Detailed information pertaining to the Annual Meeting can be found on the MSD Annual Meeting webpage.

Register prior to the November 5th deadline. List of Council members for 2021.

Register prior to the November 5th deadline. The meeting is for Holding Company Board members only.

Register prior to the Tuesday, November 9th deadline

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced today that Delaware's vaccine providers can begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 pediatric vaccine to children ages 5 to 11. The announces comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week gave its approval to expand Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to allow for the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to this age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met Tuesday and agreed with the FDA findings, as anticipated. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky endorsed the Advisory Committee's recommendations later in the evening.

The Pfizer vaccine dose has been reduced for children under the age of 12. The pediatric dose (10 mcg) is 1/3 the adult dose (30 mcg). There is also the addition of tri-sucrose, an inactive ingredient used in other vaccines making it easier to dilute and stabilize in a refrigerator. The vaccine can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 weeks. Different colored caps indicate differences between adult and pediatric vaccine (Pediatric is orange; Ages 12+ is purple).

Please note that shipments of vaccine are coming into the state in waves, so it may take a few days (and into next week) for vaccinating providers to have pediatric vaccine on hand for this age group. DPH vaccine clinics will have vaccine available for administrations later this afternoon, whereas other providers may begin vaccinating later this week or into the next week or two, depending on vaccine availability.

Also, MSD is sharing a quick reference fact sheet for booster and additional doses for certain populations.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) has released a mini toolkit focused on the safety and importance of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women. Additionally, there are videos that practices can use as well. The first video in the series features MSD member Janice E. Tildon-Burton, MD, a maternal child health expert in Delaware.

On January 1, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will drastically reduce payments for certain health care providers. If Congress does not act to stop these cuts, it will further strain practices that are still struggling to keep their doors open during the ongoing pandemic. Although CMS is increasing payment for hospital outpatient services and home health, it is reducing reimbursement for physicians. Hospital-owned outpatient and ambulatory surgery center payment rates will each increase by 2 percent. Medicare home health reimbursement rates will increase by 2.6%. Physician practices face a stack of Medicare financial hits amounting to a 9.75 percent cut. These include: expiration of the current reprieve from the repeatedly extended 2 percent sequester; imposition of a 4 percent Statutory PAYGO sequester resulting from passage of the American Rescue Plan Act; expiration of the Congressionally enacted 3.75 percent temporary increase in the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) conversion factor at the end of 2021; and a statutory freeze in annual Medicare PFS updates under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) that is scheduled to last until 2026. The physician fee schedule conversation factor is planned to be reduced by $1.30 (approximately 3.85%) to $33.59. CMS finalized provisions that extend coverage of services that were added to the Medicare telehealth list on an interim basis in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency until the end of 2023 and eliminated geographic barriers. In addition, CMS announced plans to permanently increase payment for immunization administration, beyond COVID vaccines. Contact Congress and ask to address these devasting Medicare cuts.

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced that the Delaware Department of Insurance will begin the process of building and enforcing regulations regarding Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) as a new law goes into effect. The new authorities of the department will ensure consumer access to affordable medications and protect local pharmacies from the predatory behaviors exhibited by the PBM industry through measures of transparency and corporate accountability.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced the state's first two laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza for the 2021-2022 flu season, including the first pediatric case of the season. The cases involve a Kent County child under the age of 5, infected with influenza strain B, who was hospitalized, as well as a 26-year-old Sussex County woman, with influenza strain A, who was not hospitalized. Neither individuals had received the flu vaccine.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced that an 87-year-old Kent County woman has become infected with West Nile Virus (WNV), making it the state's third case of human WNV in 2021. There was no travel history indicated from the woman that could have led to transmission, meaning she contracted WNV in Delaware.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Board of Directors (BOD) has announced new Standards for Continuing Certification (Standards) at its October meeting. The new Standards represent the culmination of three years of consultation with physicians, professional and state medical societies, consumers, and other public stakeholders from across the health care spectrum to reconceive the way specialty physician recertification is conducted. They were developed following recommendations from the Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future Commission (Commission) which met throughout 2018 to provide strategic guidance to the ABMS BOD and Member Boards. The new Standards have been designed to guide the ABMS Member Boards in establishing continuing certification programs that help diplomates stay current in their specialty while providing hospitals, health systems, patients, and communities with a credential upon which they can continue to rely and depend.

Redistricting legislation was signed by Governor John Carney on November 2nd. SB 199 was passed in response to the Legislature’s mandated redistricting process based on the 2020 U.S. Census, which reported the state’s population at 989,000. Delaware had an increase of 300,000 residents since 1990. Northern Delaware lost a legislative district to southern Delaware. The seat now held by state Rep. Gerald Brady, D-Wilmington was moved to the faster-growing southern part of the state. The new legislative districts will take effect for the 2022 general election. Candidates in that election must reside in the new districts. Immediately following the November 8, 2022 election, legislators will begin representing constituents within the new district lines.

MSD anxiously awaits Governor John Carney's Climate Action Plan set to be announced on Thursday, November 4. The Governor will join Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary Nicole Majeski, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Members of the General Assembly, Dr. Tony Allen, and other advocates to release the Delaware Climate Action Plan. This plan aims to minimize emissions and maximize resilience in order to meet Delaware’s current greenhouse gas reduction commitments and better prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Ray A. Blackwell, MD, MJ is the 2021 Tilton Award recipient for his leadership; vision; innovative and pioneering spirit; his focus on medical excellence and advancing the profession; life-long commitment to service; courage, tenacity, and perseverance; and being an ambassador for the profession of medicine. Dr. Blackwell is Chief of Cardiac Surgery at ChristianaCare's Center for Heart & Vascular Health and is also the W. Samuel Carpenter III Distinguished Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery. He has been recognized among the top cardiac physicians in our region and has helped guide the Cardiac Surgery program to deliver greater quality and value. In 2011, he became the surgical director of the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program and led the initiative to establish ChristianCare's Ventricular Assist Device Program. Congratulations, Dr. Blackwell! (Pictured right Matthew Burday, DO, MSD President presenting the James Tilton, MD Bust to Dr. Blackwell.)

Register to participate in the November Q&A Session on Wednesday, November 17th, 12:00 pm EST

The Delaware Academy of Family Physicians Annual Sports Medicine Symposium will be held virtually on the evening of November 18th starting at 6:00 p.m. This year’s symposium agenda will feature three dynamic speakers who will present a unique perspective on how COVID-19 has affected sports and our athletes at all levels of competition, provide an enjoyable fun Sports Medicine mystery presentation of “whodunit," and an easy to understand and retain approach to common joint injections in the Primary Care setting. All clinicians, attendings, NPs, PAs, residents, and students are welcome to attend this very informational CME event. (Residents and students are welcome to attend free of charge, but you must register). Sign up today by visiting the DAFP website or register at https://na.eventscloud.com/645403 .

The Medical Society of Delaware, the American College of Physicians Delaware Chapter, and the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians are pleased to present a Town Hall-style event with State Senator Sarah McBride, State Representative David Bentz, State Senator Spiros Mantzavinos, and Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro on Wednesday, December 1st from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Bringing together the primary care physician community, join to share your thoughts and ask questions related to issues surrounding primary care reform legislation, addiction and mental health services, and interoperability. There is no charge to participate, however, registration is required.

For the sixth consecutive year, ChristianaCare has earned the “Most Wired” designation from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), which assesses how effectively health care organizations apply core and advanced technologies to improve health and care in their communities.

It is with sadness that we share MSD member Orville Keith Hamilton, MD passed away on October 28, 2021. An MSD member since 1971, he was 85 years old. Dr. Hamilton graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in 1962. He interned at Bellevue Hospital in New York followed by a surgical residency at the Medical College of Virginia. He completed a two-year cardiovascular surgery residency and vascular surgery fellowship at Emory University and served two years in the Air Force, stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, SC. After moving to Dover in 1971, Dr. Hamilton joined the surgical practice of Dr. James McNinch. Dr. Hamilton served as President of the Kent County Medical Society (1975-1976) and was a member of the MSD House of Delegates, Board of Trustees, and various MSD committees. He was chairman of Kent General's Department of Surgery, President of the Medical Staff, and served on the hospital's Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Medical Practice and Discipline. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 13th at 1 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Dover. Read the obituary.

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.

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.