MMS NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
How and why to get involved in an MMS committee
If you're looking to revitalize your network and support your professional community, getting
more involved with the MMS accomplishes both at once. Consider
participating on a committee (we're bound to have at least one that
aligns with your interests) or the Member Interest Network Executive
Council. Committee appointments are for specific terms. We have put in
place resources for distance participation, including conference calls
and online meetings. Applications are due March 2; more info and applications.
New CME requirements for licensing in 2018
In
2018, the Board of Registration in Medicine is piloting a new program
to help physicians focus their continuing education on their patients’
needs. The program cuts biennial CME requirements from 100 to 50. Learn more about pending changes
to licensing requirements, and the guidelines and frequently asked
questions relating to CME in Massachusetts. Additional information,
including licensing forms, is available from the Board of Registration in Medicine.
Renew your MMS membership and lower your CME costs
What
can you save on CME when you renew your MMS membership? Our online CME
credits are relatively affordable to start with. On top of that, your
membership benefit covers nearly half the cost. For example, if you earn
10 online credits a year through the MMS (for which nonmembers would
pay $220), you pay $120. Get more credits and save more money. Online renewal is simple and only takes minutes. Visit www.massmed.org/renew now. Questions? Call (800) 322-2303, ext. 7495. If you already renewed for 2018, thank you and Happy Holidays!
Value of MMS membership
CME savings $100 a year (variable)
NEJM subscription $189 a year
NEJM Journal Watch Online $129 a year
Value so far $418 a year*
+ Supporting advocacy and public health Priceless
*Savings will vary depending on the type and number of CME courses completed.
Available online: MMS survey results on medical-aid-in-dying
Thank
you to the MMS members who completed our survey this September on
various forms of medical aid-in-dying. Respondents were told that the
survey results would be made available after the 2017 Interim Meeting.
The full report and survey results are now posted. Missed the results of the Interim Meeting? Get caught up.
What you need to learn about MassHealth Payment and Care Delivery Innovation (PCDI) — and how to learn it
Effective
March 18, MassHealth will be offering an expanded selection of health
plan options to managed care eligible members. These new options are
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and a key part of MassHealth PCDI
as managed care plan options.
MassHealth
is rolling this out in three phases, and offering educational sessions
for each phase. Phase One educational opportunities (including a guide,
webinars, and live classes) are available through December 28; information.
Environmental health conference: Natural gas and public health
This unique conference explores the health impacts of gas infrastructure in our local communities. Natural Gas Infrastructure and Public Health: From Local to Global
will be held at the Boston University Photonics Center on January 30,
10:00-5:00 p.m. Conference co-sponsors include the Massachusetts Medical
Society, Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts
Association of Health Boards, Greater Boston Physicians for Social
Responsibility, and more. The conference will address the impact of
natural gas infrastructure (NGI) on air pollution and respiratory
disease, and climate change and its health consequences, as well as the
roles of Comprehensive Health Impact Assessments and municipal Boards of
Health in NGI planning; information and registration.
What's up at the State House
Testifying on physician prescribing
The
Medical Society provided testimony to the Joint Committee on Public
Health last week expressing concern on two bills related to physician
prescribing. For a bill proposing to mandate electronic prescribing
for controlled substances, the Medical Society affirmed its support for
electronic prescribing, but cautioned on legislative mandates,
especially in light of imperfect DEA regulations on the issue.
In addition, the Medical Society conveyed its opposition to a bill that would create additional enforcement strategies for prescription monitoring
program compliance. The Medical Society outlined the existing
mechanisms of enforcement—at both the DPH and BORIM—which MMS believes
are sufficient to address the concern.
Reminders: Stuff you should click on
Take action by 12/31 to avoid a 2018 Medicare penalty
The
AMA is reminding physicians that the Medicare reimbursement system has
changed. If you have not done so already, you have until December 31 to
take a few simple steps to avoid a Medicare payment penalty in 2019. The
changes are part of the government’s implementation of MACRA, the new
Medicare law that will affect physicians and practices of all sizes. Find out more from the AMA. The AMA's resources include a MACRA resource center, a step-by-step guide to the process, and a MACRA podcast series on ReachMD, with tips for small practices.
MMS website: Updated Physician Search page
To ensure that we are providing the most accurate information available, the MMS has updated our Find a Physician
website page with links to the Board of Registration in Medicine
physician database and instructions on how to use DocbookMD. DocbookMD
is a member benefit that connects you with the MMD member database and allows HIPAA-compliant communication among physicians; learn more.
Benefit Buzz: Peace of mind when addressing a Board issue
Notification
of a complaint and proceedings from the Board of Registration in
Medicine (BORIM) can be time-consuming, challenging, and costly. The MMS
Legal Advisory Plan (LAP), a member-only, low-cost legal service, is
designed to provide expert advice from the plan’s attorneys to
effectively respond to Board issues. For peace of mind, enroll or renew
for the January 2018 LAP. You must be a LAP member at the initiation of a
BORIM-related investigation to avail yourself of plan services; learn more. Questions? Email lap@massmed.org or call (781) 434-7311.
New rule for Medical Malpractice Tribunal
The courts have recently adopted a new rule relating to the Medical Malpractice Tribunal.
The tribunal — consisting of a judge, an attorney, and a physician —
screens every medical malpractice suit against a physician in
Massachusetts to determine whether there is a legitimate question of
liability for a court to decide. The new rule provides that if the clerks are unable to find a physician to serve, the hearing may be held before a single judge.
To protect the usefulness of the tribunal, we need to ensure active physician participation. Please express your willingness to serve, and then let your office staff know that you may get a call from a court clerk.
The MMS will expand its information about the new rule as it is implemented.
Educational programs and events
View our full calendar of upcoming live CME activities.
Featured online CME courses – Risk Management credit
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Find additional risk management online CME activities.
This week in health care
Sign up for daily roundups of health news affecting Massachusetts.
After teen's suicide, family launches fundraiser for bullying prevention
A
Sutton family says their teenage son killed himself last week after
struggling with bullying from his peers. In his memory, Tronerud's
family has launched an effort to support bullying prevention and self-harm awareness education.
Holyoke Soldiers' Home faulted in state audit
The Holyoke Soldiers' Home was unable to document
that overtime for nurses was authorized or that dorm room and safety
equipment inspections were done, according to a state audit.
Bostonian of the Year 2017: The concussion researcher
A generation from now, the work of another Boston physician, Dr. Ann McKee,
may mean people will react with the same incredulousness to stories of
how parents once signed up their 6-year-olds to play tackle football.
Head of health care union suspended
Tyrék
D. Lee Sr. leads the Service Employees International Union's Local
1199, which represents about 56,000 workers in Massachusetts. He faces
accusations of sexual harassment, according to people familiar with the situation.
Cannabis cafes coming to Massachusetts
Just like buying a drink at the bar, you will soon be able to buy a marijuana product at a so-called "cannabis cafe" in Massachusetts and legally consume it right there.
Dorkin: I was opposed to supervised injection facilities. Now I'm ready to give them a try
How,
I thought, could a health care professional, someone grounded in ethics
and an oath to "do no harm," stand by and watch as individuals inject street drugs into their veins?
Massachusetts is America's healthiest state, according to new rankings
The Bay State is the healthiest in the US, based on 35 measures based on behavior, environment and clinical care data, according to the annual report.
In Boston, color line persists in sickness and in health
Most black Bostonians
don't travel the five to 10 miles from their neighborhoods to take
advantage of the hospital's immense medical resources. Just 11 percent
of Bostonians admitted to the city's largest hospital are black, far
less than its peers.
Fenway Health CEO resigns over handling of harassment complaints
The chief executive
of Fenway Community Health Center resigned Sunday, under pressure from
the board of directors, employees, and donors over his handling of
complaints that a prominent doctor allegedly sexually harassed and
bullied staff members there for years.
Second Fenway health center leader steps down
The chairman
of Fenway's board of directors resigned from his position Monday
morning. His departure follows that of Fenway's long-time chief
executive, Dr. Stephen L. Boswell.
Partners HealthCare reverses financial loss
Partners HealthCare, the state's largest health system, recovered
from the worst financial loss in its history to record a profit this
year after a turnaround in its insurance business, Neighborhood Health
Plan.
Medical society offers primer on pot
Dr. Maryanne Bombaugh,
a gynecologist at the Community Health Center of Cape Cod and the vice
president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, has taken some of the
modules on cannabis.
BMC doc distributes meds to Puerto Ricans reeling from hurricane
At night the people whose houses were still standing were scared their houses would fall. They had a lot of problems sleeping, a lot of insomnia, a lot of depression, especially among elders.
