IAFP e-News for May 23  

IAFP News  

** IAFP LEADERS TAKE FAMILY MEDICINE MESSAGE TO CAPITOL HILL  

With just over a month left before a drastic 10 percent cut in Medicare payment rates is scheduled to take effect, AAFP and IAFP took action this week.  Medicare was the #1 issue of the AAFP Family Medicine Congressional Conference and their meetings with members of Congress.   

Seven Illinois AFP members participated in the conference, held May 19-20:

Steven Knight, M.D., IAFP president
Javette Orgain, M.D., president-elect
Kathleen Miller, M.D., chair of the board
Ravi Shah, M.D., resident board member
Ellen Brull, M.D., IAFP alternate delegate to AAFP Congress
Jerry Kruse, M.D., chair, department of family and community medicine, SIU School of Medicine
Greta Ivers, M.D., public health committee member
Vincent Keenan, C.A.E., executive vice president  

The IAFP team met with staff from both Illinois Senators’ offices, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama; and with seven Illinois Representatives. 

READ MORE AT: http://www.iafp.com/legislative/article.htm  

**2008 IAFP ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION

With so much going on at your Academy, this is the year to attend our annual meeting.  Plenty of information will be coming your way over the summer, but for now SAVE THE DATES:  

IAFP Annual Meeting:  December 5-6, 2008
Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark
One South Broadway
St. Louis , MO 63102
 314-421-1776

Meeting room rate: $109 – cut off is November 21st  

Highlights include a wine tasting reception, five CME programs, the All Member Assembly and the annual awards banquet.   Look for details in the upcoming June/July issue of Family Physician.  

** STUDENT MEMBERS- IAFP SURVEY JUST FOR YOU!

Please take a quick survey to help us plan our student services for the rest of 2008 and 2009.  Use the link below – it will only take a few minutes of your time!

LINK :  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=08OmvUDy1XXwBiIui1kd_2bA_3d_3d  

** HURRY AND SEND YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR 2008 IAFP AWARDS

The deadline for Family Physician of the Year nominations has been extended to June 30.  Nominations for all the IAFP annual teaching awards are due May 31st.  Award winners will be honored at the IAFP Annual Meeting in December in St. Louis .

It’s easy to access award information and nomination forms on the IAFP Web site

-         Family Physician of the Year http://www.iafp.com/PR/FPOY2008.htm

-         Family Medicine Teachers of the Year (full time and part time nominees) http://www.iafp.com/PR/FPOY2008.htm  

** IAFP DELEGATE APPOINTED TO AAFP POST

IAFP Delegate to the AAFP Congress, Tim Vega, MD of Peoria , has been appointed to chair the Rules Committee of the AAFP Congress of Delegates.  

**SEND YOUR IDEAS OR CONCERNS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

You can contact your IAFP Board of Directors through the IAFP website at http://www.iafp.com/about/officers.htm.   

2.  State and Federal Government Relations Activities

STATE UPDATE

The General Assembly continues to churn towards a “scheduled” adjournment date of May 31.  However, with no budget agreement and many other large scale issues unresolved, legislators, lobbyists and reporters know that another overtime session could be on the horizon.  

This week:

-IAFP filed opposition comments to SB 385, which would license lay midwives.  The bill passed the Senate, but has not been called in the House.

-SB 1925 remains in House Rules – this bill would provide Medicaid coverage for adults up to 100% of the FPL and provide for Medical Homes. 

-HB 5717 passed both houses.  This bill amends the School Code and provides that any child who received a health examination within one year prior to entering the fifth grade for the 2007-2008 school year is not required to receive an additional health examination in order to comply with the provisions of Public Act 95-422 (which requires children entering the sixth grade to have a health examination) when he or she attends school for the 2008-2009 school year, unless the child is attending school for the first time. This bill closes a loophole so that this year’s 6th graders will not be required to have another physical when they had one last year for 5th grade before the new law took effect.  

 Federal Government Relations  

** SPECIAL DELIVERY

IAFP Alternate delegate and past-president Ellen Brull, MD had the honor of delivering a AAFP FamMedPAC contribution to her elected member of the US House of Representatives, Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-9).  Dr. Brull delivered the check to Rep. Schakowsky’s Chicago office on May 12.  See the photo and learn more at http://www.iafp.com/legislative/brull.htm  

For more information on FamMedPAC, please visit http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/fammedpac.html?FeaturePage=/content/en/home&FeatureLocation=FeatureAds1.  You will need your AAFP ID to enter the members-only sections of the site  

**MEDICARE:  KEEP THE DOOR OPEN

Act now to stop the Medicare pay cut! Unless Congress stops the Medicare payment cut scheduled to take place in July, family physicians will be hit with a decrease of more than 10 percent in Medicare payments. Go to http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/federal/medicarecut.html for more information.

HAVE YOU EVER USED AAFP’s SPEAK OUT?

Wisconsin AFP president Lowell Keppel, MD created a video with instructions on how to use the AAFP Speak Out function and then posted the video on You Tube. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVIysNWTCiE   

**MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR NPI AND USE IT NOW .

Starting NOW , physicians face the risk of rejected Medicaid and Medicare claims if the billing provider does not provide the individual NPI (national provider identifier) number.   

MEDICAID:  The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has indicated that they are receiving many claims submitted with a Group NPI number as the Billing Provider instead of an individual NPI number as the Billing Provider.  HFS cannot process a claim submitted with a Group NPI as the Billing Provider.  Since many of these claims do not contain the provider's HFS number, there is no way for the claims to be processed and no way for HFS to identify or notify the correct Billing Provider.  The HFS policy for using the NPI numbers for billing does NOT match the CMS policy and this has generated a great deal of confusion.  However, claims for Illinois Medicaid clients must follow the HFS policy or they cannot be processed.

LINK to the HFS Notice http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/NPI.pdf

LINK to FAQs about the NPI http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/FAQdocument.pdf  

NPI FOR MEDICARE

The AAFP has signed on to the AMA’s letter urging a delay in the May 23 deadline for using NPI numbers.  However no extension has been granted.  As such, members should be prepared and in full compliance.  Need help?  AAFP has some FAQs online at  http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/regulatory-compliance/hipaa/natlproviderid.html  

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4.   CME Information

** NEW !  NATIONAL PROCEDURES INSTITUTE:

Our Illinois chapter is proud to partner with NPI to provide you an exciting opportunity to bring new procedures to your practice and to generate revenue for your practice and state Academy at the same time. When you attend an NPI course, NPI will send $50 to the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians. All you have to do is enter “ Illinois ” in the Referral Code field when you register online at the NPI Web site so that our chapter receives credit for your attendance.   You can attend the Chicago NPI series September 10-14, or any of the NPI offerings around the country.  Register early for a $100 early bird discount!  

Visit NPI online at http://www.npinstitute.com to view course descriptions, learn about NPI’s outstanding faculty, and register. Don’t forget to enter ILLINOIS in the Referral Code field during the registration process and start getting more out of your practice with NPI.

View the entire 2008 NPI Schedule at http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/2008Schedule.pdf  

** FREE QI/ CME RESOURCES AT http://www.YHPlus.com

Your Healthcare Plus’ CME activities can be viewed and completed through the http://www.YHPlus.com Web site. Activities can also be downloaded to listen to at your convenience.

The Quality Improvement programs include

-How to Conduct a Quality Improvement Program in Primary Care Practice,

- Managing Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care,

-Managing Adult Depression in Primary Care,

-Managing Childhood Asthma in Primary Care...with more topics on the way.

This valuable resource is absolutely free.  Check it out today at http://www.YHPlus.com  

** CME CASE STUDIES ON HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES  

IAFP is offering free online CME case studies on “Hypertension in Primary Care Practice” and "Diabetes in Primary Care Practice" at http://www.IAFP.com\education. Each study takes about 45-60 minutes to complete.  

*Hypertension in Primary Care Practice: a case study with coding  

1 Prescribed Credit or 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit ™ for each case study A program for Bridging Health Care sponsored by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians  

Links to the Hypertension case studies:  

Hypertension case study 1:  Ed http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=45

Hypertension case study 2:  Gayle http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=46

Hypertension case study 3:  Jim http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=44  

**DIABETES IN PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE: A CASE STUDY WITH CODING  

1 Prescribed Credit or 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit ™ for each case study.  A program for Bridging Health Care sponsored by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians  

Links to the Diabetes Case Studies:  

Diabetes case study 1:  Isabella http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=47

Diabetes case study 2:   John http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=48

Diabetes case study 3:   Sam http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=49  

**2008 WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE CME CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

Friday, September 12 – Saturday, September 13 Donald E. Stephens Convention Center , Rosemont , IL  Registration Information: http://www.womenshf.com/2008national/chi2008/ 

IAFP MEMBER DISCOUNT:  Women’s Healthcare Forum and IAFP are pleased to offer all IAFP members a discounted registration fee of $75, a 50% savings on the standard 2008 registration fee. When registering, please use priority code: WHFC801 to take advantage of this offer.  

**PRI- MED CME INFORMATION

Partnering with the IAFP, Pri-Med offers world-class CME programs in your area. Taught by leading experts, you can earn Continuing Medical Education credits at little or no cost.  All activities listed are approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Application for AAFP Prescribed credit has been submitted.  

*Pri-Med Updates

Locally held continuing medical education programs designed for Primary Care Physicians currently engaged in patient care. This program features new and emerging guidelines, therapies, and evidence- based information on multiple therapeutic areas encountered in primary care. By attending, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with expert faculty, participate in question-and-answer periods, and test your knowledge and receive immediate feedback on patient care scenarios.  

Oak Brook , IL – Thursday & Friday, October 30-31, 2008

http://www.pri-med.com/30oak08b/r12  

Chicago , IL – Tuesday & Wednesday, December 2-3, 2008

http://www.pri-med.com/30chi08b/r12  

St. Louis , MO – Thursday & Friday, November 13-14, 2008

http://www.pri-med.com/30stl08b/r12  

* Pri-Med Midwest Conference & Exhibition

Rosemont , IL - Wednesday-Saturday, March 4-7, 2009

http://www.pri-med.com/midwest09

(Please note: Registration for this event will open in fall 2008)  

Over four full days, Pri-Med Conference & Exhibition provides a diverse spectrum of learning opportunities in 1 place, including Harvard Medical School ’s Current Clinical Issues in Primary Care lectures, practice management sessions, Industry-Supported Symposia, and an interactive Exhibit Hall, offering AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  

*Pri-Med Online

Pri-Med.com offers over 300 primary care focused eCME activities at no-cost in key Condition Resource Centers including: Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Asthma, Cancer, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, Heart Failure, Hypertension, Infectious Disease, Obesity, Pediatrics, Sleep Disorders and more. Plus, four eCME activity types are offered so you can thoroughly examine a topic, including: Patient case studies, Clinical reviews, Expert perspectives and Multi-media slide lecture series. Earn high-quality physician-authored eCME anytime at http://www.pri-med.com/onlineCME.  

** AAFP PRACTICE ENHANCEMENT FORUM IS COMING TO OAK BROOK

Send three people (one FP and two support staff) to AAFP’s Practice Enhancement Forum October 10-11 in Oak Brook.  Along with up to 20 prescribed CME credits, participating FPs will attain the following

Objectives:

The Practice Enhancement Forum (PEF) provides family medicine teams with practical tools, skills and knowledge to begin implementing the Chronic Care Model into their practice. Upon completion of the PEF your family medicine team will be able to:

·         Assess your practice and determine where to direct improvement efforts.

·         Begin implementing the Chronic Care Model into your practice.

·         Motivate your office team to deliver optimal patient care.

·         Understand how to implement and sustain improvement.

·         Be a champion for change in your practice

Learn more on from AAFP’s web site at http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/quality/cme/pef.html  

**FIND IAFP EVENTS AND OTHER CME OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY PHYSICIANS ANY TIME AT http://www.iafp.com/education/  

5. Members in the News

For a copy of any IAFP news story below, please e-mail Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com.  

* Anjum Usman , MD of Naperville is the physician caring for autistic children in the May 9th Chicago Tribune web site story from a mother who has seen success and improvement in her two autistic sons.  

*Casey Clinic, home of Jason Jerabek, MD and affiliated with Sara Bush Lincoln Hospital has gone live with their electronic medical record.  The story was covered by the Mattoon Journal Gazette on May 19.  

* Ben Brewer , MD of Forrest tackles the mysteries of health care pricing in his May 21 “From the Doctor’s Office” in the Wall Street Journal.  

*Kameron Matthews, M.D., J.D., a family medicine resident at UIC Chicago Family Medicine Residency, is presenting at the National Medical Association, Section on CME on the topic of CME and funding by pharmaceutical companies and others.  

* Jerry Kruse , MD of Quincy has been appointed chair of the legislative affairs committee of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.  

6. NEWS YOU CAN USE

**WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEMORRHAGIC STROKE
FREE TELECONFERENCE - FRIDAY, MAY 30 at NOON

When blood vessels within the brain become damaged, they are more likely to burst and cause a brain hemorrhage.  The most common cause of brain hemorrhage is high blood pressure (hypertension).  Alexian Brothers neurosurgeon, Dr. Sami Rosenblatt, will discuss symptoms, prevention and treatments for bleeding in the brain that can occur at all ages.

TO RSVP: Call 1-800-677-5481 ext. 7438 and provide your first and last name(s), mailing address, e-mail address and telephone number.  Your call will be returned with the call-in information.

These calls are made possible by the American Stroke Association, SSEEO (Stroke Survivors Empowering Each Other) and the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network.  

** STATE ONLINE RESOURCE TO CHECK RX HISTORY

The Illinois Dept. of Human Services has a new web site for Illinois Prescription Monitoring.   Physicians can register and use the web site to review a patient's prescription history for controlled substances. This resource can enable physicians to identify patients who are visiting multiple doctors to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances.  Log on and register at https://www.ilpmp.org/index.php.  You will need your DEA number and your medical license number for verification.  

7. Foundation News – Tar Wars White Sox game

**WHITE SOX GAME FUNDRAISER FOR TAR WARS – AUGUST 7   

THE WHITE SOX HAVE WON 8 STRAIGHT!  Get your tickets now for this summer’s best fundraiser—Tar Wars at the White Sox!   Doesn’t matter if you’re a Sox fan or a Cubs fan, we’re all fans of family medicine.  This one fundraising event ensures our state poster winner can attend the National Tar Wars poster contest in Washington , DC .  

Each ticket = $15 tax-deductible donation to Tar Wars!

Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7:11 p.m. at US Cellular Field, the White Sox vs. the Detroit Tigers.  For ticket information, go to http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/sox08.pdf


8.  Resident and Student Affairs  

** RESIDENTS: 

1.  Congratulations to the new Resident Leaders:

President-elect:  Elizabeth Salisbury, MD – Illinois Masonic, Chicago

Delegate to AAFP National Conference:  Helen Xenos, MD- Illinois Masonic, Chicago.  

2.  One more Resident Roundup and we need some information from YOU to help us make plans. Please read the article online and give us some input on when we should hold the third and final Resident Roundup and what topics we should try to cover for you.  Link to the article http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/RRevents.pdf  

3.  Residency programs honored for 100% membership

AAFP sent out recognition certificates to the following 18 Illinois family medicine residency programs that have achieved 1200% membership status as of April 15. 

Adventist Hinsdale Hospital Family Medicine Residency

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Family Practice Residency

Carle Foundation Hospital Family Practice Residency Program

Cook County-Loyola Provident Family Medicine Residency Program

Dixon Rural Training Track in Family Medicine

Jackson Park Family Practice

La Grange Memorial Hospital   Family Practice Residency Program

MacNeal Family Medicine Residency Program

Northwestern University - McGaw Medical Center

Resurrection Family Practice Residency

Rush Copley Family Practice Residency Program

SIU Family Medicine Center

SIU Quincy Family Medicine Residency

St Elizabeth's Family Medicine Residency

St Joseph Hospital Family Medicine

University of Illinois - Peoria Family Practice Residency

University of Illinois at Rockford Family Practice Residency

West Suburban Family Medicine

 

 **STUDENTS

1.  Congratulations to the new Student Leaders

President-elect:  Katie Eichinger – SIU Springfield

Delegate to AAFP National Conference – Anthony Mrgudich, Loyola (Anthony is also the current IAFP Student Chapter president)  

2.  ATTENTION STUDENT MEMBERS:  Please take the following quick survey to help us plan our student services for the rest of 2008 and 2009.

LINK :  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=08OmvUDy1XXwBiIui1kd_2bA_3d_3d  


9.  News from AAFP  

** AAFP PRACTICE ENHANCEMENT FORUM IS COMING TO OAK BROOK

Send three people (one FP and two support staff) to AAFP’s Practice Enhancement Forum October 10-11 in Oak Brook.  Along with up to 20 prescribed CME credits, participating FPs will attain the following

Objectives:

Upon completion of the PEF your family medicine team will be able to:

·         Assess your practice and determine where to direct improvement efforts.

·         Begin implementing the Chronic Care Model into your practice.

·         Motivate your office team to deliver optimal patient care.

·         Understand how to implement and sustain improvement.

·         Be a champion for change in your practice

Learn more on from AAFP’s web site at

http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/quality/cme/pef.html

** PRACTICE MANAGEMENT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: THE NEW REALITY
August 7-9, 2008  
San Antonio , Texas
Hyatt Regency

Managing for today. Preparing for tomorrow. A conference for physicians, practice managers, and front office staff. With featured speakers, new pre-conference and evening events.

Register before July 1 to save $100.  http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/cme/aafpcourses/pracmgmtcourses/21stcentury.html

Worth Repeating

**SIGN UP FOR VACCINE PURCHASING

IAFP’s new partner – Atlantic Health Partners – can help our member practices save precious dollars and advocate on your behalf with payers and manufacturers.  Atlantic , a physician purchasing program, works directly with Sanofi Pasteur and Merck and has obtained very favorable pricing and purchasing terms for a wide variety of pediatric, adolescent, adult, and travel vaccines.  Participation is voluntary and there is no cost to enroll in the Atlantic program.  To learn more about the vaccine purchasing program, contact Jeff Winokur, 800-741-2044 or at jwinokur@atlantichealthpartners.com .  

**May 27: WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY AND CHICAGO’S QUIT DAY

If only the entire world would quit smoking!  The Chicago 2nd Wind Collaboration (of which IAFP is a member) is hosting a Chicagoland “Quit Day” in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day on May 27th.   

You can always go to AAFP’s Ask and Act program and make your plans to make any day and every day a Quit Day for your patients.  Just go to http://www.askandact.org.  

** RENEW YOUR ILLINOIS LICENSE BY JULY 31

You should have received a postcard from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announcing your opportunity to renew your medical license online.   To renew go to the IDFPR web site http://www.IDFPR.com and enter the PIN provided on your postcard. 

Physicians’ licenses MUST be renewed by July 31, 2008 . Before a license is renewed, physicians must provide the information for their profiles.  You can do that at https://www.idfpr.com/applications/ProfessionProfile/ProfileUpdateMain.aspx

 CLASSIFIED ADS

1.  ROCKFORD - The Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford is seeking family physician faculty for: 1) our innovative longitudinal family medicine clerkship incorporating clinical care and medical student education in an office setting; 2) our family medicine residency program, OB desirable.  Either position may be combined with responsibility for the department’s community health programs.  The Department offers an on-site MPH program, faculty development, and research opportunities.  Candidates should be board certified or board eligible.  Rank is commensurate with qualifications.   

Please send a cover letter and resume to Eric Henley, MD, MPH; Head, Department of Family and Community Medicine; 1601 Parkview Ave, Rockford, IL 61107 or by email to ehenley@uic.edu.  Call 815-395-5805 for further information. 

The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.  

2.  Is patient charting taking too much of your time? Try SpringCharts® Electronic Health Records, the only easy-to-use, affordable charting application available for both Macintosh and Windows computers. It’s perfect for physicians in single or group practice. SpringCharts will allow you to document office visits with little or no typing, will virtually eliminate your office’s records transcription costs, and allows you to print and electronically sign patient prescriptions. Visit http://www.woodedisleconsult.com for examples, to download a demo, or just to see how easy it is to use SpringCharts! Or contact Wooded Isle Computer Consultants at 773-256-1099 for more information.  

3.  CHAMPAIGN , IL --Christie Clinic is a physician-owned multi-specialty group of 90 physicians that is recruiting for Family Physicians for its satellite offices in nearby Danville and Tuscola.

Danville :  35 miles east of Champaign .  Join 3 Family Physicians. Call of 1/4.

Tuscola:  25 miles south of Champaign .  Solo practice.  Call of 1/9.

Starting salary range of $170-200K. With productivity, incomes are well above national and regional averages.  Champaign is the home of the University of Illinois , with many cultural, social, and athletic amenities.  2.5 hours south of Chicago .  Contact Christopher Kashnig at Christie Clinic.  Phone 217-366-5374 .  E-mail address: ckashnig@christieclinic.com.  Website:  http://www.christieclinic.com.  

4.  IAFP’S RESOURCES FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH OR POSTING

The RIGHT job or job candidate is out there in family medicine, and we’re here to help find it! We post jobs here in e-News, in Family Physician and at our Web site http://www.iafp.com for Jobs Online.  Select “Job Listings” from the menu on the left to learn more.