MSD Announces Holiday Office Hours

The Medical Society of Delaware offices will be closed beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 26th through Monday, May 29th in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

Please take time over this holiday weekend to honor those who have died in military service for our country.

Memorial Day often marks the unofficial start of summer and the Delaware State Police remind us to take responsibility for our safety and the safety of others by driving safely, not only during this weekend, but each and every day.

Governor Carney: "An Institution in Our State"

U.S. Senator Tom Carper announced his retirement from politics on Monday, after serving nearly 50 years in office. He has been in statewide public office since 1977, serving as Delaware Treasurer, Congressman, Governor, and Senator. He indicated he will not seek re-election in 2024 and will retire from the U.S. Senate when his term ends in early 2025. Governor John Carney, Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, and other have released statements following Senator Carper's announcement.

Physicians, Patients, and Public Health May All Be Impacted

As the United States nears a potential debt default, many experts say it would likely lead to significant consequences for health care. A debt default could have a catastrophic impact on physician payments, depending on which programs the federal government decides to prioritize. Currently, around 70% of Medicaid spending comes from the federal government. Without these funds, states would have to decide whether to cover the difference, as well as which providers would be affected. Read the full story.

Calling All Members to Consider Nomination for a 2024 Position

Congratulations to the following physicians who were recently appointed by the MSD Executive Board to serve as members on the 2023 Nominating Committee!

• Nicholas O. Biasotto, DO
• Hugh Bonner III, MD
• Nancy Fan, MD
• Mary C. McCrossan, MD
• Shalini B. Shah, MD
• Michael T. Vest, DO
• Bhavin R. Dave, MD, MSD President-Elect, serves as Chair

The Committee is appointed annually and is responsible for developing the nomination slate for elections at the Annual Meeting of the Council in November. Over the course of the next several months, the Committee members will be seeking out candidates with appropriate skills and qualities for leadership. If you are interested in a position, contact any member of the Nominating Committee or Mary LaJudice, Senior Director of Corporate Services, for more information (Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org or 302/224-5183).

House of Delegates Annual Meeting Takes Place June 9-14, 2023 in Chicago

Officials and members will gather to elect officers and address policy at the 2023 American Medical Association (AMA) Annual Meeting being held in Chicago, June 9-14, 2023. Led by AMA Delegate, Janice E. Tildon-Burton, MD, Delaware added two more representatives to its Delegation this year: Shalini B. Shah, MD will serve as representative to the Private Practice Physician Section and Cedric T. Barnes, DO will serve as the representative to the Minority Affairs Section. The AMA has also accepted a resolution submitted by Delaware for consideration and debate. "Minimizing the Influence of Social Media on Gun Violence" asks the AMA to take action to call upon social media sites to aggressively remove postings of videos, photos, and comments encouraging and glorifying the use of guns and gun violence; asks the AMA to take action to work with social media sites to provide educational content on the use of guns, inherent dangers, and gun safety; and introduces new AMA House of Delegates policy to recommend that social media sites update and monitor algorithms to detect and eliminate information about guns and gun violence that encourages violent actions.

New Advisory Issued on Effects Social Media Has on Youth Mental Health

On Tuesday this week, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. While social media may offer some benefits, there are ample indicators that social media can also pose a risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Social media use by young people is nearly universal, with up to 95% of young people ages 13-17 reporting using a social media platform and more than a third saying they use social media almost constantly. “Nearly every teenager in America uses social media, and yet we do not have enough evidence to conclude that it is sufficiently safe for them,” Murthy wrote. He argued that kids have “become unknowing participants in a decades-long experiment.” The Surgeon General's report focuses on the impacts of social media on teens and kids, both positive and negative, and the attendant health risks. The report outlines two types of dangers associated with social networks: content-related problems, such as negative self-image or bullying, and use-related problems, such as poor sleep and addiction.

MSD's Statewide Safety Net Program for HCC Patients

The MSD Voluntary Initiative Program (VIP) is part of Health Care Connection (HCC), a state-funded program that helps coordinate charitable medical services and provides additional health service resources for uninsured and under-insured patients. In addition, VIP’s Medication Assistance program saves patients significant money on their medication and medical supplies. Physician participation adds value and improves medical outcomes for patients enrolled in HCC. Physicians and other health care professionals who are employed by Delaware hospitals (Beebe Healthcare, ChristianaCare, Saint Francis Healthcare, and Tidal Health) are automatically participants in VIP. A corresponding questionnaire has been developed for new physicians and other health care professionals joining health systems or for private practicing physicians who wish to enroll in VIP. If you have questions regarding the VIP program, please contact Michelle Seymour at 302-224-4905 or email Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org.

Employed Physicians and Providers - use this link to update your information for VIP - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VIPEmployedNetwork

Private Physicians and Providers - use this link to enroll in VIP - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VIPEnrollment

Important Treatment Option for Those at High Risk for Progression

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the oral antiviral Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Paxlovid is the fourth drug—and first oral antiviral pill—approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19 in adults. Paxlovid manufactured and packaged under the emergency use authorization (EUA) and distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will continue to be available to ensure continued access for adults, as well as treatment of eligible children ages 12-18 who are not covered by today’s approval. Paxlovid is not approved or authorized for use as a pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of COVID-19.

For Opioid Use Disorder

On Tuesday this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brixadi (buprenorphine) extended-release injection for subcutaneous use to treat moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD). Brixadi is available in two formulations, a weekly injection that can be used in patients who have started treatment with a single dose of a transmucosal buprenorphine product or who are already being treated with buprenorphine, and a monthly version for patients already being treated with buprenorphine. Read more.

For Pneumonia Caused by Certain Difficult-to-Treat Bacteria

On Tuesday this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xacduro (sulbactam for injection; durlobactam for injection), a new treatment for hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) caused by susceptible strains of bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex, for patients 18 years of age and older. 

Vaccine Given to Pregnant Women to Prevent RSV Infection in Newborns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted that the available data support the efficacy and safety of Pfizer's unadjuvanted bivalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F vaccine candidate RSVpreF or PF-06928316 (branded Abrysvo). The Committee voted 14 to 0 on effectiveness and 10 to 4 on safety. The vaccine candidate is currently under FDA review for the prevention of medically attended lower respiratory tract disease (MA-LRTD) and severe MA-LRTD caused by RSV in infants from birth up to six months of age by active immunization of pregnant individuals. The current VRBPAC recommendations pave the way for approval. Earlier in May the FDA approved the world’s first RSV vaccine for older adults who also are at high risk. There isn’t a vaccine yet for children, but Pfizer is about to begin testing one.

New HHS Proposal Sheds Light on Cost of Prescription Drugs to Save Money

On Tuesday this week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), proposed steps to further drive down prescription drug costs in Medicaid. CMS’ latest notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) would shed light on the actual cost of drugs covered by Medicaid. Under this proposal, Medicaid would have increased ability to hold drug manufacturers accountable for what Medicaid programs pay for drugs. Provisions of the proposed Medicaid rule are to increase transparency on prescription drug costs, increase transparency of managed care plans, and increase transparency in drug classifications. CMS is accepting public comment on the NPRM through July 25, 2023.

CDC Shares Info

Most tools, like vaccines, treatments, and testing, will remain available. But, some tools, like certain data sources and reporting, will change. Read more about availability and limitations of the COVID-19 tools and the metrics that will remain, be modified, added to, or removed from the current reporting information.

Consumers Benefit From Carrier Expansion and Insurer Oversight

The Delaware Department of Insurance (DOI) has published its annual performance and productivity data, indicating continued success in serving consumers throughout the state. Commissioner Trinidad Navarro’s national convenings to address the improper marketing of health plans have presented regulators with improved ability to address junk plans and other bad actors. The Department also made progress implementing health care affordability standards and increasing investment in primary care, while expanding options on the Health Insurance Marketplace and celebrating the largest enrollment in the state’s ACA history. During the 151st General Assembly, DOI worked with legislators to pass about 20 DOI bills and engaged in roughly 50 others on topics ranging from consumer protection, to product affordability, to access to health care and medications. Read more.

Division of Public Health Issues Advice to the Public

During spring and summer, rabies is more likely to be transmitted to humans and pets due to our increase in outdoor activities. To avoid exposure to rabies, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) advises residents to take the proper precautions. The most common hosts of rabies in Delaware are community cats, bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. In 2018, Delaware detected its first fatal human rabies case in 77 years. Read more.

Announcing Partnership to Locate Missing Children in Delaware

Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long joined NFL Hall of Famer Randy White, former Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowler Jeremiah Trotter and state education and law enforcement leaders at the Garfield Park Police Athletic League on Wednesday to announce a new statewide initiative aimed at better identifying and locating missing children in Delaware. The new partnership between the state of Delaware and the National Child Identification Program will provide 156,000 at-home child ID kits to Delaware families beginning this year. The ID kits will feature an inkless fingerprint solution, DNA storage, a place for medical/dental records, and a section to provide details about a child’s physical description. The kits are already being used in several states to give law enforcement critical information about a missing child. On average, over 1,000 children are reported missing each day in the United States. In 2022, 58 children were reported missing in Delaware according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

A Message to the Next Generation of Physicians

You missed an action-packed night.  The AMA Tribute to the Medical School Class of 2023 is replaying now! Huge names helped the AMA pay tribute to medical school class of 2023. Find out what advice and encouragement leading names in medicine had for the new graduates—and discover a few surprise guests. Watch it on YouTube. 

Residency Programs, Practice Settings, and Medical Schools Invited to Apply

The American Medical Association has announced a request for applications for its 2023 ChangeMedEd Innovation Grant program. The AMA invites medical schools, residency programs and practice settings to apply. In addition to receiving funding, grant recipients will join the AMA ChangeMedEd Consortium, which is committed to developing, implementing and disseminating bold, innovative projects that promote systemic change to better train future physicians. This round of innovation grants will focus on precision education across the medical education continuum, including medical students, residents and practicing physicians. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Central time, June 26, 2023. Acceptances will be sent by August 4. Grants will start Sept. 25. View the submissions guidelines and apply.

Novis PR Recall Due to Incorrect Packaging

Novis PR is recalling Lot D20911 Exp 10/25 of G-Supress DX Pediatric Drops because some cartons of the product have been found to contain incorrect product inside. The incorrect product inside is an anesthetic/analgesic and not a brand of Novis PR. Anesthetic/Analgesic product contains 60% ethyl alcohol and 5% benzocaine. There is a probability of serious adverse events with a product containing alcohol including alcohol toxicity. To date, Novis PR has not receive any reports of adverse events or injuries related to this recall. Read recall.

Plum 360, Plum A+, and Plum A+3 Infusion Systems

ICU Medical is recalling replacement batteries for the Plum 360, Plum A+, and Plum A+3 Infusion Systems because a manufacturing defect has substantially diminished how long they can be used to run the system. If the pump is running on battery power and there is no AC power backup available, the system may shut down an ongoing infusion and power down sooner than expected. 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.

Fast, Efficient, Free Publishing at Your Fingertips!

The MSD Academic Channel is a section of the Cureus Journal of Medical Science devoted solely to the Medical Society of Delaware and the articles and other content produced by physicians. Take advantage of the benefits provided by the MSD Academic Channel and submit your next article. Publish and post all of your articles, posters, and abstracts in one place to build your personal brand!

• ZERO PUBLICATION FEES thanks to MSD's Academic Channel subscription
• EASY ONLINE SUBMISSION
• EXPERT REVIEW by Channel editors, peer reviewers, and Cureus editors to ensure your article is fine-tuned and polished prior to publication
• PRIORITY SUPPORT for help during the submission and publication of your article
• UNMATCHED TRANSPARENCY with the ability to track your article through editorial and peer review all the way to publishing
• RETAIN COPYRIGHT of your own work
• OPEN ACCESS - published articles are immediately available to all readers with no required registration or subscription
• INDEXED in PubMed, PMC, Web of Science and Google Scholar
• AVERAGE PUBLICATION TIME is 37 days
• 3.3 MILLION monthly reads

Free, Money-Saving Membership Benefit for You!

My Green Doctor is a free money-saving membership benefit from the Medical Society of Delaware. Members use the “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 over time really add up. 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 get full free access to My Green Doctor, save $60 instantly, and save $1,000s in the first year. Ask your practice manager to register today and to put My Green Doctor on your next agenda. You can do this!

Beebe Healthcare

The Miracle Mile will return to an in-person event this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Beebe’s annual survivorship walk. It will be hosted at the Specialty Surgical Hospital at 19161 Healthy Way in Rehoboth Beach from 9-11 a.m. Sunday, June 4. The event will start with a brief ceremony and be followed with the walk around the Rehoboth Health Campus, which also houses the Tunnell Cancer Center. The event is free and open to everyone. 

TidalHealth

Additional health care options are coming to Millsboro to serve the growing population, with the construction of a new TidalHealth campus. The first of three buildings in the 150,000-square-foot complex is expected to open in about two years on 40 acres just north of town. The first building will offer specialty services, including cardiology and orthopedics. Plans are still being made for the other two buildings, but services are likely to include labs, urgent care, surgery and rehab. It is too soon to know what the complex will be named or how many jobs it will provide.

Josefina-Luisa Cancino, MD - Family Medicine, Family Practice Associates

Gregory W. Kunis, DO - General Surgery Residency at ChristianaCare 

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!

The national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic ended on May 11, 2023. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has resources available, some of which have been updated based on recent action by Congress.

• Frequently Asked Questions: CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (Updated 5/12/2023).
• Provider-specific fact sheets for information about COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) waivers and flexibilities: https://www.cms.gov/coronavirus-waivers
• Acute Hospital At Home: https://qualitynet.cms.gov/acute-hospital-care-at-home
• Loss of Medicaid or CHIP coverage
• FAQs on CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, end of COVID-19 PHE (May 4, 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.

• Find COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.vaccines.gov/
• No Cost COVID-19 Testing Locator can help people find current community and pharmacy partners participating in the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.
• 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
• 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.
• CDC will report regional-level test positivity data from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS)
• COVID-19 by County Community Level Check (# hospital admissions and beds used and total number of new cases)
• 2nd bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Booster: Who Should Receive It?
• (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)

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.