January 4, 2023

Happy New Year!

As CEO and Executive Director of the MOA, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I would like to to take this time to thank our members for their support, our leadership within the MOA, and thank our DO's who are on the boards and committees that help shape the policies for our physicians to be the best the can be.

In the past couple of years the MOA has adjusted, and recreated the way we connect with our members on CME sessions and governance issues. We now offer in-person CME sessions at our conferences, while at the same time offer sessions on demand through the MOA Learning Center. Our goal is to provide our members whatever is needed in terms of CME credits and having their voices heard.

I have the benefit of sitting on several national boards and I constantly interact with our state affiliates and I can say with confidence, Michigan is recognized as a leader. If you have comments or suggestions for us, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Thank you all and we are looking at a great 2023 as we celebrate 125 years!

Kris Nicholoff

kn@domoa.org

SAVE the DATES!

Saturday, April 29, 2023:

Michigan Osteopathic Association House of Delegates (HOD)

May 18-21, 2023:

2023 124th Annual Spring Conference at the Westin Southfield Detroit

June 15-18, 2023:

Northern Michigan Osteopathic Association Summer Conference

October 27-29, 2023:

2023 Autumn Conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Grand Rapids

Autumn On Demand Sessions Available

The Autumn on demand sessions are now available in the MOA Learning Center at www.cmelearningcenter.com!

Pre-recorded lectures from Autumn convention speakers are available in a virtual on demand format. Registrants have 30 days from the purchase date to complete the program.

Please note that Implicit Bias Training is not available on demand but will be offered during MOA Spring/Autumn in person only.

Looking for an online Implicit Bias Training course? Visit UofM OHEI Building Toward Belonging (use promo code MOA for $25 discount)

To register for the Autumn sessions on demand, click below:

Autumn Sessions at the MOA Learning Center

MOA on demand CME programs available 24/7 at www.cmelearningcenter.com

The MOA offers an online Learning Center to deliver CME in an on demand format. In addition to our Spring and Autumn sessions, there are several other programs available. Over 150 hours of CME courses are offered in the Learning Center, all qualifying for AOA Category 1-A CME credits and MOA also offers AMA PRA Category 1-A Credit(s)TM

For questions, contact Melissa Budd: mbudd@domoa.org

Visit the MOA Learning Center

CME Available for MOA Members at no charge

iMPROve Health partners with MHA to host a live, virtual CME session on Lung Cancer Screening

Wednesday, January 11^th from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. via Zoom.

As part of the webinar series from the MHA Endorsed Business Partner (EBP) program, and the MHA’s commitment to providing physicians and other healthcare providers current continuing medical education credit opportunities, a Lung Cancer Screening Learning Session will be hosted with iMPROve Health on Jan. 11 from noon to 1:00 p.m. ET.

This webinar is offered free of charge, but registration is required. Recipients may also forward this invitation to those within their organizations who may be interested in this event. Information about continuing education credits will be provided in future communications.

Healthcare providers are valued and trusted by patients and their recommendations are a leading reason why patients complete life-saving lung cancer screenings. This session will address the importance of screening, current recommendations, how to identify and refer eligible patients to screening and managing next steps after screening results.

In this session, speakers will share the following learning objectives:

Explain statewide prevalence of commercial tobacco use, lung cancer incidence and mortality and the importance of early detection.
Describe lung cancer screening recommendations, eligibility criteria, benefits, risks and costs.
Understand how to identify eligible patients and conduct counseling and shared decision-making visits.
Identify quality measures that will be impacted by referral processes for lung cancer screening.
Find strategies and resources for promoting lung cancer screening, commercial tobacco cessation and processes for following up on screening results.

iMPROve Health is excited to host this webinar with senior quality consultants, Julee Campbell and Elise Wilson, along with guest presenter and cardiothoracic surgeon, James R. Fenton, M.D.

Registration for Lung Cancer Screening CME session

The MOA is proud to join MiACCT Efforts

Patient-centered, physician-led care is the best way to increase health care access without compromising patient safety or quality of care. This is why MiACCT exists — and how Michigan patients deserve to be treated.

Trained experts. Compassionate caregivers. A true team of individuals, each playing an essential role and doing their part—with the patient at the center of it all.

It’s the kind of care Michigan patients expect for themselves and their loved ones. And frankly, we believe it’s the kind of care they all deserve.

With that in mind, we’re excited to announce we’ve joined a new coalition—Michigan for Advancing Collaborative Care Teams (MiACCT)—that solely focused on preserving and strengthening the health care teams we all rely on for our care. And we believe it’s a coalition that couldn’t have come at a better time.

Every day, across the country, powerful special interest groups work to undermine the team-based approach to health care all in the interest of making a buck. The policies they promote take physicians, away from their patients and jeopardize the patient care and safety in the process.

Thankfully, MiACCT is here to fight back.

Made up of a growing number of health care providers and patient advocacy organizations united and committed in the belief that the time-tested, physician-led, patient-centered model of care is the very best way to increase health care access without compromising patient safety or quality of care, MiACCT exists to fight for what’s best for Michigan’s patients. That’s what they need. That’s what they deserve. And we’re happy to be a part of it.

From BCBSM:

Coding Advisor outreach to educate providers about appropriate use of procedure codes

What you need to know:

In January, Change Healthcare will reach out by phone or letter to health care providers who submit claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. Coding Advisor will compare the billing of CPT codes to those used by a provider’s peers through a physician profile. (An example of a physician profile is at the end of this article.)

Throughout this program, Coding Advisor will continue to monitor billing practices and send updated reports periodically. Coding Advisor may contact your practice to discuss coding variances and offer one-on-one coding education. You’ll receive all correspondence from Change Healthcare— Link

Lunch and learn webinars focus on risk adjustment/coding— Link

Enforcement of Electronic Prescribing

standard to begin Jan.1, 2023

The Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) issued notification regarding important implementation updates for Public Acts 134, 135, and 136 of 2020 which require electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) of prescriptions in October, 2023.

The MOA has received call with questions and concerns regarding the requirements. The MOA contact BPL and staff joined in on a conference call with BPL staff to discuss some of the issues and concerns. A key concern is how to get a waiver on the new requirements. BPL has posted an FAQ on their website that you may find useful if you are believe you should have a waiver: Electronic Prescribing FAQ

Should you have any questions, please contact bplhelp@michigan.gov or visit their website at: www.michigan.gov/bpl

If you have questions or comments for the MOA, please visit the webpage we have created with information on the enforcement of the new, Electronic Prescribing requirements: MOA Electronic Prescribing page

The 2023 MOA House of Delegates

The Michigan Osteopathic Association House of Delegates (HOD) will take place Saturday, April 29, 2023. The HOD will be virtual and has been moved from the traditional Spring Convention in order to adhere to the American Osteopathic Association's HOD timeline of submitting resolutions to their HOD.

Resolutions must be submitted by February 17, 2023

The MOA relies on the support and participation of its members in shaping the health policy of tomorrow. Submitting resolutions for action directly influences the MOA advocacy agenda.

Delegates to the MOA HOD must be submitted by February 17, 2023

Even if you have never served as a delegate before, the MOA welcomes you to join at this most important event. Contact your component society to learn more about how you can be a delegate or submit resolutions.

Who Can Author and Introduce Resolutions?

Any MOA member in good standing may author a resolution; however, introduction of resolutions to the House of Delegates is limited to delegates, alternate-seated delegates, component associations, MOA Departments, Councils, or Board of Trustees. Non-delegate status members in good standing should contact their component association for assistance in identifying an appropriate channel for resolution introduction.

HOD webpage

MHA Keystone Center 2021-2022 Annual Report Highlights Collaboration and Partnership

The MHA Keystone Center recently released its 2021-2022 Annual Report, which showcases the center’s commitment to working alongside members to improve safety and quality in healthcare. Through support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, this report highlights the profound impact collaboration and partnership amongst the Michigan healthcare community can have on Michigan’s communities.

Report highlights include:

An introduction to the MHA Keystone Center’s Health Equity Task Force, which was assembled to provide guidance to members in their efforts to redesign and implement interventions that address disparities in care.
An overview of the well-being program (WELL-B) launched in partnership with Duke Center for Healthcare Safety and Quality to address workplace burnout in healthcare.
A birds-eye view of the collaboration taking place to address increasing opioid use disorder cases.

Full article and links from MHA Keystone Center

Public Health Emergency (PHE) Unwinding

MDHHS has issued many COVID-19 response Medicaid policy bulletins and L letters which changed existing policy and processes under the guidance of the federal PHE. Many COVID-19 response policy bulletins and L letters are intended to be time-limited, and MDHHS will notify providers of their termination.

In preparation for the end of the federal PHE, we encourage providers to take the following steps:

Review the Medicaid policy bulletin and L letter webpages to see which policies or L letters may impact your provider type.
Verify beneficiary eligibility prior to services. Providers can visit the Eligibility and Enrollment webpage for step-by-step instructions.
Remind beneficiaries to verify or update their contact information, or report any changes, online through MI Bridges. They can also call their local MDHHS office for help. Local office information can be found on MDHHS County Office webpage.
Remind beneficiaries to open mail from MDHHS, and complete and return renewal documents.

Providers may e-mail ProviderSupport@michigan.gov with questions.

What will happen to the policies that will change or end as part of the PHE?

Policies that will change or end a COVID-19 Response policy will be fully promulgated, which includes a 35-day public comment period and issuance of a final bulletin at least 30 days before the effective date of the policy change. Beneficiaries will be provided with timely and adequate notice of the ending or reduction of any COVID-19 Response service or process.

How can our office stay up to date to ensure we aren’t missing policy changes?

Membership Renewal

The 2023 membership renewal notices have been sent through email and via U.S. Postal Service. A reminder—90% of your yearly dues can be deducted on your tax returns.

Simply call, 517/347-1555 ext.100 or click the button below for online renewal.

Renew Membership here

Membership Renewal Link

Strategic Partner Career Opportunity Spotlight:

Karmanos Cancer Institute

Choosing a career in oncology means choosing a life dedicated to making a difference for others. At Karmanos Cancer Institute, we are proud to be among the nation’s best cancer centers, caring for approximately 12,000 new patients annually throughout Michigan and northern Ohio. As part of McLaren Health Care, Karmanos is the largest provider of cancer care and research in Michigan, conducting more than 800 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials.

Explore Opportunities at Karmanos Cancer Institute

Explore Opportunities at McLaren Health Care