June 6, 2016          Issue 11             

The Economic Side
Now You See It, Now You Don't ... Disappearing Primary Care Incentive  

Some Kentucky primary care physicians who received enhanced primary care payments or incentives for Medicaid in 2013 and 2014 have been asked to return a portion of those payments-in some cases, thousands of dollars.
 
Those incentive payments were, in many cases, a lifeline that allowed many primary care physicians to continue providing treatment to the exploding Medicaid population in Kentucky. 

The incentive payments were part of the Affordable Care Act and paid Medicare rates to some physicians who provided eligible primary care services-evaluation and management and vaccine services-to Medicaid patients. 
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Physician Engagement Important in Passage of Health Care Legislation, Sen. Ralph Alvarado Tells KMA Members

Sen. Ralph Alvarado, MD, R-Winchester, spent part of his afternoon Saturday detailing successes in legislation pertaining to health care for physicians gathered for the second annual KMA Commissions Connection meeting.
 
While Sen. Alvarado sponsored many of those bills - including two successful KMA-priority bills, Senate Bill 17, which ensures physicians' licenses are not contingent upon initial board certification or recertification, and SB 18, which requires insurers to follow a new set of policies before changing an existing agreement with a provider - he passed some of the credit along to physicians and KMA.
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KMA's Meadows Receives President's Award
from Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons

KMA Director of Advocacy Cory Meadows received the 2016 KAEPS President's Award in recognition of his tireless service to Kentucky physicians and their patients. The Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons presented the award May 13 during its spring meeting and scientific seminar.

KAEPS President Julie S. Lee, MD, of Louisville called Meadows "a true advocate for medicine in Kentucky.
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Educational Achievement Award Nominations Due July 1

The KMA Continuing Medical Education Committee is accepting nominations for the Educational Achievement Award through July 1. Nominees must be KMA members who live in Kentucky and have made a significant contribution in medical or medically related education.
 
Click here for a nomination form with more information.


Working Together to Strengthen the Family of Medicine

Representatives of KMA, the KMA Alliance, and the Greater Louisville Medical Society came together to attend the May 10 Lexington Medical Society meeting where Cory Meadows, KMA Director of Advocacy and Legal Affairs and Robert Couch, MD, KPPAC Chair, spoke about the 2016 legislative session.

Front row L to R:  Patty Pellegrini, KMAA President; Betty Nolan, LMSA President Elect; Tracy Francis, LMSA Membership Chair and KPPAC member, and Robert Couch, MD.   Back row L to R:  Thomas K. Slabaugh, Jr., MD, LMS President; Cory Meadows ; Holly Hadley, LMSA Secretary; Cheryl Broster, LMSA President and KPPAC member, and Pat Padgett, KMA Executive Vice President

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Member News
Alvarado Recognized
by KHA

Senator Ralph Alvarado, MD, KMA member and physician at KentuckyOne Health Primary Care Associates in Winchester, received the Kentucky Hospital Association's Award of Excellence for devoting his career to serving the healthcare needs of Kentucky's citizens.
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Tuckson Recognized for Leadership

KMA member Wayne Tuckson, MD, with KentuckyOne Health Colorectal Surgery Associates in Louisville , received the Lyman T. Johnson Distinguished Leadership Award for his outstanding health care work for minority populations and as a founder of the African-American Health Initiative.
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Kane Commencement Speaker

Sarah M. Kane, MD , KMA member and valedictorian of the Class of 1997 at Smethport Area Junior-Senior High School, was the speaker at her alma mater's commencement exercises on June 3.
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