Would you like to learn more about IMA's role in the reproductive health conversations thus far? Please join the IMA Lobby Team for a special webinar where we will discuss:

An overview of the reproductive health work done during the 2023 legislative session
How HB 374, the bill to update Idaho's Total Abortion Ban statute, became law
A look at what to expect in the coming months and 2024 legislative session
How you can help

Near the end of the webinar, we will dedicate time to interact with attendees to address any questions or concerns. Our gathering is exclusive to IMA members only.

Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Time: 6:30 pm (MDT)

Please note: A Zoom link will be emailed to you 48 hours before the webinar. Only registered members using the provided email will be admitted into the meeting.

Medicaid Protection Unwinding Update

Idaho is one of the first states to begin the unwinding of Medicaid Protection, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) has made progress in redetermining Medicaid eligibility for thousands of Idahoans.

Many of those re-evaluations were completed automatically by IDHW, requiring no action from the Medicaid recipient. However, when IDHW requires an Idahoan to assist in this re-evaluation, there is a 60-day window in which the Idahoan must either contact IDHW or complete their re-evaluation online.

IDHW works diligently to send patients multiple communications to help them know what actions to take when they are required to complete a re-evaluation. The ongoing goal is to ensure Idahoans have the health coverage they need, and consistent communication with customers and partners is essential to the success of this goal.

Medicaid Closures

With the last few months of Medicaid Protection unwinding, there will be an increase in the number of patients disenrolled for failure to comply with the required re-evaluation process at the end of each month.

When this occurs, it means IDHW was not able to redetermine Medicaid eligibility. Idahoans who lose Medicaid for this reason should contact IDHW or go online as soon as possible to reapply for Medicaid. Processes have been streamlined so that reinstating Medicaid occurs rapidly for those who are determined to be eligible.

When a patient is determined to be ineligible for Medicaid, IDHW may refer them to Your Health Idaho (YHI), Idaho’s official state-based health exchange, so that they can explore other health coverage options. If a patient’s household situation changes, or if they would like to be reassessed for Medicaid eligibility, they can always reapply at IDHW.

To follow the number of re-evaluations processed, visit our Medicaid Protection webpage, which is updated every Monday by 5:00 p.m. (MDT).

What’s Next?

The IDHW is asking partners to encourage our shared patients to watch for important notices from IDHW that direct them to contact them or go online to complete a re-evaluation. They're also asking individuals to report any changes to their contact information so that IDHW can ensure they get the notices. If their contact information has changed, or they want to confirm their current information, they may contact IDHW at 1-877-456-1233, via email at [email protected], or by visiting idalink.idaho.gov.

Reminder: MATE Act 8-hour CME Requirement

As a reminder, beginning on June 27, physicians and others obtaining a new Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration or renewing their current registration will be required to attest to requirements under the federal Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act. To ensure you have the most accurate information, the AMA encourages you to review the guidance issued by the DEA.

While the AMA opposed the MATE Act’s 8-hour education requirement, the AMA also has worked to identify the educational resources that will satisfy the MATE Act. Please visit the AMA EdHub™ for courses that satisfy the MATE Act .

The AMA asked DEA in a May 8 letter to clarify if SAMHSA’s content guidance can be relied upon by medical organizations and physicians when determining if courses fulfill the MATE Act requirements. The AMA also asked that the DEA grant a one-year grace period for registrants to comply.

National Study to Document Changes in Physician Practice Expense

by American Medical Association

The American Medical Association (AMA) is undertaking a new national study, supported by 173 healthcare organizations, to collect representative data on physician practice expenses. The aim of the Physician Practice Information Survey is to better understand the costs faced by today’s physician practices to support physician payment advocacy. The study will serve as an opportunity to communicate accurate financial information to policymakers, including members of Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The AMA has contracted with Mathematica, an independent research company with extensive experience in survey methods as well as health care delivery and finance reform, to conduct the study.

The Medicare physician payment schedule, maintained by CMS and used by many other payers, relies on 2006 cost information to develop practice expense relative values, the Medicare Economic Index and resulting physician payments. As the U.S. economy and health care system have undergone substantial changes since that time, including inflation and the wide-spread adoption of electronic health records and other information technology systems, practice expense payments no longer accurately reflect the relative resources that are typically required to provide physician services.

The study will rely on financial experts in the practice to complete an online financial information survey. The number of direct patient care hours is a critical component of the Medicare payment methodology. Therefore, thousands of individual physicians will receive a short patient care hours survey from either their practice directly or from Mathematica. The input from physician practices and individual physicians that are randomly selected to participate in this study is critical for its success. Participation will ensure that practice expenses and patient care hours are accurately reflected.

Upcoming

Thursday, June 22

12:00 - 1:00 pm MDT

Information Blocking

RSVP HERE

Pre-order the 2023 IMA Directory of Idaho

Physicians Today!

Take advantage of this opportunity to get the most comprehensive Directory of Idaho physicians. Order your copy now!

As an IMA member, you can receive this complimentary Directory; additional copies can be purchased at a discounted price of $40. If you're not a member, the cost is $125.

The Directory includes the office address and telephone number of every physician currently practicing in Idaho, listings by location of practice and specialty, and a directory of Idaho hospitals. This information is only available here.

Your order will be shipped soon! To pre-order your 2023 Directory today, click the button below.

Pre-order Your 2023 Directory

IMA Discounted 2024 Medical Coding Books, Order Yours Today!

The Idaho Medical Association is pleased to offer substantial discounts on resource materials for AMA and Optum360° books for your office. Pre-order your CPT®, HCPCS, ICD-10, and other resource materials today! The discounted Coder’s Bundle includes the 2024 CPT Professional Edition and the 2024 ICD-10-CM manual for one low price.

The 2024 Essential Reference Guide order form with the most popular choices is available on IMA Website for your convenience.

Please note that there is an $8.00 shipping and handling fee per book. However, we are willing to offer a 20% shipping discount for orders of five or more books. Sales tax is calculated on merchandise only and prior to adding shipping fees.

Pre-order your book(s) today! Books will be shipped to you when they are available from the publisher. (If available, exact arrival dates are listed on the order form).

Contact Rebecca ([email protected]) at IMA with any questions or call (208) 344-7888 x101.

CPT ® is a registered trademark of American Medical Association

Valor Health (Pediatrician)

Specialty: Pediatrics

Status: Full Time

Schedule: Traditional clinic work week, M-F

Call: Not required

Inpatient pediatric hospital care: optional but performed at the FMRI facilities, if performed.

Benefits:

Full Medical and Dental
Retirement 403B matching
PTO & CME allocation
Malpractice, including tail
Sign-on incentives based on timely completion of onboarding requirements
Medical directorship growth opportunities depending on interest and experience

Practice Highlights

Valor Health is looking for a board-certified pediatrician to provide pediatric care to the rural community of Gem County, Idaho, which sits in the scenic Payette River valley 30 miles northwest of Boise.

The position will involve the management & care of children with complex medical needs, as well as being a consultant and pediatric resource for the organization's family physicians. Most of the pediatric primary and urgent care will be performed by family medicine physicians. More complex pediatric patients will be either managed in conjunction with the family physicians or solely by the pediatrician with consultation, if necessary, from pediatric subspecialists in the nearby Boise metro area.

The position also includes a faculty role teaching and mentoring pediatric and family medicine residents from the Pediatric Residency of Idaho & Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. Leadership opportunities are available organizationally, locally, and regionally.

For more information, check us out at http://www.valorhealth.org/

Requirements

Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree.
Successful completion of an accredited ACGME/AOA Family Medicine residency program.
Eligible to obtain Idaho medical licensure to practice medicine, including controlled substance registration with the Idaho Boards of Pharmacy and the DEA.
Eligible to participate and receive payments from Medicare and Medicaid and commercial insurance companies and be free of any OIG exclusions.

To apply: https://talent.paylocity.com/Talent/Jobs/Details/890044

Pioneering First Responder Medicine Clinic Seeks Dynamic Primary Care Provider

At ERHC, our providers and personnel aren’t just valued employees – they’re family!

ERHC is seeking a versatile physician to join an exceptional team caring for a population of firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics/EMTs, and their families. ERHC is a welcoming, patient-centered, and independently owned outpatient health center offering “360 degrees” of care – from annual wellness examinations, continuity care, occupational health, and rehabilitation/physical therapy to mental health, acupuncture, and deep tissue massage.

ERHC offers an opportunity to care for a motivated, physically active, and health-conscious patient population. Through an advanced scope of practice, ERHC presents an avenue to broaden providers’ medical expertise in an energized and supportive environment.

ERHC is seeking a Primary Care Physician/Medical Administrative Coordinator who will thrive in an environment that emphasizes innovation, quality, and compassion. This team member will balance medical practice (3 days/week) with administrative functions (1.5 days/week).

As Primary Care Physician, this provider will deliver broad-spectrum family medicine services, including comprehensive annual wellness exams, occupational/sports medicine, and continuity family care, an average of 3 days per week, plus rotating Saturdays (half-days, one in four weekends). As Medical Administrative Coordinator, this provider will invest approximately 1.5 days per week in medical executive functions, including shared Clinic oversight, team training, policy development, quality improvement, first responder agency relations, health outreach, and related due diligence.

Salary and Benefits: Competitive, incentive-based salary. Benefits include four weeks of PTO, silver-plan health insurance, 401K Match, and CME. In-house IT support; Dragon license and Dictaphone provided. Medical malpractice, cyber-insurance, workers’ compensation, and general liability insurance are provided.

Requirements: MD/DO; minimum of three years’ family medicine or internal medicine experience in primary care clinical practice. Willingness to perform administrative duties, upon assignment from Medical Director.

Apply: https://er-hc.org/careers

Questions? Reach out to [email protected].

Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner Needed in Gooding, Idaho Family Practice

Please send your CV to [email protected] or fax it to (208) 934-5719.

(208) 344-7888

[email protected]