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March 25, 2016 - From the Michigan Osteopathic Association
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MOA Advocacy Delivers SB 150 - Gov. Snyder Signs Bill
LANSING, MI - As an advocate for Senate Bill 150, the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) strongly recommended changes to existing health policy. The SB 150 was sponsored by Senator Margaret O'Brien, with the MOA as a leading supporter throughout the process. The legislation amended the Insurance Code to require health insurers - and health maintenance organizations - to provide a program to synchronize multiple maintenance prescription drugs for the treatment of chronic long-term care conditions of their customers. The bill, commonly referred to as the "Med Synchronization Bill," allows a patient to work with their physician and pharmacist to synchronize their multiple prescriptions each month. While the bill targets the chronically ill, Schedule 2-5 drugs have been exempted from from being able to be synchronized. The overall goal is to make it easier for patients to get their medications each month and manage their chronic illness.
As a strong supporter, the MOA was invited to join Governor Rick Snyder and Sen. O'Brien in the signing ceremony. The MOA was represented by the MOA Executive Director Kris Nicholoff and MOA Student Trustee, Duncan McGuire. "Being a part of the ceremony is a reminder that physicians have a responsibility to shape healthcare in their communities. It is gratifying to see that when our voices are heard, we can achieve positive results," said McGuire.
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The 117th Annual Spring Scientific Convention will be May 12-15, 2016. Join us in Dearborn to reconnect with colleagues and meet new friends. To learn more about the line up of speakers and the options for attendees, click HERE
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The Northern Michigan Osteopathic Association's 2016 Summer Conference will be June 16-19, 2016, at the Mission Point Resort on beautiful Mackinac Island. Registration is open.
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AMOA Membership Drive
From the AMOA: Please consider joining our group of significant others of Michigan Osteopathic Association members for the 2016-2017 calendar year. Join the AMOA! Your membership matters - to the osteopathic profession, the Michigan Osteopathic Association and to the Advocates for the Michigan Osteopathic Association.
Your membership dues of $30.00 or less supports AMOA activities which includes advocacy and education. We also tour the state of Michigan with our distracted driver simulator, reaching out to people of all ages. In fact, we probably have visited somewhere near you! Don't know what a distracted driver simulator looks like? Check this out! Distracted Driver Video Toyota We monitor legislative issues, post up to date reports that summarize issues on our website and work regularly to provide an osteopathic voice to legislators. We work to create a fun, social, but learning experience at the MOA Conference every May, including a business meeting and a social events for significant others and their physician.
Don't hesitate to contact our membership chair Angela Kalcec, at 517-878-5003 or at michiganadvocates@gmail.com if you have questions, concerns, or would just like to share what happened to that dues renewal notice. Please considering joining a group of men and women passionate about osteopathic medicine. We will provide you many opportunities to do some great philanthropic work and to create a group of friends to last a lifetime. Please consider joining using the form attached! We look forward to hearing from you soon! Lynette Goldberger - President AMOA 2015-2016 Jennifer Magnatta - President AMOA 2016-2017 Angela Kalcec - President AMOA Membership Chair For the AMOA Membership form click here |
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| | Dr. R. Taylor Scott answers questions from WLNS reporters |
The Parent Information Network and iVaccinate
The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) is a leading stakeholder in a group that has advocated for vaccinations. The group meets regular and plans legislative efforts and public campaigns to raise awareness of vaccination rates. While the group has worked for years on various issues, recently the organization was formalized as the "Parent Information Network" (PIN). PIN is chaired by Kevin McKinney, Legislative Liaison for the MOA. The group includes:
- American Academy of Pediatrics - Michigan
- Michigan Academy of Family Physicians
- Michigan Association for Local Public Health
- Michigan Association of Health Plans
- Michigan Association of School Nurses
- Michigan Council for Child and Maternal Health
- Michigan State Medical Society
- MSMS Alliance
- School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) participates by providing data related to vaccinations and community health. Two years ago, Michigan was close to being the worst state in the country in terms of allowing vaccination waivers. The PIN group supported reform designed to better inform parents on the safety and importance of vaccinations. As a result, Michigan's waiver rates plummeted by more than 39 percent statewide in 2015. But a few legislators worked on legislation that would remove the reforms and put community health at risk. PIN scheduled meetings with legislators and signaled opposition. PIN Also initiated a campaign that included a four-city press conference to inform the public on the success of the waiver reforms and the dangers of going back to a system that left large numbers of children unvaccinated and communities unprotected. PIN will continue the efforts to promote vaccinations through a campaign called "iVaccinate: A Public Education Campaign to Boost Michigan's Childhood Immunization Rate." The campaign will include press releases and social media efforts to raise immunization rates and combat misinformation that has spread through our state. Look for the hashtag #iVaccinate and help spread the word that vaccinations protect our communities. Please contact the MOA if you want to be a voice in the iVaccinate campaign. We also are building a speakers list of parents who are willing to participate in the iVaccinate campaign. Contact Todd Ross - tross@domoa.org |
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ABMS Recognizes Addiction Medicine as a Subspecialty
William Morrone, DO, a member of the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) Safe Opioid Use Task Force, and the president of the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM), commends the decision by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to recognize addiction medicine as a |
| | Dr. Morrone at the MOA 2015 Spring Scientific Convention |
subspecialty. "This is one of the top five most important events in the history of addiction medicine in the last 100 years," said Dr. Morrone. The vote was unanimous as 29 out of 29 of the ABMS members voting on the decision were in favor of recognizing the subspecialty.
The AMBS recognition represents two major changes:
- Physicians can become ABMS board certified in addiction medicine
- The development of more addiction medicine fellowship programs that accept mixed-discipline applicants
The recognition also gives addiction medicine more credibility, which will help lead to parity for mental health and addiction treatment in terms of reimbursement and coverage, Dr. Morrone says.
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CDC Offers Information on Opioid Addiction and Prevention:
The CDC has a tremendous amount of information available online, including the new opioid prescription guidelines. The CDC's work to prevent opioid abuse include a three-pronged approach - Improving Data, Strengthening State Efforts and Equipping Health Care Providers. More
Michigan Psychiatric Society Annual Spring Meeting:
The U.S. The American Psychiatric Association & Michigan Psychiatric Society are hosting their annual Spring Meeting on Friday, April 15th 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at Webers Inn in Ann Arbor, MI. More
Preparing for Emergencies: A Legal Perspective: The CDC and Prevention's Public Health Law Program (PHLP) are developing legal tools and provides technical assistance to public health colleagues and policymakers to help keep their communities safer and healthier. More
Patient-Friendly EHR Tools?: The major healthcare information technology developers, and many of their largest customers, have pledged to make it easier for patients to use the information in their EHRs. The 17 vendors involved provide EHR, and other IT systems, to 90% of U.S. hospitals. More
Patient Safety and Quality Leaders Honored at MHA Symposium: The MHA announced the winners of the 2016 MHA Keystone Center Patient Safety & Quality Leadership Award during the MHA Patient Safety and Quality Symposium. This award recognizes leaders in patient safety and quality improvement whose contributions to the field transcend the bounds of their own hospital or health system. More
Zika Virus Update: Interim Guidelines for Health Care Providers Caring for Infants and Children with Possible Zika Virus Infection. More
If you have an article or online resource you would like to share with the DO Family, please contact: Todd Ross, Manager of Communications 517.827.0615 - tross@domoa.org
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Feb. 15, 2016 saw the passing of Howard Rossman, DO
Feb. 4, 2016 saw the passing of Gerald Reznick, DO
Feb. 4, 2016 saw the passing of Jack Lighton, DO
Feb. 3, 2016 saw the passing of Norman Decker, DO
Jan. 26, saw the passing of Wayne Meech, DO
Dec. 11, 2016 saw the passing of Joseph T. Rogers, DO
Dec. 1 of 2015 saw the passing of William A. Athens Sr., DO
Nov. 22 of 2015 saw the passing of Jesse J. Cardellio, DO
To see a list of all Michigan Osteopathic Association members who have passed, click HERE.
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The MOA Pulse is a member benefit for sharing news and events. If you have any news items you would like to share, or if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact:
Todd Ross
Manager of Communications
Michigan Osteopathic Association
517/827-0615
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