Correction Notice: On July 31, we sent an email to members concerning the PAFP 2013 CME Cruise. In this message, we stated that the ship's accommodations include a "zipline" and "six pools and whirlpools." This information was incorrect. There is no zipline on this trip; and, although there are indoor and outdoor pools, there are not six of them. This trip does, however, include a wide variety of family- and kid-oriented recreational activities.
For full details, click here.
 
INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE

ADVOCACY AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
> CMS ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVE, POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR STATES
> RECORDING AVAILABLE FOR CMS NATIONAL PROVIDER CALL
> BECOME A PAFP KEY CONTACT!
> WEBINAR, TELECONFERENCE ON LYME DISEASE IN CHILDREN

CME
> COME SAIL AWAY, COME SAIL AWAY, COME SAIL AWAY WITH PAFP
> FUN LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, FAMILY-FOCUSED ATMOSPHERE
> WE WANT YOU FOR OUR REGIONAL LECTURES SERIES!

PUBLIC HEALTH
> IF YOU WORK IN HEALTH CARE, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE...

QUALITY INITIATIVES
> 201 PATIENTS HELPED SO FAR IN BLOOD PRESSURE CHALLENGE!
> MEANINGFUL USE AUDITS UNDER WAY
> ARE YOU UP-TO-DATE ON CONSENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY?

RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS
> AAFP NATIONAL CONFERENCE REPORT
> PATHWAYS TO PRACTICE IN PENNSYLVANIA

OTHER NEWS
> DID YOU SEE US IN THE NEWS?
> TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR GEICO DISCOUNT

CMS ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVE, POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR STATES
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center has announced the State Innovation Models Initiative. States may receive a $275 million payment opportunity for testing new, sustainable multi-payer payment and service delivery reform models. The goal of the initiative is to potentially lower costs for Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, while improving health and health care services. The PAFP will stay tuned to see if Pennsylvania applies for the initiative.

RECORDING AVAILABLE FOR CMS NATIONAL PROVIDER CALL
On Aug. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a free national provider call on to review their proposals for the physician value-based payment modifier, which is intended to maintain quality of care while reducing Medicare cost variation among physicians. If you were unable to participate, an audio recording, transcript and slide presentation can be found here on the CMS website.

BECOME A PAFP KEY CONTACT!
Do you have an existing relationship with your state or federal legislators? If so, you could become a Key Contact for the PAFP’s government affairs team. The PAFP is looking for members who have established relationships with state and federal lawmakers to help advocate for family physicians in Pennsylvania. Register with the PAFP’s Key Contacts Program today.

WEBINAR, TELECONFERENCE ON LYME DISEASE IN CHILDREN
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics are hosting a free webinar and teleconference addressing Lyme disease in children on Thursday, Aug. 16. The program will highlight clinical differences of Lyme disease in children versus adults and review treatment guidelines. Click here for details and registration information.

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COME SAIL AWAY, COME SAIL AWAY, COME SAIL AWAY WITH PAFP

The PAFP Foundation is excited to announce its Baltimore-to-Bermuda CME Cruise, scheduled for Friday, June 28 through Friday, July 5, 2013. EARN up to 18 hours of valuable CME from an exceptional education agenda, ENJOY some dazzling entertainment at various venues, and ENGAGE in tons of family fun! The seven-night Bermuda Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas includes two nights docked in beautiful Bermuda. You don't want to miss this! For full information, visit www.pafp.com/cruise.

FUN LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, FAMILY-FOCUSED ATMOSPHERE
Here's the answer: It's a fun, interactive learning environment with a family focused atmosphere. Click in for your response! If you guessed "What is Medical Jeopardy at the PAFP's Lancaster Breakaway?", you're right! Join the PAFP and your colleagues for the Lancaster Breakaway, Nov. 2-4, at the Eden Conference Center - just minutes from downtown Lancaster. Start with a SAM Study Group on Friday on hospital medicine or relevant clinical sessions on autism, transitions of care, and our aforementioned "Medical Jeopardy" session. Register today to reserve your attendance at this event! Conference is limited to 250 attendees.

WE WANT YOU FOR OUR REGIONAL LECTURE SERIES! 

We are excited to present this year's Regional Lecture Series, New Tools to Fix a Broken Screening System: Colorectal Cancer Screening for the Changing Landscape of Primary Care. Please join the PAFP and your colleagues for an evening of dinner and discussions on ways to improve your colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates, guideline updates, Meaningful Use and more! Lecture Series events are scheduled for two hours and are worth two CME patient safety credits. Registration is free for PAFP members and one staff member each. Registration is now open - we look forward to seeing you there!

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IF YOU WORK IN HEALTH CARE, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE...
If you work in health care, you have no excuse not to be vaccinated! You can make influenza vaccination mandatory for all workers at your practice – it’s a great way to increase rates. But there are other ways. Successful interventions include peer-to-peer education, improving access and providing alternatives to needles. Other ideas include vaccinating workers at their desks if they say they’re too busy, or making employees actively refuse to be vaccinated and discussing with them why they won’t be immunized.

Vaccinated or not, don’t forget about hand washing, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. Look for a HCW vaccination article in the next issue of Keystone Physician!

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201 PATIENTS HELPED SO FAR IN BLOOD PRESSURE CHALLENGE!
Month two of the Residency Program Collaborative Blood Pressure Challenge has ended! Congrats to our leading teams: Lehigh Valley Family Health (large); Heritage Valley Family Health (medium); Penn State/ELCO (small). Some practices are already exceeding the goal of getting 20 patients with diabetes to a blood pressure of <130/80. In total, 201 more patients with diabetes now have their blood pressure under control since the challenge started. Tip of the month: Is your EHR catching all elevated BPs? If not, take note to inform the provider and add a “sticky note” on encounter form.

MEANINGFUL USE AUDITS UNDER WAY
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has hired Figliozzi & Company of Garden City, N.Y., to perform audits of providers that have attested to Meaningful Use. If chosen, you will receive a letter from Figliozzi & Company with the CMS logo on the letterhead.

To ensure you are prepared, save all supporting documentation used during attestation.

ARE YOU UP-TO-DATE ON CONSENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY?
Are you up to date on the consent for treatment and confidentiality that affect Pennsylvania minors? Minors have rights and protections under state law which can impact when and how you offer treatment and handle medical records. Download a comprehensive look at this issue from the Juvenile Law Center by clicking here.

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AAFP NATIONAL CONFERENCE REPORT

The PAFP sent the largest delegation of medical students to AAFP’s National Conference at the end of July, with a total of 68 student members representing all nine medical schools! The conference enjoyed record attendance, with more than 1,000 family medicine residents and more than 900 medical students in the house! Thanks to the PAFP Foundation, medical school department and residency program support, and the generosity of PAFP members in leadership and at large for their enduring support of the National Conference Student Scholarship Fund, which makes these experiences possible.

PATHWAYS TO PRACTICE IN PENNSYLVANIA
A great opportunity is coming your way Sept. 14-15 at the Harrisburg Hilton, Harrisburg. It's a primary care career fair, Pathways to Practice in Pennsylvania. For more information and to register, please click here. Questions? Please contact Christina Brindamour, workforce coordinator, at 717-761-6443, x211 or via email.

The fair is open to all primary care medical and dental students, interns, residents and practitioners. All employers recruiting primary care practitioners are welcome. Please bring your spouses and families to enjoy the local attractions

Join prospective employers, residency training programs, Community Health Centers and FQHCs, physicians, dentists, and medical profession students to further explore your passion for serving patients in underserved communities. Concurrent sessions, plenary speaker Wanda Filer, MD, networking reception, and exhibitors are all part of the program plan.

This event is perfect for medical students, residents, and practicing physicians interested in learning more about opportunities for a rewarding and challenging practice, health care reform and building a strong primary care foundation, and primary care physician loan repayment programs.

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DID YOU SEE US IN THE NEWS?
Have you seen the PAFP in the news lately? Unless you don't have a TV or can't read, you certainly must have! PAFP members have been carrying the torch for family medicine from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg and everywhere in between, in local, state and national media sources. Click here to see and read all of this summer's news coverage!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR GEICO DISCOUNT
The PAFP has joined with GEICO to bring you a valuable opportunity - outstanding car insurance at an affordable price. New GEICO customers report over $500 in average annual savings. To find out how much you could save, take 15 minutes and click here. Start the free rate quote process and, when asked, make sure to select the PAFP. You could be eligible for special savings, up to an 8 percent discount.

If you already have a GEICO account, you don’t need to wait until your policy is up for renewal. Call 1 (800) 368-2734 to talk with a highly trained insurance professional, available 24/7 to make sure you’re receiving a discount just for being a PAFP member! You can always stop by a local GEICO office for some face-to-face time, if you prefer. To find the one nearest you, check geico.com/local.

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