MMS NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Automatic Spending Cuts Take Effect; Impact in Mass and Nationwide Detailed
Eight-five billion in automatic federal budget cuts, known as sequestration cuts, were set into motion today, evenly split between domestic and defense programs. The sequestration will cut physician Medicare payments cuts by 2 percent. Without further action, the Medicare payment cuts will take effect on April 1.
Among the other billions in spending cuts expected are significant reductions to public health funds and state insurance exchanges, TRICARE, and federal health agencies such as the FDA, NIH, CDC, and FEMA. Read more about the state and federal impacts of the health care cuts.
MMS President Richard Aghababian said today: "It appears that little good can come from the cuts in funding from sequestration." Read the full MMS statement.
More news:
Overview of GIC Health Plan Programs: 2013-14 Now Available
An analysis of the Group Insurance Commission health plan programs for 2013-14 is now available on the MMS website. The MMS overview analyzes and compares detailed aspects of each health plan, including tiers, tiering methodology, copays and quality measures.
March Physician Focus TV: Youth Violence and Child Abuse
The March edition of Physician Focus examines the topic of youth violence, the role physicians can play in helping families reduce youth violence, and what parents can do to protect their children from violence and abuse.
Guests are Robert Sege, M.D., Director of the Division of Family and Child Advocacy at Boston Medical Center, a Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine and Elliot Pittel, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at The Home for Little Wanderers in Boston and chair of the MMS Committee on Violence Intervention and Prevention. Hosting this edition is Bruce Karlin, M.D., a primary care physician in Worcester, Mass.
Watch the program online here, or check the listings of your local public access television stations for airtimes. Physician Focus episodes are also available for download on iTunes.
Register for March 12 MMS Forum on Mandated Reporting
The MMS Committee on Violence Intervention and Prevention invites interested members and colleagues to a dinner and presentation on "Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: The Provider's Role in Detection" on Tuesday, March 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at MMS Headquarters. The program, developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Dental Society's Standing Committee on Abuse and Neglect, will focus on the ethical and professional responsibility of physicians and dentists as mandated reporters. The presentation will include Steven C. Boos, M.D., FAAP, Medical Director, Bay State Medical Family Advocacy, Kanchan Ganda, M.D., Director of Medicine at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and feature 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Kayla Harrison, an abuse survivor.
Pre-registration is required - $20/member includes dinner and the program: $10 for medical students. Contact Candace Savage at csavage@mms.org or (781) 434-7017.
2013 Annual Meeting Website Now Live; Register for Hotel by April 1
This year's Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place, May 9-11, 2013 at the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center in Boston. The MMS hotel deadline for discounted rooms is April 1. Click here to make your reservations today
The 2013 Annual Meeting website includes online registration, hotel room information, as well as a complete brochure of meeting events. In addition to some of the more traditional events such as the House of Delegates, the Annual Education Program, and the Inauguration and Awards Dinner; a member reception is planned for Thursday evening showcasing member-created art at the President's Reception and Nancy N. Caron Annual Art Exhibit and MMS and Alliance Charitable Foundation Auction. For more information on 2013 Annual Meeting events and to register, please visit www.massmed.org/annual2013.
Celebrate National Doctors Day with MMS on March 30
Join the MMS Alliance at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 30 to celebrate National Doctors Day with lunch and a tour of the historic Otis House in Boston. RSVP by March 15 to Jill Cricones at jcricones@mms.org
March 8 is Deadline for MMS Committee Appointments
If you would like to become more involved in the MMS, consider participating on a committee or the Member Interest Network (MIN) Executive Council.
Committee appointments are for specific terms, usually three-year renewable commitments. We have put in place resources for distance participation including conference calls, online meetings and video conferencing at regional offices. Those with limited time who wish to participate can take advantage of these means.
See a list of MMS committees and MIN Executive Council descriptions here. For more information and an application form to be considered for a committee, contact Sandra Manchester at the MMS Executive Office (800) 322-2303, Ext. 7012 or email smanchester@mms.org. If you would like to join the MIN Executive Council, contact Cathy Salas at the West Central Regional Office 1-800-322-2303 x7715 or email csalas@mms.org.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Live Events
Managing Workplace Conflict
Thursday, March 7, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, March 8, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Future Trends That Will Impact Radiologists and Their Practice
Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the Westin Hotel, Waltham, MA.
Public Health Leadership Forum - Mental Health: Achieving Parity in Principle and in Practice
Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
MMS Annual Education Program - Navigating the Currents of Change: Integrating Innovative Technologies into Your Clinical Practice
Friday, May 10, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., at the Seaport Hotel, Boston. Call (800) 322-2302, ext.. 7306 for more information.
MMS Shattuck Lecture - Chronic Infectious Disease and the Future of Health Care Delivery, Sponsored by the MMS and its Committee on Publications
Friday, May 10, 2013, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Seaport Hotel, Boston. Call (800) 322-2302, ext.. 7306 for more information.
Assessing Medication, Mental Health, and Cultural Needs During Sheltering,
Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Call (800) 322-2302, ext. 7306 for more information.
2nd Annual Addiction Medicine for All Providers Conference
Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call (800) 322-2302, ext. 7317 for more information.
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Save the Date
11th Annual Symposium on Men's Health
June 12, 2013
Online CME Activities
* Also available in print. Call (800) 322-2303, ext. 7306.
For additional risk management online CME activities, visit
www.massmed.org/cme.
THIS WEEK IN HEALTH CARE
Fallon Community Health Plan Makes Deal with Partners
Partners HealthCare and Fallon Community Health Plan have entered into an agreement that will give some FCHP members access to Partners hospitals and their physicians.
Female Surgeons: Explicit Bias Now Rare, But Subtle Obstacles Still Exist
The operating room has become more welcoming to female surgeons, women say. But the experiences of local Boston doctors suggest that full gender equality has not yet arrived. Related news: Chart of female physicians nationwide, by specialty.
UMass Memorial Gets New Global Pay Plan
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts said it has signed a contract adding the more-than 1,400 UMass Memorial doctors to the list of professionals across the state participating in the global payment program.
Should Massachusetts Tax Candy And Soda?
"Half of the people in the Commonwealth are overweight or obese," says Dr. Lauren Smith, the state's Public Health Commissioner in support of a new soda tax proposal.
Initial Findings on State Mental Health Due for Release in March
A study on the state's mental health system is on track to be completed by the end of the year, with initial results about the situation in southeastern Massachusetts to be released in mid-March.
Mass. Consortium Aims to Aid ICD-10 Implementation
Last week, the Mass Health Data Consortium announced the launch of a project to reduce costs and improve preparation of ICD-10 implementation for its members.
Two More Area Hospitals Say Smokers Need Not Apply
Several more Massachusetts hospitals - including two in Central Massachusetts - will no longer hire job applicants if they smoke or use tobacco products.
MassHealth Increases PCP Payments for Two Years
MassHealth has increased payments to primary care providers for two years for providers who meet certain specialty or practice requirements. The full details are laid out in Provider Memo 230. The MMS applauds MassHealth for their efforts to implement this increase quickly and comprehensively. If you are eligible but not benefitting from this change, please contact wryder@mms.org.
