
-- CORBETT CABINET CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
-- ACO REGULATORS CAN BE EXPECTED IN NEXT TWO WEEKS
-- MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENTS CUT 29.5 PERCENT IN 2012
PUBLIC HEALTH
-- PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION AND CME IN KEYSTONE PHYSICIAN MAGAZINE
-- PUBLIC HEALTH CME WEBCASTS
QUALITY INITIATIVES
-- CRC SCREENING COLLABORATIVE
-- UPCOMING "SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR PRIMARY CARE PRACTITIONERS" PROGRAM
RESIDENTS & STUDENTS
-- NEW REGIONAL FMIG COORDINATOR
-- AAFP STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NATIONAL CONFERENCE OPEN NOW!
OTHER NEWS
-- 2011 PAFP MEMBER NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY
-- 2011 RESEARCH DAY AWARD WINNERS
-- 2011 MATCH DAY
-- GET IN THE SWING; SIGN UP TO SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
-- AFFINITY PARTNER OFFERS DISCOUNTS ON INSURANCE PROGRAMS
-- EVENT : DIABETES FAIR
-- AFFINITY PARTNER’S INSURANCE DISCOUNTS CAN OFFSET AAFP/PAFP DUES
-- CENTRAL-PA EVENT: FAMILY PHYSICIANS, MEDICAL STUDENTS WELCOME!
-- THE NEW KP ISSUE IS ONLINE NOW!
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BUDGET UPDATE
Governor Tom Corbett gave his first budget address on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 announcing his Administration’s 2011-2012 Executive Budget. The Governor opened his address by acknowledging that Pennsylvania is more than $4 billion in debt. His proposed budget includes no tax or fee increases and eliminates 103 appropriation line items.
Funding for the Chronic Care Initiative, which the PAFP is helping to administer through the IPIP program, was rolled over into the Department of Health and was retained, but marginally reduced from $1.112 million, to $1.099 million. This demonstrates Governor Corbett’s commitment and continued support of the Chronic Care Initiative. Additionally, the school loan forgiveness program, for primary care physicians and providers who agree to serve in rural and underserved areas, has been retained.
In recent weeks, both the Insurance Commissioner nominee and Secretary of Health nominee appeared before Senate Committees. The Senate Banking and Insurance committee met to consider the nomination of Michael Consedine as Insurance Commissioner. Mr. Consedine has worked in both the public sector, where he was a member of the Office of Chief Counsel for the Insurance Department, and the private sector. During his testimony, he acknowledged the legal challenges surrounding the federal healthcare reform law and stated that, at this point, the department is planning to enact the law as it stands. He also mentioned that the department is undertaking a capacity analysis and planning its next step toward phasing out the Mcare Fund.
The Senate Public Health and Welfare committee met to consider the nomination of Dr. Eli Avila for Secretary of the Department of Health. Dr. Avila has experience as a practicing physician, attorney and public health executive. During his testimony, he stated, "Under my leadership, the department will examine the growing financial burden on our health system due to the increase of chronic diseases among our population and its leading contributor of obesity. We will use established, evidence-based programs to address the root causes of most chronic conditions, which account for approximately 70 percent of all health costs.”
Both nominees were confirmed by the respective committees.
ACO REGULATIONS CAN BE EXPECTED IN NEXT TWO WEEKS
After a congressional hearing on President Barack Obama's proposed fiscal 2012 budget, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters that the draft regulations for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) will be made public within the next two weeks. Issuance of the highly anticipated regulations has been continuously delayed by federal officials since January.
In a letter to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimated that Medicare physician payments will be cut by 29.5 percent in 2012, unless Congress intervenes.
As required by Congress, each March MedPAC reviews Medicare payment policies and makes recommendations to Congress. The 2011 report includes a payment policy recommendation for a 1 percent increase in physician reimbursements for 2012. The commission has previously stated its opposition to physician payment cuts, and determined the 1 percent increase for 2012 to be fiscally disciplined while preserving beneficiaries’ access to physician and health professional services.
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Long Branch NJ, July 14 – 17, 2011 @ Ocean Place Resort & Spa
Online registration available
SAM Study Groups
(Each Study Group is limited to 100 attendees) Thursday, May 12, 2011 Heritage Hills Conference Center, York, Topic: Hypertension
Friday, November 4, 2011 Nemacolin Woodlands, Farmington, Topic: Diabetes
(Back to top of newsletter)
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CRC SCREENING COLLABORATIVE FIRST CALL WILL BE
MARCH 30, 2011 FROM NOON-1:00PM
There is still time to sign up for the first online learning session for the CRC Screening Collaborative. By joining the Screening Collaborative we are providing a great way for you to achieve your Maintenance of Certification Part IV module and learn valuable skills to improve your practices performance at the same time. You will receive an update on the current Guidelines for CRC screening, learn how to implement systems change in your practice, and learn valuable elements of the Model for Improvement to apply to all areas of your practice. We will help you to begin doing population management with your practice and much more. PAFP is also providing all practices who sign up for the collaborative one free year’s subscription to RMD, a standalone patient registry system, to enhance your learning opportunity. To register, CLICK HERE.
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NEW REGIONAL FMIG COORDINATOR
Join us in congratulating Diana Tucci, MS2, University of Pittsburgh, our newest Regional FMIG Coordinator for Region 3! She would love to hear from FMIG leaders & interested medical students to help develop meaningful programming & connections to support their exploration of Family Medicine. Connect to the National FMIG Network via Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fmignetwork and Twitter http://twitter.com/AAFP_FMIG and follow Diana on twitter @Dianasplosion.
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2011 PAFP MEMBER NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY
CLICK HERE and please take 5 minutes to complete the Survey. We want to meet the needs of our members, but we need to know what you need. Thank you for your participation. Your input is critical!
- D. Michael Baxter, President, PAFPNational Resident Matching Program announces an 11% increase in US Seniors matching to Family Medicine residency spots on Thursday, March 17. Family Medicine experienced the highest match rate ever at 94.4%. Read the press release and view the advance data tables online: http://www.nrmp.org/
See photos from this event on our facebook page, HERE.
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.
2011 4th ANNUAL FORE! FAMILY MEDICINE
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 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 and CLICK HERE for more information.
DIABETES FAIR
Adult Diabetes Educators is holding a Diabetes Fair at Penn State Hershey Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
When: Sunday, April 10, 2011
From: 2PM - 4PM
Where: University Conference Center
Hershey Medical Center Campus
(Click Here for directions)
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.
CENTRAL-PA EVENT: FAMILY PHYSICIANS, MEDICAL STUDENTS WELCOME!
Paul Grundy, MD, MPH, FACOEM, FACPM
IBM Corporation’s Global Director for Healthcare Transformation & Founder, Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCCPCC)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey Medical Center
Two events: 12 noon in the Junker Auditorium & 5pm in the University Conference Center
Dr. Grundy, nationally renowned physician and business leader, founder is headlining two events in Hershey, PA!
All family physicians and medical students welcome; please register to reserve your spot by email: PCMHEvent@hmc.psu.edu or call Wendy: 717-531-4660.
12:00 – 1:00pm: Patient-Centered Medical Home: The Model, the Challenges and the Opportunities. Lunch will be served.
5:00 – 8:30pm: Healthcare Transformation: Meeting Healthcare Needs with Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Accountable Care Organizations, Dinner will be served from 5:00-6:00 p.m. followed by presentations and panel discussion from 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Additional featured speakers for the evening event are Robert Gabbay, MD, Professor of Medicine, Faculty Chair of the Pennsylvania Chronic Care Initiative, and James Herman, MD, MPH, Chair of the Department of the Family and Community Medicine, providing updates on the Patient-Centered Medical Home transformation process at Penn State and across Pennsylvania.
· Learn more about Dr. Grundy: http://www.pcpcc.net/content/paul-grundy
· Learn more about the PCPCC: http://www.pcpcc.net/who-we-are
· Learn more about the PCMH model: http://www.pcpcc.net/what-we-do
· Learn more about PAFP projects built to support implementation of the PCMH:
http://www.pafp.com/pafpcom.aspx?id=5
THE NEW ISSUE OF KP IS ONLINE NOW!
The newest issue of Keystone Physician is now available and has been 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, practice management and more... So look for our KP Winter 2011 in your inbox! Remember, if you have trouble accessing KP, please contact our Creative Manager, Michael Zigmund, at mzigmund@pafp.com.
We respect your desire for privacy and will not make your email address available to third parties. Review the PAFP's easy-to-read policy at www.pafp.com/privacy.htm.
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You receive email as a benefit of your membership in the PAFP. The PAFP sends email to members who have provided their email addresses. If you do not wish to receive messages, please send a message to mail@pafp.com. Thank you.
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Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians
2704 Commerce Drive, Suite A, Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-564-5365
800-648-5623
FAX 717-564-4235
www.pafp.com |
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