A Combination of Virtual and In-Person Events; Sponsorships Available

Information will be available soon in the coming days to register for MSD's 233rd Annual Meeting. The agenda is as follows:

• Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 6 p.m. - Annual Meeting of the Council, Virtual
• Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 6 p.m. - Annual Meeting of MSD Holding Company Board, Virtual (Holding Company Board members only)
• Thursday, November 3, 2022, 6 p.m. - Education Program, Virtual
• Saturday, November 5, 2022, 6 p.m. - Inaugural Reception, Smyrna Opera House

Resolutions have already been submitted for consideration by the Council. If you are planning to submit a resolution, the deadline for submission is Friday, October 7th. Our education program will tackle physician/patient trust and preparation and response to violent intruders. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, MSD has not held its customary Inaugural Gala. We wanted to bring back our in-person event this year and are changing things up a bit with a cocktail/hors d'oeuvre event and some entertainment that will make this a "magical" evening.

We will honor our members who have been serving their patients for 50 years with the Medical Service Award. And Matthew J. Burday, DO, MSD President, will be giving out his awards recognizing the Daniel J. Alvarez Distinguished Service Award recipient, as well as the recipient of the President's Award. We will also be recognizing physicians nominated by their peers for going above and beyond in providing exceptional service to their patients, their practice/hospital system, and their community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you can join us for these exciting events!

For those who are interested in sponsoring this year's Annual Meeting events, there are two sponsorship levels to choose from. Please refer to the Sponsorship Prospectus for more information and details. To register as a sponsor, please go to http://c.planetReg.com/2022Sponsorship or contact Mary LaJudice, Senior Director of Corporate Services, at Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org or call (302) 224-5183.

Join a Committee and Make a Difference

The Annual Meeting of MSD will be taking place from November 1-5, 2022, with voting for various elected positions.  Now is the time to consider joining a committee in the new year!  MSD has many areas of focus, one surely suited to your interests! As the MSD Nominating Committee finalizes the nomination slate, don't wait and be left out.  Contact us now to apply.  Refer to the MSD website for further information on individual committees and to submit a Committee Request form as soon as possible.

Submit Your idea as a Resolution and Make a Difference

Turn your idea into a resolution. MSD is accepting resolutions for health care-related issues to be considered by the Council at the MSD Annual Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 1st. Resolutions must be submitted in writing by Friday, October 7th. This is an excellent opportunity to share your concerns with your peers and make a difference. Not sure where to start? MSD has created a Resolution Writing Guide to help! Please contact Mary LaJudice, Senior Director of Corporate Services, with any questions or to submit your resolution (Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org or 302/593-8589).

Major Investment in Primary Care

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware’s BluePrints for the Community has awarded an initial $1 million grant to the Delaware Medical Education Foundation (DMEF), one of the Medical Society of Delaware's two charitable foundations, establishing a Primary Care Investment Initiative (PCII). The PCII intends to target independent primary care practices whose physicians are also active members of the Medical Society of Delaware (MSD). The PCII will make financial stimulus awards available to eligible practices who propose a qualified method to prepare their practice for sustainable success in value-based care. Grant awards will be up to $25,000 per practice in the 2022 calendar year. Read more.

Register to Attend the 6th Annual Tilton Award Reception

The Medical Society of Delaware together with the Tilton Society are pleased to announce Richard W. Henderson, MD as this year's recipient of the Tilton Award. This award pays tribute to MSD's first President, James Tilton, MD, who was a medical pioneer, innovator, and statesperson. Dr. Henderson will be presented the coveted Tilton Bust at the award reception event being held on Friday, October 21 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the historic Tilton Mansion-University and Whist Club, located at 805 N. Broom St., Wilmington. Cost per person is $100 or $150 per couple. Please contact Katie Hamilton at Katie.Hamilton@medsocdel.org or (302) 224-5192 to register.

October 5th in Wilmington

There are 36 cases of monkeypox in Delaware. Eligible Delawareans can get vaccinated to prevent infection. An exciting collaboration between the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and ConeXiones is providing a monkeypox clinic Wednesday, October 5^th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at 301 N Harrison St. Wilmington, DE 19805.

Flyers for posting in your office to notify your patients of this event are available in English and Spanish. People should pre-register with the link provided on the poster in order to plan to have enough vaccine available. 

Severe Manifestations Among Immunocompromised Due to HIV or Other Conditions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory today to inform physicians that

1. Severe manifestations of monkeypox have been observed in the United States in the current outbreak.
2. People who are immunocompromised due to HIV or other conditions are at higher risk for severe manifestations of monkeypox than people who are immunocompetent.
3. Because people with HIV-associated immunocompromise are at risk for severe manifestations of monkeypox, the HIV status of all sexually active adults and adolescents with suspected or confirmed monkeypox should be determined.
4. There are diagnostic and clinical management strategies that may help address severe manifestations of monkeypox.

Active Flu Season Anticipated

October 2 marks the official start of the 2022-2023 influenza (flu) season. The U.S. often looks to the experience of Australia and New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere during their flu season in the summer as a possible signal of what we might face. This year, the countries had a particularly active flu season. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year. Children younger than 5, older adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic underlying medical conditions are most at risk for complications from the flu and are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated now. The Division of Public Health (DPH) also urges vaccination for those who live or work with infants under 6 months of age and those who live or work in congregant settings such as long-term care and correctional facilities. The flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, which includes the new bivalent booster.

DPH is expanding its data collection and presentation capabilities this year. For the first time, in a pilot of approximately 20 Influenza-Like Illness Network (ILI Net) Providers statewide, DPH will collect and report the results of rapid flu test results. In the past, DPH has reported only laboratory-confirmed cases, thereby limiting the picture of the actual incidence of flu in Delaware for a given flu season. Since DPH is increasing the amount of data it collects and shares, comparing the data with that of past years should be done cautiously. In addition to collecting rapid flu test results, DPH will begin collecting information on other respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to get an expanded view of the respiratory viruses circulating during the influenza season. Later in October, DPH will make flu data available on the My Healthy Community data portal, much like it does for COVID-19.  Data will still be updated weekly as in the past, but information related to flu vaccination rates in the state will be provided for the first time. 

While DPH no longer holds mass community flu clinics, it is offering flu vaccines at community-based locations where the DPH mobile units also provide additional health services. Find out more at flu.delaware.gov  or call 1-800-282-8672. 

Physicians Face Another Round of Medicare Payment Cuts

Physicians are facing another round of Medicare payment cuts by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Unless Congress acts by the end of the year, physician Medicare payments are planned to be cut by 8.42 percent in 2023 which would severely impede patient access to care due to the forced closure of physician practices and put further strain on those that remained open during the pandemic. Tell Congress to protect America's Medicare patients and stop the cuts!

These scheduled cuts will come in three forms:

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS has proposed a 4.42% cut for all physician services in 2023 to offset payment policy improvements in office and facility-based visits.
• No inflationary update. Physicians are the only health care professionals whose Medicare payments do not automatically receive an annual inflationary update; during this time of record inflation on the heels of a highly disruptive pandemic, this statutory flaw amplifies the impact of proposed payment cuts.
• PAYGO. Congressional Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rules have been triggered requiring an automatic 4% cut as a result of new federal spending having nothing to do with physicians. These cuts will kick in in 2023 unless waived by Congress.



Physicians simply cannot afford to operate under the current payment system. Congress must reform the Medicare physician payment system to make it simpler, more reflective of real-world physician practice costs and more predictable for both physicians and CMS before it's too late!  Recently, Representatives Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) introduced H.R. 8800 the "Supporting Medicare Providers Act" to help address the flawed payment system and provide relief from the devastating cuts. This is a great first step, but with only a handful of legislative days left, it is critical that Congress act to pass it or any other legislation that will prevent these devastating cuts from going into effect. Please take a moment and contact your Senators and Representative to tell them to cancel the cuts! 

Provides Health Care Facilities With Some Flexibility

Last Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance regarding infection prevention and control for health care personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The updated guidance provides health care facilities with some flexibility in using COVID-19 community transmission levels and the risk of transmission within their own facilities when determining needs for specific types of masking and personal protective equipment.

However, at high community transmission levels or increased risk of transmission within a facility, CDC continues to recommend source-control masking and respiratory personal protective equipment for everyone in a health care setting. 

With the current levels of community transmission in Delaware and the potential for increased transmission of COVID-19/influenza as the fall and winter approach, along with staffing difficulties many facilities are facing, the Delaware Division of Public Health continues to encourage source-control masking and respiratory protection within health care facilities.

$1.5 Billion Going to States and Tribes

Last Friday the Biden-Harris Administration announced the distribution of $1.5 billion in funds to all states and territories to address the overdose epidemic and support the tens of millions of Americans in recovery. Local news outlets across the country are reporting on state and tribal funding that will support life-saving programs and policies, such as increasing access to treatment for substance use disorder, removing barriers to medications like naloxone, and expanding access to recovery support services. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will distribute the funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response and Tribal Opioid Response grant programs as part of National Recovery Month. 

Funding to Connect Underserved Communities to Support Services

Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, PhD, RN, today announced the launch of the Prevention and Recovery Support Services Fund to reduce overdose deaths across the state by boosting access to support services in underserved communities. The initiative will be funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, drug overdose deaths in Delaware continued to rise and have disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities and people living in rural areas. The fund will leverage ARPA dollars to support organizations working in those communities to connect Delawareans with services that address the social factors that both put people at higher risk and make it more difficult to access substance use disorder and behavioral health treatment. Funding will be awarded to service providers and community organizations, including faith-based and advocacy groups, and can be used to eliminate barriers for people experiencing or at-risk for developing substance use disorder when accessing services such as transportation, housing, and workforce capacity.

Organizations (Entities eligible to apply: Nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, for-profit providers) may apply for funding by visiting https://ltgov.delaware.gov/recovery-management-support-services-fund/. Applications must be submitted by October 28, 2022, to be considered for available funding.  

Final Phase Trial of Experimental Alzheimer's Drug Met Study's Targets

Japanese drugmaker Eisai and its American partner, Biogen, announced positive topline results from Eisai’s large global Phase 3 confirmatory Clarity AD clinical trial of lecanemab (development code: BAN2401), an investigational anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) protofibril antibody for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild AD (collectively known as early AD) with confirmed presence of amyloid pathology in the brain. Lecanemab slowed cognitive and functional decline in patients with early Alzheimer's by 27 percent. Eisai’s recruitment strategy for the Clarity AD clinical trial ensured greater inclusion of ethnic and racial populations in the U.S., resulting in approximately 25% of the total U.S. enrollment including Hispanic and African American persons living with early AD. Due to the inclusive eligibility criteria and the successful recruitment of diverse ethnic and racial populations in the U.S., Clarity AD’s population is generally comparable to the country’s Medicare population. In July 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted Eisai’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for lecanemab under the accelerated approval pathway and granted Priority Review.  Eisai aims to file for traditional approval in the U.S. and for marketing authorization applications in Japan and Europe by the end of Eisai's FY 2022, which ends March 31, 2023. Eisai will present the Clarity AD study results on November 29, 2022, at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Congress and publish the finding in a peer-reviewed medical journal.  The companies hope lecanemab will fare better commercially than Aduhelm. 

To Improve Diet, Reduce Chronic Disease, Advance Health Equity

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed updated criteria for when foods can be labeled with the nutrient content claim “healthy” on their packaging. This proposed rule would align the definition of the “healthy” claim with current nutrition science, the updated Nutrition Facts label and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. More than 80% of people in the U.S. aren’t eating enough vegetables, fruit and dairy. And most people consume too much added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. The proposed rule would update the “healthy” claim definition to better account for how all the nutrients in various food groups contribute and may work synergistically to create healthy dietary patterns and improve health. Under the proposed definition for the updated “healthy” claim, more foods that are part of a healthy dietary pattern and recommended by the Dietary Guidelines would be eligible to use the claim on their labeling, including nuts and seeds, higher fat fish (such as salmon), certain oils and water. Under the proposed definition, in order to be labeled with the “healthy” claim on food packaging, the products would need to: 

• Contain a certain meaningful amount of food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups (e.g., fruit, vegetable, dairy, etc.) recommended by the Dietary Guidelines. 
• Adhere to specific limits for certain nutrients, such as saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. The threshold for the limits is based on a percent of the Daily Value (DV) for the nutrient and varies depending on the food and food group. The limit for sodium is 10% of the DV per serving (230 milligrams per serving).

Rapid and Timely Access to Emergent Health Information

The Division of Public Health (DPH) is encouraging physicians and their staff to sign up for notifications via the Delaware Health Alert Network (DHAN). The DHAN is part of a nationwide network of strong public health agencies that effectively serve as the nation’s frontline defense against public health threats. The program intends to ensure that each community has rapid and timely access to emergent health information; a cadre of highly-trained professional personnel; and evidence-based practices and procedures for effective public health preparedness, response, and service on a 24/7 basis. DPH issues HANs based on either national or local issues that deserve health care system notification. DPH wants to reach more physicians with important, timely information. Sign up to receive DPH HANs by following directions in the flyer.  Examples of previous HANS can be found at: https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/php/alerts.html. Thank you for your interest in staying up-to-date with the most urgent public health news. 

Join My Green Doctor As a Money-Saving Membership Benefit

Gas stoves are a health risk. This is true especially for children and the elderly. People who live in homes with gas stoves have more asthma, lung disease, and perhaps even cancer. This month, the MSD’s My Green Doctor explains the data and offers advice in a short article that you can share with your patients. 

My Green Doctor is a free money-saving membership benefit from the Medical Society of Delaware. Members use My Green Doctor’s “Meeting-by-Meeting Guide” to learn how to adopt environmental sustainability, save resources, and help create healthier communities. The program adds just five minutes to each regular office staff meeting or weekly office “huddle," making small changes at each meeting that really add up over time. Everyone in your practice can register as Partner Society members at www.MyGreenDoctor.org or at www.MyGreenDoctor.es (si, en Espanol). Use the discount code MGDMSD to save $60 instantly and give full access to My Green Doctor for free. Ask your practice manager to register today and to put My Green Doctor on your next agenda. You can do this!

For My Green Doctor members, click this link to access the article information on the health risk of gas stoves to share with your patients:  https://mygreendoctor.org/learn-the-health-risk-of-gas-stoves/. If you are not yet a member, it's easy and free to sign up at www.MyGreenDoctor.org.

Saleem Khan, MD Requests Your Help; Will Match Donations up to $10k

Pakistan has been hit by the worst floods in their history. International news agencies are reporting 1,300 individuals have died. Almost 32 million Pakistanis are displaced and living in temporary shelters or with family and friends to escape the devastation caused by raging waters all around them. The Secretary General of the United Nations has described this unprecedented tragedy as “monsoons on steroids”. The people of Pakistan need help to deal with hunger, lack of clean water, and diseases. As a Pakistani-American, I am doing my best to help the situation. I am requesting you to join hands with me as caring individuals to help these victims of a natural disaster which is the result of climate changes around the world. I will appreciate your donations to the Human Development Foundation (https://www.hdf.com/donation/donate) through their website. I have been supporting this Illinois-based charity organization for many years. They are very reliable and dedicated people. Whatever funds are raised, I will match them up to the first 10 thousand dollars. When you send a donation, please let me know. Please note that all your donations are tax exempt. Thank you so much for your participation in this very needed humanitarian effort.

Saleem A. Khan, M.D.

October 11 - MSD's Pubs and Politics, University & Whist Club, 805 N. Broom St., Wilmington, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Registration deadline October 3.

October 21 - Tilton Annual Award Event recognizing 2022 Tilton Award recipient Richard W. Henderson, MD, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the University & Whist Club in Wilmington. Contact Katie Hamilton to register (Katie.Hamilton@medsocdel.org or 302/224-5192). 

November 5 - We are excited to announce our Annual "Superhero for Hope” 5K Run/Walk is happening again this year! The Medical Society of Delaware will host its 5th Annual Campaign for Kids..."It's OBVIOUS" 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at Rockford Park, Wilmington. This family-friendly event is being held in conjunction with a Community Health and Wellness Fair, co-hosted by MSD, Mom's House, and Vision to Learn. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Back by popular demand is the "Oat Bowl" featuring a make-your-own oatmeal bowl with a variety of fixings. Race participants will also enjoy t-shirts and other post-race food and refreshments.

Bayhealth

Bayhealth announced it recently received a $25,000 grant from Bank of America. The grant will support Bayhealth’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs. This is the second grant from Bank of America, which has gifted a total of $45,000 to Bayhealth’s GME programs. This year, Bayhealth added the General Surgery Residency program after launching the Family Medicine and Internal Medicine programs last year. The Emergency Medicine program will accept its first class in 2023.

Beebe Healthcare

Beebe Healthcare announced it is hosting free flu vaccination clinics throughout Sussex County between Saturday, Oct. 1 and Monday, Nov. 21. Seven of the clinics will also offer the COVID-19 bivalent booster (refer to the announcement). Influenza vaccinations are recommended for everyone 6 months and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also recommends that people should get vaccinated before flu activity begins in their community and suggests September and October as good times to get a flu shot. The community flu clinics are free of charge, and appointments are not required. Flu vaccines are available to adults aged 18 years and older. For the most up to date information on flu clinic locations, times, and FAQs, please visit beebehealthcare.org/flu-clinics or Beebe Healthcare’s Facebook page. Beebe has also set up a Flu Hotline, 302-291-6FLU (6358), for community members to call for the most up-to-date clinic schedule. 

One hundred physicians on Beebe Healthcare’s Medical Staff were named “Top Docs” by the annual Delaware Today peer-voted poll. Beebe also earned honors in “First State Favorites” by Delaware Online and “Best Of” for Coastal Style magazine. Physicians who were honored as “Top Docs” come from a wide range of services, from various surgical specialties such as breast, vascular, and orthopaedics, to outpatient services such as cardiology, gastroenterology, family medicine, and women’s health to name a few. To view a full list of Beebe’s winners, visit: https://tinyurl.com/4ha7fnev. 

Beebe Healthcare announced Beebe Medical Group’s next Primary Care location conveniently located at “Bayside Corner” at the intersection of Routes 54 and 20 in Selbyville. The exterior structure is in the process of being built with a tentative opening in mid-2023. Beebe Primary Care Selbyville is expected to have 10 exam rooms, which would allow for approximately five primary care providers. The goal is to create increased same-day sick visit access for established Beebe primary care patients and have extended hours of operation.

Raghda Bchech, MD - Bayhealth Family Medicine, Dover

Virginia L. Hoch, MD - Med/Peds Resident, ChristianaCare

Morgan A. Katz, MD - Primary Care at ChristianaCare, Limestone Office

Michael W. Noonan, DO - Hospice/Palliative Med Fellowship, ChristianaCare

MSD's Membership Department is pleased to announce the newest members of the Medical Society of Delaware. Welcome to the third oldest medical society in the country! If you know someone interested in joining MSD, please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org with any questions. You could be eligible for a referral discount!

Bridget A. Peters, DO - Family Medicine, ChristianaCare, Wilmington

Asanthi M. Ratnasekera, MD - Trauma & Critical Care Surg, ChristianaCare

MSD members are afforded a seven-day review period from the date of this publication to comment regarding applicants for membership. Please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org with any comments on the current pending members(s) listed above.

• DPH Public Health Alerts: de.gov/publichealthalerts
• DPH Hotline - (866) 408-1899 (Monday -Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or DPHCall@delaware.gov
• Reporting suspected monkeypox rash in Delaware: Contact DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (OIDE), at 302-744-4990 (business hours) or 1-888-295-5156 (after hours).
• Delaware health care facilities that require specimen collection kits can order through OEMS@delaware.gov using a SHOC Request form.
• DPH website: de.gov/monkeypox
• DPH Social Channels: Facebook (@DEPublicHealth), Instagram (@depublichealth), DHSS Twitter (@Delaware_DHSS)
• FDA Monkeypox Response Website
• CDC Monkeypox Website
• CDC Case Definitions for 2022 Monkeypox Response
• CDC Considerations for Monkeypox Vaccination for the recommended use of vaccine in the U.S.
• CDC Monkeypox Treatment Information for Healthcare Professionals
• Specimen collection: Follow Lab Advisory: CDC Updates Specimen Collection Guidelines for Monkeypox Virus 

• DPH Public Health Alerts: de.gov/publichealthalerts
• DPH COVID-19 Booster Information: de.gov/boosters
• Federal website for information on navigating COVID: COVID.gov
• CDC COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
• COVID-19 Treatment Options
• Medical Provider Guidance for Administering Therapeutics
• COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator
• For testing flyers (available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole): https://covidmaterialsde.com/resources/community-organizer
• For all testing site referral locations, visit: de.gov/gettested
• For vaccination site referral locations, visit: de.gov/getmyvaccine
• Pfizer/Moderna pediatric vaccine information: de.gov/youthvaccine
• FDA At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests provides a list of all FDA-authorized at-home over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests
• Know the COVID-19 Community Level where you live
• DPH COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Check Page
• Subscribe to the COVID-19 Update podcast - on Apple Podcasts or Simplecast.