In this Issue...

1. IMA Physician Leaders Advocate for Action to Reverse Medicare Payment Cuts 
2. State of Idaho Considering Withdrawal from Health Data Exchange
3. Congress Introduces the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act
4. Physician Vitality Program
5. Join/Renew IMA Today
6. IAPA Annual Meeting & CME Conference
7. IMA Education Webinar 2024 Schedule
8. Healthcare and Immigration: What Every HR Professional in the Industry Should Know
9. Medical Practice Opportunities

IMA Physician Leaders Advocate for Action to Reverse Medicare Payment Cuts

On February 12-14, IMA leaders participated in the AMA National Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC. Idaho AMA Delegate Dr. Patrice Burgess, Alternate Delegate Zachary Warnock, and IMA CEO Susie Keller were able to meet with staff members of our Idaho Congressional delegation to ask for their support of legislation to reverse the 3.4% Medicare physician payment cut that took effect on January 1.

With repeated reductions in Medicare payments in recent years despite rapidly rising practice costs and the burdens and burnout associated with the pandemic, some practices are already limiting the number of Medicare patients they treat. These cuts will likely be felt hardest by small, independent practices, like those in rural and underserved areas. Continuing down this path is simply unsustainable.

Physicians and other clinicians who are paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule are the only Medicare provider group that did not receive an inflation update this year. In fact, they are the only ones who have a payment cut in 2024.

You can learn more about the AMA’s efforts on Medicare physician reimbursement and send a message to Congress asking them to reverse these cuts by clicking the button below.

State of Idaho Considering Withdrawal from Health Data Exchange

During a hearing on February 7, Idaho Department of Health & Welfare Interim Director Dean Cameron suggested that Idaho should withdraw its support for a government-created health data sharing service that is difficult to regulate, has gone bankrupt and was funded by $94 million in tax dollars.

According to a November 2023 Watchdog Report by the Office of Performance Evaluations, the Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE) received $92 million in federal and $2 million in state funds.

The Office of Performance Evaluations found in a report released in November 2023 that Idaho created and managed the IHDE, a nonprofit meant to make health data more widely available, in a way that made regulation difficult. The report outlined how the IHDE, as a nonprofit, was not subject to transparency and oversight rules government agencies operate under. The state of Idaho lacks any effective means of monitoring the IHDE due to the absence of oversight mechanisms in the law creating the exchange.

In the fall of 2022, IHDE went bankrupt and has recently come out with a proposal to pay back 25% of its debts. An investigation conducted in June revealed that the exchange faced financial difficulties as its management entered into funding agreements that did not materialize, causing a heated dispute over a contract.

On January 30, a bipartisan bicameral group of U.S. Senators and Representatives introduced legislation to reauthorize the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act that was originally signed in to law on March 18, 2022.

The original legislation was named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, a physician from Charlottesville, Virginia who, due to the stress and trauma of serving on the frontlines caring for COVID-19 patients in New York City during the height of the pandemic, died by suicide in April 2020. 

Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN), and Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-3), Susan Wild (D-PA-7), Buddy Carter (R-GA-1) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) introduced the legislation that would reauthorize the 2022 legislation. The law has already provided $100 million in funding for mental health care for providers across the country. Provisions of the original law are set to expire at the end of this year, making the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3679/H.R. 7153) vital to continuing this good work for an additional five years. 

“The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act in 2022 was a great first step in addressing physician burnout, and reauthorizing this important legislation is an AMA priority,” said AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH. “Physician burnout is an epidemic exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the original legislation so timely. We commend Sens. Kaine and Young and Reps. Kiggans, Dingell, Carter, and Wild for honoring Dr. Breen’s legacy by introducing this legislation that will put continued emphasis on the mental health needs of physicians.”

IMA joins the AMA in our strong support of this vital legislation for physician wellness.

The program provides five confidential appointments at no cost, with a strong emphasis on maintaining the privacy of individuals seeking help. While many clinicians have access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) through their insurance plans, they often hesitate to use them due to genuine or perceived confidentiality concerns. ACMS created its own panel of clinically licensed mental health professionals available throughout Idaho and via telehealth and chose those with a reputation for serving medical clinicians. It is suitable for those seeking help for depression, grief, relationship and work challenges, imposter syndrome, and other issues commonly faced by those who practice medicine.

To determine if you are eligible for services, you may verify your IMA membership at https://www.idmed.org/idaho/Idaho_Public/Physician_Finder/Idaho_Public/Physician_Finder/Search.aspx.

To find out more about this program and access appointments, visit the site by clicking the button below.

Don't miss the great benefits that you receive when you become an IMA member. Submit your 2024 membership dues now to begin receiving valuable membership benefits and services.

CHRIS THOMAS

Partner

303.290.2611

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SARAH BILETI

Of Counsel

303.295.8522

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Family Medicine Physician (No OB) for Pioneering Health Center

Emergency Responders Health Center (ERHC)

Medicine, as it was meant to be.

Once-in-a-career opportunity to care for an engaged and motivated population of first responders and their families, in a dynamic, multidisciplinary setting. Seeking an MD/DO to deliver broad-spectrum family medicine (no OB); 3 years’ experience required. Sports Medicine background an advantage.

Competitive salary starting at $250,000; bonus opportunity based on productivity/performance. Relocation stipend considered.

Since 2004, ERHC has served as a leader in first responder medicine, caring for those who safeguard our communities. We’re excited to expand our unique practice model through a second clinic in the Northern Idaho/Northeastern Washington region.



Full Listing: https://er-hc.org/careers