MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS |
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Registration Open for CME on the Coast |
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Registration is now open for the MAFP's upcoming CME on the Coast conference Oct. 23-25, which will be held at the South Beach Events Center in Biloxi.
MAFP will offer 10 hours of continuing education and the registration fee is $300 for members. The conference will be a hybrid meeting, which means registrants have the option to attend in person or virtually.
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'Flu Fighters' Immunization Campaign to Kick Off Statewide Next Week |
MAFP and six other statewide associations are launching a public awareness campaign September 15 to encourage flu vaccinations in Mississippi.
The campaign includes images and messages your practice can customize with your logo to be part of the campaign, with the hashtag #FightFluMS.
Please share with those in charge of social media for your practice. Please wait until the campaign launches on September 15 to begin posting.
Besides MAFP, the other participating organizations are Mississippi Public Universities; Mississippi Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics; Mississippi Hospital Association; Mississippi Nurses Association; Mississippi State Department of Health; and Mississippi State Medical Association.
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Katherine Patterson, MD, FAAFP, Indianola
AAFP DELEGATE
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John R. Mitchell, MD, FAAFP, Pontotoc
AAFP DELEGATE
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P. Brent Smith, MD, FAAFP, Cleveland
ALTERNATE DELEGATE
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Jennifer D. Gholson, MD, Summit
ALTERNATE DELEGATE
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Doctors to Represent Mississippi at AAFP Congress of Delegates |
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Four family physicians will represent MAFP at the 2020 AAFP Congress of Delegates (COD), which shapes AAFP policy for the coming year. The event will take place on October 12-14 virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These four delegates - who are elected by the membership and serve on the MAFP Executive Committee -- represent Mississippi's interests at the national level. They include Delegate Katherine Patterson, MD, FAAFP; Delegate John R. Mitchell, MD, FAAFP; Alternate P. Brent Smith, MD, FAAFP; and Alternate Jennifer D. Gholson, MD.
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AAFP to Hold Virtual State Legislative Conference - First Session Sept. 23
The AAFP's State Legislative Conference, usually held in Washington D.C., will be held this year in four virtual sessions spread out over four months. Learn about issues influencing health care and connect with health policy experts, other family physicians, chapter leaders, and AAFP staff. There is no cost to attend, and information for each session is below.
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STATE ROUNDTABLE SESSION: Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 1-3 pm Central. During this Webex, AAFP staff will discuss the top five issues chapters tackled during the 2020 legislative session, lessons learned, and the legislative agenda for 2021. Register using this link.
- PRIMARY CARE SPEND: Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 1-3 pm Central
- PAYMENT REFORM: Wednesday, November 18 from 2-4 pm Central
- ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN: Wednesday Dec. 16 from 1-3 pm Central
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Turns Out Severe Cases of COVID-19 Among Young Adults Can Be Traced Back to Smoking |
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Close to one third (32%) of young adults are medically vulnerable to severe COVID-19 illness. Smoking is the strongest risk factor for young adults with one in 10 participating in past 30-day smoking, according to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
In contrast, in the non-smoking young adult group, only about one in six is medically vulnerable to severe COVID-19 illness (16%). This difference between estimates is driven largely by the sizable portion of young adults who reported that they engaged in past 30-day smoking (1 in 10) and past 30-day e-cigarette use (1 in 14)
Individual vulnerability indicator rates for the full sample varied widely. Three of the four highest estimates were for smoking indicators: past 30-day smoking (11%), current asthma (9%), past 30-day e-cigarette use (7%), and past 30-day cigar products use (5%). Lowest rates for individual indicators were for heart conditions and liver conditions, both rates <1.0%.
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Easterling Now Mississippi's Representative on AMA Cannabis Task Force |
Vicksburg's Randy Easterling, MD, is Mississippi's representative on the American Medical Association's new Cannabis Task Force. This group, created by the AMA House of Delegates, is being asked to evaluate and disseminate relevant scientific evidence to physicians and the public. Dr. Easterling is a MAFP past president and a past member of the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure. |
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Watercolor Print Evokes
'Family Doctors on the Frontlines'
In this unprecedented year and as MAFP members have faced the threat of COVID-19, the new watercolor print by artist Katie Erickson has a special visual element - a surgical mask - to remind us of 2020 and that we can come through this tough time.
Only 150 prints were made and each is signed and numbered. Proceeds from the sale of the 12 inch by 18 inch print - $100 each - benefit the MAFP Foundation. A $10.00 mailing fee will be added to each shipped order.
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CMS Updates Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
The AAFP has released the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. This 1,353-page regulation also impacts the Quality Payment Program. Comments on the proposal are due by Oct. 5, 2020. The AAFP has created an initial summary of the proposed changes and will provide a formal comment before the Oct. 5 deadline.
CMS Announces New Nursing Home Regulatory Changes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced regulatory changes for nursing homes regarding Medicare Fee for Service Billing. It announced that nursing homes are now required to report COVID-19 diagnostic test results as required by the CAREs Act. Hospitals are also required to report COVID-19 cases to the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services. CMS has also issued CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19.
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MAFP Resources for Physicians
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