E-news for January 12, 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. IAFP News
2.. Government Relations
3. Tobacco News
4. Medicaid Primary Care Case Management
5. Members in the News
6. Students and Residents
7. News you can use
8. Reminders worth repeating
9. Classified Ads

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IAFP News
** READY… SET… SPRING INTO ACTION!
March 6-7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield
*The Hotel room cut off date is February 12th for the IAFP rate of $124
Link to More information at http://www.iafp.com/calendar/SIA%202007.htm
Sign me up!! Go to: http://www.iafp.com/calendar/SIA_regform.htm

** DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 31 FOR IAFP 2007 AWARDS NOMINATIONS!
1. The Family Physician of the Year Award
2. IAFP Media Award
3. Family Medicine Full-time Teacher of the Year
4. Family Medicine Part-time Teacher of the Year
Link to full information and nomination forms at http://www.iafp.com/PR/Award%20forms.htm

**THE DECEMBER 2006/JANUARY 2007 ISSUE OF FAMILY PHYSICIAN IS ONLINE
http://www.iafp.com/Final%20December.pdf

**DO YOU KNOW YOUR BOARD MEMBERS?
Link here to learn a little about each one: http://www.iafp.com/about/officers.htm

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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
**95th General Assembly Begins
The Statehouse is getting a facelift and new faces have joined the General Assembly. Now both Houses are controlled by the Democratic Party - and the democrats enjoy an unprecedented veto-proof majority in the Senate. All Constitutional offices are occupied by democrats. It’s definitely a new era in Illinois State Government.

If you heard the Governor’s inaugural address on January 8, he called for more progress in health care, including access to care for the state’s 1.4 million uninsured adults. "I will give everything I have to the hard job of providing health care security to every family," he said.

TOBACCO NEWS
**SENATOR CULLERTON ANNOUNCES SMOKE-FREE ILLINOIS BILL
The time has come for Illinois to join 16 other states with 100 percent smoke-free workplaces. Over 400 organizations lined up their support for Senate Bill 500 – The Smoke-free Illinois Act. Lead Sponsor Senator John Cullerton (D-6, Chicago) announced the legislation at a press conference at the Statehouse on January 11. IAFP president Kathleen J. Miller, MD of Decatur joined him at the podium for the announcement.
Link to press release, IAFP’s Statement and photos at http://www.iafp.com/legislative/index.htm

SUPPORT A STATEWIDE SMOKE-FREE ILLINOIS
Please go to and sign the Smoke-free Illinois Resolution as an individual doctor, a practice or other group to show your support. Local lawmakers need to see supporters in their district!

Below, you will find very useful links to updated lists and maps.
Click here to see a list of all the communities in Illinois who have passed a smoke free ordinance.
Click here to see a list of the smoke free activity in Illinois.
Click here to download the form to add your organization to support Smoke Free Illinois.
Click here to view the list of over 400 supporting organizations.
Link to the Smoke-free Illinois Newsletter http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/SFI%20Winter%20Newsletter%202007.pdf

**CITIES ON THE MOVE IN DEBATING CLEAN INDOOR AIR ORDINANCES
*The Naperville City Council has released a draft of the proposed local clean indoor air ordinance for public comment. The council is expected to vote February 20 on an ordinance to take effect in July 2007.

*Glenview will hold an open forum on Thursday, February 8 from 7-9 p.m. at Village Hall. Glenview residents are urged to show up and testify in support of adopting the Cook County ordinance.

Keep up with all the smoke-free coalition activity in your community or across the state at http://www.smokefreeillinois.org.

**Medicaid Primary Case Management Information
**Illinois Health Connect offers training sessions throughout Chicago area where you can learn about the program directly from Illinois Health Connect Staff. Find dates, locations and registration info on our web site at http://www.iafp.com/calendar/IHC.htm

Illinois Health Connect is Illinois’ statewide Primary Care Case Management program. Under this program, most people with an HFS or All Kids medical card will have a medical home through a Primary Care Provider.

What does this mean to the Family Physician? Any family physician who provides care to any HFS medical assistance recipient (Medicaid patient) must sign up to continue serving these individuals. Sign up is quick and easy.

Here are just a few of the benefits to being an enrolled IHC PCP:

· Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Rates
· A Special Monthly Care Management Fee of $2-4 per patient
· Payment Cycle Improvements by HFS

What happens if you don’t enroll? Find out by calling IHC’s Provider Helpline at 1-877-912-1999.
Getting more information or an application is easy, too! Call Illinois Health Connect’s Provider Helpline at 1-877-912-1999, or request an application by e-mailing Automated Health Systems at ILPCP@Automated-Health.com.

**IAFP has answers on the Web. Link to the article on the PCCM program at http://www.iafp.com/legislative/allKids%20overview.htm

Members in the News – If you would like a copy of any of the articles below, contact Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com.

*IAFP president Katie Miller was interviewed by WAND-TV Decatur after speaking at the smoke-free Illinois press conference on January 11 (see story above in Government Relations) for news stories that aired that evening.

*Mary Pohlmann, MD – a retired family physician in Carbondale and the chair of the Smoke-free Carbondale coalition has announced her candidacy for the Carbondale City Council. If you would like to support her effort, she is requesting that donations be no greater than $50 per person.  Checks should be made out to Mary Pohlmann with "Campaign Donation" written in the memo line.

Individuals may contribute to my campaign by sending a check to
Campaign Headquarters
Pohlmann4CityCouncil
405 S Deer Lake Dr East
Carbondale, IL 62901

*Juliet Bradley, MD of Cook County – department of family medicine was interviewed on WLS-TV (ABC) Chicago January 9, 10pm news as part of a story about the potential impact of County budget cuts that could close some ambulatory health centers throughout the county. Dr. Bradley was working at the Jorge Prieto Family Health Center that day.

*Did you know that family physician Bob Farmer, MD of New Baden has a book published called "Lasso the Sunshine"? The book aims to help readers find the brighter side of life in any and every situation. The book was featured on WQAD-TV and ABC7 Chicago’s web site on January 3. Dr. Farmer donated 10,000 copies of the book to SIU School of Medicine. You can learn more at http://www.lassothesunshine.com.

*AMNEWS DOUBLE – JOHNSON AND STEWART
IAFP members were sought for the first two 2007 issues of American Medical News.

-Matthew Johnson, MD of Park Forest gave input on the ups and downs on the 2007 influenza vaccine order, delivery and distribution process.

-Kathryn Stewart, MD of Chicago offered physician perspective on concerns created by shortfalls in federal SCHIP funding for Illinois. Although the feds managed to find about $60 million in unused money from other states, Illinois still faces a significant gap. State officials are confident that the state’s All Kids program will take care of any needs.

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INFORMATION AND REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS:

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 31!! Who are the superstars of family medicine education? Nominate your favorite full-time or part-time faculty for the IAFP Teacher of the Year Awards: http://www.iafp.com/PR/toy.htm

STUDENTS:
M1 STUDENTS – APPLY NOW FOR THE SUMMER EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Students can spend four weeks with a family physician to learn about the many ways family medicine contributes to the health of our state. The Summer Externship program also includes the possibility of a $1,000 stipend. Applications are due March 1.

Link to more information at: http://www.iafp.com/Foundation/externship.htm.

** AND FOR THE M3s
Apply for the Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program. Students who have made a commitment to the field of family medicine and who will enter their fourth year in medical school in the fall of 2007 may apply.  The PLF will award scholarships with a maximum value of $28,000 each for the 2007-2008 academic year. Applications must be received by March 1, 2007 to be considered.

The application for the 2007 Pisacano Scholars Leadership program is now available online at http://www.fpleaders.org , and may be
submitted as the original application.

If you would like any additional information, please contact Jane Ireland: jireland@fpleaders.org or 888-995-5700, ext. 249.

**RESIDENTS:
*Link to the full Resident Update on our web site: http://www.iafp.com/residents/update.htm

*JOB LISTINGS AND OTHER INFO ON-LINE  
Here is a place to start: http://www.iafp.com/JobListings/

*Link to new resources for residents IAFP web site http://www.iafp.com/Residents/index.htm

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NEWS YOU CAN USE
**PRI-MED OFFERS TWO SPRING DIABETES CONFERENCES
Pri-Med, in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association, is proud to announce a new CME program on diabetes. Pri-Med Clinical Focus in Diabetes: "Risk Assessment and Management of the Diabetes Patient", will be coming to Oakbrook, IL on May 12, 2007 and St. Louis, MO on June 9, 2007. As an Illinois Academy of Family Physicians member, we would like to offer you the first opportunity to register for these intensive half-day programs which focus on a single topic critical in helping you manage the complex diabetes patient. Please visit http://www.pri-med.com/ada/r49  for additional program information or to register.

**WANTED: PROJECT FACULTY IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Upcoming Speaker Training Events

Mark your calendars!  The IAFP and Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) are recruiting faculty for its training on Early Autism Detection and Referral project. Speaker training will be held in Springfield on the morning of Friday, January 26.  The training will be held from 10 am-1 pm and a light lunch will be provided. The presentation focuses on early warning signs of autism, typical and atypical social/emotional development, and referral issues if concerns are detected. Speakers receive training, logistical support from staff, and modest honoraria.

Please contact Developmental Projects Director Sarah Baur at sbaur@illinoisaap.net or 312/733-1026 x203 if you have any questions or are interested in participating in the above events.

**GRAND ROUNDS PRESENTATION ON CERVICAL CANCER
Sponsored by: Illinois Department of Public Health, UIC School of Public Health, The Public Health Challenge to Eliminating Cervical Cancer
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
SPH Auditorium, 1603 W. Taylor Street, Chicago.
Webcast Information:
The presentation will be webcast live. To view the webcast, visit:
http://realmedia.uic.edu/ramgen/live/pqpgrandrounds.rm
For closed captioning, please visit: http://www.streamtext.net/text.aspx?event=UIC
For technical inquiries, please call (312)355-2618.

**LOCAL CLEAN INDOOR AIR POLICY TRAININGS
The Center for Prevention Research and Development, Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois is offering three regional symposia about local clean indoor air ordinances. Mayors, city council members, health professionals, health advocates, non-profit organizations, and other community members and stakeholders are invited to attend the symposia, which will be offered in two locations in February and one location in April.

Funding for this project was provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

For more information or to obtain a registration form, please visit this web site: http://www.cprd.uiuc.edu/cleanair/
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REMINDERS WORTH REPEATING

*CHRISTINE PETTY, MD RESIGNS AS DELEGATE TO AAFP.
IAFP Past President Christine A. Petty, MD (Coal Valley) resigned from the AAFP Delegate position on October 29. As a result, Alternate Delegate Tim J. Vega, MD of Peoria moves up to fill her slot in the Illinois delegation. This leaves a vacancy for Dr. Vega’s unexpired term at the Alternate Delegate position. Any IAFP member interested in running for that position must submit a nomination to IAFP executive vice president Vince Keenan at vkeenan@iafp.com. Nominations are due January 26, 2007.

**FIND TOMORROW’S FPs WITH THE SUMMER EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The IAFP Foundation is currently seeking more preceptors for the 2007 Summer Externship Program to host a first-year medical student for four weeks. 

Please contact Crishelle O’Rourke at corourke@iafp.com or 515-987-8978 for more information.

Link to an article by IAFP board member Deborah Edberg, MD about being a preceptor http://www.iafp.com/foundation/edberg.htm

**TAR WARS

Don’t forget the state poster contest deadline is March 31!!
See the latest update from IAFP Tar Wars at: http://www.iafp.com/tarwars/

**HELP FOR MEDICAID PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
By Dr. Fredric D. Leary, medical director, Your Health Care Plus – McKesson Health Solutions
Your Healthcare Plus is a new chronic illness management program designed to help Illinois families learn new ways to take charge of their illness, so they can live longer, healthier lives.

Through Your Healthcare Plus, Illinois-based nurses and social workers team up to provide patient education and coaching to reinforce the doctor's orders. Your Healthcare Plus is delivered statewide by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and McKesson Health Solutions, and is available to nearly 170,000 eligible adults and children who receive Medicaid in Illinois.  

LINK TO THE FULL ARTICLE ON IAFP’S WEB SITE AT: http://www.iafp.com/legislative/your%20healthcare%20plus.htm
Contact Dr. Leary via e-mail: frederic.leary@mckesson.com
Visit the "Your Healthcare Plus" web site: http://www.yourhealthcareplus.com/

**ABFM SUMMER EXAM REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 18
The American Board of Family Medicine announced that the online registration for the Summer 2007 Certification, Recertification, and Sports Medicine exams will be available on January 18, 2007.  To complete an online application, Diplomates will need to log into their Physician Portfolio and follow the Online Application link. From this link, Diplomates will be able to view the requirements and deadlines as well as complete the necessary application. Please check the ABFM website, http://www.theabfm.org, for updates regarding deadlines.  For assistance with logging in or answers to other questions, Diplomates may contact the ABFM Support Center at (877) 223-7437.

CLASSIFIED ADS

WRITING SERVICES
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f you have any news items to share with the IAFP membership, please e-mail Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com