Government Affairs: New on PAFP.com: Affordable Care Act News Archive
In an effort to keep you more informed about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its continuing effects on family practice, we have developed a daily news archive for information related to the health care law. Every week day on PAFP.com, we will post the very latest information about the ACA under the heading "The Latest News." All of these items will be collected and categorized by day, month and year on the PAFP's brand new Affordable Care Act News Archive, which you can check out by clicking here.

Practice Advocacy: Protect Your Practice with Contracting Tips
Decide whether to participate in an exchange plan: Review current contracts, contact the payers, and see if they offer exchange plans. You may want to negotiate to raise rates depending on proposed rates of new plans. Review “all products” clauses in your existing contracts; remove if possible. Evaluate payment and collection policies; revamp if needed. Conduct eligibility verification requests every visit. Address the 90-day grace period: Confirm the insurer will pay claims during the 60-to-90-day window. If not, request a provision to collect payment up-front from patients in the grace period. Keep up to date on communications from insurers.

Education: Four More Regional Lecture Series Sessions Coming Up

If you missed the first two sessions, you can still sign up for the “Best Practices” Regional Lecture Series. Topics still to be featured are medication reconciliation, referral and test tracking, and EHRs. Sign up for one or all of these sessions and watch them right from your office on the PAFP Community. Simply register for the select sessions you wish to view by the Tuesday prior to the presentation, then on Wednesdays at noon, click on the web link we will send you via email and watch the session to earn CME credit. 

Public Health: Close the Quality Gap on Fall Screening, Prevention
Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of disability, premature nursing home admissions, medical costs, and hospitalizations among people 65 and older. Interventions reduce fall rates by 30 to 40 percent, but studies show that screening by family physicians is substandard. Join us from noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29 for the free, live online webinar “Practical Fall Risk Assessments and Interventions for Primary Care.” Click here for more information and to register.

Quality Improvement: Share Your Meaningful Use Success Story
As 2013 starts to wind down, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT would like to gain some feedback from practices that have worked with PAFP’s Team REACH over the years. We understand the challenges faced by having to adapt to the changes necessary to meet the meaningful use measures, and we hope that Team REACH has helped you to overcome these difficulties. If you have worked with Team REACH in the past, keep an eye out for an email containing a “Success Story” form. This is a great way to showcase your accomplishments!

Residents & Students: Happy National Primary Care Week!
Happy National Primary Care Week! How are you marking the occasion? Temple’s FMIG has a week full of events including a PAFP-style clinical camp Thursday; The Commonwealth Medical College FMIG is co-hosting a community event, the Steamtown Health Fair. If you’re in the neighborhood, come out and join the fun, or find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and let us know !The American Medical Student Association promotes National Primary Care Week nationally, with partners AAFP and Primary Care Progress. Don’t forget: Family Medicine Education Consortium annual conference to Philadelphia Nov. 1-3 to further fortify the #FMRevolution – join us!

Other News:
“Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescents” will be streamed live Friday, Nov. 8, 1:20 to 2:20 p.m. Meanwhile, check out these tip sheets: Long-Term Management in Adolescents | TBI and Domestic Violence | Concussion and the Young Athlete

Families Fighting Flu will hold an hour-long webinar Wednesday, Oct. 16 at noon. Share with patients; click here for info. Reminder: Children with underlying neurologic disorders should receive influenza vaccine and early, aggressive treatment if they develop influenza-like illness.

More rooms have been added to the PAFP room block at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center for the Erie CME conference. Try again if you were told there are no rooms left – reserve ASAP to receive the special rate!