INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE

ADVOCACY AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
> CALLING ALL PRACTICE ADMINISTRATORS, OFFICE MANAGERS
> CMS ANNOUNCES 5010 ENFORCEMENT DELAY
> HEALTHCHOICES 2012 EXPANSION 

CME
> UPCOMING SAM STUDY GROUP ON PREVENTIVE CARE
> WE'RE MAKING HISTORY IN ANNAPOLIS!

PUBLIC HEALTH
> DO YOUR PATIENTS KNOW ABOUT THE PA. DRUG CARD?
> LEARN WHAT SERVICES ARE COVERED UNDER ACA
> THINK HEALTH DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
> GREATER EFFORTS NEEDED TO CURB TEEN SMOKING
> HOW DOES A CASINO AFFECT A COMMUNITY'S HEALTH?

QUALITY INITIATIVES
> ARE PERFORMANCE GOALS UNREALISTIC?
> DIG FOR PRACTICE PEARLS IN YOUR INBOX
> PLEASE COMMENT ON PROPOSED STAGE 2 RULES!

RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS
> CONNECT TO A LEADERSHIP ROLE
> WAY TO STRIKE A MATCH, MEDICAL STUDENTS!
> SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR AAFP NATIONAL CONFERENCE

OTHER NEWS
> IT'S SPRING! GET READY TO GOLF OR COOK A CONCOCTION

CALLING ALL PRACTICE ADMINISTRATORS, OFFICE MANAGERS
The PAFP is looking for practice administrators and office managers to join a new workgroup focused on practice management and advocacy issues.  Interested parties should email Jennifer Reis, Manager of Practice Advocacy and Government Affairs.  Click here for more information about this exciting opportunity.

CMS ANNOUNCES 5010 ENFORCEMENT DELAY
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended enforcement of HIPAA Version 5010 (which was implemented on the first of the year) to June 30, 2012. The previous compliance date for the transition to 5010 was March 30, 2012. During this extended three-month period, covered entities are encouraged to complete outstanding implementation activities, including software installation, testing and training. For more information, visit the CMS website.

HEALTHCHOICES 2012 EXPANSION INFORMATION

On July 1, 2012, seven counties in south-central Pennsylvania will be moved into existing HealthChoices (Physical Health) Zones. The existing ACCESS Plus Enhanced Primary Care Case Management program and the current Voluntary Managed Care Program will end in those counties on June 30, 2012. To serve medical assistance consumers eligible for HealthChoices Physical Health Managed Care or currently enrolled in the ACCESS Plus Program, providers will need to join the network(s) of the HealthChoices Physical Health Managed Care Organizations (PH-MCOs). For more information, read the Department of Public Welfare’s Provider Quick Tips.

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UPCOMING SAM STUDY GROUP ON PREVENTIVE CARE
Our upcoming SAM study group, on preventive care, is Thursday, May 17 at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford. Don't miss it!

WE'RE MAKING HISTORY IN ANNAPOLIS!
Join us as we "make history" this summer in Annapolis, Maryland! Our Summer Escape CME conference, will be held July 5-8, 2012 at the Westin Annapolis. We've planned our schedule to allow ample time for historic excursions or walks on the beach with your colleagues or family. Attendees will also enjoy a progressive dinner and sailing trip! Click here for even more information.

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DO YOUR PATIENTS KNOW ABOUT THE PA. DRUG CARD?
The Pennsylvania Drug Card program was launched in December of 2008, but many patients are still unaware of it. Share the knowledge with them! Click here to see how the free card has saved Pennsylvanians more than $16 million!

LEARN WHAT SERVICES ARE COVERED UNDER ACA
Under the Affordable Care Act, many preventative services are free to individuals and families who have health insurance. Encourage those you serve to visit this health care reform resource portal to learn what services are covered for adults and children.

THINK HEALTH DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

March is Women’s History Month! What better time to encourage all women to take care of their health? You can find a great list of recommended women’s health tests here.

GREATER EFFORTS NEEDED TO CURB TEEN SMOKING
More work needs to be done to keep young Americans from using tobacco, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's Office. Read more and find out how you can help.

HOW DOES A CASINO AFFECT A COMMUNITY'S HEALTH?
Does the construction of a new casino impact the health of the surrounding community? This new health impact assessment (HIA) by the Kansas Health Institute may surprise you.

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ARE PERFORMANCE GOALS UNREALISTIC?
A participant in the Residency Program Collaborative recently asked a simple question: Are performance goals unrealistic? Faculty and participants were definitely sympathetic, but responded with support and encouragement. Responses: 1. Improvement goals are realistic - over time. 2. Prioritize measures. For example, focus on the "ABCs" for patients with diabetes. Get A1Cs <9 before you focus on <7. 3. If the goal seems out of reach, benchmark against the national average. 4. Making the effort to review data is a big step toward a goal - many practices don’t even look.

DIG FOR PRACTICE PEARLS IN YOUR INBOX

For those of you not already following the Residency Program Collaborative on Twitter (#PAIPIP), watch your email next week for a special newsletter that provides lots of practice pearls from the March 2012 learning collaborative held earlier this month near Harrisburg. Register on Twitter and follow us before the next conference in June!

PLEASE COMMENT ON PROPOSED STAGE 2 RULES!
On Feb. 24, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the next steps for providers who are using electronic health record (EHR) technology and receiving incentive payments from Medicare and Medicaid. The proposed rules will govern Stage 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

The ONC- and CMS-proposed rules are available here. Please read them carefully and make your voice heard by commenting! The comment period for both proposed rules will close on Monday, May 7, 2012.

[The PA REACH project is made possible through a grant from the Office of the National Coordinator with Department of Health and Human Services support.  Grant #90RC0061/01.]

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CONNECT TO A LEADERSHIP ROLE
All PAFP residents and students are invited to connect to PAFP by volunteering to serve in a leadership position or as a commission member. The Resident and Student Assemblies will meet in April via web and phone conference to discuss issues and elect officers and commission representatives. You just have to register, then dial or log in to join your assembly meeting.

Learn more about the student positions and resident positions available and find the one that best suits your interests! PAFP commissions meet twice per year, reimburse your travel costs, and conduct discussions via email and conference call between meetings. Also, take time to familiarize yourself with the PAFP's leadership structure and current leaders.

Student Assembly: Thursday, April 12, 8 - 9 p.m.
Resident Assembly: Tuesday, April 17, 8 - 9 p.m.
Email Molly Talley, Director of Resident and Student Affairs, to register or if you have any questions!
 
WAY TO STRIKE A MATCH, MEDICAL STUDENTS!

According to MedPage Today, family medicine residency match rates increased for the second year in a row, up 11 percent over 2010! The AAFP explains in their detailed analysis of the 2012 match results that the gains made were smaller than in the past two years. While it’s encouraging to see increases in the match rate and the number of U.S. seniors matching to family medicine, the small increase is not enough to meet the country's demand for family physicians. We have more work to do!

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR AAFP CONFERENCE
The theme for this year's AAFP National Conference is "social justice." Student scholarships are available – apply today! | AAFP scholarships | PAFP Foundation scholarships

(Note: You can apply to both the AAFP and PAFP, but you can only claim one. Please apply to both the AAFP and the PAFP while you can – it allows our funding to go farther and help more PAFP student members get to the conference.)

Additional AAFP National Conference opportunities: Research and community projects - submit a poster presentation | “Real Talk about Family Medicine” video contest - learn more and enter | Stay connected via Facebook and Twitter

IT'S SPRING! GET READY TO GOLF OR COOK A CONCOCTION
Spring is in the air! So grab your golf clubs and join the PAFP and Foundation on Saturday, May 19 at the Omni Bedford Springs Golf Course for a day of fun and prizes at the FORE Family Medicine Golf Tournament! Invite your colleagues and register today!

Not a golfer? The Omni Bedford Springs Resort culinary team is cooking up some special healthy recipes for you! Join us for an exclusive PAFP cooking class on May 19.

Don't hesitate to sign up - both events will support our medical student scholarship programs!

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