INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE

ADVOCACY AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
> DPW GRANTS EXCEPTIONS TO MA PHARMACY BENEFIT LIMIT
> PAFP PRESIDENT TO TESTIFY AT PUBLIC HEARING
> PAFP GEARS UP FOR SPRING LEGISLATIVE SESSION
> FAIR CONTRACTING REMAINS A PRIORITY

CME
> MESSAGE FROM THE PAFP PRESIDENT
> CME CRUISE MAIDEN VOYAGE

PUBLIC HEALTH
> LUNCHTIME WEBINAR: WORKING THROUGH CONFIDENTIAL ISSUES
> WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?
> ATTENTION: MEDICAL STUDENTS, RESIDENTS, AND DOCTORS
> ART BY PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES

QUALITY INITIATIVES
> INTERESTED IN THE PA REACH PROGRAM?

RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS
> PLAN TO ATTEND THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!
> CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER
> YOUNG LEADERS FEATURED IN KEYSTONE PHYSICIAN

OTHER NEWS
> MEDICARE PART D VACCINE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
> ENTERPRISE DISCOUNT FOR PAFP MEMBERS
> WIN A MEDICAL MAKEOVER
> PAFP ACCEPTING "FAMILY PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR" NOMINATIONS

DPW GRANTS EXCEPTIONS TO MA PHARMACY BENEFIT LIMIT
In response to PAFP member concerns regarding the pharmacy benefit change for Medical Assistance (MA) recipients implemented on Jan. 3 by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW), Dr. David Kelley, Chief Medical Officer of the Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP), took time to share details with PAFP staff. The new policy limits prescriptions to six per month for MA recipients 21 and older. Exceptions to the new pharmacy benefit limit include MA recipients who are pregnant or in the 60-day postpartum period, reside in a nursing home or intermediate care facility, or are “dual eligibles.” For further details, read the DPW MA Bulletin.

PAFP PRESIDENT TO TESTIFY AT PUBLIC HEARING
PAFP President Dr. Dennis Gingrich will testify at a public hearing of the House Professional Licensure Committee on Jan. 19. The hearing is centered on House Bill 1717, the Naturopathic Physician Practice Act, which would license naturopathic practitioners in the Commonwealth. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Mark Mustio (R-Allegheny). Dr. Gingrich will testify on behalf of the PAFP and its more-than 4,800 members in opposition to the legislation.

PAFP GEARS UP FOR SPRING LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Next week marks the start of the second year of the 2011-12 legislative session. While this year is an election year, and budget hearings will take up most of March, PAFP staff will continue to focus on the issues important to family physicians. Some of the key issues on our plate?  Fair contracting, prescription drug monitoring, and physician credentialing, just to name a few. The PAFP will continue to update members on these and other important legislative policy and regulatory developments throughout the year.

FAIR CONTRACTING REMAINS A PRIORITY
The Fair Health Care Provider Contracting Act (House Bill 1763), introduced by Rep. Nick Miccarelli (R-Delaware), continues to be a top priority for PAFP lobbyists entering the spring legislative session. This legislation will enact fair contracting standards for physicians when contracting with the largest health insurers in the Commonwealth. To learn more about HB 1763 and to contact your state representative in support of fair contracting, visit the PAFP Government Affairs webpage. 

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MESSAGE FROM THE PAFP PRESIDENT
I want everyone to know about upcoming events which, I think, are really paving the way for the future of physician learning. If you have never tried a PAFP CME event before, the March event is the one to pick. I hope to see you there!

Our March Hershey CME Conference Thursday, March 8 – Sunday March 11 is actually four meetings in one – the first “mega-meeting” ever offered by the PAFP:

At the Penn State University College of Medicine Campus:
THURSDAY, MARCH 8
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Primary Care CME event, Penn State Hershey Medical Center

At the Hotel Hershey:
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
8 a.m. - 3 p.m. - SAM study group (preventive medicine)
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Three interactive workshops (in partnership with Penn State Hershey Medical Center) including LionReach clinical simulation
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. - PAFP clinical sessions
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. - Leadership conference

SATURDAY, MARCH 10
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. - PAFP clinical sessions
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. - Research Day presentations

SUNDAY, MARCH 11
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. - PAFP update, regional breakfast meetings
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - PAFP CME sessions

CME CRUISE MAIDEN VOYAGE
Join us as we embark on our maiden voyage CME cruise! The PAFP is pleased to invite you on a six-night CME cruise to Bermuda aboard Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas, leaving from the Port of Baltimore on Friday, June 21, 2013 and returning Thursday, June 27, 2013. Rooms will be made available at a hotel not far from port the evening prior, and bus transportation will be provided to and from the port. The PAFP is currently investigating the feasibility of chartering a bus to pick up from various locations throughout Pennsylvania and surrounding states to transport members and guests to Maryland and back home after the cruise for your convenience. Prices for the cruise start at $894 per person, double occupancy for an inside cabin, to $2,044 per person for the Grand Suite. Costs, information, and all details, including a draft CME agenda, will be available shortly at www.pafp.com.

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LUNCHTIME WEBINAR: WORKING THROUGH CONFIDENTIAL ISSUES
Don’t miss Working Through Confidential Issues, a webinar presented by Kathleen Reynolds, Director of the SAMHSA/HRSA Center for Integrated Solutions, on Jan. 19 from noon until 1 p.m. The webinar is presented by the Pennsylvania Physical Health/Behavioral Health Learning Community.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?
Learn what’s happening with your patients with disabilities after high school. Check out The Post-High School Outcomes of Young Adults with Disabilities up to 6 Years after High School: Key Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), from the National Center for Special Education Research.

ATTENTION: MEDICAL STUDENTS, RESIDENTS AND DOCTORS

Why not start the New Year by connecting with your community? Provide the youth at your local middle schools the opportunity to learn about the dangers of smoking while encouraging them to enter the statewide Tar Wars poster contest. Now is the time to act! Contact Dana Boyd, PAFP Public Health Initiatives Coordinator, or go to the Tar Wars website for more.

ART BY PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Medical Home Project of the Lehigh Valley Hospital System invites the public to join physicians, nurses, residents and other medical professionals for “Art Ability,” a very special art gallery by patients with disabilities at Lehigh Valley Hospital (Cedar Crest) on Feb. 1, 2012. Attendees will enjoy mosaics, weavings, music and more as they interact with the composers and learn how art is more than just a hobby or passion – it’s a valuable therapy.  Contact Dana Boyd, PAFP Public Health Initiatives Coordinator, for details.

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INTERESTED IN THE PA REACH PROGRAM?
As of Jan. 9, 2012, there are only 153 provider slots available in the PA REACH East program.
If you’ve been thinking about signing up for free meaningful use assistance, don’t hesitate any longer! Go to www.pareacheast.org, click the “Assistance” tab, complete the form, choose “Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians” under “Preferred technical assistance support,” and submit. It’s that easy! For more information and participation in the PA REACH Program, please contact Deb Hammaker or Tracy Koval.
[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.]

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PLAN TO ATTEND THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!
Leadership Development Workshop
Hotel Hershey • Friday, March 9, 6 p.m. -  9 p.m. (Dinner included)
Respond to Molly Talley, Director of Resident and Student Affairs.

Call for abstracts for PAFP’s 2012 Research Day program!
Hotel Hershey • Saturday, March 10, 9 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Plenary speaker: Andrew Bazemore, MD, The Robert Graham Center
Submit your abstract online now!

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER
Congratulations to Diana Tucci, MS 3 (University of Pittsburgh), beginning her second year of service as a Regional FMIG Coordinator for the AAFP National FMIG Network! Student FMIG leaders, please make sure you introduce yourselves to Diana and connect to the networking, support, and resources offered through the FMIG Network. You can follow @AAFP_FMIG and @fammedstudents on Twitter!

YOUNG LEADERS FEATURED IN KEYSTONE PHYSICIAN

Don’t miss the latest edition of Keystone Physician, featuring this story of three young physicians from Williamsport’s family medicine residency program who found the perfect practice opportunity to work together and care for Carlisle’s underserved at the Sadler Community Health Center.

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MEDICARE PART D VACCINE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
Atlantic Health Partners is pleased to announce a program with TransactRx that enables physicians to provide vaccines to most Medicare Part D patients. Atlantic offers its members the lowest prices on Sanofi and Merck vaccines, and with TransactRx, practices can provide vaccines like Zostavax and Adacel (Tdap) to Medicare patients.

There is no cost to join Atlantic Health Partners or to benefit from this service. Please email Atlantic Health Partners or call at 1 (800) 741-2044 to find out how Atlantic’s vaccine buying group and TransactRx can help your practice.

ENTERPRISE DISCOUNT FOR PAFP MEMBERS
Did you know that, as a PAFP member, you get a discount on car rentals at Enterprise? For more information, click here!

WIN A MEDICAL MAKEOVER
Would you like a medical makeover for your practice? MacMall, the Internet’s #1 Apple warehouse, can make your extreme makeover dreams come true! Between now and Jan. 16, 2012, fill out the entry form for the Medical Makeover contest. Two practices will win! If you have a small practice (with between one and ten employees), you could win a package worth $6,300! If your practice is larger (11 or more employees), you could win $16,800 in prizes! Take a look at the goods and the rules, enter the contest, and cross your fingers!

PAFP ACCEPTING “FAMILY PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR” NOMINATIONS
The PAFP is accepting nominations for Pennsylvania’s “Family Physician of the Year 2012.” The annual award honors an outstanding, community-minded family physician who provides compassionate, comprehensive care. Eligible nominees must be members of PAFP.

Candidates should serve as role models professionally and personally to their communities, other health care professionals, family practice residents and medical students. Send the nominee’s name, office address and phone number, and as much supporting information as possible to PAFP no later than March 16. Anyone submitting a nomination also should include their own contact information (email is very helpful). PAFP will contact both parties for confirmation. Click here to nominate yourself or a colleague!

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