MMS NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join discussions on concussions for best practice updates at our live CME webinar
Concussion
research and treatment guidelines have evolved rapidly. This live
webinar will cover concussions and head injuries, recurrent concussions,
and post-concussion syndrome. Discussions on Concussions: Clinical Headlines will
help you identify symptoms and best practices for treating and moving
past a concussion or traumatic brain injury. The seminar will be
presented by William Meehan, M.D., Director of the Micheli Center for
Sports Injury Prevention and Director of Research for the Brain Injury
Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. The webinar will be held May 10,
2017 (noon); information and registration.
See the MMS warn of “grievous harm” to patients if the American Health Care Act becomes law
The MMS and other leaders in state politics and health care responded
with dismay to the passage of the American Health Care Act
(“Trumpcare”) in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. Henry
Dorkin, M.D., president of the MMS, said, “None of the modifications
made to the original legislation have mitigated the grievous harm that
this bill would inflict on our patients — including the most
vulnerable.” Check out his full statement in The Recorder. In an interview with NECN, Dr. Dorkin described the potential impact of the bill on his patients with cystic fibrosis (starting at 3:45).
Find out how media and lawmakers responded to MMS support for a supervised injection facility
The decision
by the MMS House of Delegates to advocate for a pilot supervised
injection facility (SIF) in the Commonwealth drew extensive media
coverage. Leading lawmakers on Beacon Hill responded cautiously, though
indicated their willingness to learn more. The MMS is the first medical
society in the US to endorse a SIF as a potential tool in reducing
opioid overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment. Media
highlights include:
Renew your MMS membership: Now, more than ever, it counts
Please renew today.
From Washington, D.C. and the preservation of the Affordable Care Act
to Beacon Hill and proposed legislation that would streamline medical
decision making, the MMS ensures that your perspective and expertise is
reflected in legislative and regulatory policy affecting Massachusetts
physicians. Your voice and support are vital to our ability to advocate
for the concerns of physicians and their patients.
Graduating medical students: Continue your free MMS membership
If
you are staying in Massachusetts, talk with your residents-fellows
residency program director about free MMS membership. Alternatively, ask
your program coordinator to submit a 2017 program roster to activate
the MMS benefits for you and your colleagues.
Beginning
your training out of state? Maintain your membership through December
2018 at no cost. Watch your email inbox for more information.
Questions? Email groups@massmed.org or call (800) 322-2303, ext.7748.
Residents & fellows completing training in June 2017: Access your free MMS membership
- The MMS offers free membership for your first year in practice. Maintain benefits like your New England Journal of Medicine subscription whether or not you’re staying in MA. For more information, contact mmsprocessing@mms.org or 800-322-2303 ext. 7495.
- Supplementing
training with a fellowship? Your new program coordinator can submit a
2017–18 roster to provide membership for you and your program
colleagues. Watch your email inbox for details.
- For more information, contact groups@mms.org or 800-322-2303 ext. 7748.
Join the coalition to increase adult immunization
Physician
practices are invited to join the Massachusetts Adult Immunization
Coalition (MAIC), a collaborative partnership dedicated to increasing
adult immunization through education, networking, and sharing innovative
and best practices. MAIC currently includes more than 200 members
representing local and state public health organizations, community
health centers, health insurance plans, pharmacies, physicians, vaccine
manufacturers, long-term care and senior service organizations, consumer
advocacy groups, hospitals, home health, and college health services.
There is no charge to join. The Coalition meets three or four times a
year, and sponsors an annual conference in spring. The Coalition will
hold its next meeting on Thursday evening, June 1, 2017, at MMS
Headquarters in Waltham. The agenda includes, among other things,
updates from the DPH on adult vaccination rates and Tdap maternal
effectiveness data, and a discussion of standing orders, EHR
optimization, and other strategies to overcome barriers to increasing
adult immunization. For more information about the Coalition, please
visit MAIC.jsi.com, or contact Robyn Alie, ralie@mms.org.
Be heard on proposed changes to BORIM licensing requirements
The
Board of Registration in Medicine has proposed changes to its licensing
and Practice of Medicine regulations. These may affect the delegation
of medical services, medical record retention, and more. A hearing is
planned for May 18, 2017, at 4.00 p.m., in Wakefield, and the board will
accept written comments until May 19, 5.00 p.m. The MMS plans to
provide input and encourages members to do so; information.
Volunteer as a facilitator with medical students
The
Boston University School of Medicine Integrated Problems (IP) course
depends on volunteer physicians to facilitate the small group
problem-based learning sessions for second-year medical students. Share
your valuable medical experience and expertise in developing the
students’ clinical reasoning skills. The course is between September and
November 2017. Join us for lunch to learn more on June 15, 2017; information and registration.
Collaborate with physicians and film-makers on diversity in medicine
Changing the Face of Medicine, an exploration of diversity, will include the Boston premier of the Oscar-qualified Black Women in Medicine, a short documentary that “packs in enough smarts, context and emotional clarity for a far longer film” (Los Angeles Times). The event includes a presentation
by Crystal Emery, the film’s director, and workshops designed by Emery
to promote collaboration between physicians of all races and systemic
changes supporting diversity in medicine. The event is free, catered,
and open to physicians, medical students, aspiring physicians, and the
general public. It is being held at Wellesley College on May 6, 2017; information and registration. Here’s that review from the Los Angeles Times: “Inspiring doc ‘Black Women in Medicine’ profiles glass-ceiling-busting physicians.”
Get trained for the Registration of Provider Organization Program
Select
provider organizations are required to file with both the HPC and CHIA
in an effort to improve transparency relating to care and track changes
in the health care market. The Massachusetts Registration of Provider
Organizations (MA-RPO) Program makes this double-registration a one-step
process. This year’s training, provided by the HPC, includes
financial and APM filings. Sessions will be held at MMS Headquarters,
Waltham (May 16, 2017; Commonwealth Room, 10am ) and Baycare Health Partners, Springfield (May 9, 2017). To register, click on your preferred date. The deadline for filing is July 31, 2017; information.
Build leadership, effectiveness, and conflict management skills
This
interactive, experiential two-day program is for residents and
physicians in clinical practice, administration, and leadership. Managing Workplace Conflict: Improving Leadership and Personal Effectiveness
is designed to help you establish relationships, teams, and work
environments in which you and your colleagues can deliver your best
care. You will learn to communicate more effectively, apply negotiation
and conflict resolution skills with peers and leaders, implement
appropriate changes in personal and organizational practices, exhibit
appropriate boundaries, and more. The program provides 17 hours of
category 1 risk management CME and is co-sponsored by Physician Health
Services and the Massachusetts Medical Society. It will be held on June
8-9, 2017 at MMS Headquarters, Waltham: information and registration.
Educational Programs and Events
Unless otherwise noted, all events are held at MMS headquarters, 860 Winter St., Waltham, MA. View our full calendar of upcoming live CME activities.
Discussions on Concussions: Clinical Headlines Via Live Webinar
Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Directors of Medical Education Conference – Advancing Collaboration and Compliance
Thursday, May 18, 2017, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Managing Workplace Conflict: Improving Leadership & Personal Effectiveness
Thursday, June 8, 2017, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., June 9, 2017, 8:00 a.m - 12:45 p.m.
15th Annual Symposium on Men’s Health – The Many Facets of Men’s Health: Clinical Conversations Impacting Your Patients
Thursday, June15, 2017, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
SAVE THE DATE
Medical Care of Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Via Live Webinar
Friday, June 16, 2017, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Featured Online CME Activities – Risk Management Credit
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
See our additional risk management online CME activities.
This Week in Health Care
GOP plan could erode Mass. universal care law
The health care bill that squeaked through the US House of
Representatives Thursday threatens to blow a hole in the Massachusetts
budget and undermine the state's near-universal access to insurance. Local reactions poured in after the vote. Analysts warned of steep cost increases for consumers in Massachusetts, which has a high prevalence of chronic disease.
Atrius cuts 125 positions, freezes salaries after rough fiscal year
The state’s largest independent physician group, an accountable care
organization with 875 doctors across the state, reported a $37 million operating loss off $1.9 billion in revenue in fiscal 2015. Executives say they expect to end 2016 in the red.
Staff cuts at Brigham and Women’s reflect missed financial targets
Despite reporting operating margins in the black, the hospital said
revenues are no longer keeping pace with expenses, leading to several
years of missed budget targets.
Massachusetts insurers ask state to suspend key Obamacare program
Board members of Massachusetts Association of Health Plans voted to support suspension of the risk adjustment program in Massachusetts.
Community health centers receive state grants
Nearly $500,000 in grant money was awarded
to 11 community health centers for projects including telehealth
services in dermatology and optometry, installation of video conference
equipment, and the purchase of a panoramic dental X-ray machine.
UMass Memorial says area hospitals can meet demand for psychiatric beds
The hospital, which has said the decision to close the beds was a
difficult one, said there is a need for medical/surgical beds for the
region's only major trauma center. Hospital leaders have noted that several area hospitals are scheduled to open psychiatric beds.
BMC study finds most transgender patients don't get surgery
Hormonal therapy may be popular for transgender patients, but gender-affirming surgery is not. The findings
come from a study performed by Boston Medical Center, which opened the
Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in 2016. The study looked at
99 transgender patients undergoing hormone therapy at BMC.
Want healthy food? In much of Mass., it’s hard to get
A new analysis
done for the Massachusetts Public Health Association found that these
areas of limited grocery access—sometimes called “food deserts”—stretch
across a surprisingly wide swath of this prosperous state.
In unique deal, Amgen offering full refund to Harvard Pilgrim if $14,000 drug fails
Amgen is so sure its cholesterol-lowering drug Repatha works that it has agreed to fully cover the costs
for Harvard Pilgrim patients taking the drug if they land in the
hospital with a heart attack or stroke, in a deal the insurer calls
groundbreaking.
High lead levels found in water at hundreds of schools
Water testing at more than 1,000 Massachusetts schools found that a majority had at least one sample showing lead levels above regulatory limits, and in a few cases results rivaled or exceeded levels measured during the crisis in Flint, Mich. The results of water testing at state schools were published.
HPC encouraged by interventions involving drug-addicted babies
Early results from a pilot program focusing on babies born addicted to drugs show promise for treatment and prevention
efforts, according to the state's Health Policy Commission. The
commission awarded grants ranging from around $250,000 to $1 million to
six hospitals for initiatives that care for and treat mothers and
infants affected by opioid use.
Boston VA office incorrectly processed 1 in 6 traumatic brain injury cases: ‘An absolute travesty’
The Veterans Administration benefits office in Boston has bungled traumatic brain injury claims at an alarming rate, shortchanging some veterans out of thousands of dollars.
Two drugs from Massachusetts biotechs win FDA approval
Federal regulators used an accelerated approval
process to green-light a targeted small-molecule lung cancer drug,
developed by Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. Also approved was a hormone
treatment developed by Radius Health Inc. to treat postmenopausal women
at high risk for bone fractures.
Netflix’s ‘13 Reasons Why’ has gone viral; so has alarm over its depiction of suicide
The National Association of School Psychologists issued a statement warning parents about the possible impact of the series on vulnerable youth.
