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HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASS STATE BUDGET BILL
On May 24, the Republican Caucus of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a budget bill for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. The legislation reflects a $27.3 billion spending plan, equal to that proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett earlier this year. Funding for the Chronic Care Initiative was retained, but reduced from the $1.099 million proposed by the administration to $1 million. The bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Appropriations Committee. The PAFP staff will continue to provide members with information on state budget happenings.
NATIONAL TESTING DAY FOR HIPAA VERSION 5010
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a National 5010 Testing Day on June 15, 2011 in conjunction with the Medicare FFS Program. This is an opportunity for trading partners, including providers, clearinghouses and vendors, to test compliance efforts that are already under way with the added benefit of real-time help desk support and direct and immediate access to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). The HIPAA Version 5010 compliance date for all covered entities is Jan. 1, 2012. For more information, click here.
PHYSICIANS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO RED FLAG RULE
Implementation of the Red Flags Rule – regulations to protect consumers from identity theft – was delayed five times through Dec. 31, 2010. On December 18, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Red Flag Program Clarification Act of 2010, which clarifies the type of “creditor” that must comply with the Red Flags Rule. The legislation exempts physicians and other health care providers from having to comply. Earlier this year, a federal appeals court concurred with the legislation by ruling that physicians are not creditors.
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CME & EVENTS CALENDAR
Click here for Live CME conferences and SAM Study Groups.
NEW RULE FOR ENDURING MATERIAL
The AMA has issued a new rule for Enduring Material activities that takes effect on July 1, 2011 for all ACCME-accredited CME providers. According to the new rule, AMA PRA Category 1 Credit will be allowed only to participants who meet a minimum performance level for journal-based and other self-study CME activities. The AAFP Members of Commission on Continuing Professional Development determined that 80 percent is required for AAFP CME activities. This applies also to PAFP enduring activities which are online programs or journal CME.
The next CME conference will be held July 14-17 in Long Branch Beach, New Jersey. Click here for more information. Early bird rates end June 14!
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PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION AND CME IN KEYSTONE PHYSICIAN
Child sexual abuse patient information: Winter 2011
HPV immunization tip sheet: Fall/Winter 2010
Child sexual abuse tip sheet: Fall/Winter 2010
Adult immunization tip sheet: Summer 2010
Child abuse (FAQs for mandated reporters): Fall 2010
Clinical Scenario Series on Immunization (CME!): Summer/Fall 2010
Colorectal cancer screening tip sheets: Summer 2010
Health care worker immunization: Summer 2010
Safe medication disposal: Spring 2010
Snus and dissolvable tobacco: Summer/Fall 2010
Using PDSA cycles to implement better care (CME!): Summer 2010
PUBLIC HEALTH CME WEBCASTS
Lots of free CME available at www.pafp.com/onlineCME, most of which qualifies as patient safety. Topics include rheumatoid arthritis and colorectal cancer.
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PA REACH East Project
Need assistance reaching Meaningful Use? We’re here to help. The PA REACH East project is a FREE program available to eligible Family Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatric, and Internal Medicine physicians in Pennsylvania. For more information, or to request assistance, visit www.pareacheast.org. Please select the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians as your preferred technical support. For further information please contact PA REACH EAST Program Manager, Deb Hammaker, at dhammaker@pafp.com, or call (717) 635-6223.
*This 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.
COLORECTAL CANCER (CRC) TRI-REGION MEETINGS COMING IN JUNE
Save the dates for three CRC meetings coming to Philadelphia, Hershey and Pittsburgh in June. You will have the opportunity to learn updated information regarding colorectal cancer screening guidelines and how you can use population management and elements of the Model for Improvement to improve your practice’s screening rates. Each meeting will run from 7 to 10 a.m.
June 13 • Philadelphia
June 15 • Hershey
June 27 • Pittsburgh
Click here for more info.
FREE PATIENT REGISTRY SYSTEM
• Do you have a paper system, but dream of going electronic?
• Do you need a way to manage your patient population?
• Do you want to understand the value of a patient registry?
Here’s the perfect opportunity! Join the Colorectal Cancer Screening (CRCS) collaborative and get a free patient registry for one year – a savings of $200 per year, per physician. Why is population management important? Because you can identify patients who need life-saving preventive care or patients whose chronic diseases are uncontrolled. Click here to submit a CRCS interest form. Hurry, subscriptions are limited!
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PAFP FOUNDATION STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
Students, the deadline for National Conference scholarships is fast approaching! Apply now for a PAFP Foundation scholarship to support your attendance at the largest annual gathering of family physicians, residents, and medical students in Kansas City, Mo. July 28 through 30. Apply by June 3!
What’s the National Conference all about? Learn more from the National Conference Student Chair and PAFP Student Chair Andy Lutzkanin, a fourth-year Penn State medical student, and you’ll see why it’s the meeting you do not want to miss!
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
“Pennsylvania Newsmakers,” hosted by Terry Madonna, recently featured PAFP members Andrew Bloschichak, MD, and Robert Nielsen, MD. They discussed the Patient-Centered Medical Home from the provider, practice and payer perspectives, detailing transformations already in place improving care for patients. You can watch the interview here. (The PCMH topic starts at 13:27 and runs through the end of the clip.)
AFFINITY PARTNERS' INSURANCE DISCOUNTS CAN OFFSET AAFP, PAFP DUES
You can easily access the PAFP’s new insurance benefits through Asset MarketPlace’s call center. Insurance professionals are available to help you assess your protection needs and provide the best options for Disability Income, Business Operating Expense, Long-Term Care, Critical Illness and Life Insurance. Many PAFP-endorsed policies include enhanced benefits and discounts available only to association members. For more info, contact the Asset MarketPlace at (866) 482-2175 or email info@assetmarketplace.net and indicate you are a PAFP member.
LOWER YOUR VACCINE COSTS WITH ATLANTIC HEALTH PARTNERS
Join the nation’s leading vaccine-buying group now to get the lowest prices before the back-to-school peak vaccine season! Additional benefits include:
• The lowest prices and most favorable payment terms for Sanofi Pasteur and Merck vaccines
• Reimbursement support • Medical supply discounts • Office supply discounts • Discounts for patient recall program
Call (800) 741-2044 or email info@atlantichealthpartners.com to join the nearly 10,000 physicians already benefiting from Atlantic’s savings and support.
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