INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE

ADVOCACY AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
> FISCAL YEAR 2012-13 BUDGET APPROVED
> NEW REPORT ESTIMATES IMPACT OF MEDICAID EXPANSION
> DPW PUBLISHES MA FEE SCHEDULE BULLETIN
> BECOME A PAFP KEY CONTACT 
> PRACTICE ADVOCACY NETWORK LEARNING SESSION SLIDES AVAILABLE

CME
> CHECK OUT OUR SEARCHABLE CME CATALOG
> JOIN US IN YOUR TOWN AT THE REGIONAL LECTURES SERIES!

PUBLIC HEALTH
> 2012 BECOMING RECORD YEAR FOR WHOOPING COUGH

QUALITY INITIATIVES
> SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF TO IMPROVE BLOOD PRESSURE
> WE NEED YOU FOR OUR GRAND ROUNDS PRESENTATION

RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS
> NATIONAL CONFERENCE: RESOLUTIONS, ROOMS, RECEPTION
> DISCOVER YOUR INNER SUPERHERO
> CAN'T MAKE IT TO KANSAS CITY? MARK YOUR CALENDAR...

OTHER NEWS
> TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR PAFP DISCOUNT WITH GEICO
> STRENGTHEN YOUR PRACTICE'S IMMUNIZATION PERFORMANCE

FISCAL YEAR 2012-13 BUDGET APPROVED
For the second consecutive year, Pennsylvania’s budget was passed just before the end-of-June deadline.  The $27.1 billion budget was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett shortly before midnight on June 30.  Overall, the agreement increases spending by more than $300 million. Many proposed cuts were averted as the state’s fiscal picture continued to improve, with June revenue $170 million above estimates. Click here for the 2012-13 Enacted Budget.

NEW REPORT ESTIMATES IMPACT OF MEDICAID EXPANSION

On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold most provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the health care law. However, now optional is the previously mandatory expansion of states’ Medicaid programs.  According to a new study by the Urban Institute, if states choose not to participate in the Medicaid expansion – which would expand coverage to non-elderly individuals with incomes below 138 percent of the federal poverty level – coverage for potentially 17.8 million people would be at risk. 

DPW PUBLISHES MA FEE SCHEDULE BULLETIN
The Pa. Dept. of Public Welfare (DPW) has announced changes to the Medical Assistance (MA) Program Fee Schedule as a result of implementing the 2012 Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) procedure code updates. The changes apply to those providers enrolled in the Fee-For-Service (FFS) delivery system, including ACCESS Plus.  These changes took effect on June 25. Click here for more information and a list of the fee schedule changes.

BECOME A PAFP KEY CONTACT
Do you have an existing relationship with your state or federal legislators?  If so, you could become a Key Contact for the PAFP’s government affairs team. The PAFP is looking for members who have established relationships with state and federal lawmakers to help advocate for family physicians in Pennsylvania.  Register with PAFP’s Key Contacts Program today.

PRACTICE ADVOCACY NETWORK LEARNING SESSION SLIDES AVAILABLE
Last month, the PAFP held its first learning session of the Practice Advocacy Network on achieving Meaningful Use.  Slides from the presentation can be found on the PAFP Practice Advocacy webpage.  The Practice Advocacy Network is made up of practice administrators and office managers and focuses on practice management and advocacy issues. The group provides a networking opportunity to explore tools that can improve efficiency within family physician practices. If your staff is interested in joining this group, email Jennifer Reis.

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CHECK OUT OUR SEARCHABLE CME CATALOG

It's now easier than ever to take advantage of the PAFP's free, high-quality Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses! After months of research, redesigning and refining its CME database, the PAFP has just launched a brand-new searchable CME catalog. You can find CME by topic, date, location and more.

JOIN US IN YOUR TOWN AT THE REGIONAL LECTURE SERIES! 
We are excited to present this year's Regional Lecture Series, New Tools to Fix a Broken Screening System: Colorectal Cancer Screening for the Changing Landscape of Primary Care. Please join the PAFP and your colleagues for an evening of dinner and discussions on ways to improve your colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, guideline updates, meaningful use and more! Let us help you find applicable solutions for your practice and patients. Registration is now open - we look forward to seeing you there!

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2012 BECOMING RECORD YEAR FOR WHOOPING COUGH
This may be a record year for pertussis, the whooping cough, in the United States - more than 16,000 cases have already been validated, some in Pennsylvania. And it's not just children that need to be vaccinated, but adults as well. Visit the PAFP's vaccines resources web page for more information.

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SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF TO IMPROVE BLOOD PRESSURE
Practices in the Residency Program Collaborative are one month into a "Blood Pressure Challenge" and have great ideas for you to try. The goal: improve blood pressure for 20 patients with diabetes to <130/80. Click here to find out how they're "sweating the small stuff" for better care!

WE NEED YOU FOR OUR GRAND ROUNDS PRESENTATION
We are looking for available opportunities at hospitals and health systems all across Pennsylvania to bring an important lifesaving message to your physicians! For the one-hour CME focuses on subjects including mastering CRC screening guidelines, commitment to increasing screening rates, and applying quality improvement methods. Contact Michelle Seitz, Quality Initiatives Project Director, for more!

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE: RESOLUTIONS, ROOMS, RECEPTION
Residents and students heading to AAFP’s National Conference: Now’s the time to think about writing resolutions to bring to your National Congress business sessions. What issues are important to you and your peers? This handy online resource has helpful hints and lists of 2011 resolutions. Contact your delegates to get connected. Students: Kristina Zimmerman, Jared Nissley; residents: Chaney Stewman, MD, Andy Lutzkanin, MD. 

If any residents or students have a hotel room in Kansas City with space to share, some residents and students are still looking for help! Please contact Molly Talley, PAFP Director of Resident and Student Initiatives.

Don’t miss the event in Kansas City - the Pennsylvania reception at the Main Street Theater Mezzanine, 5 - 7 p.m. on July 27! All Pennsylvania residents and students can get an invitation card from Molly Talley at the expo hall in the "Pennsylvania row" of residency booths during the opening celebration or during Friday dedicated expo hours.

DISCOVER YOUR INNER SUPERHERO

"Discover your Inner Superhero" with an exciting game at National Conference! Visit Pennsylvania’s residency booths to fill up a card and enter to win one of three prizes! Cards may be returned to any Pennsylvania residency booth. Winners will be drawn at the close of the expo hall Saturday afternoon. You need not be present to win. Prizes: One (1) $200 Amazon.com gift certificate; Two (2) $100 Amazon.com gift certificates.

CAN'T MAKE IT TO KANSAS CITY? MARK YOUR CALENDAR...
Can’t make it to Kansas City this year? Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

Primary Care Career Fair, Harrisburg, Pa., September 14 - 15
FMEC Northeast Region Conference, Cleveland, Ohio, September 28 - 30 (student scholarships available now)
AAFP Scientific Assembly, Philadelphia, Pa., October 17 - 20 (PAFP reception, Wednesday, Oct. 17)

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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR PAFP DISCOUNT WITH GEICO
Today, more than ever, it truly pays to be a member of the PAFP. GEICO and the PAFP have worked together to bring you an exclusive savings opportunity on car insurance. Contact GEICO today to receive your free quote. New GEICO policyholders report average annual savings of $500, and you could save more when you mention your PAFP affiliation. And once you’re a GEICO policyholder, you’ll receive prompt, professional service 24/7. GEICO is also able to help you find great rates on homeowner's, renter's, umbrella, and even motorcycle coverage. Click here to take advantage of your PAFP discount and find out how much GEICO could save you!

STRENGTHEN YOUR PRACTICE'S IMMUNIZATION PERFORMANCE
Family physicians are in the best position to improve vaccination rates. Immunization rates for flu, pneumococcal, shingles and Tdap continue to fall short of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) objectives.

Fortunately, the PAFP has a strong partner in providing members support to cost-effectively improve immunization rates and strengthen their practices. Atlantic Health Partners offers the lowest vaccine prices and finest customer service for your immunization initiatives. Atlantic even has a program to provide Zostavax (shingles) and Adacel (Tdap) to Medicare Part D patients.

Contact Atlantic at 1 (800) 741-2044 or info@atlantichealthpartners.com.

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