SPECIAL MESSAGE: HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE PAFP! (Dec. 22, 2014)
Happy holidays! The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians would like to thank its members for a wonderful 2014. Your dedication and care to your patients is unparalleled. The PAFP offices will be closed between Dec. 23, 2014 and Jan. 4, 2015 in observance of the holidays. We'll see you next year! |
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BRAND NEW CME WEBCASTS AVAILABLE (Dec. 19, 2014)
It's the end of 2014 - are you scrambling to get CME credits? The PAFP has you covered with a bevy of brand new CME webcasts. This convenient, high-quality, clinically relevant CME includes webcasts on topics like reducing readmissions and safe prescribing practices. Get started here - as always, it's free!
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WINTER WEBCAST ADVISORY: FREE EMERGENCY PLANNING CME (Dec. 18, 2014)
We're in the midst of winter storm season - a great time of year to review disaster and emergency plans in your practice. Free, lunchtime mini-webcasts on Wednesdays and Thursdays in January will cover topics like risk assessments, training and drills, and communicating with patients and partners. Click here for more.
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HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PAFP LEADERSHIP? (Dec. 17, 2014)
All dues-paying members of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians have a say in the way this organization is governed. Let us know how you feel about the PAFP's leadership, effectiveness, and future by clicking here and taking a survey. We truly appreciate and value the opinions of each PAFP member. |
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REGISTER FOR MA CESSATION COUNSELING PAYMENT (Dec. 16, 2014)
Register for Pennsylvania's Tobacco Cessation Registry to submit payment for smoking cessation services provided to your Medical Assistance patients. Receive $19.33 per patient for cessation counseling. You must be enrolled in MA and the registry in order to be eligible for payment. Click here to register. |
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FINAL DAY TO SIGN UP ON EXCHANGE FOR JAN. 1 COVERAGE (Dec. 15, 2014)
Patients shopping on the federal health care exchange who would like to be covered by Jan. 1 must sign up by today. According to WITF, unlike last year, the marketplace website at HealthCare.gov seems to be working smoothly. Those who go into 2015 uninsured will face a steeper fine this year than in 2014.
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HELP US DEVELOP CHRONIC PAIN TOOLKIT (Dec. 12, 2014)
The PAPF's Practice Advocacy and Health of the Public Commission is developing a chronic pain toolkit. If you have or know of any credible websites, CME opportunities, physician best practices, or other information, join the Chronic Pain Treatment Best Practices and Resources Repository on the PAFP Community.
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PAFP MEMBER: PATIENTS BELONG AT THE CENTER OF CARE (Dec. 11, 2014)
When patients are placed at the center of their own care, costs go down and outcomes increase: that's what PAFP member Dr. Andrew Bloschichak demonstrates in an op-ed on PennLive. Bloschichak also discusses the continued success of the patient-centered medical home care model in Pennsylvania.
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PHYSICIANS TO SEE MASSIVE MEDICAID PAY CUT? (Dec. 10, 2014)
A scheduled cut to physician Medicaid payments built into the Affordable Care Act means doctors could be on the verge of losing an average of 42.8 percent in reimbursements. The Washington Post reports the cut may put pressure on physicians to avoid taking new patients who are covered under Medicaid after 2014.
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2 FACE HEALTH LAW GRILLING ON CAPITOL HILL (Dec. 9, 2014)
Today, Jonathan Gruber, a health care law architect, will testify at a hearing on remarks he made about "American stupidity" as a factor in the law's passing, reports Modern Healthcare. Marilyn Tavenner, of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), will also testify about health law enrollment numbers.
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DEC. 7-13: NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION WEEK (Dec. 8, 2014)
This week has been designated as National Influenza Vaccination Week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reminding everyone 6 months of age and older that it isn't too late to get this year's flu vaccine. The CDC has developed tools like a media kit and web graphics which can be found here.
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CDC: FLU SHOT MAY NOT WORK WELL THIS YEAR (Dec. 5, 2014)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning that this year's batch of the flu vaccine may not fight the flu all that well because the virus has mutated. Nevertheless, reports Forbes, CDC director Thomas Frieden is still urging the public to get the vaccine, as it matches half of current flu cases.
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EXEMPLARY TEACHER AWARD NOMINATIONS WANTED (Dec. 4, 2014)
PAFP resident and student members: you've been fortunate to learn from some of the best family medicine educators in the world. Honor those who have inspired you the most by nominating your favorite full-time, part-time, and volunteer faculty for the 2015 PAFP Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award!
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LOOKING AHEAD TO GREAT CME OFFERINGS IN 2015 (Dec. 3, 2014)
As December's holidays quickly approach, the PAFP is thinking ahead to 2015! From Valley Forge to Chesapeake, many live CME events will offer relevant clinical sessions and plenty of fun with your friends and colleagues. Don't forget, the PAFP offers free, high-quality online CME 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
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CONSIDER A DONATION ON GIVING TUESDAY (Dec. 2, 2014)
After Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. Today, consider a donation to the PAFP Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving the health of every Pennsylvanian through education and research. Click here to make a gift.
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HEALTHY PA ENROLLMENT BEGINS (Dec. 1, 2014)
Pennsylvania's Medicaid expansion program, Healthy PA, kicks off today. According to the Associated Press, some 600,000 patients who were left out of coverage under the Affordable Care Act will now have access to coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2015. Coverage plans are being offered by eight different insurers.
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