The Pulse is the bi-weekly e-newsletter from The Physician Alliance, one of Michigan's largest physician organizations serving more than 2,200 primary care and specialty physicians.
The Pulse of The Physician Alliance
Friday, Sept. 2, 2016
Sept. 15 deadline approaching to apply for Comprehensive Primary Care Plus
 

All applications for the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus program are DUE BY SEPT. 15, 2016!


  Only primary care practices* that apply by Sept. 15, 2016 will be given consideration for participation. There are no plans at this time to add practices after the Sept. 15 date. CMS will be making the decision on participation so you must submit your application directly to CMS.

Michigan was recently chosen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to be a Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) region. The goal of CPC+ is to improve the quality of patient care, improve patients' health, and to more effectively spend health care dollars. The program can provide significant dollars in care management fees, performance incentives and fee for service dollars for greater upfront cash flow and flexibility for PCPs to deliver care. Participation is a five-year commitment but it is possible to withdraw with a 90-day notice.

For more information on CPC+, visit TPA's website.

For a schedule of free webinars hosted by CMS, click here.
 
To complete an application (by Sept. 15), click here

*Pediatricians do not qualify for this program at this time.  
Reminder: Community Resource Fairs offer valuable contacts and information for patients

The Physician Alliance will be hosting community resource fairs for physicians and practice staff to meet and gather information from multiple nonprofits and organizations that serve patients in the metro Detroit area.

Attendance at the fair satisfies the BCBSM's Physician Group Incentive Program (PGIP) capabilities in "linkage to community services." For a list of participating organizations, download the specific regional flyer (see below).*

Mid Region - Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, 8-10:30am
Macomb Community College, Building K, Room 301N, 14500 E 12 Mile Rd, Warren 
Download the flyer.

East Region - Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, 8-10:30am
St. John Hospital & Medical Center, 22101 Moross, Detroit
Download the flyer.

West Region - Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, 8-10:30am
Providence Hospital - Fisher Auditorium, 16001 W. Nine Mile, Southfield
Download the flyer.

REGISTER today! Email  Angela.Chouinard@thephysicianalliance.org with your name, practice and the regional fair you are attending. 

*Not all organizations will be at every event. Please see flyers for details.
Symposium focuses on patient-centered care

The 2nd Annual Great Lakes Bay Region symposium, Advancing Primary Care through the Quadruple Aim, will be held Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 from 8am-1pm at Saginaw Valley State University.

The symposium strives to provide a framework for the cultural transformation and enhanced capabilities required to achieve improved population health outcomes, as well as highlight the support providers and practice staff need to achieve the Quadruple Aim. Objectives include describing the future of primary care and how it relates to current federal and state innovations, identifying ways Michigan's health care system is transforming in order to deliver population health services, and offering practical tips to help clinicians and staff improve their joy of practice, avoid burnout, and embrace cultural transformation.

For more information on speakers, agenda, cost and to register, click here.  
Updated information on payer payout and incentive measures

metrics
The Physician Alliance created a document highlighting incentive program payouts by providers for measures affecting primary care physicians. The spreadsheet lists quality measures and amount paid per service (as provided by the insurance companies).

An updated 2016 health plans' incentive measures spreadsheet for primary care physicians is also included on the website. This spreadsheet, created by Partners in Care, documents the incentive programs for key health plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, HAP, Priority Health, Total Health Plan and others. Examples of measures include tobacco cessation counseling, LDL screening, depression management, prevention screenings and more. Contact your PIC provider relations representative or Practice Resource Team member with questions. 
 
Information technology support partner added to Physician Discount program

The Physician Alliance is pleased to partner with MBM Technology Solutions to provide information technology management and support services to member practices. MBM Technology can offer managed firewalls and backup systems, wireless solutions, onsite assistance with certified technicians, emergency services, HIPAA compliant security and disaster recovery, and more.

TPA practices are eligible for:
  • FREE network/printer "check-up" to make sure your technology system is secure ($1,000 value)
  • 5% discount on managed IT services
  • Reduced rate for block time IT support and services
  • Up to a 40% discount on the purchase/lease of a multi-function printer
  • On select multi-function units (copy, scan, fax), members are eligible to receive FREE B/W copies for one year (up to 120,000 copies)
For  more information on MBM Technology's services, visit TPA's website. Contact Barbara Trost  at (248) 597-1095 x3110 or btrost@mbmsolutions.com for a free IT checkup and to learn how your practice's technology can be more efficient and secure.

newspaper
News you can use
Priority Health, HAP to withdraw PPO plans from Michigan insurance exchange, Crain's Detroit
HHS awards grants to expand telehealth in rural areas, Healthcare IT News
Mylan to offer less costly, generic version of EpiPen, Crain's
Learning good 'webside' manners for telemedicine, Modern Healthcare
More parents believe vaccines are unnecessary, CBS News
U.S. funding to fight Zika is nearly spent, New York Times
Merck offers the Vaccine Brand Choice program to TPA practices. The program offers flexible ordering, on-invoice discount opportunities, and convenient purchasing options.

  Learn more about these services.
The Physician Alliance | 20952 Twelve Mile, Suite 130, St. Clair Shores MI 48081 | 586-498-3555
thephysicianalliance@thephysicianalliance.org | www.thephysicianalliance.org