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HOUSE COMMITTEES HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS
Over the past few weeks, House committees have held public hearings on two topics that will affect family physicians. Hearings have been held in the House Human Services committee on House Bill 1651, which would establish the Pharmaceutical Accountability Monitoring System, an electronic system for monitoring all scheduled drugs dispensed in Pennsylvania to reduce diversion and misuse of controlled substances. The House Insurance Committee also held several hearings regarding the implementation of health care exchanges, a requirement of the Affordable Care Act.
HIV TESTING LEGISLATION PASSES SENATE
Legislation that amends the Confidentiality of HIV-related Information Act was voted out of the Senate and amended in the House Human Services Committee last week. Senate Bill 260 will make HIV testing a routine part of general medical care and allow patients to opt out of testing. Informed consent and pre-test information must be documented by the provider. Post-test counseling must be offered to patients who test positive. The legislation is expected to pass the House by the end of June.
TORT REFORM LEGISLATION PASSAGE SUBJECT TO BUDGET AGREEMENT
As the spring session nears an end, House and Senate leadership continue negotiations in hopes of passing a state budget by June 30. The word on the Hill is that it will come down to the wire before budget negotiators come to an agreement. In the meantime, Senate Bill 1131, the Fair Share Act legislation which would abolish the doctrine of joint and several liability in most instances, is awaiting a vote in the House. Governor Corbett is expected to sign the bill upon agreement of a state budget.
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CME & EVENTS CALENDAR
Click here for Live CME conferences and SAM Study Groups.
SUMMER ESCAPE CME CONFERENCE
The next CME conference will be held July 14-17 in Long Branch Beach, New Jersey. Click here for more information!
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WORKING WITH SUICIDAL YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES IN PRIMARY CARE
Wednesday, Aug. 10, noon until 1 p.m. • Live online webcast – register here today!
Primary care physicians are often the last professionals to see suicide victims alive. While most suicidal youth do not explicitly state a desire to die to their family physicians, recognizing warning signs associated with suicide risk is critical in the delivery of life-saving interventions. Learn more and register here today!
CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT PEARLS
PA IPIP’s Residency Program Collaborative meets regularly to learn more about improving care for patients with diabetes and, new for 2011-2012, patients with ischemic vascular disease. Click below for practice pearls from Residency Program Collaborative faculty. Look for CME webcasts based on these presentations this summer!
Lowering Blood Pressure
Anything over 130/80 is unacceptable. Read more…
PA is A “Red” State for IVD Mortality
Too few physicians even know which patients have PAD. Read more…
Transitional Care: 2013 Is Coming & Primary Care Will Be Ready
Included in transitional care is the “30-day readmit” law - What can you do?
PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION AND CME IN KEYSTONE PHYSICIAN
Coming in Keystone Physician (look for it next week!):
• A tip sheet on concussions and young athletes – what are the guidelines for returning to play?
• CME on immunization. Read this article to get the latest updates and be familiar with recommendations. Case-based scenarios reflect common issues in your practice!
• Magazine supplement in July: CME article on child sexual abuse. This article will come separately – watch for it!
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
PAFP’s Team REACH is currently assisting 361 providers in eastern Pennsylvania with EHR implementation and obtaining Meaningful Use. For more information and to request free assistance, visit www.pareacheast.org. Please select the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians as your preferred technical support.
If you have any additional questions, 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]
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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• Advice for medical students from PAFP student leader, Aaron George, originally published on the Future of Family Medicine Blog, was picked up by KevinMD.com! Read the original post here and visit the FFM blog regularly for more great stuff!
• PAFP student contingent for National Conference in Kansas City is now 50 strong! Please register and make your travel plans ASAP! Road trip!
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NEW TAX-FREE HYBRID INSURANCE PRODUCTS
New to Asset MarketPlace are innovative personal insurance products that combine life insurance and long-term care benefits – offering a user-friendly “use it” or “use it” approach. Depending on your overall personal investment strategy, these new products can be highly complementary to your overall financial plan while also providing secured asset protection and long-term care benefits. For more details, contact Asset MarketPlace, your PAFP sponsored insurance provider, at (866) 482-2175, or click here.
LOWER YOUR VACCINE COSTS WITH ATLANTIC HEALTH PARTNERS
Join the nation’s leading vaccine buying group now and get the lowest prices before the back-to-school peak vaccine season!
Atlantic 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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