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February 12, 2014 | Issue 81 |
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Government Affairs
Budget Proposal Includes Primary Care Increase
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On Feb. 4, Gov. Tom Corbett released his proposed 2014-15 budget. The proposal included a 109 percent increase in the primary health care practitioner line item within the Pa. Dept. of Health’s budget. Created by statute in 1992, this funding covers several programs devoted to health care infrastructure, including a loan repayment program. Part of the proposed increase to funding would expand family medicine residency training opportunities for physicians who seek to serve rural and underserved communities in Pennsylvania.
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Practice Advocacy
Sign Up for Newsletter, Practice Manager Workshops
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The PAFP Practice Advocacy and Government Affairs staff is spending some time focusing on information essential to member practice managers and staff. The Practice Perspectives monthly newsletter debuted in November 2013, and in April of 2014, we’ve scheduled ?three free practice manager workshops. We need more practice manager and administrator e-mails to add to our list of recipients. Sign up now for the newsletter at tkoval@pafp.com and stay tuned for future communications and events.
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Education
Two More Weeks to Pre-Register for CME Conference |
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Pre-register online for the Hershey CME Conference by Friday, February 28! Don’t miss a CME-packed weekend March 6 through 9, including relevant CME sessions, a SAM study group, and the PAFP’s Annual Meeting luncheon. Join us in celebrating our new president and officers with a reception and dinner gala – this is a great way to meet your fellow colleagues and new members! Finally, a DOT medical examiner training course on Saturday will prepare you to pass the medical examiner certification test required under new regulations that go into effect May 21. Click here to view the full conference agenda!
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Public Health
What's Your Plan? Be Prepared for Winter Storms
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Winter storms are a great reminder to review disaster plans for your practice. The PAFP and Pa. Dept. of Health are evaluating the needs and capacity of primary care practices statewide related to disaster planning. Help us develop programs and tools to support you. It takes just five minutes! Click here and respond by February 28.
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Quality Improvement
New EHR Attestation Deadline: March 31, 2014 |
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending the deadline for eligible professionals to attest to meaningful use for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program 2013 reporting year from 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2014 to 11:59 p.m. March 31, 2014.
In addition, CMS is offering assistance to eligible hospitals who may have experienced difficulty attesting to submit their attestation retroactively and avoid the 2015 payment adjustment. This extension will allow more time for providers to submit their meaningful use data and receive an incentive payment for the 2013 program year, as well as avoid the 2015 payment adjustment.
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Residents & Students
New Residency, New Fellowship, Importance of Prevention |
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The new Penn State Hershey family medicine residency at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College has received Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Accreditation! First class of six residents to begin July 2015. Details here.
Drexel Family Medicine has announced a new Palliative and Hospice Medicine Fellowship! Qualified applicants, contact the department ASAP.
Prevention is the best medicine: At The Commonwealth Medical College, efforts to prevent physician burnout include humanizing the science curriculum and cultivating medical students as change agents. Read about the team’s innovative work in this piece featuring our TCMC friend Jennifer Joyce, MD.
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Get CME at the Click of a Button
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Need CME, but unable to attend the Hershey CME Conference? The PAFP Foundation is broadcasting select CME sessions to your home or office. Just log on to www.pafp.com and register for the Hershey CME Conference live streaming sessions you wish to participate in by Thursday, March 6. A confirmation email with a link to these sessions will appear in your inbox. On the day and time of the CME sessions, click the links in the email, watch CME sessions as they occur in Hershey, and receive the same CME credit. Click here to view all sessions and register.
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We're Looking for Your Feedback |
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The PAFP Foundation is looking for feedback on CME you would like to see us provide. Please take a few moments to fill out the education needs assessment survey and register to enter free state dues for 2014!
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