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MMS News & Announcements
MMS Urges Mass. Congressional Delegation to Prevent SGR Medicare Cuts
In a letter to the Massachusetts congressional delegation this week, MMS President Richard Aghababian, MD, urged Sen. John Kerry and his fellow legislators to prevent impending 27% cuts to Medicare and Tricare physician payment rates. According to the AMA, the proposed Medicare cut would result in an annual loss of $560 million to Massachusetts, impact 70,711 jobs for those employed by physicians' offices, and most importantly, impact the access to care for over 1 million Medicare patients in Massachusetts, and more than 70,000 Tricare military members and their families.
State Medicaid Budget Cuts Spare Fee-for-Service Rates, Physician Contracts Unaffected
The $100 million proposed emergency spending cuts in Medicaid, MassHealth, and state health departments are not expected to impact fee-for-service rates for most physicians, state officials said this week. The proposed cuts, intended to help close a $540 million state budget gap, will slash $86 million from managed care rates. However, physician contracts were not expected to be reopened as a result of the recent cuts, state officials said.
News coverage of state budget cuts:
- Public Health Group: Budget Slashed Too Far, Risk 'Not Acceptable' (WBUR)
New on MMS Website: Resources for Employed Physicians
The MMS has added a new section to its website with resources and information about physician employment. Members can access information on employment contracts, staffing issues, physician licensure requirements, CME rules and more.
Now Online: Q&A on Seasonal Flu
Adding its voice to those encouraging patients to get a flu shot, MMS has issued a Q&A on seasonal flu for patients to news publications across the state and a link to a Flu Vaccine Finder on its website. According to the CDC, this year's flu season has arrived unusually early - the earliest arrival in almost a decade - and is considered "widespread" in Massachusetts and 17 other states. Reports of flu in Massachusetts have increased significantly in recent weeks and is higher than what is typically seen at this time of year.
Education Programs & Events
Live CME Activities
8th Annual Women's Cardiac Health Conference
Friday, February 1, 2013, 8:00 a.m.to 3:00 p.m.
Preventing Falls in Older Patients: A Provider Tool Kit WEBINAR
Wednesday, February 6, 2013, noon to 1:30 p.m., via live webinar.
The Impact of Effective Communication on Patients, Colleagues, and Metrics
Friday, February 8, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to noon.
How to Prepare for ACOs
Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Call (800) 322-2302, ext. 7306 for more information.
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.
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
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.
Contact us at MMSContinuingEducation@mms.org
This Week in Health Care
Gov. Patrick Appoints New HHS Secretary
Governor Deval Patrick announced this week that Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby will be replaced by John Polanowicz, currently the president of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton.
State Health Officials Slow to Check Up on Compounding Lab
State health officials failed to launch a full review of the scandal-tainted drug lab until Gov. Deval Patrick ordered it shut down in August, when they frantically sought basic information about the rogue chemist at the center of the debacle. Related coverage: The number of people with fungal infectionsis suddenly surging as patients come forward with previously undetected abscesses, alarming health professionals.
California Firm Plans to Open Marijuana Clinic in New Framingham Location
A California company says it is opening a medical marijuana clinic in a new, undisclosed location in Framingham on Jan. 5 and dropping plans to open offices in Newton and Needham. Related coverage: Communities bracing for impact of 'pot shops'
Hospitals Tell Workers: Flu Shot or Mask
With a potentially severe flu season on the horizon, many hospitals are strengthening their vaccination policies and requiring workers who refuse the flu shot to wear surgical masks.
Concussion Education Spreading Among Skiers, Snowboarders
Concussion awareness appears to be hitting the slopes, as more skiers and snowboarders wear helmets, and ski areas try various approaches to boost safety and limit head injuries.
Mass. Tobacco Prevention Spending Lags
In the last five years, Massachusetts spending on tobacco-preventionhas fallen by more than two-thirds, from $12.8 million to just $4.2 million this fiscal year.
Heroin ODs Up 47 Percent in Worcester
Heroin-related overdoses in Worcester have increased by 47 percent so far this year, and the number of all opiate overdoses is up by more than a third.
Medicare Eprescribing Hardship Exemption Deadline Extended to Jan. 31
Physicians who quality for a CMS ePrescribing Hardship Exemption have until Jan. 31 to apply. Available penalty exemptions include: physicians who have fewer than 100 prescriptions between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2012, have inadequate access to high-speed internet or eprescrbing pharmacies, or inability to eprescribe due to federal, state or local regulations. For more information, visit www.CMS.gov/ERxIncentive.
CDC Publishes New Provisional Vaccine Recommendations
On December 6, CDC posted the following ACIP provisional vaccination recommendations:
ACIP Provisional Updated Recommendations on Use of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap) for Pregnant Women
ACIP Provisional Recommendations Prevention of Measles, Rubella, Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), and Mumps.
