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December 15, 2010 MAFP E-BULLETIN, December, 2010, VOL.4, NO.12
In this issue: MAFP Leadership Undertakes Strategic Planning; Adopts New Mission Statement
Congress Approves 12-Month SGR Extension, AAFP Calls for Permanent Fix
As a Medicaid Provider, Are You Ready for Meaningful Use?
U of MD Seeks Paid Input About Children's Oral Health Care in Family Practice Settings
Environmental Scan and News You Can Use
MAFP Leadership Undertakes Strategic Planning; Adopts New Mission Statement On December 4, 2010 MAFP Leadership and Staff participated in a one-day Strategic Planning Retreat. The purpose of the retreat, facilitated by AAFP Chapter Affairs Manager Nancy Fisher, was to review for enhancement the organizational vision, mission, goals and objectives. In so doing the Board seeks to better meet the needs of our members in the current fluid healthcare environment. The group of Board members and Committee chairs was successful in meeting its purpose and, in the process, learned more about the organization… and about themselves. As stated by MAFP Executive Director Esther Barr, “We now have laid the groundwork for productive change to use and to unveil, as the process progresses, to chapter members and each of our other ‘publics.’” The strategic planning exercise ended with a new mission statement, restructuring proposal for MAFP committees and framework for projects, programs and activities in the immediate and far-reaching future. The session left those participating feeling quite proud of our chapter.
The MAFP Board will refine the plan and ultimately draft a
succinct document to share with members and others…. so stay
tuned. At this time, however, here are broad outcomes from the
retreat (send comments to info@mdafp.org ): New MAFP Goals:
Congress Approves 12-Month SGR Extension, AAFP Calls for Permanent Fix Congress has passed a 12-month extension of the Medicare physician payment rate. The U.S. Senate approved the bill late Wednesday, Dec. 8, and the House of Representatives approved the bill Thursday, Dec. 9. The Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 effectively blocks a 25-percent reduction in Medicare physician pay that was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.
The Jan. 1 deadline was set when Congress passed a one-month extension, temporarily blocking a 23-percent cut scheduled for Dec. 1. This was the fifth time this year Congress stepped in to delay a Medicare physician pay cut, with the short-term patches ranging from one month to six months. AAFP hopes the 12-month extension will provide stability for physicians who treat Medicare patients and give lawmakers more time to negotiate a three- to five-year fix for the broken sustainable growth rate, or SGR. According to AAFP’s Connect for Family Medicine blog, the Academy is hopeful an SGR patch would also contain “a positive differential payment for primary care physicians.”
AAFP continues to advocate for a permanent fix to Medicare
physician payment and encourages all members to stay involved in
the political process. To find out who your congressional
lawmakers are, how to contact them by phone or e-mail, and to
access editable e-mail text and a sample letter to the editor on
these issues, go to
AAFP’s Speak Out.
As a Medicaid Provider, Are You Ready for Meaningful Use?
The
Maryland Health Care Commission and Maryland Medical Assistance
are conducting a brief survey to assess provider readiness to
meet the meaningful use requirements. This assessment is
required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
to develop Maryland’s Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Incentive Program. The survey will only take a few minutes to
complete and the information will enable us to meet the CMS
requirements to proceed in developing the Medicaid EHR Incentive
Program. Please complete the survey by January 7th, which is
located at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/ s/HWF7WTW.
U of MD Seeks Paid Input About Children's Oral health Care in Family Practice settings
The University of Maryland (UMD) School of Public Health in College Park is conducting qualitative research with Maryland family practice physicians about children’s oral health and tooth decay prevention and fluoride treatments in family practice settings. Oral health is a critical component of general health, yet data indicate that fewer than 30% of children in Maryland’s Medicaid program had at least one dental encounter. Many family practices see infants and children much earlier and more often than they are seen by dentists and research is suggesting that more family and pediatric practices are involved in providing fluoride treatments and educating parents about preventing tooth decay. UMD seeks your input about opportunities and constraints in family practice settings and relevant community and policy issues, regardless of whether your practice currently encompasses oral health or not.
UMD launched this statewide study earlier this year with surveys of Maryland healthcare providers and parents. Focus groups also have been conducted. The statewide interviews (and potentially, a focus group in Howard County) will enable UMD to obtain additional in-depth information. An honorarium will be paid for participating. The main criteria include: Currently treating children ages 6 and younger in Maryland family practices (clinic or private) that accept Medicaid -- or offer payment plans or sliding scale fees to low income families
To learn more about the study, qualifying criteria, and
honorarium, please e-mail the University’s research consultant
for this project, Wendy Child at
wenchild@aol.com or leave a message for her at 301-758-1487.
You do not need oral healthcare training or experience to
participate.
Environmental Scan and News You Can Use
Alex M. Taylor R.Ph.
Happy Holidays to All
Members of the
MAFP Leadership and Staff
MAFP or MAFP Foundation |
