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February 3, 2017

In This Issue...

  1. Academy News
  2. Government Relations
  3. News You Can Use
  4. Members in the News

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Academy News

Registration is open! Upcoming Opportunities for Collaboration and Education

IAFP is proud to host and co-host four unique events in early 2017 - each has CME and incredible networking opportunities.  Click on each link to learn more. Online registration is open for all these events. 

  • AAFP Ten State Conference - Feb 17-19   The Keynote presenter is acclaimed author Rebecca Costa.  Presenters include AAFP Vice President of Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin with a look at what Washington, DC may look like under President Donald J. Trump and a Republican Congress. Other presentations cover education on a variety of clinical and policy issues. 10 CME credits are available, along with the opporunity to network with family medicine leaders from around the country! Note: The IAFP Board of Directors will meet on Feb. 17 from 9am to noon. .
  • Springfield Essential Evidence March 9 and National Procedures Institute March 10 (2 separate events in the same location! Separate registration and fees for both events).
  • March 9 is the Essential Evidence CME format. View the schedule here
  • March 10 we present Ultrasound: Office, Hospitalist, and Emergency with Musculoskeletal Scanning. Decreasing costs of equipment, improved portability, and improved imaging and technology are a few of the reasons you'll want to learn office/ hospitalist and emergency department (ER) ultrasound. Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound will also be introduced. View the schedule here.  Learn more!
  • Chicago Essential Evidence - March 23-24 This incredibly popular, fast-paced CME returns with up to 12.5 AMA PRA 1 credits available.  One day registration option and new physician discount for those less than seven years into practice!  UIC Department of Family and Community Medicine faculty and other experts will provide the CME you can put into practice right away.  

Update on Orgain Campaign for AAFP President-elect
After careful reflection, Javette C. Orgain, MD, MPH, FAAFP has withdrawn her name as a candidate for AAFP president-elect in 2017. Orgain is serving her second term as Speaker of the AAFP Congress of Delegates and served four terms as Vice Speaker.

In sharing her decision with the AAFP Board, she offered this quote:
Life's most persistent and urgent question is,"What are you doing for others?"
-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We look forward to Dr. Orgain's ongoing work here in Illinois. She will be presenting on end-of-life care and also the AAFP Update at the AAFP Ten State Conference in Chicago Feburary 18-19.

IAFP members at AAFP commission meetings

The AAFP commissions are in Kansas City for the Winter Cluster meetings. Representing Illinois are the following leaders:

  • Deborah Clements, MD and Santina Wheat, MD- Continuing Professional Development
  • Michael Hanak, MD, Membership and Member Services
  • Alvia Siddiqi, MD, Quality and Practice
  • Gordana Krkic, CAE, (IAFP staff) Governmental Advocacy
  • Kristina Dakis, MD, resident member, Membership and Member Services
  • Asim Jaffer, MD, Chair, FMX Advisory Committee

Send us your FP of the Year Nomination!

Nominations are due June 1 and our NEW online form makes it easier than ever to nominate a deserving IAFP member.

Looking for 3 Special Constituency Delegates to AAFP Conference

The AAFP National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) is the AAFP's leadership and policy development event for underrepresented constituencies. NCCL serves as a platform for different perspectives and concerns of AAFP members to help bring about change. The Illinois chapter seeks to fill these three remaining constituencies. 
-Women
-International Medical Graduate
-Gay Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender physicians or allies constituency. 
If you would like to apply, please contact Jennifer O'Leary, IAFP deputy executive vice president, by March 1 at [email protected]. Your registration will be covered and travel expenses (limits apply) will be reimbursed by IAFP.

For those members who are teaching Tar Wars in their local schools, make your plans for entering the state poster contest! Deadline is April 30. Details are on our Tar Wars web page.

Have you checked out the Member Benefits available to you?Get a discounted hotel room practically anywhere, secure your identity, try out home delivered, easy-to-prepare meals, and find other discounts exclusive to IAFP members.  


Government Relations

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Gordana Krkic, CAE, Deputy Executive Vice President of External Affairs at [email protected]

State Update

The Kaiser Family Foundation released a series of fact sheets on state Medicaid programs, such and enrollment and funding. The fact sheet includes the possible impact of block grant models or reduced federal funding. Link to the Illinois  fact sheet on Medicaid. 

You can save the date for our Spring into Action lobby days.  Let IAFP facilitate your introduction to new members of the General Assembly or reconnect you to your returning lawmakers.  Online registration will be available.  Check your calendars now and determine which date you can be there:  Tuesday May 9, Wednesday May 10 or Thursday May 11. 

Federal

February is a big month for reporting on Medicare and Medicaid to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Here is information on two programs with deadlines of Feb. 28.

Avoid 2% Medicare payment cut with the AAFP's PQRS resources
Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) is a Medicare reporting program requiring you to submit quality data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The reporting deadline is February 28, 2017 at 4 p.m. CT.
Why is February 28 important? If you do not report 2016 PQRS measures by this date, your 2018 Medicare Part B payments will receive a 2% downward adjustment.
What can I do? If you haven't reported, it's not too late. Take advantage of PQRS resources:
AAFP's on-demand webcast: PQRS: Are Your Ready?
PQRSwizard, an easy-to-use reporting solution available to AAFP members at a discount.

DEADLINE DATES FOR E.H.R. ATTESTATION: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Registration and Attestation System is now open. Providers participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program must attest to the 2016 program requirements by Feb. 28, 2017 at 10:59 p.m.(CT), in order to avoid a 2018 payment adjustment. The EHR reporting period was any continuous 90 days between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2016.
For those participating in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program in Illinois, the key dates to be aware of are: 

Timeline: 
First-time participants must register with CMS by Feb.28, 2017, in order to begin participation in the EHR Incentive program. First-time participants who miss the Feb. 28 deadline, will not be able to begin participation, as 2016 was the last year to begin participation.

First-time participants must register and attest by Feb. 28, 2017 in order to avoid the payment adjustment in 2018. First-time participants must register by Feb. 28, 2017 in order to begin participation, but the last date, for Medicaid participants to attest is March 31, 2017. Any first-time participant who bills Medicare Fee For Service, may be subject to the payment adjustment in 2018.

REPEAT: AAFP Launches Landing Page for Elected Officials

The AAFP has introduced an online resource designed to inform legislators about key issues in primary care. Lawmakers will be able to access information, utilize online tools, and easily reach out to AAFP issue matter experts. 


News You Can Use

VFC webinar next week

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family services is hosting a webinar on Feb. 8 with updates on the Vaccines for Children program. The webinar will cover the State's payment policy change concerning vaccines administered to Title 21 and State-funded children. Learn more and register here.

Medicaid IMPACT Notice

Effective February 1, 2017, the Department will terminate any Medicaid provider that was enrolled prior to February 1, 2012, and has not revalidated their information through the IMPACT system. Although provider information will remain in IMPACT as "In-Process" for at least 30 days, all claims and encounters submitted by a terminated provider will be rejected. Terminated providers will be required to submit a new Medicaid provider enrollment through IMPACT and the earliest possible begin date will be the date the new enrollment is submitted.
Link to the full provider notice


Members in the News

If you have a news item to share, email it to Ginnie Flynn at [email protected].

Cindy Iglesias, MD was featured on WVON-FM radio on January 28 about the effectiveness of the HPV Vaccine.

Clint Sowards, MD of Quincy was featured in a WGEM-TV story about the negative health effects of sitting for long periods of time, such as the work day. His message: get up and walk around several times a day.

Kevin Most, DO addressed how to prepare for your physician visits on his weekly WGN radio show. You can see and share his recommendations.