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June 26, 2015

In This Issue...

  1. Academy News
  2. Government Relations
  3. News You Can Use
  4. Members in the News

Quick Links

May June issue of Illinois Family Physician

Event Calendar

Member Benefits

FPJobsOnline

IAFP Lunch and Learn schedule.Join IAFP the last Thursday of every month from 12:00-1:00pm CST and earn FREE CME.

AAFP Live Program on Skin Problems and Diseases July 15-18 in Chicago

AAFP Family Medicine Board Review Express Live Course is coming to Chicago in September


 

Academy News

*Note the IAFP office will be closed Friday, July 3.

IAFP member is AAFP Exemplary Teaching Award winner
We’re pleased to share the good news that Illinois’ nominee for the AAFP Exemplary Teaching Award for volunteer faculty has been selected for the 2015 Award.  Alisha T. Thomas, MD was IAFP’s 2014 Family Medicine Teacher of the Year – Volunteer Faculty in 2014.  She was recognized for launching her longitudinal primary care experience with Northwestern Feinberg school of medicine students for all four years of medical school, which has become standard curriculum.  Thomas practices at PCC Family Health Center in Austin.  Learn more

Coming soon, 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.  Please watch out for an emailed survey next week.  It should only take 10 minutes to complete.  Results will be shared with the IAFP board of directors at the IAFP board meeting October 10, 2015.

King v. Burwell decision – Insurance subsidies will continue
Health care advocates and followers let out a collective exhale when the U.S. Supreme Court finally announced a 6-3 ruling in the King vs. Burwell case. Their ruling sided with the federal government and interpreted that the Affordable Care Act did intend to provide premium support to all who meet the eligibility, regardless of whether the insurance marketplace was run by the state or by the federal government, or the partnership model.  Get Covered Illinois is a state-federal partnership model and currently 232,000 Illinois residents receive federally funded premium support, which is no longer at risk.
“We’ve been lucky to have Medicaid expansion here in Illinois, and it’s a wonderful thing for our state and nationally for the ACA to be upheld so that those who rely on the marketplace insurance plans can afford their premiums,” said IAFP President Janet Albers, MD.  “Now we can return our full focus to delivering care to those who have gained new access to reliable primary care services, covered by insurance.  Meanwhile, those who still need to purchase insurance will know that they will have access to subsides if needed.”
Read more from AAFP
Link to statement from AAFP President Robert Wergin, MD

Repeat Item:  New Member Interest Group - Direct Primary Care
Are you in a Direct Primary Care (DPC) model? Deborah Chisholm, MD, of LeRoy, IL, has started a DPC practice and would like to connect with other Illinois AFP members who have a DPC practice or are interested in finding out more about DPC.  If you are interested in joining an Illinois AFP interest group, send an email to Jennifer O’Leary, IAFP Deputy EVP at [email protected]    
Learn more about her Dr. Chisolm’s practice at http://www.chisholmcenterforhealth.com/partners/

Learn more on the IAFP’s Health is Primary page where you can order your FREE Health is Primary buttons for your practice.  Spread the word and show your pride in family medicine.  

 


Government Relations

State Update
On June 24, the General Assembly sent the last of the Fiscal Year 2016 budget bills and budget implementation bills to the Governor, which he vetoed on June 25. He approved HB 3763 (the K-12 Education budget) on June 24 and it is now Public Act 99-0005.  Governor Rauner then vetoed the rest of the budget on Thursday, July 25.  Both chambers are scheduled to return to session on Tuesday, June 30, the last day of the fiscal year.

Federal Update

Tell Congress to Save AHRQ and NHCS using AAFP Speak Out
A draft appropriations bill in Congress puts two very important health care spending items on the chopping block.  The Agency or Research in Healthcare and Quality (AHRQ) would be eliminated and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the National Health Service Corps would be drastically cut in the bill introduced by House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies.  Learn more from AAFP News Now, and then use the included link to contact Congress directly via Speak Out. 
Remember, Congress returns to their home districts for the entire month of August.  Use that time to visit with your Representative.  AAFP has a template letter you can send to your reps district office scheduler. 


News You Can Use

Reporting Requirement Assistance! The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians joined with Telligen, Illinois' Medicare Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO), to help you be successful in meeting the ever changing and growing reporting requirements for payment and incentive programs.  Learn more and take advantage of the offer.



Members in the News

The first-year medical students at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine named alumnus Larry Jones, MD, of the Primary Care Group, in Harrisburg, as Mentor of the Year.  They selected Dr. Jones from among 67 current mentors at SIU School of Medicine.  Dr. Jones was the IAFP Family Physician of the Year in 2011.

Congratulations to Haemi Choi, MD who will be an official team physician for the USA at the 2015 summer World University Games (WUG) in Korea. Choi will work with other physicians and lend medical expertise to the premier athletic event. Dr. Choi will provide medical care for the USA delegation of athletes and staff. They will also provide onsite medical coverage at sporting events. He has provided medical care to athletes at the collegiate, amateur, Olympic and professional levels for more than a decade.
More information

Vice president of communications Ginnie Flynn was interviewed via Skype by WCIA-TV in Springfield on June 18 about teens and nicotine addiction for a story that aired that evening.  

The most recent issue of Chicago Medicine magazine has a cover story article featuring several IAFP leaders.  PR Task Force Members Kristin D. Drynan, MD (also on the board of directors) and Aaron Michelfelder, MD, along with IAFP board member James Valek, MD are featured in this cover story about the challenges of electronic records, and particularly in meeting new requirements for patient engagement in using electronic health records and patient portals. The article is attached to this email.  

Coverage of Dr. Chet Bone’s 100th birthday celebration appeared in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier and also included past president Ronald Johnson, MD and IAFP executive vice president Vincent Keenan, CAE.


  

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