MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
Newsletter - January 25, 2021
Many MS Physicians Receive COVID Vaccines
In a recent member survey conducted by MAFP, more than 84% of family physicians who responded had already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Health care workers had been given highest priority by the Mississippi State Department of Health, and this resulted in many physicians having access to the vaccine quickly.

In a Thursday press briefing, Dr. Dobbs was asked if the Biden Administration's plan to get 100 million vaccines in arms within the next 100 days was feasible. Dr. Dobbs said yes, if the manufacturers can create doses of the vaccine and get them to Mississippi, MSDH can deliver it. He said the “bottleneck” is the vaccine supply, not the delivery system. Dr. Dobbs explained when you do the math, currently 1.3 million Mississippians qualify to receive the vaccine, but we receive only 37,000 doses per week from the feds. When you calculate that out, it takes 35 weeks just to serve the Mississippians who are already qualified (which at this point is age 65 and over and serious medical conditions).
MississippiCAN Physician Survey
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid is preparing for it next Mississippi CAN procurement cycle and would like feedback from Medicaid providers. You are not required to respond to every question, so please provide feedback on the subjects that interest you on the DOM Managed Care Survey. The survey will close February 10.
Have You Paid Your Dues Yet?
We still have 209 members who have outstanding dues for 2021. The MAFP staff has set a goal to have at least 50 more members paid by Friday, January 29. We will be contacting members this week to remind them to renew their MAFP membership.

From our last e-mail reminder, we had 45 pay their dues and we thank you! We cannot be effective as an organization without your support.

Our MAFP Advocacy Committee met today by phone and is reviewing hundreds of bills on your behalf. Please join today!

To renew now, call 1-800-274-2237 or visit www.aafp.org/quickpay.
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SBA Paycheck Protection Program Reopens
There's more relief on the way for eligible medical practices and other businesses.

On January 11, the Small Business Administration reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for First Draw PPP loans. The PPP is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll. First Draw PPP loans can help fund payroll costs, including benefits, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, and certain operations costs. SBA will forgive loans is all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used to eligible expenses. Eligible businesses must apply by March 31, 2021.

In addition, on January 13, SBA began accepting applications for Second Draw PPP loans for certain businesses who have previously received a PPP loan. Second Draw PPP loans can be used to fund the same things as First Draw loans. For most borrowers, the maximum loan amount of a Second Draw PPP Loan is 2.5x average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs, up to $2 million. Borrowers must be able to demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. The application deadline is March 31, 2021.

As with the first round of loans, these loans are converted to grants if employee and compensation levels are maintained, if it is spent on eligible expenses, and if a minimum of 60% of proceeds are spent on payroll costs.
Free CME ECHO Offered on Healthy Living
Start the new year off right with a Healthy Living 6-session ECHO aimed at primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and other health care workers. Put together by the UMMC Department of Preventive Medicine, the MSU Extension Service and Aim for Change, each ECHO session earns physician participants 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. There is no cost.

The monthly sessions will run from January to June. The February session is as follows:
February 1, 7-8 pm (Zoom)
Presenter: Elena Dent, PhD, RDN, LDN, CDCES, Instructor, UMMC Dept. of Preventive Medicine

To register, e-mail Brea Cole and you will be sent the Zoom information.

Child Tele-Psychiatry Virtual Summit Feb. 20
Child Access to Mental Health and Psychiatry (CHAMP) is offering a "Mississippi Child Tele-Psychiatry Virtual Summit" on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. Save the date for the virtual summit - more information coming soon.

CHAMP is a no-cost consultation and educational service for pediatric primary care providers in Mississippi CHAMP can be reached at (601) 984-2080 Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.
Learn From the Batson-Crosby Triage Protocol for COVID-Positive Patients
I nor the Hattiesburg Clinic take any responsibility for anyone using this information – just sharing what has worked for us! -- Dr. Crosby

Family physician Dr. Samuel Crosby of Hattiesburg, an MAFP past president, has shared with MAFP his experiences with treating COVID-19 patients at Hattiesburg Clinic in the hopes that other family physicians can benefit from their accumulated knowledge.

After treating 6,000 COVID-positive patients, Dr. Crosby and his Hattiesburg Clinic colleague Dr. Bryan Batson report a remarkably low hospitalization rate of 1% and a mortality rate of only 0.6%.

"Sorting out signs and symptoms, risk factors and testing needs that would make a difference in diagnosis and prognosis was a challenge," Dr. Crosby said. "Our triage protocols changed almost daily as we observed, learned more, reviewed literature, and followed CDC and MS Department of Health updates."

The Batson-Crosby Triage Protocol spells out an innovative nebulized ETOH treatment, recommended supplements and other OTC therapies. It also includes the text of notes sent home with positive patients.
Sign Up for Legislative Doctor of the Day
One physician serves as Doctor of the Day at the State Capitol each day of the Mississippi legislative session. Sign up today to serve! You'll get to serve your state to provide medical care at the Capitol clinic, network with legislators and be introduced on the House and Senate floors.

The Mississippi Legislature convenes each year in January and is expected to be in session until Thursday, April 4. Spots are available many of those weekdays. Sign up here for Doctor of the Day. You must be a member of the Mississippi State Medical Association, who administers the program.