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IAFP
e-News for March 28, 2008
IAFP
News
**MATCH RESULTS LOOK GOOD, AS DO NATIONAL FILL RATES
Nationally, match results showed an increase in the fill
rate for residency programs. In
The numbers for 2008 were:
Positions offered: 148
Positions filled: 142
Fill rate: 96%
To
compare to 2007 data, go to http://www.iafp.com/students/2007%20match.htm
To
view Steven Knight, M.D., IAFP president; Javette Orgain, M.D., IAFP
president elect and Scott Levin, M.D., director of the West Suburban
Family Medicine Residency program talk about workforce issues in family
medicine in IAFP’s latest advocacy video, go to http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/iafpworkforce.wmv
**
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR 2008 IAFP AWARDS
Time
to tell us about the best in Illinois Family Medicine!
Nominations for all the IAFP annual awards are due May 31st.
Award winners will be honored at the IAFP Annual Meeting December 6th
in
It’s easy to access award information and nomination forms on the IAFP Web sit
-
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
Questions?
Contact Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com
**SIGN UP FOR VACCINE PURCHASING
IAFP
has a strong, new partner to help members with vaccine purchase savings.
This new partner – Atlantic Health Partners – can help our
member practices save precious dollars and advocate on your behalf with
payers and manufacturers.
One member using the new program is Dr. Jim Cunnar, IAFP board member
from
To learn more about the vaccine purchasing program, contact Jeff Winokur,
800-741-2044 or at jwinokur@atlantichealthpartners.com
.
**IAFP NEEDS IMG REPRESENTATIVE FOR NCSC IN
IAFP is looking for an International Medical Grad (IMG) member interested in
representing the Academy as a delegate at the National Conference on
Special Constituencies (NCSC) in
**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
about any issue or idea you would like.
The Board would love to hear from you!
State
Government Relations Activities
**TWO
CHANCES LEFT TO SPRING INTO ACTION
Medical
homes and health care disparities are the leading topics of conversations
IAFP members are having with
The
first two Spring Into Action sessions included visits with more than 15
legislators. You can view
photos at http://www.iafp.com/whatsnew/SIA.htm
You
can hear first-hand what recent attendees have to say about their
experiences in
For
Dr. Ravi Shah, IAFP’s resident board member, this was his second time
attending Spring Into Action and second time meeting with his State
Senator, John Cullerton. Go to http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/siashah.mp3
to hear his evaluation of Spring Into Action.
This
was Dr. Pulluru’s first time attending Spring Into Action.
She also saw her State Senator, Linda Holmes. Go to http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/pulluru.mp3
to hear her evaluation of the meeting.
To register for one of the remaining Spring Into Action sessions on Weds., April 2 or Thurs., April 10, go to http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,M3,d821c2f7-baea-4e06-86d2-a9c86c3ebbf1
**CDC
DEVELOPS NEW IPV ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS
Recent
research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5705a1.htm)
shows men and women who report suffering from Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
are significantly more likely to experience a number of chronic
health conditions such as arthritis, asthma, and activity limitations.
To
help healthcare practitioners better identify and treat these victims, CDC
recently developed the Intimate
Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Victimization Assessment Instruments
for Use in Healthcare Settings. To view, go to http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/IPV/ipv-SViolence.htm
This
compilation provides practitioners and clinicians with an inventory of
existing assessment tools for determining intimate partner violence and/or sexual
violence victimization. It also helps inform decisions
about which instruments are most appropriate for use with a given
population. This document will aid in the selection of assessment
instruments to identify victims requiring additional services. It can also
help practitioners make appropriate referrals for both victims and
perpetrators.
**QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AVAILABLE
The federal government is making quality improvement
grants through the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement (SHCPQI)
program. http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/SHCPQI.asp
Deadline for applications is March 20, 2008
SHCPQI will distribute over $4.5 million across 60 new grantees,
each eligible for up to $75,000 over a two-year period to support their
quality improvement efforts. This
grant could be used to support a patient registry for chronic disease such
as DocSite, which was used by all 15 grantees in the first round of grants
for the SHCPQI program. See press release, http://www.docsite.com/pdf/HRSA%20Press%20Release_2008-02-13_FINAL.pdf
**NATIONAL PROVIDER IDENTIFIER (NPI)
Beginning March 1, 2008 Medicare Fee-for-Service electronic and paper
claims must include an NPI on the claim.
On May 23, 2008, only the NPI will be accepted, and all legacy
identifiers must be removed or the claim will be rejected.
AAFP provides NPI information in series of questions and answers on
its web site at http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/regulatory-compliance/hipaa/natlproviderid.html
CME
Information
**
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.
There are three case studies for each topic.
The patient in each case study is uniquely different and represents
what you see in your everyday practice. Each study takes about 45-60
minutes to complete.
*Hypertension
in Primary Care Practice: a case study with coding Three cases on
Hypertension. Learn how to
diagnose and treat “Ed, Gayle & Jim” 1 Prescribed Credit or 1 AMA
PRA Category 1 credit ™ for each case study A program for Bridging
Health Care sponsored by the
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
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
Thursday,
April 17, 2008 in Chicago
The Chicago Asthma Consortium (CAC), Suburban Asthma Consortium (SAC), and
Will/Kankakee Asthma Network (WKAN) invite you to attend this special
hands-on training program where you will have the opportunity to learn the
latest techniques to properly administer asthma and COPD medications from
the top asthma educators in Chicagoland.
To LEARN more about the meeting including
program goals, meeting agenda, continuing education credits, participating
faculty, and directions, or to register, visit http://www.chicagoasthma.org
or call (773) 769-6060.
**
CMS ANNUAL MIDWEST CLINICAL CONFERENCE
The Chicago Medical Society will be hosting their Annual Midwest Clinical
Conference on March 27 - 29, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in
Partnering
with the IAFP, Pri-Med Updates offers world-class CME programs in your
area. Taught by leading experts, you can earn Continuing Medical Education
credits at 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
Two-day 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.
New Updates scheduled for 2008!!
Oakbrook, IL – Wednesday, April 2, 2008
http://www.pri-med.com/pmo/ViewEvent.aspx?EventCode=30OAK08A&CCODE=r12
Chicago, IL – Tuesday & Wednesday, June 10-11, 2008
http://www.pri-med.com/pmo/ViewEvent.aspx?EventCode=30chi08a&CCODE=r12
*Pri-Med Online
Pri-Med.com offers over 200 primary care focused eCME activities at
no-cost in 15 key Condition Resource Centers including: ADHD, Benign
Prostatic Hypertrophy, Cancer in Primary Care, Congestive Heart Failure,
Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, Hypertension, Infectious Disease, 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
.
**FIND
IAFP EVENTS AND OTHER CME OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY PHYSICIANS ANY TIME AT http://www.iafp.com/education/
News
from AAFP and its Foundation
**RECEIVE
A FREE E-PRESCRIBING READINESS ASSESSMENT
AAFP
is offering a free assessment on the way you prescribe.
The changes to Medicare regulations most likely will impact you.
Will you be in compliance? Go to http://www.getrxconnected.com/AAFP/site.aspx
for information and assessment.
**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 and to take a stand!
This brief provides an overview of Medicare's financing and the fiscal challenges the program faces in the coming decades. To view, http://chapters.aafp.org/online/execs/home/news/archives/march08news/finanmed.html.
**2008
PFIZER TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS PROGRAM
This
program has been developed to honor 15 outstanding, community-based family
physicians who are part-time teachers of family medicine.
The award is $1,500 scholarship to an educational event of each
winner’s choice. For
requirements and application go to http://www.aafpfoundation.org/ptda.xm.
The deadline to apply is May 9. Contact
Sondra at sgoodman@aafp.org
with further questions.
**CHILDHOOD
IMMUNIZATION AWARDS FOR FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCIES
AAFP Foundation is offering three awards for family medicine residency
programs that develop creative solutions to overcome barriers to childhood
immunizations.
The Best Practices Award is for overall achievement.
The Most Improved Award focuses on change in immunization rates.
The Implement New System Grant is for designing and implementing a
new system. Applications are
due April 21. For more
information on applications, previous award winners, and other
information, http://www.aafpfoundation.org/wyethimmunization.xml
**POSTER/PAPER
PRESENTATIONS AT ASSEMBLY (Due April 18):
Members
interested in presenting a poster or research paper at the AAFP's 2008
Scientific Assembly apply by April 18. For more, http://chapters.aafp.org/online/execs/home/news/archives/feb2008/poster.html.
**NATIONAL
CONFERENCE POSTER COMPETITION (Due April 18):
Poster
Presentations are a new element in the Exhibit Hall at this year’s
National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students
(July 30 - August 2). The deadline for poster applications is April 18.
For more, http://chapters.aafp.org/online/execs/home/news/archives/feb2008/ncposter.html.
**AAFP OFFERS CODING TUTORIALS ONLINE
AAFP is offering a series of coding tutorials with CME credit.
Each tutorial consists of a short
pretest; a brief discussion of coding elements, each followed by case
studies; case study answers revealed upon selection of an answer choice,
and a link to an online post-test and evaluation
Tutorials currently available include:
Inpatient
E/M Coding: Selecting a Level of Service
Outpatient
E/M Coding: Selecting a Level of Service
Introduction
to Evaluation and Management Services Coding at http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/codingresources/tutorials.printerview.html#Parsys9752#Parsys9752
Members
in the News
**DR. DAVID B. CESPEDES,
a member from
**BENJAMIN
BREWER, M.D.’s column The Doctor’s Office in the March 26th
issue of the Wall Street Journal discussed the issue that
“Primary Health Care Needs Fixing Before Universal Care Can Work.”
**MEMOONA HASNAIN, M.D., IAFP member of the UIC Department of Family and
Community Medicine,
**TAMPER-PROOF RX PADS DEADLINE APRIL 1
Doctors must use Rx pads with at least one security
feature by April 1 and three features by Oct. 1. For
more information go to http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/24/gvl10324.htm
**
MEDICAL HOME INFORMATION FROM AAMC
For those interested in more information on the medical home concept, here's a link to an article in the AAMC Reporter (Association of American Medical Schools) endorsing the concept. Go to: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/march08/medicalhome.htm
**
NEW SEARCH ENGINE AVAILABLE TO IDENTIFY GENERIC/BRAND NAME AND PA
HFS
has announced a drug search engine that has been
incorporated
into its website that will allow providers to search for
drugs
by both generic and brand names to immediately determine if the
drug requires
prior authorization (PA). This web page also contains links to information regarding the
PA process, PA forms and PA
requirements
so that prescribing for HFS clients can be streamlined. Click: http://ilpriorauth.com/hfs/searchadv.asp
This
search engine was developed and is maintained by the
Family
Health Foundation of
Summer
Externship Program, Tar Wars, Students and Resident Activities
**URGENT!! WE NEED FAMILY
PHYSICIAN PRECEPTORS!
Applications from first year medical students are currently under review
and we need more preceptors, particularly in the Chicagoland area.
Please consider hosting a medical student for four weeks this summer as
part of the IAFP Foundation 2008 Summer Externship Program. Selected
students have expressed an interest in family medicine and you can help
them learn more about your specialty! Contact Crishelle O’Rourke
at corourke@iafp.com
if you are willing and able to
serve as a preceptor. CME credit is available for your
participation.
Mark your calendars now for this summer’s best fundraiser—Tar Wars at the White Sox! Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7:11 p.m. at US Cellular Field, the White Sox take on the Detroit Tigers. For ticket information, go to http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/sox08.pdf
**
Poster
contest rules are on the IAFP web site at http://www.iafp.com/tarwars/postercontestrules.htm
and also on page 18 of the Tar Wars Program Guide.
Please mail posters to
TAR WARS
C/O IAFP Foundation
4756 Main Street
Lisle, IL 60532
****
IAFP RESIDENT ROUND-UPS ARE COMING UP SOON
Join
us for a FREE networking event with speakers on professional issues
tailored to residents. The
program is co-sponsored by the IAFP Foundation and funding through a grant
from the AAFP Foundation. Mingle,
relax and learn along with your fellow residents.
We
have two events at locations to serve your needs:
1.
Thursday, April 17th at 4:30pm at the
–
Scheduled to coincide with SIU Family Medicine’s Complete Practice
Management Seminar for Family Medicine Residents.
-
Join us for a reception and relax with appetizers and drinks
-
Educational program will focus on government relations -- legislative
issues that affect you, your patients and how you can act and advocate on
behalf of yourself, your specialty and your patients
2.
Saturday, April 26th, 1-3 pm at Papaspiros in
Lunch
event with speakers and information on how to find and land a job.
Plus we'll introduce you to some employment options you may not
have thought about before.
Link
to information and registration form at http://www.iafp.com/residents/residentroundupOakPark.htm
Questions:
Contact Ginnie Flynn at the IAFP offices at 630-435-0356 x118 or
gflynn@iafp.com
**RESOURCES
FOR RESIDENTS
Resident
information is always just a click away at IAFP’s web site http://www.iafp.com/Residents/index.htm
**STUDENT FMIGs
Family medicine interest groups (FMIG) at the various medical schools are
up and running. Join the group, learn more about family medicine, teach a
Tar Wars program, and spend time with family medicine residents and more.
You can find a complete list of the FMIG leaders at each campus on our web
site at: http://www.iafp.com/students/fmigcontacts.htm
**FMIG LEADERS – have you connected with your “Adopt an FMIG”
resident contacts? If you need assistance, please contact the resident
leaders Ravi Shah or Helen Williams at IAFPResidents@yahoo.com.
**
Illinois
Cares Rx Pilot Project for People who Lost Extra Help
As
many of you know, the state has the statutory authority to apply on
members' behalf for the federal Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy often
called Extra Help. Illinois
Cares Rx has begun a PILOT project to obtain the necessary information
from our members to apply on their behalf.
In the coming weeks, certain members will receive a letter from us
requesting they complete the Schedule C.
If you have a member coming in with such a letter, please advise
them this is a legitimate effort on the state's part.
Please let the member know the important financial benefit to them
of being determined eligible for Extra Help.
For
questions specifically related to this pilot project call toll-free 1-866-493-3605.
This number will be discontinued once this project is complete.
Please DO NOT use this number for other Illinois Cares Rx issues.
In
addition to this pilot project, we will continue to work toward efficient
mechanisms for applying for Extra Help on behalf of our members when
appropriate.
**People Who Lost
As
you know, for many members, Illinois Cares Rx coverage ended 12-31-2007
because they didn't reapply for Illinois Cares Rx or they reapplied and
were determined ineligible for Illinois Cares Rx due to income.
These
former members are beginning to reapply for Illinois Cares Rx and will be
determined eligible now and over the next several months.
When working with these members, please contact the plan to
request the wrap or encourage the member to contact the plan to request
the wrap. We have reminded
the plan to take this information from the member and verify eligibility
using the process we provided to them. We also provide reenrollment
information directly to the plans as members are determined eligible by
the Department on Aging.
You
may use the wrap request form, but, again, please attempt to contact the
plan first to request the wrap. DO
NOT send a wrap request form to HFS if you have already confirmed the wrap
with the plan. This only
creates more work for you, the plan and us. Once a request for wrap has
been made to the plan, the wrap usually is in place within 24 to 48 hours.
After which time, the member may go to the pharmacy to receive the
lower Illinois Cares Rx co-payments.
Please
be aware, members are responsible for plan premiums and the plan
co-payments during the time they do not have Illinois Cares Rx coverage or
the federal Extra Help.
Finally
on a related note, members will begin to move in to the coverage gap
as the year moves along. Don't
forget cost sharing for members increases during this time because they
are responsible for the low co-payment and the 20% cost sharing.
We know some members are in the coverage gap already and in fact
some have actually moved to the 5% catastrophic coverage.
Questions may be directed to terri.gendel@ageoptions.org
or georgia.tzanetopoulos@ageoptions.org.
She
would like to present the issues you have with purchasing vaccines and
getting reimbursement. If you haven’t already, please share your stories
and concerns with her at ckohler@uiuc.edu.
**REPORTING
FOR 2008 PHYSICIAN QUALITY REPORTING INITIATIVE (PQRI) BEGAN JANUARY 1,
2008.
Eligible professionals should begin submitting appropriate 2008 Quality Data Codes on qualifying Part B claims with a date of service of January 1, 2008 or after. Information on the 119 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) measures, release notes, and detailed specifications are available on the CMS website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/pqri.
The
American Medical Association (AMA) has posted PQRI worksheets for the 2008
PQRI program on the AMA website at http://www.ama-assn.org.
These worksheets are also available in the CMS 2008 PQRI Toolkit which is
posted at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/pqri.
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.
