MAFP Electronic Newsletter - the PineCones - 2016 March 11
AAFP Launches Full-Court Press to Ensure FPs Thrive in New Payment Era
 
March 09, 2016, 09:30 am - by Sheri Porter - The U.S. health care system is on the precipice of ground-breaking, knock-your-socks off change that opens the door to a whole new era of Medicare physician payment.

Think back. Nearly a year ago, Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Re-authorization Act (MACRA) and finally eliminated the ill-conceived Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. The vacuum created by the demise of the SGR is rapidly filling with new payment opportunities presented by MACRA.
One thing is certain: MACRA marks the beginning of the end for fee-for-service payment, and the AAFP knows this presents an enormous opportunity to drive broad payment reform for primary care. That's why the Academy grabs every opportunity to help shape the rules and regulations that will implement this law.

"Medicare Payment Reform: Making Sense of MACRA"

Value-based payment will bring big changes to practices. Here's what we know now. Congress passed game-changing, bipartisan legislat
ion in April 2015 that significantly alters how the federal government pays physicians to deliver health care.

The Medicare Access and Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) repealed the flawed sustainable growth rate formula that annually threatened health care administrators, physicians, and other providers with Medicare reimbursement cuts of up to 21 percent.

READ the complete article  By Amy Mullins, MD, CPE, FAAFP,
Family Practice Management 2016 Mar-Apr;23(2):12-15 
A No-Cost Resource for Supporting Maine Physician Practices: Introducing the Northern New England Practice Transformation Network

Maine Quality Counts and regional partners have created the Northern New England Practice Transformation Network (NNE-PTN), a federally-funded set of resources and learning available to practices at no cost.  The NNE-PTN is a collaborative effort of trusted organizations that is offering support to primary care, specialist, and behavioral health clinicians to improve the health of patients, improve the health and vitality of clinicians and practice teams, and strengthen the financial health of practices.

For more information, visit the Maine Quality Counts Website for NNE-PTN or contact Lesley Myska at tel. 207.620.8526, ext. 1007, email:   [email protected] 


Small Lives Matter!

"In 2014, more than 23,000 U.S. infants died. That is 3 times more than those that died in Finland."  Read more
From the First Tooth
From the First Tooth™ (FTFT) is now offering technical assistance and quality
improvement services to pediatric and family medicine practices interested in increasing the number of children receiving preventive dental care as part of primary care.   
 
Recently, FTFT has increased its focus on quality improvement by collaborating with the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization (MHACO) and with MaineGeneral Health and EMHS in order to offer dedicated support to practices. In addition to helping practices incorporate preventive dental care into primary care, now pediatric practices support specialists and other staff members are assisting practice managers, providers and/or staff upon request.  READ MORE
Medical Student Preceptors Needed!

Ever wanted to be involved in medical student teaching but didn't know the options or think you had the time? Consider one of these options with Tufts Maine Track or UNE medical students.
*NEW Fellowship Offering*
2016 - 2018  Part-time Geriatric Medicine Fellowship 
Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME
MMC is seeking qualified candidates for the 2016-2018 fellowship year(s). Our well-rounded and rewarding training program provides flexibility for practicing physicians to complete a Geriatrics Fellowship, while still maintaining a presence in their own practices. 

HERE - For more information and to contact MMC
Governor Appoints Two New Members to Board of Licensure in Medicine

Governor Paul LePage recently appointed two new members to the state's medical licensing board. 

Brad Waddell, M.D., a board-certified general surgeon practicing at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, was appointed to a six-year term replacing David Andrews, M.D. who resigned in 2015.  Dr. Waddell is a graduate of Wake Forest Medical School.

Also appointed was a public member, Ms. Lee Corbin. 

(The Board of Licensure in Medicine has ten members, made up of six physicians, one physician assistant, and three public members.  The Board meets the second Tuesday of each month at its offices in Augusta.)

Maine Academy of Family Physicians | [email protected]
207-938-5005 | www.maineafp.org