MMS NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The loss of Dr. Bolanos and Dr. Field
Dear Colleagues,
Last weekend, the medical community lost two dedicated, widely admired physicians in an unfathomably tragic way.
Ours
is a close-knit community; many of us have trained and/or worked
together throughout the courses of our careers, and undoubtedly many of
you had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Lina Bolanos and Dr. Richard Field.
To you all I extend my deepest condolences.
Sincerely yours,
Hank Dorkin, MD
President, MMS
Make the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) work for you
Join the New England QIN-QIO for an interactive webinar, MIPS In The Real World: How Your Peers Are Achieving Success.
The webinar will feature two Massachusetts practices that have
discovered how to successfully report for the Merit-based Incentive
Payment System (MIPS) in the 2017 transitional year. This online event
is ideal for clinicians, office managers, practice administrators, and
anyone else who wants to learn how to easily avoid a negative payment
adjustment for MIPS in 2017. Hosts Leila Volinsky, Kelsey Baker, and
Karen Evans, from the New England QIN-QIO, will highlight actionable
steps. The webinar will be held Wednesday, May 17, 3:00-4:00 p.m.; register.
For ongoing information and support, visit Making Sense of MACRA: The Quality Payment Program.
This website from New England QIN-QIO will help guide your transition
from PQRS to MIPS, connect you with your state leads, provide resources
and timely information, and leverage your data to choose measures and
review performance.
Find out your participation status in MIPS
-
Participation
notification letters from CMS recently notified clinicians of their MIPS
status. The letter informed clinicians whether or not they, or the
individuals in their group, are exempt from MIPS. It called on
clinicians to review the information and determine whether they plan to
participate as a group or individually. See a
sample letter on the education page of qpp.cms.gov.
- This interactive tool on
the CMS Quality Payment Program website can determine whether or not
you should participate in the MIPS track of the Quality Payment Program
in 2017, and link you to relevant resources.
- This participation fact sheet
outlines who can participate now, who’s exempt, and next steps. If you
are not in the program in 2017, you can participate voluntarily and you
will not be subject to payment adjustments.
- This article, 8 Ways to Know if You Should Participate in the Quality Payment Program, comes from CMS (available from 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 12).
- For the latest information, visit the Quality Payment Program website.
The Quality Payment Program Service Center may be reached at
1-866-288-8292 (TTY 1-877-715- 6222), Monday through Friday, 8:00
a.m.-8:00 p.m. ET or via email at QPP@cms.hhs.gov.
Look online for up-to-date immunization best practice
The CDC has released the General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization as an online report. These guidelines replace the General Recommendations on Immunization, last published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) in 2011. The online format will enable more frequent updates.
The General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization goes beyond
vaccination recommendations. It helps providers assess vaccine benefits
and risks, use recommended administration practices, understand the most
effective strategies for ensuring that vaccination coverage remains
high, and communicate the importance of vaccination to reduce the
effects of vaccine-preventable disease. Continuing education (CE) credit
is available for the General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization.
- To receive updates on this and other recommendations and guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, sign up.
- If you have questions regarding immunization practice, please send them to NIPinfo@cdc.gov.
- If
you have questions about immunizations, call the MDPH Immunization
Program at (617) 983-6800 and ask to speak to an immunization
epidemiologist.
Mark your calendars: The Public Health Leadership Forum is moving to the fall
John Auerbach, MBA, president and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, will be the keynote speaker at the 14th Public Health Leadership Forum.
This event (traditionally in spring) will be held October 26,
1:00-5:00 p.m., at MMS Headquarters in Waltham. The annual forum
convenes leaders in public health, medicine, policy, industry, and the
community to discuss pressing public health issues and identify ways to
work together for positive outcomes. For information, email phforum@mms.org.
I heart history: Commemorate cardiac health breakthroughs
In Spare Parts: Hope, Drama & Dispute,
Professor Shelley McKellar examines cardiac transplantation alongside
the development of artificial hearts and replacement therapies for
hearth failure patients during the 1960s. This lecture commemorates the
50th anniversary of the first heart transplant operation. Dr. McKellar
holds the Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine at the Schulich School
of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Ontario. The event
will be held at Harvard Medical School (Cannon Room/Building C, 240
Longwood Ave.), Tuesday, May 23, 5:30 p.m. RSVP Kerry O’Connor, (617)
432-5169, or BostonMedLibr@gmail.com.
MMS testimony updates and opportunities
Expanding substance use treatment and prevention
The MMS testified
this week before the Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
Committee on bills that seek to address the opioid epidemic and prevent
youth substance use. The MMS supports the following bills and policies:
- Bill
1101, An Act Improving Access to Naloxone, potentially eliminates a
barrier at pharmacies to prescribing and dispensing naloxone. It aligns
with a resolution passed at the MMS Annual Meeting last month to promote
awareness of naloxone standing orders.
- Bill
1101 would expand addiction treatment in houses of correction, aligning
with MMS policy to increase state and county inmates’ access to
treatment for opioid use disorders.
- The
expansion of the coverage treatment mandate from 14 days to 28 or 30
days, proposed in House Bill 2394 and Senate Bill 1103.
- Senate
Bill 1096, aimed at preventing adolescent substance use, will be
especially important given the impending commercial recreational
marijuana industry in the state.
Facilitating medical decision making for incapacitated patients
The MMS testified
at the State House this week on bills that would facilitate medical
decision making for incapacitated patients lacking health care proxies.
The MMS supports the following bills and policies:
- Senate
bill 783 and House bill 3093, An Act Improving Medical Decision Making,
is an important step towards safe, prompt medical care for patients who
lack capacity. If this bill becomes law, physicians could appoint a
family member or close friend of the patient as a surrogate decision
maker. The bill includes caveats regarding inpatient mental health
treatment and “extraordinary” medical decisions.
- House
bill 3027 seeks to establish an office of adult guardianship and
decisional support services, which would facilitate a network of
skilled, trained volunteers to serve as surrogate decision-makers for
incapacitated patients lacking family members or close friends who can
fulfil this role.
Valuing medical practices in divorce proceedings
The MMS testified
this week before the Committee on Judiciary on a bill that would affect
the valuation of professional practices in divorce proceedings. The MMS
supports Senate bill 764, which would ensure that professional
corporations, including physician office practices, be valued at fair
market value, as defined consistently with federal statutes governing
other transactions involving physician practices, in particular when the
professional is going to stay with the corporation and continue to
provide services.
Being 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.
Reminders: Book now to avoid disappointment
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. The session will be held at MMS Headquarters,
Waltham (May 16, 2017; Commonwealth Room, 10:00 a.m.). To register, click on the 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.
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.
MMS membership benefits
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.
Educational programs and events
Unless otherwise noted, all events are held at the MMS Headquarters, 860 Winter St., Waltham, MA. View our full calendar of upcoming live CME activities.
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.
Medical Care of Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities - Live Webinar
Friday, June 16, 2017, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Featured Online CME Activities – Risk Management Credit
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
See our full listing of risk management online CME activities.
This week in health care
Mass. nurses mull 2018 ballot question on per-patient staffing
Massachusetts nurses believe patient safety and quality of care are
declining amid increased patient counts for nurses and health care
corporatization, and the nurses union is weighing a 2018 ballot campaign to limit the number of patients assigned to a nurse at once.
State awards $6M to Western Mass. domestic violence service providers
The state has awarded $34 million in contracts each year for the next
three years under a competitive bidding process to organizations that
provide services to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Some 10 Western Massachusetts organizations received awards of more than $6.4 million.
MIT Grand Hackathon 2017
More than 400 engineers, clinicians, designers, and developers from
around the country will gather this weekend for the fourth annual Massachusetts Institute of Technology Grand Hack with one goal in mind: solving health care's biggest challenges.
Opioid deaths down in quarter
The numbers in the latest quarterly report from the state Department of
Public Health are preliminary and involve just three months, making it
difficult to establish a trend. But they do show a decrease:
The state tallied about 450 confirmed and suspected deaths between
January and March, compared with about 500 in the previous quarter.
Steward, physician group swap fraud charges
One of Steward Health Care System's largest physician groups has filed a fraud and breach of contract suit
for as much as $60 million against the for-profit hospital chain,
triggering a threatened countersuit and allegations of doctors
wrongfully retaining receipts.
Search for mental health care for children is often fruitless
Harvard researchers posing as the parent of a depressed 12-year-old
called hundreds of child psychiatrists and pediatricians looking for
appointments, and discovered what many actual parents know through
bitter experience: Most of the time the calls were fruitless.
Reliant approves Optum acquisition
Reliant Medical Group doctors and trustees have unanimously voted to be acquired by OptumHealth, a Minnesota-based division of national insurer UnitedHealth, according to a statement from a Reliant spokesman.
Med schools to teach how to discuss patients' goals for care—and for life
The four medical schools in Massachusetts have jointly agreed to teach students and residents how to talk with patients about what they want from life, so future doctors will know how far to go in keeping gravely ill patients alive.
Optometrists pitch $20 million in MassHealth savings
The study, by former MassHealth chief Tom Dehner of Health Management Associates, found the bulk of savings
would stem from allowing optometrists, not just opthamologists, to
treat styes, ocular rosacea and dry eye ($9.4 million) and reducing
eye-related emergency room visits ($6.4 million).
Independent pharmacies see some hope
According to Todd Brown, executive director of the Massachusetts
Independent Pharmacists Association, over the past several years the
state pharmacy board has reported a 2 to 3 percent annual increase in
the number of licenses issued to independent pharmacies.
