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February 17, 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 deadlines ahead! 

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

  • Springfield Essential Evidence March 9 and National Procedures Institute March 10. Two separate events in the same location! Separate registration both events closes MARCH 1.
  • March 9 is the Essential Evidence CME format with 6.25 CME credits available on a wide array of timely topics. View the schedule here
  • March 10 the National Procedures Institute presents 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.  Online registration closes March 19.  New physician discount, one-day option and FREE for resident members!
  • Now Open: Spring into Action registration- May 9, 10 or 11. Learn more about this one-day advocacy adventure and register today!

IAFP hosts the AAFP Ten State Conference this weekend

Check out the schedule for this regional event packed with timely topics at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago.  You can join us Saturday or Sunday, just register onsite!  The IAFP board of directors meets today from 9am to noon.

Spring training has started! Get your tickets for our White Sox game
OK baseball fans, baseball is underway in Florida and Arizona! Mark your calendar and print out your order form for the annual Family Health Foundation of Illinois Home Runs for Healthy Families White Sox game on Friday June 23. Every ticket = a donation to the Family Health Foundation of Illinois.  Learn more here

 

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.

 

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.

 


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

Budget Address summary: Governor Bruce Rauner delivered his budget address on Wednesday and focused on economic growth as the solution to the state's fiscal woes. The Governor stated job growth was the key to his budget, which prompted many policymakers to comment that, in the short run, the most important thing is to have sufficient revenue to pay for adequate levels of core public services like education, healthcare, social services, and public safety which in turn create an environment conducive to economic growth.  While little detail was provided in his speech that can be used by leaders in the General Assembly to craft a meaningful resolution to the budget impasse, both sides stated they want progress. Following the Budget Address, the Health and Human Services agencies held a joint briefing on their individual FY18 budgets.  You can link to the budget proposal here. The HFS budget begins on page 3 and the IDPH budget begins on page 57 

JCAR approves child immunization rules.  Despite vigorous opposition from anti-vaccination advocates, the Illinois Joint Commission on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approved the proposed rules written by the Illinois Department of Public Health to implement a law enacted in August 2015. 

IAFP and the Illinois Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) have been strong supporters of the law and its implementation.  Link to a  letter IAFP/ICAAP sent in April 2016 in support of the rules. Thanks to members of the IAFP Public Health committee for their personal contacts with members of JCAR in the final stretch to support these rules. 

Let's Spring into Action Together! 

Online registration is now open 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.  Make sure you know who your state senator and representative are before you go to the online form.  You can verify your STATE senator and representative on the General Assembly website using your HOME address or your Zip+4. Check your calendars now and determine which date you can be there: Tuesday May 9, Wednesday May 10 or Thursday May 11. 

Federal

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.

EXTENDED 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 MARCH 13. 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 March 13, 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 March 13, 2017 in order to avoid the payment adjustment in 2018. First-time participants must register by March 13, 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.


News You Can Use

HFS launches portal for Medicaid MCO issues

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has launched a secure electronic web-based portal to assist providers statewide in resolving issues with Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). A major goal of the new MCO provider complaint portal is to facilitate prompt and fair resolution of disputes between MCOs and providers. Issues impacting immediate access to care will be expedited.

The new MCO provider complaint portal does not replace issue reporting and escalation processes already in place between providers and an MCO. Prior to submitting a complaint through the new online portal, issues must already have been submitted to and reviewed by the MCO in question. If HFS determines a complaint was submitted to the Department prior to the MCO being afforded an opportunity to resolve it directly with the provider, the complaint will be immediately closed.

Providers should carefully identify which representatives within their provider organizations will be designated to use this complaint system for unresolved issues. The name of the provider representative submitting the complaint will be shared with the MCO, and outcomes will be reported only to the provider representative whose email is entered into the system with the complaint. HFS will collect and publically report the volume of complaints received and resolved by provider type, MCO, and other categories.

The link to the complaint portal may be found on HFS' Care Coordination Webpage, or may be accessed directly from the HFS Managed Care Provider Complaints webpage. The portal is available for immediate use.  

Please note that this new system is designed specifically for issues enrolled providers have with Illinois Medicaid MCOs. Provider complaints regarding the resolution of Medicaid Fee-for-Service issues should continue to be directed to HFS at 877-782-5565. 


Members in the News

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

Resident Taariq Goder, MD was quoted in a February 13. WMBD-TV story about an increase in early adult hearing damage.

IAFP board member Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, MD was featured on Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV February 1 for her new role as a medical director at the Chicago Department of Public Health where her priorities will be substance abuse, mental health and violence prevention.