Office Will Be Closed Friday and Monday

The Medical Society of Delaware offices will be closed on Friday, April 7th, and Monday, April 10th in observance of the Passover and Easter religious holidays. MSD staff wishes all its members a blessed holiday filled with happiness, love, and faith.

Council Appointment Deadline is Friday, April 7th

The MSD 2023 Interim Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at the Smyrna Opera House, with cocktails/hors d'oeuvres at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m. All MSD members are invited to attend and Council members are highly encouraged to register early. Click to register. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, APRIL 14TH.

Resolutions that have been submitted by the April 3rd deadline for the Council's consideration are:

• Increasing Representation on the Medical Society of Delaware’s Delegation to the American Medical Association
• MSD Position on the Legalization of Cannabis
• Dialysis Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants with End-Stage Renal Disease

Better Health Through Better Understanding

Saturday, April 1 marked the start of National Minority Health Month. This year’s theme is Better Health Through Better Understanding, which focuses on improving health outcomes by providing racial and ethnic minority and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities with culturally and linguistically competent health care services, information, and resources. Read more.

Plan is Consistent with Federal Public Health Emergency Expiration

Governor John Carney today announced his intention to end the State of Delaware’s Public Health Emergency order at the end of the day on May 11, 2023, absent any unanticipated developments. The expected end date would be the same date the federal Public Health Emergency is set to expire.

National Lieutenant Governors Association Government Innovators Award

Delaware Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long was awarded the 2023 National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) Government Innovators Award. Lt. Governor Hall-Long is the inaugural winner of this award, presented in partnership by the NLGA and Sourcewell. The Government Innovators Award is presented annually to a lieutenant governor who demonstrates creative solutions that improve efficiencies, best use taxpayer dollars, or bring innovations to state and territorial government. Read more.

Effective April 1, 2023

Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik announced leadership changes at the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH). Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Brown, a board-certified family physician who has served as Chief Medical Officer of the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) since 2018, will assume the role of Interim Director of the Division of Public Health, effective April 1, 2023. Dr. Brown will lead the division temporarily as the agency continues the search for a permanent director. Dr. Brown replaces Dr. Rick Hong, who has served as Interim Director since July 1, 2022. 

Displays Trends in State's Health Care Spending and Quality

Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik presented the State’s third annual Benchmark Trend Report at today’s Delaware Health Care Commission (DHCC) meeting. This report displays trends in Delaware’s health care spending and quality, comparing new 2021 data against a set benchmark, as well as baseline data from 2019 and 2020. Read more. 

Managed Care Only Health Care Professionals Must Register

The Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) is urging all Managed Care Organization-Only health care professionals enrolled with a DMMA Managed Care Organization (MCO) to register with the Delaware Medical Assistance Program as required by federal law. Those who fail to register by Sept. 30, 2023, face having their contracts with Medicaid terminated. Read more. 

HB 110 Introduced

Delaware House Bill 110 would address the cost barrier to reproductive care for low- and moderate-income women by requiring insurance carriers to provide coverage for abortion-related services. Read more.

CMS Releases Final Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Final Rule on Medicare Parts C and D addressing changes to the programs. Among those are changes to the prior authorization process under Medicare Advantage. The Final Rule requires prior authorization approvals to be valid as long as medically necessary and states that coverage denials based on medical necessity must be reviewed by health care professionals with relevant expertise before issuing a denial. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2024. CMS has indicated that other proposed reforms, such as gold carding and implementation of the real time prescription benefit standard will be addressed in a later rule. Read more.

Lower Than Expected

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new rules to cut down on widespread overbilling by private Medicare Advantage insurance plans. CMS indicated it expected that total payments for 2024 would rise by 3.3% from 2023, up from the 1% initial estimate. Payments to insurers will be lowered and it is planned to phase in the changes over three years. CMS announced a lower than expected 1.1% average cut of 2024 reimbursement rates for health insurers that offer coverage through the Medicare Advantage program. 

Extension Through Calendar Years 2025 to 2030

Under an extension through calendar years 2025 to 2030, the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model will introduce changes intended to more fully address the health-related social needs of patients, advance health equity, and improve care coordination for patients with serious illness. Read more.

For Critically-Ill Adults

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an EUA for the use of Gohibic (vilobelimab) injection for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults when initiated within 48 hours of receiving invasive mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (artificial life support). Read more.

FDA Identifies Recall as a Class I Recall, the Most Serious Type

Datascope, a subsidiary of Getinge, is recalling Cardiosave Hybrid IABPs and Rescue IABPs because the coiled cable connecting the display and base on some units may fail, causing an unexpected shutdown. This shutdown will occur without warnings or alarms to alert the user. The Cardiosave Hybrid Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) and the Cardiosave Rescue IABP are electromechanical systems used to inflate and deflate intra-aortic balloons. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries, serious health consequences, or death. Read more.

Due to Potential Bacillus Cereus Contamination

Camber Pharmaceuticals is recalling lot # E220182 of Atovaquone Oral Suspension USP, 750 mg/5 mL due to the potential Bacillus cereus contamination in the product. Atovaquone Oral Suspension, USP is indicated for prevention and treatment of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) in adults and children 13 years of age and older who cannot tolerate other medicines, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Read recall.

Due to Reports of Lithium-ion Battery Problems

Abbott initiated a voluntary medical device correction in February to emphasize instructions for its FreeStyle Libre®, FreeStyle Libre® 14 day and FreeStyle Libre® 2 Readers in the United States due to a limited number of reports worldwide (0.0017%) from users over several years that their reader’s lithium-ion battery swelled, infrequently overheated or, in very rare cases, sparked or caught fire. No Readers are being physically recalled and customers can continue to use their Readers with the Abbott-provided USB cable and power adapter. Read more.

For Opioid Analgesics Dispensed in Outpatient Settings

Earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is requiring manufacturers of opioid analgesics dispensed in outpatient settings to make prepaid mail-back envelopes available to outpatient pharmacies and other dispensers as an additional opioid analgesic disposal option for patients. Read more.

A Vision and Roadmap to Make Faster Progress

This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a National Cancer Plan, developed by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI). The plan provides a framework for everyone—across the federal government and all of society—to collaborate in ending cancer as we know it, and to realize the vision of the Cancer Moonshot plan. The Cancer Moonshot goal is to reduce the cancer death rate by 50% within 25 years. Read more.

Funding Available to Integrate Social Care and Medical Care

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) released a funding opportunity to support testing interventions that screen for and address adverse social determinants of health (SDoH) during a health care visit. The proposed pilot should lay the foundation for larger clinical trials to integrate social care and medical care with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing disparities related to the prevention or treatment of diseases within the mission of NIDDK. Letters of Intent are due Tuesday, September 19.

CDC Issues Health Advisory to Health Care Professionals

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and public health departments in the United States about two confirmed outbreaks of Marburg virus disease (MVD)—one in Equatorial Guinea and one in Tanzania. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that these two outbreaks are related; most experts agree that these represent two independent animal-to-human spillover events. To date, no confirmed cases of MVD related to these outbreaks have been reported in the United States or other countries outside Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.  Read more.

Alternative to the Secure, Point-In-Time Examinations of Knowledge

Within five years of the Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future Commission (Vision Commission) sharing its recommendations, all 24 American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Member Boards have implemented formative assessments for continuing certification. Read more.

Announced by Delaware's Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Board

Delaware’s Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Board announced the start of its 2023 Organ Donor Awareness Video Scholarship Contest, with a total of up to $5,000 in scholarships available to Delaware high school students. The board funds the video public service contest to raise awareness among young people about the importance of becoming a designated organ and tissue donor.

G. Jeffrey Milan, MD

MSD member G. Jeffrey Milan, MD received the Renal Physicians Association (RPA) 2023 Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award at the RPA Annual Meeting in New Orleans this past weekend. Dr. Milan is a physician at Nephrology Associates in the Dover office. He is an active member of the RPA advocacy community, a member of the board of directors for the RPA political action committee, a frequent Capitol Hill Day participant, and was the most active user of the RPA legislative action center in 2022. This award is a testament to Dr. Milan's tireless efforts and dedication to improving the lives of kidney disease patients. Congratulations, Dr. Milan, on this well-deserved recognition! Pictured are left, Dr. Milan and Dr. Tim Pflederer, President of the Renal Physicians Association  

Bayhealth

Thanks to a collaboration between Bayhealth and Project Kudos Powered by Schell Brothers Foundation, $40,612 was raised in support of Bayhealth Total Care. The money raised from this successful Art for A Cause campaign will fund the purchase of medical equipment for Bayhealth Total Care located at the intersection of Lewes-Georgetown Highway (Route 9) and Hudson Road in Milton. Read more.

Bayhealth announced that its bariatric surgery center has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).  

ChrisitianaCare

Researchers at ChristianaCare’s Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute have demonstrated for the first time that microRNA (miRNA) expression leads to a diversity of cancer stem cells within a colorectal cancer tumor. This diversity of cancer cells may explain why advanced colorectal cancer is difficult to treat. Read more.

Move to a Three-Year Reappoint Cycle: To change or not to change? That is the question. This free webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 12th at 1 p.m. (ET) and discuss the pros and cons of transitioning to a reappointment period of three years, as well as the industry standards and governance documents that will need to be evaluated and considered. Register to receive a link to the recording. Click to register.

Only 6 more tickets are available to watch the Wilmington Blue Rocks take on the Aberdeen Iron Birds on Tuesday April 25, 2023. Game time is 6:35 p.m. at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington. This is a MSD member only event. Tickets are free for MSD members and will be provided via email prior to the event date. All MSD members must be current & membership dues for 2023 paid. Register

SAVE THE DATE! For the Delaware Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion CME Webinar discussing health care literacy in the perioperative arena. This webinar will take place on Thursday, April 27th at 5:30 p.m.

Claudette E. Anderson, MD - OB/GYN, Allgyn, Inc.

Please join MSD in welcoming the newest members of the Medical Society of Delaware. As the third oldest medical society in the country, MSD has an amazing history. Thank you for taking part in our continued success!

Bruce S. Sachais, MD - Sr. VP & CMO, Blood Bank of Delmarva

Vincent E. Schaller, MD - Family Medicine, Mid-Atlantic Concussion Alliance

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@medsocdelorg with any comments on the current pending member(s) listed above or if you know someone interested in joining MSD. You could be eligible for a referral discount!

On January 30, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced its intent to end the national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has resources available to help you prepare for the end of the PHE, some of which have been updated based on recent action by Congress. The following materials reflect recent changes and are currently available on the CMS Emergencies Page:

• Provider-specific fact sheets for information about COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) waivers and flexibilities: https://www.cms.gov/coronavirus-waivers
• CMS 1135 Waiver / Flexibility Request and Inquiry Form: https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/cms_1135
• Acute Hospital At Home: https://qualitynet.cms.gov/acute-hospital-care-at-home
• Loss of Medicaid or CHIP coverage
• FAQs on COVID-19 (released March 29, 2023)

Updates will continue to be provided as we approach the end of the PHE. You are encouraged to regularly visit the CMS Emergencies Page for the most up to date information.

• (Delaware) General Questions: call 211 or email DPHCall@delaware.gov or Vaccine@delaware.gov for vaccine-specific questions.
• Latest information on Delaware's response (testing, treatment, vaccination): de.gov/coronavirus (Updated 2/2023)
• CDC COVID-19 Testing Locator Website (no-cost COVID-19 Testing. launched 1/2023)
• Delaware "My Healthy Community" COVID-19 Dashboard (updated weekly on Wednesdays)
• COVID-19 by County Community Level Check (# hospital admissions and beds used and total number of new cases)
• COVID-19 Community Transmission (based on cases per 100,000 people and positivity rate, both measured over the last 7 days)
• DPH Public Health Alerts: de.gov/publichealthalerts
• Federal website for information on navigating COVID: COVID.gov
• CDC COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
• COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator
• CDC COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review.
• 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
• Subscribe to the COVID-19 Update podcast - on Apple Podcasts or Simplecast.  

The Latin phrase Rerum Cognoscere translates to learn, examine, or become aware of facts or things. In this section, we highlight measurable items of interest in health care from MSD, Delaware, the US, and the world.