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Maine Academy of Family Physicians PineCones E-News
Greetings!
MMA to Host Physician Payment Reform Forum on Wednesday Evening, June 27
The Maine Medical Association will host a forum on physician payment reform June 27th featuring national expert Harold Miller. The Forum is presented through the generous support of the Maine Health Management Coalition and is also co-sponsored by the Maine Osteopathic Association and Quality Counts.
The Forum will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and dinner will be available. The Forum is intended to inform physicians of the expected role of physicians in payment reform and will cover subjects ranging from Accountable Care Organizations to bundled payments and answer questions such as :
- What will payment reform mean to physicians?
- What impact will an ACO have on your practice?
- How can physicians lead payment and system change?
Mr. Miller will share national lessons and local opportunities for physician engagement and leadership in payment reform projects taking place around the state.
There is no charge to attend but registration is required. Any physician interested in attending should communicate with Dianna Poulin at MMA by calling 207-622-3374, ext. 223 or via e-mail to [email protected].
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Maine Vaccine Program 
The Department of Health and Human Services has requested clarification from the Maine Vaccine Board regarding provision of vaccines to children who live outside of Maine and see a Maine provider for vaccinations. The Board has reviewed the statute, and we want to advise providers of the following: - The statute clearly states that the vaccines purchased for the Universal Childhood Immunization Program are available only to children who are residents of Maine.
- The Federal "Vaccines for Children" (VFC) Program provides vaccines for children on Medicaid and is available to any child who has Medicaid regardless of the state of residence.
The Board recognizes the problem this raises for providers near our state borders, but we are bound by the language of the statute. We hope to rectify this with the next legislative session. For more information about the Maine Vaccine Board or to become involved contact: Emily McKenna ,Executive Assistant, KidsVax.org, ph 1.855.KidsVax (543.7829) cell 603.892.4131 fax 1.855.KidsFax (543.7329)
email [email protected] |
Do You Do Driver Exams? (school bus, commercial?) NEW Federal Rule Affects You
Final Rule Calls for National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners
The new federal regulations call for the creation of a training, testing and registration program for health professionals who provide physicals for drivers of commercial vehicles.
Physicians Providing Driver Exams Face New Federal Regulations -
The new rule is intended to improve highway safety and driver health.
The regulation calls for medical examiners to re-certify every 10 years and comply with additional reporting requirements.
Read More
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June 30 Deadline to ePrescribe & Avoid 2013 Penalty
In January 2009 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began offering eligible providers incentive payments for their use of an electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) system to prescribe for Medicare patients.
Eligible professionals need to report 25 separate electronic prescribing events during the reporting period (2012 calendar year) to receive an incentive and 10 times before June 30, 2012 to avoid a 2013 penalty.
Individual eligible professionals may be subject to a 1.5 reduction in Medicare payments in 2013 unless they are successful ePrescribers before June 30, 2012 (report 10 unique ePrescribing events for CPT codes reported on Medicare Part B claims with the G8553 code). A number of exceptions do apply. To learn more about the exceptions and how to request and exemption from CMS, visit the AMA website on the ePrescribing program HERE
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What Groups Can Learn From Solo Practice
Although more physicians are employees than practice owners now, some physicians still believe that solo practice is the best model for producing the highest quality of care at the lowest  cost and with the highest profit. In this classic FPM article, Doug Iliff, MD, argues that "every group should operate functionally as if it were an aggregate of solo practices under one roof." What makes solo physicians so effective, he says, is that they can act quickly and nimbly, they stay close to their customers, they are free to express their passions and personal values without guilt or acrimony, and they pay attention to long-term performance and profitability. |
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Will you be pictured NEXT year?
 MARK the DATES NOW for the MAFP 21st Annual Family Medicine Update CME By Family Docs for Family Docs April 10-13, 2013 at Sunday River Hotel & Conference Center Schedule & Registration will be available at: www.maineafp.org after January 1st 2013
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New Hib Vaccine Protects Infants
New Vaccine Protects Infants as Young as Age 6 Weeks Against Meningococcal, Hib Disease Family physicians now have a new weapon in their immunization armamentarium, thanks to the FDA's recent approval of GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals' application to market its meningococcal groups C and Y and Haemophilus B tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine, MenHibrix, in the United States. The vaccine is indicated for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups C and Y and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and is approved for use in children ages 6 weeks through 18 months. |
| Maine Immunization Program Regional Trainings
July 27, 2012 - Houlton Regional
Hospital - Houlton
August 3, 2012 - Hilton Garden
Inn - Bangor
August 9, 2012 - Fireside Inn -
Portland
Augusta 10, 2012 - Maine
Principals Association - Augusta
Open to all health professionals responsible for managing and supporting childhood vaccine programs including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and practice managers.
More information or to register HERE
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This Summer 
in Your Practice!
If you, like many other health care providers, find it difficult to motivate your patients to adopt healthy habits, try a new approach. This summer, "walk the talk" and show your patients just what healthy behaviors look like.
Use AIM-HI concepts to help you integrate fitness -- healthy eating, physical activity, and emotional well-being -- into your practice. As your staff members work together to achieve their fitness goals, your practice will benefit from their improved health, morale, and teamwork. And, if you're diligent about showing off your progress to your patients, they're more likely to get inspired and follow your lead.
For more information read the AIM-HI June Newsletter
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