Annual Meeting Recap 

IAFP Supports Extension of the Medical Practice Act

SB 0649 (House Amendment 3) extends the repeal date of the Medical Practice Act of 1987 from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015. The bill is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday, November 19, in the Health Care Licenses Committee and IAFP has slipped its support.

Exchange Open Enrollment Opens Nov. 15

Tomorrow the window opens for new enrollments and for those looking to change their plan. IAFP shared this brochure at the annual meeting, which can be helpful to members in working with their patients to ensure coverage. 

These tips, messages, and talking points are provided to help family physicians know what resources are available to help their patients find coverage through Medicaid or Get Covered Illinois -

Consider including some of the tools provided here in your office

Learn more - visit the websites and links listed as resources

Additional Resources

Doctors for America pocket cards:

Be Covered http://illinois.becovered.org/ an unbranded campaign by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois to increase residents' understanding of how to use their new insurance and also assist those who still need coverage, prepare for the next enrollment period

Your IAFP contact is Gordana Krkic, CAE Phone: 630-427-8007 Email: gkrkic@iafp.com

Health Transformation Summits

The Illinois Governor's Office for Health Innovation and Transformation, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Illinois State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Implementation Coordination Council will conduct a series of Health Transformation Summits around the state during Fall of 2014. Illinois is undertaking a number of initiatives to bring key stakeholders together to work collaboratively to improve the health of our citizens.  

Summit topics include:
*  The Governor's Office of Health Innovation and Transformation, a new entity coordinating health system improvement across the state;
*  Illinois' Medicaid Waiver application, which brings new flexibility to how healthcare providers can achieve health improvement in their communities;
*  Illinois' Innovation Grant application, which if successful, will provide critical local funding for health innovation and improvement;
*  The proposal to create Regional Health Improvement Collaboratives to spur and support local collaboration;
*  State Health Improvement Plan Metrics: Where Illinois stands on critical health priorities, and its goals for improvement;
*  Local examples and models for the kinds of innovative, cross-sector collaboration needed to produce meaningful health improvement in our communities.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED - see the attached flyer.

Federal Update

AAFP has been lobbying at the federal level to extend the Medicaid Primary Care Parity program past its expiration date of December 31st of this year.  The program, active for the 2013 and 2014 calendar years, increased Medicaid payments for specified primary care services to Medicare levels for certain primary care physicians.  If this program is not extended past this year, our members will see drastic cuts to their Medicaid payments, forcing many of them to limit or stop seeing Medicaid patients altogether.  

At the moment, there are three pieces of legislation at the federal level that support extension of this program - two in the House of Representatives, and one in the Senate.  The AAFP is supporting the Senate legislation, Ensuring Access to Primary Care for Women and Children Act (S.2694).  To that end, IAFP sent a letter in support to the state of Illinois as the Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services is also working to ensure the program's continuation. 

Now, AAFP and IAFP need YOUR help to stave off these looming cuts to Medicaid physician payment! Please use a Speak Out letter that is now available for both the Senate and the House to urge them not to cut your Medicaid payment.

Vaccinate Illinois Week - December 7-13

Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), IAFP has wonderful tools to help educate patients about the need for an annual flu vaccine.  Remember, everyone over age 6 months and all health care providers should get an annual flu vaccine.

 Learn more in this new article, which is co-authored by IAFP Public Health Committee Chair Rashmi Chugh, MD

Order these FREE tools for your practice at www.iafp.com/immunization:  

The Influenza Vaccine for Individuals with Diabetes brochure 

The Influenza Vaccine for Individuals with Asthma brochure

Click here (American Lung Association) to find a flu shot clinic near you!

Next week is "Get Smart about Antibiotics" Week

During Get Smart about Antibiotics Week (November 17 to 23), the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Patient Safety and Quality will co-host a mini webinar series with Telligen, the Illinois Quality Improvement Organization.  The webinars will address antibiotic stewardship, influenza, and community associated Clostridium difficile infections; they are intended for physicians, pharmacists, and other health care providers and professionals across the continuum of care. 

Download registration details and other Get Smart Week information.

National Dairy Council launches lactose intolerance consumer-friendly microsite

National Dairy Council has launched the new LI-focused microsite, which houses shareable, educational content for consumers. The socially-integrated destination not only utilizes a concise, impactful narrative to educate consumers about lactose intolerance, but will also highlight lactose intolerance-friendly recipes, videos, social media conversations and resources. The consumer-friendly destination about lactose intolerance provides information and resources to combat that confusion and stresses that dairy can still be a part of a healthy lifestyle, whether they're dairy-sensitive or not. 

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

Core Faculty position, West Suburban Family Medicine Residency - Click here for details

SIU School of Medicine Department of Family & Community Medicine/ SIU Decatur Family and Community Residency Program

University of Chicago - Director for Community Health, Service Learning and Scholarship + Assistant Professor

Assistant / Associate Professor of Family & Community Medicine -

Springfield (3 Positions)

Assistant Professor (2) - SIU Quincy and Carbondale

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

Cermak Health Systems - Cook County

Private Practice - North Shore

Medical Director - Friend Family Health Center in Chicago

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 and seeks Medical Directors for the Austin and Loretto clinics.

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

CASE STUDIES IN GENERAL SURGERY: Minimally Invasive Approaches

Jason Keune, MD, MBA

Assistant Professor of Surgery and Health Care Ethics

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

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