April 7, 2020
Tuesday's Information for Mississippi Family Physicians
MAFP ASKS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR TELEPHONE VISITS : The MAFP is sending letters this week to our Congressional Delegation and CMS to ensure that telephone/audio visits without a visual component are reimbursed to the full extent. 

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM : The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. For more information on the PPP, see these resources:
GUIDANCE FOR OUTPATIENT MANAGEMENT OF COVID PATIENTS : The University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine has put out DFM COVID-19 Guildelines which are constantly being updated. These include triage guidance, scheduling workflow and more.

CENTER TO ADVANCE PALLEATIVE CARE : The CAPC has put together a communication guide, shared decision-making tool and more for palliative care. One highlight is this COVID Symptom Management Protocols that may be of use, especially to rural physicians. They were contributed by Dr. Paul Tatum at University of Texas Dell Medical School and shared with us by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.

CHLOROQUINE AND HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE : Dr. Wayne Weart, PharmD, for many years a speaker at MAFP Annual Meeting giving an annual New Drug Update talk, is a trusted source for many on new drugs. Dr. Weart sent us information today compiling his recent Facebook posts as regards chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

MS STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE : At a meeting Sunday, the MSBML issued a supplemental proclamation clarifying that until action is taken to life the emergency, out-of-state physicians may utilize telemedicine when treating patients in Mississippi with whom they already have a pre-existing doctor-patient relationship, without the necessity of securing a license to practice medicine in the state, provided the out of state physician holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state in which the physician practices and currently is not the subject of an investigation or disciplinary proceeding."

CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES :
  • CMS released a video this week providing answers to common questions about the Medicare Telehealth services benefit.
  • CMS Tuesday released a Clinician Letter that outlines a summary of actions CMS has taken to ease regulations.
  • CMS has updated its recommendations to postpone non-essential surgeries and other procedures to conserve critical healthcare resources.

MS STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : On Saturday, the MS State Department of Health put out a recommendation that all health care professionals wear surgical masks throughout the workday - even those without direct patient contact.

REVAMPED MAFP CORONAVIRUS PAGE : Our website's Coronavirus page has been rearranged to make it more user friendly with headings like Financial Resources, PPE, Best Practices, Telemedicine, and more.

ALMOST-DAILY NEWS ROUNDUP : Here's what Vicksburg family physician Dr. Randy Easterling, MD, FAAFP, FSAM, MAFP Past President, says about MAFP's News Roundup: “I am like most of you, I’m sure, I am inundated daily with volumes of information. I have found the News Roundup to be timely, concise, and loaded with valuable information. I look forward to it and have found it to be mainstay for my practice. Kudos to MAFP and Kristen Kern for being a bright spot during these very trying times.” To be added to the list to receive the News Roundup, e-mail Kristen Kern .

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS : AAFP will host a webinar Wednesday, April 8 at 7 pm Central on the AAFP Facebook page . The topic is "Managing Your Practice Through COVID-19" and will feature AAFP President Dr. Gary LeRoy, AAFP SVP Dr. Julie Wood, and AAFP member Dr. Marc Price. Live CME credit is available for participating.
Mississippi's Coronavirus Hotline is now being staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-877-978-6453. The CDC hotline specifically for health care workers is 770-488-7100 .

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HEALTH ALERTS : If you would like to receive MS State Department of Health update calls and notices, sign up for the MS Health Alert Network .

PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP FOR MAFP MEMBERS : To discuss issues with fellow MAFP members, please join our members-only Facebook group.

OUR WEBSITE : Please continue to check the MAFP Coronavirus page for updated information and links to important resources.

MAFP will continue to send updates and resources as we receive them and we will add them to our page above.

MAFP
755 Avignon Drive
Ridgeland MS 39157
(601) 853-3302