They Said It...
"We are in a very fluid situation where information changes constantly, needs change constantly, and really the whole landscape of vaccine administration is constantly changing, and so planning does change on a very regular basis. So while we have a plan, we also have to make adjustments when needs change or we need to direct resources in different places." Jessica Caum, Program Manager of the Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness Program at the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health, answering a question during PCMS's town hall meeting on the vaccine distribution, held on February 10. The meeting was recorded and can be viewed here.
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Things You Should Know... |
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New Health Care Employee Compensation Requirements Amidst Pandemic |
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Last year, the Philadelphia City Council amended provisions of the Philadelphia Code to require that certain health care employees are compensated in the event they contract a communicable disease during a pandemic or epidemic event, all under certain terms and conditions. The full amendment can be accessed here.
Under this amendment, health care employees are defined as a person who has full-time or part-time employment within a health care organization, including but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care providers. To qualify for this benefit, the employee must be in the service of the employer for a minimum of 40 hours during the previous three-month period prior to contracting the communicable disease during a pandemic or epidemic event. The provisions apply to employees who perform work within the geographic boundaries of the city of Philadelphia. Employers who have 10 or more employees must comply with the provisions.
For more information or to ask questions, email
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PAMED Releases Statewide Regulatory Update |
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The Governor’s Office and the Department of State have issued numerous waivers regarding the relaxation of various regulations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, these waivers are in effect for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. However, a limited number of waivers extend for a period of 90 days after the emergency declaration ends. A full listing of waived and suspended licensing regulations for physicians and other health care practitioners can be found on the Department of State’s website, https://www.dos.pa.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Waivers.aspx.
Act 53 of 2020
Act 53 of 2020 tasks the Commissioner of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) with the responsibility to publish a schedule listing criminal convictions that may constitute grounds to refuse to issue, suspend or revoke a license, certificate, registration or permit for each occupation or profession under the respective practice acts. Lists for the state boards of medicine and osteopathic medicine have been published. The State Board of Medicine list can be accessed here and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine list can be accessed here. The lists for both Boards are the same. Individuals may obtain a preliminary decision on whether their criminal history poses a potential barrier to licensure. Despite any lists promulgated and preliminary decisions rendered, individuals may still apply for a license and present evidence to support their case for licensure. Pursuant to Act 53, the commissioner has two years after publication of the completed lists to promulgate regulations codifying the schedules. The schedules thereafter may be updated as needed through the regulatory process.
PAMED is regularly updating its website regarding waivers that have been granted.
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Quality Payment Program 2019 Performance Preview Available |
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The Doctors and Clinicians Preview Period opened Jan. 25, 2021, allowing eligible clinicians to preview Quality Payment Program (QPP) performance data for 2019. You can access the preview through the QPP site before it becomes publicly available on Medicare Care Compare and in the Provider Data Catalog. The Preview Period will close on Mar. 25, 2021 at 8 PM. The information will become publicly available later in 2021.
Why should you preview the data?
The Preview Period is the first opportunity for clinicians and groups to see what patients will see before the performance information is published. Clinicians and groups will be able to see which Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance information of the measures submitted will be made publicly available.
Clinicians and groups that voluntarily submitted 2019 MIPS data will have the opportunity to opt out of having their performance information publicly reported.
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Plan for Supervised Injection Site Rejected by Federal Appeals Court |
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In a 2-1 decision issued last month, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that the opening of a supervised injection site in Philadelphia, where people could bring illicit drugs and inject them under medical supervision to prevent overdoses, would violate federal law.
The court’s full opinion, authored by Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas as well as a dissenting opinion authored by Circuit Judge Jane Richards Roth, can be accessed here.
The Third Circuit ruling reverses Safehouse’s earlier victory in the district court, and returns the case back to the district court for further proceedings regarding Safehouse’s counterclaim that its program would be allowed under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Pursuant to policy passed at the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s (PAMED) 2019 House of Delegates, PCMS joined the American Medical Association (AMA) and PAMED as well as other stakeholder organizations in submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Third Circuit in support of supervised consumption sites as a method to help combat the opioid crisis. A copy of the amicus brief can be accessed here.
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Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps Seeks Volunteers |
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The Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) has more than 2,500 members who are ready to respond when needed. The Department of Public Health provides a variety of trainings, exercises and real deployment opportunities throughout the year to build volunteers’ skills and keep them actively engaged with the unit.
Volunteers provide a variety of services during a response, depending on their individual licensing and credentials. As a volunteer, you may:
- Conduct medical screenings, dispense medications, or administer vaccines.
- Provide medical assessments and care at evacuation shelters for displaced persons.
- Provide clinical and/or non-clinical support to the Philadelphia Fire Department (Emergency Medical Services) at large special events, such as races or concerts.
You can apply online to join the Philadelphia MRC. Once the application is approved, volunteers will be contacted about training, exercise, and deployment opportunities.
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Guide to Surprise Billing Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 |
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The No Surprises Act allows for price transparency, provider directories, and patient financial protections that impact health plans, physicians, facilities, and other non-MD/DO licensed health care professionals. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2022. AMA released a guide on the Act which can be viewed here. The intent of the law is not to preempt state surprise billing laws. However, there is some ambiguity in the statutory language that will require further clarification before and during the rulemaking process, including when the surprise billing protections apply to patients in self-funded ERISA plans.
The AMA will be working with other stakeholders to seek clarification to address these ambiguities and will revise the guide accordingly as new information becomes available.
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Struggling to Get Vaccinated for COVID-19? |
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Attention physicians who are still in need of a COVID-19 vaccination: PCMS is working with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to assist physicians who are seeking a COVID-19 vaccination. If you need our assistance to get vaccinated, please click here.
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PCMS COVID-19 Vaccine Update Recording Available |
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On February 10, PCMS held a virtual town hall with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. An update on the city’s progress was provided and questions submitted by PCMS membership were answered by PDPH. You can listen to a recording of the session here.
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Thank You for Supporting PCMS! |
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Thank you for your membership in the Philadelphia County Medical Society. We appreciate your support, since your membership strengthens the society and helps protect our patients. Please make your medical society stronger by encouraging your colleagues to become members of PCMS.
Also have you changed your practice address or employer in the past year? If so, please email us of this change as soon as possible so we can update our system to better serve you at [email protected].
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16 - Negotiate and Understanding your Employment Contract
Date: Tuesday, February 16
Time: 7:30 PM
An educational program for Residents, Fellows and young physicians. This webinar focuses on understanding the basic terms of most employment agreements and will examine specific contract clauses, what the legal terms mean in a practical sense, and why they matter.
The presentation will also address common questions raised by physicians about employment agreements, and will offer practical advice on how to approach the contract review process.
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18 - Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Preceptor Training
Date: Thursday, February 18
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
This mini-residency training offers content that is not covered in buprenorphine waiver training for primary care providers who are seeking to refine their skills. Specific topics covered include diversion, continued substance use, benzodiazepine use, point of care testing, harm reduction and pain management. Cases will be presented to help participants discuss ways to address patient needs and discussion is encouraged.
Registrants must practice in Philadelphia and have already completed their waiver training, and must submit their license, resume, and waiver certificate prior to receiving their observation dates.
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16 - Alternative Medical Careers
Date: Tuesday, March 16
Time: 7:30 PM
An educational program for Residents, Fellows and young physicians. More information will be available closer to the program date.
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20 - How to Manage Your Finances and Invest for the Future
Date: Tuesday, April 20
Time: 7:30 PM
An educational program for Residents, Fellows and young physicians. More information will be available closer to the program date.
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18 - The DO’s and DON’Ts of Physician Use of Social Media
Date: Tuesday, May 18
Time: 7:30 PM
An educational program for Residents, Fellows and young physicians. More information will be available closer to the program date.
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