This year's measles outbreak in the U.S. is now the largest since the disease was declared eliminated in the year 2000. CNN reports there have been 681 measles cases across 22 states so far this year, a number that continues to climb. Health officials say most cases in the United States have emerged in communities with low rates of vaccination against the virus.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic nasal spray version of Narcan, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses. According to CBS News, naloxone has previously been sold as a generic or brand-name drug in automatic injectors, prefilled syringes and vials. The brand-name version of Narcan nasal spray has been available since 2016.

Join the PAFP this summer, bring your family along and experience a truly unique CME event! Lake Raystown Resort and Conference Center in Huntingdon County will play host for our 3rd Annual Dermatology and Outdoor Medicine Conference from Thursday, Aug. 8 through Saturday, Aug. 10. Lots of family activities are available! Click here to register today!

If it feels like this year's flu season is dragging on, there's a simple reason - it is. According to CBS News, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says this year's flu season is the longest on record over the past 10 years. That's in part because two strains of the flu surfaced at different times. Up to 41.3 million Americans showed flu symptoms this year.

Medscape's Physician Compensation Report 2019 hosts an in-depth look at how physicians are faring in the financial arena. According to Medscape, primary care physician compensation sits at an average of $237,000 - up from an average of $195,000 in 2015. More specifically, family medicine physicians earn an average of $231,000.

The physician community is collaborating with the American Cancer Society and other patient advocacy groups to address the burden of prior authorizations and step therapy through legislation to be introduced shortly by State Rep. Steve Mentzer (R-Lancaster). PAFP members report that prior authorization reform is their top state legislative issue.

The number of measles cases in the United States climbed again this month to 555, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The New York Times reports this year's outbreak is on pace to be the worst since the country eliminated measles in 2000. The disease is largely spreading through communities with large numbers of unvaccinated people.

As the anti-vaccine movement grows in strength, the conversation between physicians and parents about the importance of vaccines is increasingly vital. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has some tips on how to discuss vaccines with parents, including starting early, presenting vaccination as the default option, and being honest about side effects.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has submitted an appeal to the state Supreme Court asking it to extend access for Highmark patients who seek care at UPMC facilities. Last week, the Commonwealth Court said it lacked the authority to intervene in the battle between the health care giants, reports WESA, "even if it were in the public interest to do so."

The Pennsylvania House and Senate will convene for a Joint Session on today at 11:30 a.m. to memorialize the events of Oct. 27, 2018 that occurred at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Eleven people lost their lives, including a family physician, Jerry Rabinowitz, MD. The PAFP released a statement about the shooting in the fall; click here to view it.

The measles outbreak in the United States is booming, with nearly 100 more cases confirmed last week. According to USA Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 465 cases have been confirmed in 19 states in 2019, the second-highest total in the almost two decades since the virus was declared eliminated in the U.S.

Senate Bill 25 (Sen. Bartolotta-R), a bill that would eliminate collaborative agreements between physicians and nurse practitioners, was voted favorably out of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee last week and is poised for further votes in the Senate. The PAFP opposes the bill. Weigh in with your senator today.

Join the PAFP and bring your family to our 3rd Annual Procedures and Clinical Dermatology CME event at Lake Raystown Resort and Conference Center in Entriken, PA, Aug. 8-10. Hands-on procedures workshops and an exceptional line-up covering a variety of critical dermatology areas. Preview the current agenda and click here to register today - space is limited!

A new report suggests the gender gap in physician pay is shrinking. According to MedPage Today, the research from medical network Doximity found that the chasm between male and female physician pay dropped below the six-figure mark for the first time last year, from $105,000 to $90,490. The compensation data was collected from nearly 90,000 physicians.