On Apr. 14, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) submitted proposed implicit bias training rules to the Legislature for consideration by the Join Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). JCAR has 15 session days to review the proposed rules and determine whether to hold a committee hearing and take action, which can include objecting to the rules, recommending changes, or introducing legislation that could supersede the rules. It is anticipated that the legislative review period will conclude on May 19.

Following a single committee hearing several weeks ago, the Michigan Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee passed Senate Bill 247 this week—the newest iteration of prior authorization reform that MAFP has been working on independently and collaboratively through the Health Can’t Wait Coalition. The Senate then moved swiftly, passing the bill on Apr. 29, sending it to the House Health Policy Committee for consideration. SB 247 is expected to receive a more lengthy debate in the House, since this is the first prior authorization legislation considered by the chamber.

Both the House and Senate Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Sub-Committees passed their respective budgets, representing the Legislature's first drafts of the state's largest departmental budget. Both the governor's and the sub-committees' budget proposals invest in MAFP priorities, including the MIDOCS program. Due to points of difference between the House and Senate budget proposals, the bills will go before a joint conference committee, where select members from both chamber will iron out the differences and provide a final MDHHS budget proposal. The MAFP advocacy team continues to meet with legislators and budget chairs as the process continues.

The National Health Service Corps is expected to make an unprecedented number of awards to health professionals through its loan repayment programs. The application deadline has been extended to 7:30 pm ET on May 27 for three NHSC programs: NHSC Loan Repayment Program, NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program, and NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program.

The bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2021 (HR.1763), introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, calls for creating 14,000 new Medicare-supported resident training positions, 2,000 per year, over the next seven years to help address the growing physician shortage. This would be the first increase of its kind in nearly 25 years. A portion of the positions would be targeted to hospitals in rural areas, hospitals training over their current GME caps, hospitals in states with new medical schools or new branch campuses, and hospitals that serve areas designated as health professional shortage areas. Companion legislation (S.834) has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.

“We are one of the most trusted folks when it comes to vaccines, and when we talk about vaccine hesitancy ... people want to go to that trusted resource, and usually that is their primary care physician,” said AAFP President Ada Stewart, MD, FAAFP, on getting COVID-19 vaccine into the hands of family physicians. This is more important than ever, now that the vaccination effort is beginning the difficult phase of reaching people who are more hesitant, with the most eager already immunized. Up until now, just 38% of primary care physicians across the country have been administering the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Apr. 27, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new guidelines that, among other things, allow physicians and other healthcare professionals to prescribe buprenorphine without undergoing a separate training or having to apply for a waiver. These healthcare providers still need to submit a notice of intent to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stating their intention to prescribe the drug. They may care for up to 30 patients with buprenorphine.

In recognition of the essential role of family physicians in their patients' lives, AAFP is extending its National Doctors' Day celebration beyond Mar. 30 by thanking members with a gift of $100 off a purchase of $250 or more. This offer is good through Apr. 30.

"Let's Talk Bias" may meet an upcoming licensure requirement for family physicians in Michigan. This one-hour interactive webinar will introduce attendees to implicit and explicit bias and use real-world examples to discuss how bias shows up routinely in healthcare settings, impacts our patients and colleagues, and impacts healthcare access and delivery. Additional resources will be shared for growing awareness and improving the safety of the environments where care is delivered. This webinar has been approved for 1.00 Online Only, Live AAFP Prescribed credit. LARA's proposed rules have been submitted to the Legislature for consideration by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. It is anticipated the legislative review period will conclude on May 19.

Whether you are a new or established family physician, retired from practice, or in residency or medical school, MAFP seeks the input from all members on its policies, programs, and services. Two ways members may share their input and help shape their Academy are by attending the MAFP Annual Meeting— the state-level forum for members to make governance and business decisions—and submitting resolutions. Resolutions are due June 1 for discussion and a vote during the MAFP Annual Meeting on Saturday, July 24, 12 pm ET. Immediately following the meeting, beginning at approximately 2 pm ET, MAFP will presents is annual 'Academy' Awards.

In lieu of the annual Michigan Family Medicine Conference and Expo, Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan is bringing on-demand and virtual CME to you through a series of 12 webinars and two virtual keynote presentations! Register before June 18 to receive the discounted rate of $250 for physician and resident members and $50 for student members. You will have between July 24, 2021, through July 17, 2022 to watch the webinars. The virtual keynote presentations by AAFP President Ada Stewart, MD, FAAFP, and AAFP Vice President and Chief Medical Informatics Officer Steven Waldren will take place July 21 and July 22, respectively. Also included in the conference package is a free, one-hour, expert-guided virtual tour of the people, places, and projects that make up Detroit’s past and present, compliments of the Southeastern Michigan Academy of Family Physicians.

Women in Family Medicine Conference  

Presentation proposals are being accepted through May 3 for Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan's 2021 Women in Family Medicine Conference, being held virtually on Saturday, Nov. 13. Submissions should include current topics of interest and new studies, technologies, and/or procedures.

If you have not yet paid your 2021 AAFP / MAFP dues, your membership will be cancelled on May 4. To renew your membership today, to stay connected to your Academy and its many benefits, go to aafp.org/quickpay or call 800.274.2237.

MAFP Board Member Glenn Dregansky, DO, FAAFP, describes his experience of becoming Addiction Medicine certified through the Practice Pathway program with assistance from MI CARES--a collaboration between Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and Spectrum Health, that guides and supports healthcare providers through the Practice Pathway program for Addiction Medicine sub-specialty.

Now that the vaccination effort has shifted to reaching the vaccine-hesitant, including family physicians in the distribution process is more important than ever. To date, the health departments listed below have distributed vaccine to family medicine practices in their area. If you have not yet received vaccine, reach out to your local health department as well as take the steps necessary to participate in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program, and please take the quick survey below so MAFP knows the status of vaccine distribution to family physicians in Michigan.

Do you have news to share about yourself, your practice, or a colleague? Email info@mafp.com.

Following a thorough safety review, the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced, on Apr. 23, their recommendation to move forward with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Michigan then lifted its 11-day pause, based on facts showing the vaccine’s benefits far outweigh the risks. Healthcare providers administering the vaccine and vaccine recipients or caregivers should review the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) and Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers, which have been revised to include information about the risk of blot clots, which have occurred in a very small number of people who have received the J&J Vaccine.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has postponed the deadline for eligible practices to apply for the second cohort of Primary Care First (PCF) until May 21. Selected practices will begin their five-year performance period in January 2022. PCF is a voluntary AAPM that is designed to test whether using financial risk and performance-based payments to reward primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals can reduce Medicare expenditures, preserve or enhance quality of care, and improve health outcomes.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has opened an 80-day “Draft Standards for Continuing Certification – Call for Comments” to gather input from all stakeholders who possess, use, or rely on the board certification credential as an indicator of a diplomate’s professionalism and proficiency of specialty knowledge and skills. The “Call for Comments” is open through July 8. Feedback will guide and inform the development of the final Draft Standards for Continuing Certification, which will be considered by the ABMS Board of Directors in October 2021.

HHS IG Outlines Compliance Priorities

Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan is accepting applications from residents and students interested in serving as a MAFP delegate or alternate delegate to AAFP’s National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students (conference registration is open). Resident and student congresses will meet during the virtual conference, July 29-31, to vote in the resident and student leader elections and write, debate, and vote on resolutions. MAFP delegates will receive a scholarship to cover the cost of attending the virtual event. Click here for information about the roles and responsibilities of chapter delegates. The deadline to apply is May 1.

The Patsalis Vanguard Award in the amount of $2500 will be granted annually to two graduating family medicine residents who have committed to practice in southeast Michigan. Applicants must be nominated by their residency program director or representative. This award was established in memory of the late Angelo Patsalis, MD, FAAFP, who died from COVID-19 complications in Apr. 2020. Applications are due May 31.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched the new Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL), with the rollout beginning in Oakland County and the Upper Peninsula. Michiganders in these areas will be able to call, text or chat with MiCAL for free behavioral health crisis triage, support, resource information. and referral to local services 24/7. MiCAL can be reached via phone or text at 844.44.MICAL (844.446.4225). Chat is accessed through Michigan.gov/MiCAL.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. FEMA is working to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus by providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. There is no deadline to apply. To apply, residents can call FEMA at 1.844.684.6333 or visit FEMA.gov/funeral-assistance.

Family Medicine Opening, Bad Axe, MI

Faith-based Group Seeking Family Medicine Physician, St. Joseph, MI

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