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October 13, 2011
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MAFP E-BULLETIN,
October 2011,
VOL.5, NO. 10 |
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In this issue:
MAFP Members Meet
with Congressman Van Hollen
CMS Announces New
Primary Care Initiative
Medicare eRx Payment
Adjustment - November 1, 2011 Deadline Approaching
The ABFM MC-FP Exam
Moving to April in 2012
Environmental Scan and News You Can Use
MAFP Members Meet with Congressman Van Hollen
MAFP and AAFP representatives traveled to Washington, DC for two
meetings with Congressman Christopher Van Hollen (MD 8th
District), a member of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit
Reduction. The 1st meeting on September 22, 2011 was arranged
subsequent to our
MAFP Letter to Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
sent soon after the 12-member, bi-partisan “Super Committee” was
appointed. The 2nd meeting was called at the request of the
Congressman who wanted to learn more. Topics of discussion at
both sessions included:
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The SGR needs to be fixed by the
Super Committee and not left to the “usual” legislative
process later, This is so that the ACA may remain intact.
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The nation needs to invest in
primary care in order to avoid significantly ballooning
costs later.
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Graduate medical education in
primary care must continue to be supported
MAFP Board Member Dr. Pat Czapp reports: “The Congressman and
members of his staff asked pointed, thoughtful questions, so we
could tell they were listening. We were able to demonstrate
solid knowledge and support of proposed policies outlined (in
the
Affordable Care Act and elsewhere) that support primary
care, as well as ongoing experiments (such as the
Patient Centered Medical Home model of care) that will
provide data in coming years that will determine whether they
improve quality and control costs. We came away with a sense
that the Congressman understood the importance of supporting
primary care in order to address the crises of health care
expense, population health and mediocre quality. It was a very
good, productive meeting. We made a difference.”
(l-r) AAFP Gov’t
Relations Director Kevin Burke, Dr. Neil Siegel, Rep. Van Hollen,
Dr. Pat Czapp, Dr. Kate Jacobson
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CMS
Announces New Primary Care Initiative
On September 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
announced the
Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPCI). This important
effort, initiated by the CMS Innovation Center and supported by
the AAFP, is designed to help primary care practices deliver
higher quality, better coordinated and more patient-centered
care. Under the CPCI, Medicare, commercial and state insurance
plans will conduct a demonstration program in five markets
offering bonus payments to primary care physicians who better
coordinate care for their patients.
AAFP’s summary of the new CMS Comprehensive Primary Care
Initiative is available.
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Medicare eRx Adjustment - November 1,
2011 Deadline Approaching
Eligible professionals and group practices should determine if
they are subject to the 2012 eRx Payment Adjustment by reviewing
the
MLN Article SE1107. If members and/or their practices
believe they may be subject to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment,
they should determine if they meet any of the hardship exemption
categories specified by CMS in the 2011 Medicare Electronic
Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Final Rule.
A
Quick Reference Guide is available to help members
understand the changes that the eRx Final Rule made to the 2011
Medicare eRx Incentive Program. As a result of changes to the
program, eligible professionals and group practices have until
November 1, 2011, to submit a significant hardship exemption
request and rationale. Individual eligible professionals must
submit their hardship exemption requests through the
Quality Communications Support Page, while group practices
participating under the group practice reporting option (GPRO)
must submit hardship exemption requests via a letter to CMS.
Additional information and resources are available.
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The ABFM MC-FP Exam Moving to
April in 2012
Beginning
in 2012, the ABFM MC-FP examination will be held in April
instead of July. Diplomates who are in good standing and hold a
currently valid, full and unrestricted license to practice
medicine in the US or Canada are eligible to apply for and take
the examination.
Residents who are in good standing and expected to complete
training on or about July 1, 2012 are eligible to take the April
2012 examination. A currently valid, full and unrestricted
license to practice medicine in the US or Canada is not required
for residents to apply for and take the April examination.
Certification will be awarded when all of the criteria are met:
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Successful performance on the ABFM MC-FP Examination
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The
Program Director verifies that the resident has successfully
met all of the ACGME
program requirements
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The
candidate obtains a currently valid, full and unrestricted
license to practice
medicine in the US or Canada
These
conditions must be met by December 31, 2012.
The dates for the April 2012 MC-FP Examination are April 6, 7,
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21. The MC-FP Examination
will also be offered in November for candidates who fail the
spring administration of the examination or for those residents
in good standing who are off-cycle and are expected to complete
training on or about December 31, 2012. The dates for the
November 2012 MC-FP Examination are November 7, 8, 9, 10.
As with the April exam, Diplomates who are in good standing and
hold a currently valid, full and unrestricted license to
practice medicine in the US or Canada are eligible to apply for
and take the examination. A currently valid, full and
unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US or Canada is
not necessary for residents to apply for and take the exam but,
in order to be awarded certification, the same three criteria
listed above must be met by July 1 of the following year.
Questions? Contact Jane Ireland at
jireland@theabfm.org.
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Environmental Scan and News
You Can Use
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MAFP Delegation to the 2011 AAFP
Congress of Delegates held September 12-14 in Orlando:
President Dr. Eugene Newmier, Delegates Drs. Bill Jones and
Howard Wilson, Alternate Delegates Drs. Debo Prest and
Yvette Rooks and Exec Esther Barr. A full recap of Congress
activities, policies and transactions at
www.aafp.org/congress
Maryland and
District of Columbia delegations join together for dinner at
AAFP's 2011 Congress of Delegates in Orlando last month.
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18th Maryland State Council on
Cancer Control Cancer Conference, November 29, 2011, 7:45
am-3:30 pm, Marriott Hunt Valley Inn. The conference will
focus on implementation of the new Maryland Comprehensive
Cancer Control Plan. There is no cost to attend this
conference, and breakfast and lunch will be provided. Visit
http://fha.maryland.gov/cancer/cancerplan/index.cfm to
register.
The Maryland Cancer
Collaborative (a statewide partnership working to implement
the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan) will meet at
the conclusion of the 18th Maryland State Council on
Cancer Control Cancer Conference. It is anticipated that
this meeting will be about one hour in length. If you would
like to attend the Maryland Cancer Collaborative meeting or
are interested in learning more about the Maryland Cancer
Collaborative, please contact Meredith Truss at
mtruss@dhmh.state.md.us.
Related item from MAFP
Past-President Dr. Christine Marino, member of the
Maryland Council for Cancer Control: “There are 4
positions open for a governor’s appointment to the MCCC .
The committee is looking for people from diverse
backgrounds- don’t have to be doctors- who are also from
underrepresented areas of the state- Sestern, Southern or
Eastern Maryland. If you know of anyone interested please
have them apply. Also, as noted above, the Maryland
Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan is now available at
www.marylandcancerplan.org. It is an impressive
collection of information.”
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Free Non-Clinical CME from TX-AFP
- The Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) shares with
MAFP members three CME programs produced by TAFP which are
tailored to non-clinical issues that members might find
interesting and helpful. Each is approved for 1 AMA Category
1 credit. The topics include:
1. Guide to Maintenance of
Certification: A Discussion of the ABFM MOC
Speaker: Dale Moquist, M.D.
2. Demystifying Accountable Care
Organizations
Speaker: Patrick Carter, M.D.
3. Know Before You Sign! What to
Look for in a Physician Employment Contract Including
Non-Profit Health Corporations
Speaker: Doug Kennedy, J.D.
http://tafp.org/education/internetCME/
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Academy Launches Social Media
Outreach to Members - AAFP has launched a new blog,
AAFP Leader Voices, as a way of improving communication
between AAFP members and leaders. The blog will offer
regular updates on what the AAFP is doing on members'
behalf, and members can offer feedback by posting comments.
In addition, AAFP President Dr. Glen Stream now has his own
Twitter handle:
@aafpprez. Members can follow him on Twitter to receive
timely and transparent information about what he is doing on
their behalf. President Stream also has a new page on
Facebook, which will provide members yet another
opportunity to learn about what the AAFP is doing and
provide input about those actions.
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Register for the TransforMED
Pre-Conference Workshop - Register to attend the TransforMED
Pre-Conference Workshop at the
Conference on Practice
Improvement being held December 1, 2011, in Newport
Beach, California. In this session, “Navigating the Health
Care Maze: Care Transitions from the Patient Perspective,"
participants will learn to empower patients and improve team
communication and learn how the efficient flow of
information among team members and physicians creates a
high-performing PCMH. During this four hour workshop,
attendees will hear from patients, providers, and care teams
who have experienced frustrations with critical gaps in
fragmented care. Attendees will also participate in the
development of tools and the sharing of practical examples
that can be immediately implemented in a practice. Learn
more and register for the
Conference on Practice Improvement.
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MAFP Past-President Dr. Bill
Hakkarinen was asked by “Family Practice News” to reflect on
his 40-year career (to date) as a family physician. View his
compelling interview at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12fcJEaQnQw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Maryland First Lady Katie
O'Malley and the State of Maryland are launching a program
to promote fun and healthy eating for families. When you
sign up, you will receive monthly special recipes created by
an award-winning chef using Maryland ingredients. You will
also have a chance to win great prizes. You can join the fun
by texting CHOPMD to code 43186! You can learn more at
www.chopchopmd.com
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MAFP or MAFP Foundation
5710 Executive Drive, Suite 104
Baltimore, MD 21228
Phone:
(410) 747-1980 - Fax: (410) 744-6059
E-Mail:
info@mdafp.org
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