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July 15, 2015 | Issue 117 |
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Government Affairs and Practice Advocacy
Bill Increases Penalty for Impersonating a Doctor
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On June 26, Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law Sen. Joe Scarnati’s bill that raises the criminal penalty of impersonating a physician to a first-degree misdemeanor. This raises the penalty up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. The bill, also introduced on the House side by Rep. Matt Baker, is based upon a grand jury recommendation convened for the investigation of Dr. Kermit Gosnell of Philadelphia. Several of Dr. Gosnell’s employees were convicted of practicing medicine without a license, and the maximum penalty was the lesser second-degree misdemeanor.
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Education
Mark Your Calendar for Fall CME Conference
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Public Health
How to Care for Patients with Osteoarthritis
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When caring for patients with osteoarthritis, two important factors determine the patient’s overall health maintenance: clinical intervention and self-management. Time constraints prevent a clinician from providing the patient with additional resources necessary for the patient to manage their own pain. Referrals to community evidence-based arthritis programs allow the provider to see progress in a patient’s overall care through lifestyle changes in addition to the medication from their clinical interventions. These referrals build relationships with community centers, reduce health care spending, and result in healthier and better-managed patients. Stay tuned for three upcoming CME opportunities on this topic!
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Quality Improvement
CMS Proposes New Policies for 2016 Fee Schedule
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing new policies to the 2016 physician fee schedule (PFS) and changes to initiatives including the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier, and Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, plus changes to the Physician Compare website.
CMS is accepting public comments until Sept. 8, 2015. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2015; CMS will issue the final rule by Nov. 1.
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Residents and Students
Leaders Wanted; Register for Primary Care Career Fairs
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Leaders: We Need You!
Now is the time to plan your next step to develop professionally, personally, and get some more exposure to medicine outside the walls of your institution (hey, and give your CV a boost!). Start putting together your application materials for a national family medicine leadership position! Visit aafp.org/getinvolved to find details and application materials and contact Molly Talley at the PAFP for support.
- Sept. 3: Sheraton University City, Philadelphia, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Sept. 11: Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center, Pittsburgh, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Speak Out to Protect Patient Safety in Pa.
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The Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners is again seeking to end collaborative agreements - vital to patient safety - through legislation known as the Modernization of the Professional Nursing Law. Oppose the House Bill here and the Senate Bill here through the AAFP's Speak Out tool to protect patient safety!
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