SAVE THE DATES FOR PRACTICE MANAGER WORKSHOPS (March 31, 2015)
Next month, the PAFP will launch its 2015 series of Practice Manager Workshops. These three conveniently located workshops for practice managers and administrators focus on up-to-date topics which may affect your medical practice, plus briefings on regulations, industry trends, and more. Learn more here.
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HAPPY NATIONAL DOCTORS' DAY! (March 30, 2015)
Today is National Doctors' Day, and we at the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians sincerely thank our members for their service. As the most trusted professionals in the U.S., doctors are uniquely positioned to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of America's patients. Thank you!
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NO DOC FIX YET: SENATE PUNTS TO APRIL (March 27, 2015)
The so-called doc fix - a permanent replacement of the sustainable growth rate - which has been passed by the House has to wait before being taken up by the Senate. The Wall Street Journal reports the legislation to supplant the formula for Medicaid reimbursement will be addressed after a two-week spring recess.
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COMPLETE SHORT IBD SURVEY FOR NEW PROJECT (March 26, 2015)
Pennsylvania has the highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the U.S. The PAFP is working with an education partner to design an IBD quality improvement project for Pennsylvania primary care practices. You can help by filling out this short survey - your input is vital to this project's success!
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PRESIDENT: EMPHASIZE QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY (March 25, 2015)
President Obama says it's time that for America to cut health care costs by emphasizing quality, not quantity, reports The Associated Press. Primary Healthcare Consultants, an affiliate with the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, helps retool practices to do exactly that. Click here for more details.
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MISSED VALLEY FORGE CONFERENCE? GET CME ONLINE (March 24, 2015)
Did you miss the Valley Forge CME Conference and all the educational credits it had to offer? Never fear - the PAFP has an online database full of CME that you can take whenever and wherever you want. Not only does much of it qualify for patient safety credit, but it's all free - simply click here to get started.
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SGR VOTE EXPECTED IN HOUSE THIS WEEK (March 23, 2015)
The House will likely vote on the sustainable growth rate (SGR) bill this week that would permanently fix Medicare's troubled physician payment formula, reports Kaiser Health News. But the bill is not without its sticking points - issues like abortion and children's health insurance may threaten its passage.
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VALLEY FORGE CME CONFERENCE IN FULL SWING (March 20, 2015)
The PAFP's event weekend continues today, with the Valley Forge CME Conference in full swing. Attendees can earn more than 19 CME credits over the course of the weekend. Keep following the #vfcme hashtag for updates, and don't forget to tweet a selfie at the conference for the chance to win a prize bag!
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PAFP ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING ACTIVITIES BEGIN (March 19, 2015)
The PAFP's busy Annual Business Meeting and Valley Forge CME Conference activities begin today at the Sheraton Valley Forge, starting with PAFP commission meetings this afternoon. We will be posting updates, including notes from lectures, fun photos, and more on Twitter. Follow the #vfcme hashtag for more!
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INSURANCE HACK HITS 11 MILLION PATIENTS (March 18, 2015)
Hackers broke into the computer systems of Premera Blue Cross last year, exposing the records of 11 million patients, reports CNN. The Pacific Northwest insurer discovered the hack months later. To learn more about keeping your data secure, visit Primary Healthcare Consultants, an affiliate with the PAFP.
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U.S. REPS FIGHT BARRIERS TO CRC CARE (March 17, 2015)
Five U.S. representatives, including Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), have introduced a bipartisan bill to remove barriers to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. On The Hill, they write oversight in current law makes many Medicare beneficiaries responsible for fees from colonoscopies.
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PERMANENT SOLUTION COMING FOR SGR? (March 16, 2015)
Is the flawed Medicare physician payment formula known as the sustainable growth rate (SGR) headed for a permanent fix? Kaiser Health News reports that bipartisan negotiations are heating up. Congress must take action before April 1, or doctors who treat Medicaid patients will receive a 21 percent payment cut.
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PAFP ANNOUNCES 2015 AWARD WINNERS (March 13, 2015)
The votes have been tallied, and the PAFP is excited to announce its 2015 award winners! Richard Harker, MD of Mechanicsburg is the 2015 Family Physician of the Year; Robert Langan, MD of Laurys Station is the 2015 Exemplary Teacher of the year. Read their incredible biographies at www.pafp.com/awards!
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JOB OPPORTUNITY WITH PAFP: GRANTS MANAGER WANTED (March 12, 2015)
The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians and Foundation is seeking a grants manager to work with medical education and public health grants.The job includes research, writing, and managing all required deliverables of current and future grants. For more information and application details, click here.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT PAFP LEADERSHIP; HONE SKILLS (March 11, 2015)
The PAFP wants to help its members develop the necessary leadership skills to be an effective family physician. We've created a new webpage, www.pafp.com/BeALeader, to share important information about getting involved in PAFP leadership, news about events, leadership stories, and much more.
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VEGETARIAN, PESCETARIAN DIETS CUT CRC RISK (March 10, 2015)
New research suggests that a vegetarian or pescetarian (vegetarian with fish) diet can significantly cut the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), reports CBS News. Visit the PAFP's Colorectal Cancer Screening Collaborative to learn more about prevention of the second-leading cancer killer in the United States.
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CHILD ABUSE LAWSUIT BILL PROPOSED (March 9, 2015)
A state representative has proposed a bill to extend the amount of time for child abuse victims to file a civil lawsuit. According to WITF News, victims now have 30 years to file a civil suit; Rep. Mark Rozzi's (D-Berks) bill, now in a Senate committee, proposes to match the civil limit with the 50-year criminal deadline.
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REGISTRATION ENDS TODAY FOR CHILD ABUSE REPORTING SESSION (March 6, 2015)
Registration ends today (March 6) at 5:00 p.m. for the Stop Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) CME session at the Valley Forge CME Conference on Saturday, March 21. No walk-ins will be allowed. To register, choose either the full conference or one-day Saturday rate, then check that you will be attending this session.
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ACA AGAIN BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT (March 4, 2015)
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), often called Obamacare, is back before the U.S. Supreme Court today. NPR reports the technical argument about the wording of the law could have a dramatic effect on America's health care system and the 11 million Americans who have received coverage under the act.
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CHECK OUT PAFP FOUNDATION ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS (March 3, 2015)
The PAFP Foundation's online auction is just about a month away, but did you know that you can check out items now? Visit the auction website and bookmark the pages for the items you want, like Philadelphia Eagles tickets or a golf getaway! And don't forget to check back often - new items are coming in daily!
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STUDY: MOST DOCTORS GIVE IN TO VACCINE REQUESTS (March 2, 2015)
A large majority of pediatricians and family physicians give in to parents' requests to alter their children's vaccine schedules, reports the New York Times. Doctors say they do this to build trust and avoid losing patients, even though they know postponing vaccines can put kids at risk for diseases like measles.
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