|
Academy News
Save the date in stone: annual meeting - October 9-11 in Rosemont
The 2015 annual meeting is a unique opportunity for IAFP members to learn, collaborate and expand their horizons. The meeting will be co-located and intertwined with the Family Medicine Midwest Conference, uniting 12 states in a Midwest regional effort to attract the next – and larger – generation of family physicians. The theme truly sums up our specialty: Celebrating Diversity: Our Patients, Our Communities and Ourselves. CME programming will be targeted to all learners and delivered by presenters from around the Midwest. Two incredible plenary speakers will kick off each day: Wanda Filer, MD, MBA, FAAFP, soon-to-be AAFP President, will open on Saturday and Chicago’s own Fred Richardson, MD, FAAFP will share his story on Sunday morning. There are four SAMs workshops on the schedule, and five Friday pre-conference collaborative seminars on an incredible span of issues. Mark your calendars now and register today. Save $50 if you register before September 1. Learn more about the meeting here.
Have you completed the IAFP Active Member Survey?
Every two years, IAFP surveys Active members to gather practice demographics, input on Academy issues and services, a place to voice their concerns provide feedback on their satisfaction with IAFP. It should only take 10 minutes to complete. Members should have received an email on June 30, or you can access the survey here. Results will be shared with the IAFP board of directors at the IAFP board meeting October 10, 2015. Please complete the survey by Aug. 2.
Urge at-risk patients to get meningococcal vaccine
The Chicago Department of Public Health announced this week that another person has become sick with meningococcal disease, bringing the total to seven in Illinois since the outbreak among men who have sex with men (MSM) began in early June 2015. A complete list of all Chicago locations where vaccines are available for little or no cost are available at www.ChicagoMeningVax.org, as well as the CDPH website.
No cost vaccines are available at Walgreens for uninsured 14-55 year olds. Vaccines are available for individuals of all ages who have insurance, but a co-pay may apply.
Government Relations
State Update
IAFP and ICAAP letter to lawmakers on Sugar Sweetened beverage tax
IAFP and ICAAP co-signed a letter to legislators urging support for including the Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Act in the FY2016 budget package. The HEAL Act invests in community prevention and Medicaid, through a small excise tax on sugary drinks. As the state faces a budget crisis, the HEAL Act can raise an estimated $600 million annually to prevent cuts in Medicaid and invest in a healthier Illinois. We strongly believe that revenues from a sugary drink tax should be targeted to critical clinical prevention and treatment services in Medicaid for childhood obesity and oral health, which would lower state spending on health care. Additionally, funds raised from the HEAL Act should be invested in the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating. These efforts could include improving access to affordable fruits and vegetables, providing kids more options for safe places to play, and supporting the development of multi-use trails for biking, running, and walking so that everyone can be active and healthier.
Federal Update
Two big announcements this week from the federal government.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to reimburse physicians, nurse practitioners and physician's assistants for end of life care discussions. The move was widely applauded by physician organizaitons (read the statement from AAFP here). The initiative was originally written into the Affordable Care Act, but was removed to ensure the bill would pass in the face of opposition to what was incorrectly referred to as "death panels." The will be a two-month comment period before final rules are expected to be implemented on January 1, 2016.
One-year grace period for ICD-10 adoption
Physician practices will have additional time to adjust to the new coding system. During a one-year grace period that begins Oct. 1 -- the date the ICD-10 codes are to be implemented. Medicare claims will not be denied based on which diagnosis code was selected as long as the physician submits an ICD-10 code from an appropriate family of codes.
Also during the grace period, Medicare claims will not be audited based on the specificity of the diagnosis codes used as long as they are from an appropriate family of codes.
The AAFP offers comprehensive products to help members get ready for and get paid using ICD-10. Link to their resources here.
News You Can Use
New Screening Guide for pregnant women from IDPH
The Illinois Department of Public Health has developed this screening guide for all medical providers responsible for the care of pregnant women. This guide follows the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) national recommendations for screening and treating pregnant women published in the current CDC, STD Treatment Guidelines.
You can access it to print on our web site under Practice Resources
 Landscape format
Legal paper-sized
GRAND ROUNDS- Department of Family & Community Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 7:30 AM
Clinical Decision Support Systems:
Using the Five "Rights" to Move Beyond Simple Alerts
SSM St. Mary's Health Center- Kohler Auditorium - 2nd Floor
William T. Manard, MD, Assistant Professor
Medical Director, SLU Medical Home
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
AAFP Smoking Cessation Webinar
The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) invite you to this free webinar, “An Introduction to Motivational Interviewing: Focus on Tobacco Use and Dependence”, on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at 1:00pm CDT
Webinar Objectives:
• Describe how the “spirit” or underlying perspective of motivational interviewing can be applied to smokers
• Explain how to speak with smokers who may not be ready to quit
• Describe how to elicit “change talk” from tobacco users
REGISTER HERE:
UCSF designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the webinar activity.
AAFP launches concussion partnership with the NFL
The AAFP has entered a partnership that will pair the evidence-based medical knowledge of the Academy with the influence of the National Football League Foundation. The initiative will produce three free webinars for family physicians, as well as patient education materials. The AAFP will have full control of all educational materials and will retain final editorial authority over the materials. Learn more from AAFP Leader Voices blog post by President Robert Wergin, MD
Webinars for AAFP members are scheduled for 8–9 p.m. CT on the following dates:
• July 23 - Sports Concussions 101: The Current State of the Game
• August 6 - Sports Concussions 102: If You've Seen One Concussion, You've Seen One Concussion
• August 20 - Sports Concussions 103: Debates and Controversies
Members may register for the July 23 webinar now. Webinar registration information for the two August webinars will be forthcoming.
Members in the News
|
