MMS News & Announcements
Senate Approves
Improvements to Prescription Monitoring Program
The Massachusetts Senate last night approved important
improvements to the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program, following rigorous
MMS advocacy on the
matter.
In an amendment to the state budget, the Senate narrowed the
requirements for accessing the program’s database, by requiring its use only
for new patients for whom there is a plan to prescribe Schedule II or III
drugs. Under the current law, the database would have to be accessed
when seeing all new patients regardless of whether a Schedule II or III
drug was going to be prescribed.
The Senate also removed a requirement that only licensed medical
professionals could access the database. If finally approved, office staff
operating under HIPAA guidelines could access the database on behalf of
physicians and other licensed medical professionals.
These amendments are not included in the House version of the
budget, so they will now be negotiated in conference committee.
In other health care matters, the Senate shifted $40 million from
the distressed hospital fund to community and safety net hospitals that serve a
large number of Medicaid patients. Senate Ways and Means Chair Stephen Brewer
said the measure is designed to help hospitals that are “hanging on by their fingernails.”
Related:
MMS Celebrates 18th Annual Anti-Tobacco
Poster Contest
This week, MMS President Ronald W. Dunlap, M.D.,
honored a dozen Massachusetts schoolchildren who submitted winning entries
to the 18th Annual Tobacco Poster Contest at a State House event. The chosen posters will be featured in a 2014 calendar. See a slideshow of the winning entries.
Residents and Fellow Section Annual Meeting to Feature Donald Berwick, MD
Donald Berwick, MD, MPP, FRCP, the former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the founder and past CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, will be the keynote speaker at the MMS Resident and Fellow Section’s Annual Meeting on May 29. Dr. Berwick will speak about the clinical leadership in health care reform. The dinner meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Maggiano’s, 4 Columbus Ave., Boston. Registration is $10 for members and $25 for non members. More information and registration details available here.
Consider a Volunteer Opportunity This Fall: Info
Session on June 4
The
Committee on Senior Volunteers invites you to learn more about a unique and rewarding volunteer opportunity. Boston University School of Medicine is
looking for physicians to volunteer as faculty facilitators for the Integrated
Problems Course. Join us for an
informational session on June 4 from 9:30
a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at MMS Headquarters. A complimentary lunch will be provided. To
register to attend the session, please contact Carolyn Maher at (800) 322-2303,
ext. 7311, or via email at cmaher@mms.org.
MMS Presents 11th Annual Symposium on
Men’s Health on June 12
The full-day
program, “Getting Men
Healthier - A Physician’s Playbook” on Wednesday, June 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 5: 00
p.m., covers hands-on clinical information that can immediately be put to practice
in treating male patients. Featured
speakers include Jeffrey Drazen, M.D., NEJM
Editor-in-Chief, and Joshua Kosowsky, M.D., co-author of the book, When Doctors Don't Listen: How to Avoid
Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests. For more information and to register, go to www.massmed.org/MH2013
Education Programs and Events
Live CME Activities
A Roadmap to Bring an End to HIV and STIs in Massachusetts: What All Health Care Providers Need to Know
Friday, June 7, 2013, 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Assessing Medication, Mental Health, and Cultural Needs During Sheltering
Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., live conference or via streaming webinar
HIPAA 2.0: Its Impact on Physician Practice WEBINAR
Tuesday, June 22, 2013, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., via live webinar
Getting Men Healthier – A Physician’s Playbook: 11th Annual Symposium on Men’s Health
Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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.
Managing Workplace Conflict
Thursday, October 17, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday, October 18, 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.
This Week in Health Care
State Reviewing Partners Plan to Acquire South Shore Hospital
The state's new Health Policy Commission is moving forward with a cost and market impact review of Partners HealthCare
System's plan to acquire South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.
State Proposes $50,000 Annual Fee for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Under draft regulations filed this week by the Department of Public Health, medical marijuana dispensaries would be required to pay annual license fees of $50,000, plus other assessments. Qualifying patients would be required to pay a $50 annual registration fee. Those who qualify for a hardship cultivation license would be pay an additional $100 annually. Related: A Northampton physician has decided to open her small
office exclusively for medical marijuana.
Taunton Community Angry at Closing of Morton
Hospital's Pediatric Unit
A packed crowd of local pediatricians, nurses from the hospital, officials from
local public health organizations and citizens rallied against the plan to shut the unit.
Mass. Tries to Retain $250 Million for Hospitals
The Massachusetts congressional delegation this week launched what could be a final effort to preserve more than $250 million in bonus
Medicare payments to the state's hospitals.
Mass. Senate Bill Would Protect First Responders
The Massachusetts Senate has passed a "Good Samaritan" bill to ensure that off-duty first
responders who provide emergency care are not subject to lawsuits.
Medical Intelligence Center Key in Bombing Response
The Stephen M. Lawlor Medical Intelligence Center, the only one of its kind in the United States, virtually links
hospitals, public health departments, and emergency services around the clock.
Mass. General Residents Say Addiction Treatment
Needs Improvement
Most medical residents at MGH think they're not
taught well enough about addiction and substance abuse, a 2012 survey found.
Mass. Blocks Higher Insurance Charges For Most
Smokers
Fearing that smokers might drop coverage, the state -- in alliance with many health
and consumer groups -- has rejected higher premium charges for smokers.
