White Sox game is a big hit for the Foundation

The seventh annual Foundation fundraiser on August 15 brought out our biggest crowd ever.  Over 250 baseball fans flocked to U.S. Cellular Field to see the White Sox down the Toronto Blue Jays 11-5 on a gorgeous summer evening that included country music and capped off with fireworks.  Thanks to the record number of fans and the support of our six event sponsors, the one night of fun raised $5,600 for the Foundation's ongoing efforts to support student and resident activities throughout the year.  Thank you to ProAssurance for hosting the members' pre-game social before the game and a high-five to all of our corporate supporters. 

Cerner Corporation

Cigna-HealthSpring

Healthcare Associates Credit Union

Healthy Interactions

Molina Healthcare

ProAssurance Professional Liability Group       

IAFP report from the Contraceptive Equity Summit

Lauren Oshman, MD, a member of the Government Relations Committee, attended the Contraceptive Equity Summit with IAFP members Mandy Gittler, MD and First Vice President Alvia Siddiqi, MD

Dr. Oshman provided a report to IAFP:

The IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) just released a draft Family Planning Action Plan. Members are invited to review the Plan and provide feedback to Gordana Krkic, CAE at IAFP gkrkic@iafp.com by Wed., Sept. 10^th. IAFP will compile, review, and submit comments to HFS by the Sept. 15^th deadline.

Illinois Medicaid pays for 54% of all pregnancies and 94% of teen pregnancies. HFS Director Julie Hamos addressed improving access to all forms of contraception, especially LARCS (long acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs and implants) for all women.

The draft plan includes some important changes for family physicians providing care to Medicaid patients.

1.  Double the provider reimbursement rate for intrauterine device insertion from $44 to $88.

2.  Double the provider reimbursement rate for vasectomy service from $204 to $408.

3.  Increase the 340B medical providers' dispensing fee for LARCs from $25-$35 

4.  Increase the 340B medical providers' dispensing fee for hormonal contraceptives (three-month supply) 

5.  Allow reimbursement for LARC placement and E&M code (preventive or problem visit) with modifier -25. Currently patients may not receive their LARC on the same day just because the doctor cannot bill for both a problem visit and the LARC insertion at the same visit. (FQHCs are already allowed to bill for one encounter rate).

6.  FQHC to be allowed to bill fee-for-service for office based Essure sterilization.

There are some longer term suggestions that will also be important, including looking into allowing hospitals to bill for immediate postpartum placement of an IUD. HFS has a revised provider notice on family planning. It notes that patients can see any Medicaid provider for their family planning needs. It also mandates that family physicians discuss reproductive life planning and offer contraception from the most effective to the least effective. If they do not provide LARCs in their practice, they will need to refer to someone who does.

Finally, there will be a referendum on the ballot in November addressing contraception coverage for health insurance plans: The AAFP policy on family planning supports the ballot referendum. 

Family medicine collaborative event - Family Medicine Midwest 2014 - October 10-12 in Minneapolis!

 How can you contribute to the success of the event?  Attend the event and share in the Joy of Midwest Family Medicine.  Networking and learning opportunities are everywhere, from the pre-conferences to the closing research presentation!  Information, the schedule and online registration are all available on the conference web site at www.iafp.com/fmm.

State Update

POLST bill signed into law

SB 3076 has been signed into law. The bill provides updates to the Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) DNR form. The streamlining is expected to lead to wider use of the form. The law will authorize delegated physician assistants, nurse practitioners and second-year medical residents to sign the order.

230 Q&As about the Medicaid Managed Care Rollout

HFS released their 53-page document answering 230 questions (categorized) from the HFS Webcast on the procedures for enrollment and general managed care roll-out.  The link is on the HFS care coordination webpage and answers many specific questions from providers.

Federal Update

PQRS: How to Avoid 2016 Negative Payment Adjustments for CMS Medicare Quality Reporting Programs

AAFP condenses hundreds of pages into this handy 12-page summary.  

Click here for full information on each of the positions listed below:

Assistant Professor (2) - SIU Quincy and Carbondale

Assistant Professor & Asst. Chair of Geriatrics Program - SIU Springfield

Private Practice - North Shore

Medical Director - Friend Family Health Center in Chicago

Central IL Opportunities through AIMS Physician Recruiting

Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine Residency

UIC Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency

Faculty position opening

Prime Care Community Health

Multiple positions available with teaching opportunities

PCC Wellness Center

PCC has openings for physicians at their clinics on the Near West Side and in Oak Park

 Access all our FREE self-study CME that meets your needs! Log on at with www.iafp.com/education

• Understand diagnosis of concussion and tools to assist evaluation in the office.
• Review of concussion management strategies on return to school.
• Review of concussion management strategies on return to sport. 
• Discussion of case examples to highlight management techniques and pitfalls.

Immunizing Adolescents against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Meningococcal Disease: What You Need to Know

Presented by:Glenn Skow MD, MPH, Chief of Staff, Medical Director, Emergency Department, Fayette County Hospital

October 30, 2014, 12:00-1:00pm CST

• Understand the current guidelines for immunizing adolescents against HPV and meningococcal disease. 
• Educate patients and their parents/guardians about the importance of immunization. Develop an office-wide strategy to improve the immunization rate with adolescent patients (e.g., patient recall and reminder systems, standing orders).

Join EverThrive Illinois' Immunization Initiative for our FREE biannual seminar on Wednesday, September 17, 2014! Presentation topics will cover MMR, school vaccination requirements, flu, immunization policy updates, and a presentation on our Cooking Matters Program. The Fall Seminar will give you an opportunity to network with fellow health and social service professionals.

 Register Online 

Registration is now open for the 2014 ICAAP Annual Educational Conference, September 19-20 at the Hyatt Lisle and family physicians are invited to join your pediatric colleagues. Keynote sessions include Dr. Bradley Stolbach discussing his work in treating children and families who have experienced trauma and Dr. Niranjan Karnik discussing mental health in the general pediatric practice. Topics for breakout sessions include sleep disorders, perinatal depression, newborn screening update, management of type 2 diabetes, and more. Visit the ICAAP website for a full agenda and more information. 

California AFP Webinar on Opioid Prescribing

California Academy of Family Physicians CO*RE ER/LA Opioid REMS :  Achieving Safe Use While Improving Patient Care live Webinar (given at four remaining times, beginning September 23):

You can visit the series landing page here to find registration links to all the webinars. 

These 90-minute webinars meet the FDA requirements for ER/LA opioid risk evaluation and mitigation strategies [REMS], and include a wide range of topics relevant to your practice and patients. The webinars include the latest evidence-based information and practical tools you will put immediately to use, and much more. Upon completion of the assessment and evaluation you will receive 1.5 AAFP Prescribed credits, and receive both the faculty slides and additional resources you can use to improve your care of patients.

Illinois Resources on Opioid Safety

On May 21 DuPage County hosted a conference in Elmhurst on Opioid Safety. Seminar presentation audio, slides, and resources have been posted at the following link:  www.dupagehealth.org/opioidsafety.

You can also join the IAFP Safe Prescriber recognition program here for CME, sample office policies and a patient contract to help you safeguard your practice and your patients.

Grand Rounds Department of Family & Community Medicine

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Wednesday September 17 at 7:30AM

PULMONARY EMBOLI

Rael D. Sundy, M.D., SSM Medical Group, St. Louis, MO

SSM St. Mary's Health Center Kohler Auditorium - 2^nd Floor

6420 Clayton Road, Room 2234
St. Louis, MO  63117

1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits  1.0 AAFP CME Credits

For more information, contact:

Cathy Lee Jung, Program Coordinator

Saint Louis University Family Medicine Residency
Phone:  314-951-7230 Email:  cjung2@slu.edu
 

Upcoming Free Clinic in La Grange

The CURE Network (Collaborative Underserved Relief and Education) is hosting its fourth free clinic on September 13, 2014, at the Park District of La Grange, 536 East Avenue, La Grange. Doors open at 6:30 a.m. Services will include:  general medical screening, vision and dental services, and free flu shots offered courtesy of Walgreens. Click HERE for more information on CMF's website, or contact Karen Carroll, Executive Director, either by email: kcarroll@curenetwork.org; phone: (877)278-7631, or CURE's website, www.curenetwork.org.