Government Affairs: Governor Corbett Unveils Plan to Expand Medicaid
Governor Tom Corbett released his "Healthy Pennsylvania” plan that includes a waiver request to HHS to expand Medicaid, establish a pharmaceutical monitoring system for providers to prevent doctor shopping, and continue loan assistance to encourage primary care providers to practice in rural and underserved areas of the state. The Governor also called for legislation to eliminate the mandatory six-month waiting period. PAFP issued a statement welcoming the initiatives and pledging to work with the Administration.

Practice Advocacy: Important Government Deadlines
Providers need to be aware of two very important deadlines. September 23, 2013 is implementation of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule enacted in March 2013. All medical practices and covered healthcare entities must review and update their Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) forms and offer to all new patients. October 1, 2013 is the Health Insurance Marketplace Notice for employers to provide employees with written notice on the new Health Insurance Marketplaces.  All employees must receive this notice, regardless of enrollment status or full/part time status.
Visit http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/modelnotices.html.

CME: Register by October 7 for the Early Bird Discount Rate
Register early for the Erie CME Conference that will be held on Nov. 8-10 to receive a $30 savings and double member reward points! This conference will feature over 16 hours of CME credits, a SAM Study Group, and special social events to network with your fellow colleagues. Can’t attend in Erie, then earn CME credits by watching sessions from your home or office on Fri. Nov. 8 and Sat. Nov. 9. Over 12 CME sessions will be live streamed so you can select individual sessions or an entire day.

For more information about this event and other valuable, upcoming CME, check out our CME Searchable Database.

Residents & Students: FMEC Conference Coming to Philly
Family Medicine Education Consortium (FMEC) Conference comes to downtown Philly, November 1-3, 2013. Student scholarships available – apply today! Don’t miss this awesome conference – we’re lucky to have them in our neighborhood this year, making it easy for PA medical students to attend. Visit the resident & student events calendars for a full list of upcoming conference opportunities.

Any questions about resident or student events and opportunities?
Contact Molly Talley, Director of Resident and Student Initiatives.

Public Health: November CME - Live (In-Person) & Live Streaming Online
The Erie CME Conference features “Vaccine Potpourri” with vaccine updates, storage and handling requirements, and travel vaccine review. If you can’t attend the CME conference, the lecture will be streamed live over the internet 11:15am-12:15pm, Friday, Nov. 8. Your whole office can watch for just $19. A great lunch and learn!

“Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescents” also will be streamed live Friday, Nov. 1:20-2:20pm. Meanwhile, check out these tip sheets: (1) “Long-Term Management in Adolescents” (2) “TBI and Domestic Violence” (3) and “Concussion and the Young Athlete.”


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