PAFP COLLABORATIVE RECOGNIZED BY CDC (April 30, 2015)
Now heading into its sixth year, the PAFP's Residency Program and Community Health Center Collaborative has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its Field Notes and Evaluation Summary documents. Congratulations to the collaborative's many participants!
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COMMITTEES HOLD THIRD MEDICAL CANNABIS HEARING (April 2?9, 2015)
Today, the state House Health and Judiciary Committees are holding a third hearing on medical cannabis and its potential legalization in the state. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have similar laws to what is being proposed in Pennsylvania. Read more in the latest issue of Keystone Physician. |
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REGISTER FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES (April 2?8, 2015)
The PAFP Professional Development Series for Residents helps residents interested in rural and underserved primary care practice to connect to helpful information and resources. The next event is in Lancaster on Friday, May 8 - click here to RSVP. Participation scholarships are available, but limited! |
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PRACTICE MANAGER WORKSHOP SERIES BEGINS (April 27, 2015)
The PAFP's Practice Advocacy and Government Affairs team has begun its 2015 Practice Manager Workshop live events! Today's State College event is over, but the events in Pittsburgh (April 29) and Indiana (April 30) are still open for registration. Click here to register - space is limited for these events! |
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PLACE YOUR BIDS! ONLINE AUCTION ENDS THIS WEEKEND (April 24, 2015)
If you've been holding off on bidding for that golf getaway or those sports tickets, you don't have much time left - the PAFP Foundation Online Auction ends at 8 p.m. this Sunday, April 26! Proceeds from the event will benefit medical student scholarships, public health initiatives, and much more. Bid today! |
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CMS PROPOSED MEANINGFUL USE MODIFICATIONS (April 23, 2015)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued proposed modifications to its Meaningful Use program. These changes include changing the EHR reporting period to 90 days, streamlining reporting, and modifying patient action measures. Providers may submit comments through June 15, 2015. |
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MORE EVIDENCE VACCINES DO NOT CAUSE AUTISM (April 22, 2015)
Researchers have once again found evidence that vaccines aren't linked to autism. According to Time, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that even high-risk children - ones with siblings with autism - were not at any higher risk of developing the disorder if they were vaccinated. |
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FAMILY PHYSICIAN COMPENSATION EXAMINED (April 21, 2015)
Family physicians came in second from the bottom among all medicine specialties when asked about their compensation, according to Medscape's 2015 Family Physician Compensation Report. The study also found 51 percent of family physicians are satisfied overall with their careers - but far less so with their pay. |
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COMMISSION RELEASES PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE REPORT (April 20, 2015)
Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission has released a report examining the state's shortage of physicians and proposing strategies to deal with the issue. The recommendations include increasing the number of residency positions and implementing the patient-centered medical home model of care.
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GET EXPIRING CME BEFORE IT'S GONE! (April 17, 2015)
Members of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians love the high-quality, free CME webcasts on www.pafp.com. Two of those offerings, State of the Art in Colorectal (CRC) Cancer Screening and To Screen or Not To Screen, expire this weekend, on April 19. Get up to three patient safety credits today! |
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ICD-10 DELAYS UNLIKELY AFTER SGR PASSAGE (April 16, 2015)
It is unlikely that ICD-10 implementation will be delayed now that sustainable growth rate (SGR) legislation awaits the president's signature, reports EHR Intelligence. A last-minute edition to a previous SGR bill pushed back implementation of ICD-10 to Oct. 1, 2015, a date for which providers should be preparing. |
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BID AWAY! PAFP FOUNDATION ONLINE AUCTION BEGINS (April 15, 2015)
Are you long past due for a tropical vacation? Looking for a great dinner deal? How about a weekend golf outing? For all these items and more, visit the PAFP Foundation Online Auction! From today through April 26, bid on incredible items at excellent prices. All proceeds support PAFP Foundation programs. Bid now! |
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SENATE PASSES BIPARTISAN 'DOC FIX' LEGISLATION (April 14, 2015)
In the end, it wasn't even close: After strong bipartisan support in the House, the Senate passed a bill to eliminate the sustainable growth rate (SGR) Medicare payment formula 92-8. As USA Today reports, the passage came just hours before a 21 percent pay cut for treating patients on Medicaid went into effect. |
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PUBLIC HEALTH CME, RESOURCES AVAILABLE (April 14, 2015)
The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians offers family physicians a variety of free public health CME and resources. The latest issue of Keystone Physician contains articles on sleep apnea, colorectal cancer, and safe prescribing of opioids. Coming in the next issue: tips on essential care for older adults. |
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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR WORKSHOPS (April 13, 2015)
Registration is now open for the PAFP's Practice Manager Workshops! The content will focus on up-to-date topics which may affect your medical practice and briefings on federal and state regulations, industry trends, and opportunities. Learn more and register here - registration and parking are free for each event!
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'DOC FIX' ON TRACK; NO SERIOUS THREATS (April 10, 2015)
The "doc fix" - legislation to permanently repeal the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula - is still on track with no serious threats, reports Modern Healthcare. Congress is set to return Tuesday, and while concerns exist on both sides of the aisle, the Senate seems positioned to pass the long-term fix.
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NCQA PLANS PCMH RECOGNITION PROGRAM REDESIGN (April 9, 2015)
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has planned an "ambitious" redesign of its patient-centered medical home (PCMH) recognition program. According to the NCQA, specific changes include providing more guidance, offering educational activities, and reducing the documentation burden.
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OVERDOSE-REVERSAL DRUG PROGRAM EXPANDING (April 8, 2015)
A program to equip police officers with opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone, also known as Narcan, is expanding throughout Pennsylvania, reports WITF. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Drug and Alcohol Programswants the public to know about naloxone's safety, legality, and administration - click here for details. |
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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR CHESAPEAKE SUMMER ESCAPE (April 7, 2015)
Get ready for some sun and fun at the PAFP's Chesapeake Summer Escape CME Conference, July 26 through 29! Registration is now open for the event, which includes more than 16 CME credits on topics like women's health, herbs, and much more, plus activities like a fun run and a crab feast. Register today!
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ALLERGY SEASON 2015: SEE YOUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN (April 6, 2015)
Allergy season is in full swing, and The Weather Channel reports that this could be the worst one in history. Be sure to see your family physician if you're experiencing symptoms, or if you plan to use over-the-counter medications - some of the side effects could be problematic. Here's to a healthy (and warm) spring 2015!
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DISPELLING MYTHS ON WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY (April 2, 2015)
April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. Medical News Today has assembled a list of some of the most common myths about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) along with the facts. And, of course, remember the truth about the granddaddy of all autism myths: There is absolutely no link between vaccines and autism.
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COULD MEDICAID RULING LIMIT ACCESS TO CARE? (April 1, 2015)
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that private health care providers cannot sue state Medicaid agencies over low reimbursement rates. According to Modern Healthcare, some providers and advocates warn that the ruling will limit access to care if doctors stop accepting Medicaid patients as recourse.
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