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December 4, 2013 | Issue 77 |
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Government Affairs: PAFP, PAMED Urge Physician-Led PCMH Legislation |
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PAFP leadership, which helped develop legislation that would create a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) advisory council within the Pa. Dept. of Public Welfare, will join with leaders of the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) and other physician associations to urge support for HB 1655 and SB 1083 introduced by Rep. Matt Baker and Sen. Judy Schwank next week at the Capital. The bills would advance a physician-led, team-based approach in the state’s Medicaid program to join 26 other states that have already engaged PCMH models at some level. |
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Practice Advocacy: CMS Proposes Payment Changes |
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a final calendar year 2014 hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment rule [CMS-1601-FC]. In addition, CMS will replace the current five levels of hospital clinic visit codes for both new and established patients with a single code describing all outpatient clinic visits. This change is due to growing concerns that the current payment system encourages upcoding. Details can be found on pages 666 through 687 of the rule document.
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Education: Hershey CME Conference, Annual Business Meeting Registration Now Online |
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On March 6-9, 2014, the PAFP Foundation will host the Hershey CME Conference to include workshops, clinical sessions, a SAM study group, DOT medical examiner training, and Research Day. While attending the conference, join us at the PAFP Annual Business Meeting to gain a better understanding of how the PAFP is working to ensure the future of family medicine, meet the new PAFP officers and incoming President, Douglas Spotts, MD, and celebrate the Family Physician and Exemplary Teacher of the Year. This is one event you won't want to miss!
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| Public Health: Physician Leadership Key to Vaccine Management |
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Proper vaccine management, which saves money and protects vaccine efficiency, is every bit as important as your recommendation for vaccination and standing orders. Your staff may be responsible, but your leadership is key. In 2012, the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General found that physician offices frequently mismanage vaccines. Top problems include temperature fluctuations and storage of expired with non-expired vaccines. A free CME webcast will be available soon. Meanwhile, read these tips and register your staff for three free 20-minute lunch-and-learn sessions on vaccines in February.
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| Quality Improvement: Visit PAFP's Team REACH on the Web |
| Have questions about EHRs or Stage 2 of Meaningful Use? Visit the PAFP's Team REACH on PAFP.com. Discover what Team REACH can help you accomplish, from practice and workflow redesign to assistance with PCMH recognition. The PAFP Team REACH has assisted more than providers become "meaningful users" of an EHR and has begun to assist its REACH providers in establishing the PCMH model as the foundational model for their practices! |
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| Residents & Students: Coming Up: Research Day, Awards |
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Research Day, March 8, Hershey, Pa.
? Register and submit abstracts by January 31
? Research categories include:
?? Experimental research
?? Quality improvement, public health projects
?? Case studies
? Poster projects will be judged by category, with a winner in each category.
? Presentations will be selected by the committee as the strongest submissions, limited to slots available.
Exemplary Teaching Awards
? Nominations deadline January 31
? Winning nominations are set apart by nomination letters: heartfelt, meaningful expressions of gratitude and praise for the nominee’s dedication, creativity, passion for the specialty and teaching. Team up with your program coordinator to pull the packet together.
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AAFP Developing 'Future of Family Medicine 2.0' Project
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The American Academy of Family Physicians announced in August its intent to develop a follow-up initiative to its Future of Family Medicine project. In a newly released update, the AAFP says that it is examining issues related to scope of practice, compensation, and technology. It has also assembled two insight groups comprising medical students, residents and young physicians. Click here to read more, and feel free to share your thoughts and recommendations by emailing ?FutureFM@aafp.org. |
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Still Taking Nominations for Family Physician of the Year |
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It's not too late to nominate yourself or a colleague for the 2014 PAFP Family Physician of the Year award! The nomination deadline is Jan. 8, 2014. We encourage you to run a campaign in your office or hospital, or among friends and family, with a good mix of colleague and patient input. Be as thorough as you can - the more information you give us, the easier our decision will be! Click here to read the rules and put in your nominations! |
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