The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the storage of undiluted, thawed Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine vials in the refrigerator at 35-46 degrees for up to one month. Pfizer also announced that the vaccine is now available in shipments of 450-dose order quantities. This option should be available in e-ordering through the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) beginning May 28. The configurations of 1,170-dose shipments will also continue to be available. Click here for the Product Information Guide. Click here for e-ordering and shipment information.

With monoclonal antibody therapy proven to significantly help reduce COVID-19 symptoms and risk of hospitalization and death, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are calling on physicians to expand the number of infusion sites in the state. Currently, monoclonal antibody therapy (mAb) is available in at least 37 Michigan counties. The goal is for 50% of eligible high-risk Michiganders who test positive for COVID-19 to receive the therapy within 10 days of symptom onset.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered without regard to timing. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines on the same day, as well as co-administration within 14 days. It was previously recommended that COVID-19 vaccines be administered alone, with a minimum interval of 14 days before or after administration of any other vaccines.

Effective June 1 are updates to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s COVID-19 emergency rules for workplaces that impact physician offices and other healthcare facilities and employers. Also announced was Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ new Gatherings and Face Mask Order that takes effect June 1 through July 1, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated recommendations.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many routine well-child visits have been cancelled or postponed over the past year, resulting in a sharp decline in vaccination rates for both children and adolescents. This downward trend has the potential to result in a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as meningococcal meningitis, measles, and pertussis. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued strongly recommended strategies for helping to ensure everyone is up to date on all recommended vaccines.

MAFP sent a letter to the House Healthy Policy Committee this week, seeking support of legislation that would exempt dispensing prescribers from the state’s electronic prescribing mandate. Testifying before the committee on behalf of MAFP was Dr. Adriana Raus, who practices direct primary care in Okemos. “It is important for my patients, to reduce cost and provide faster relief, for me to continue to prescribe out of my office. If this change is not enacted, it could lead to greater negative health outcomes for patients across Michigan,” she said. “Forty percent of prescriptions transmitted to the pharmacy are either not filled or not started by the patient. Filling these in my office helps increase compliance in their course of treatment.” Click here to read Dr. Raus’ testimony in its entirety.

In a letter responding to the Michigan Medical Services Administration’s proposed policy (bulletin 2107-Pharmacy) for expanding childhood vaccine services to pharmacists, MAFP submitted comments calling for limited-time emergency expansion only. “Although the provisions of 2107-Pharmacy are intended to increase vaccination rates for children, we believe this policy has the potential of reducing child wellness visits and other routine care provided in primary care physicians’ offices, which are key to maintaining health and preventing illness among children.” MAFP recommends a two-year sunset of the policy.

To help alleviate the primary care physician shortage in Michigan and and across the country, MAFP supports the federal Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act that is currently in the U.S. Senate. Senate Bill 1042 calls for recapturing 15,000 unused employment-based physician immigrant visas from prior fiscal years, allowing for employment of capable and willing International Medical Graduates (IMG). “IMGs are vital in caring for some of the most vulnerable populations … they are more likely to practice in rural, low socioeconomic status, and non-white communities, and are twice as likely to practice in health professional shortage areas,” writes MAFP Chief Executive Officer Karlene Ketola, MSA, CAE in a letter urging Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Sen. Gary Peters to support the legislation.

On May 19, more than 280 family medicine advocates representing 32 state chapters, including MAFP, met virtually with 155 congressional offices to discuss issues impacting access to care, the practice of medicine, and the patient-physician relationship. These congressional meetings were part of AAFP’s Family Medicine Advocacy Summit, typically held in Washington, DC. MAFP appreciated the opportunity to talk with staff from the offices of U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Tim Walberg, Rep. Andy Levin, and Sen. Gary Peters. Discussion items included Medicaid-Medicare parity, waiving deductibles during the COVID-19 pandemic for primary care visits for patients with high deductible health plans, and extending temporary pandemic regulations and payment changes for telehealth.

Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan (FMFM), MAFP’s philanthropic arm, granted $2,250 in 2021-2022 academic year funding to family medicine interest groups (FMIG) at four of the state’s medical schools: Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine-East Lansing, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and University of Michigan Medical School. This funding is granted to support the FMIGs’ activities aimed at increasing student interest in family medicine. FMFM looks forward to working with all of the state’s FMIGs in the coming academic year.

In lieu of the annual Michigan Family Medicine Conference and Expo, Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan is bringing on-demand and virtual CME to you through a series of 12 webinars and two virtual keynote presentations! Register before June 18 to receive the discounted rate of $250 for physician and resident members and $50 for student members. You will have between July 24, 2021, through July 17, 2022 to watch the on-demand webinars. Below are free annual conference-related events:

Looking ahead to the fall, Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan is offering year-end virtual webinars and Knowledge Self-Assessment (KSA) events at discounted rates for MAFP members. Attend all and you could earn up to 18 AAFP prescribed CME credits from the comfort of your home or office. Click here for a complete event listing.

MAFP is proud to be a partner host of the all-virtual 2021 Family Medicine Midwest Conference, which attracts and inspires medical students to choose Midwest family medicine residency programs; provides a format for learning from and sharing with others; showcases the variety of career opportunities in family medicine; and helps in building a regional network dedicated to improving the health of all patients. Physicians, residents, students, and fellows are invited to submit abstracts for this year’s Family Medicine Midwest Conference, Sept. 9-11. Abstract submissions are due June 1.

When MAFP hosts the 2021 “Academy” Awards celebration on July 24 immediately following the Annual Meeting, beginning at approximately 2 pm ET, the members listed below will be honored for their exemplary accomplishments. There is no cost to attend the MAFP Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration, but advance registration is required.

In her role as MAFP’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) Delegate to AAFP’s 2021 National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL), Fatin Sahhar, MD, FAAFP co-authored a resolution that calls on the Academy to encourage other entities and agencies to offer grants for incentivizing IMGs to practice primary care in underserved communities. Dr. Sahhar, an international medical graduate herself, serves as associate director of Detroit Medical Centers’ Sinai Grace-Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Family Medicine Residency program. MAFP was one of 25 chapters that sent full delegations to this year's NCCL, meaning all five member constituencies were represented. Thank you to the Michigan delegation for representing MAFP:

Beth Peter, MD, FAAFP said her Lakewood Family Medicine practice in Holland did not close during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there was a scramble to find personal protective equipment and difficult decisions to make, such as asking some employees to reduce their hours.

Congratulations to Anneliese Petersen on being named Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan's 2021 medical student extern. Anneliese, a rising fourth-year student at Wayne State School of Medicine, will participate in a 4-week intensive clinical, summer externship through Street Medicine Detroit. She will train under the mentorship of Richard Bryce, DO, medical director of Street Medicine Detroit and program director of Henry Ford Health System Family Medicine Residency. Funding for the externship is provided by matching grants from FMFM and AAFP Foundation.

Do you have news to share about yourself, your practice, or a colleague? Email info@mafp.com.

Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan has appointed the following resident and student members to represent Michigan at this year's national congresses, which will meet virtually during AAFP's online National Conference of Family Medicine Residents & Medical Students, July 29-31. The delegates will attend all congress business sessions; write, submit, and testify on resolutions; and elect national resident and student leaders. Each of the delegates/alternate delegates will receive a scholarship from FMFM to be used toward the National Conference registration cost.

Back by popular demand is the eighth Michigan Future of Family Medicine Student Conference. Via Zoom livestream, students will have the opportunity to interact with family physicians to learn what it's like to be a family physician and how to prepare for residency. Workshops and a residency connection will also be offered. This year's conference is being hosted by Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan in collaboration with Central Michigan University Medical Education Partners.

You did the research, now share it. AAFP is seeking submissions for family medicine research and case study e-posters at the all-virtual 2021 Family Medicine Experience (FMX), Sept. 28-Oct. 2. Submissions are due July 9. FMX is the family medicine event of the year, attended by more than 5,000 family physicians and other healthcare professionals to learn the latest in the specialty and earn CME.

Join friends and colleagues in San Antonio, TX to present at the 2020 Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Conference on Medical Student Education. Presenting at this national conference provides an opportunity to empower student, faculty, and other family medicine professionals while advancing family medicine student education. Submissions are encouraged from all involved in family medicine student education, including chairs, faculty, coordinators, and students. Submissions are due by June 14.

The 2020 annual report highlights progress made by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Opioids Task Force on its seven-pillar statewide strategic plan: prevention, treatment, harm reduction, criminal justice-involved populations, pregnant and parenting women populations, data, and equity initiatives.

Applications are open for the Quality Payment Program’s MIPS Promoting Interoperability Performance Category Hardship Exception and Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception for the 2021 performance year. Applications are due by Dec. 31.

Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. House that calls for reimbursement of audio-only telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries and lifting restrictions so patients' homes can be originating sites for telehealth services. Separate legislation was introduced in the Senate that would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide guidance to states on telehealth access for Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid beneficiaries. Meanwhile, AAFP provided written and live testimony during a virtual congressional hearing on May 19 titled, "COVID-19 Health Care Flexibilities: Perspectives, Experiences, and Lessons Learned."

The 2021 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) New Site application cycle is open for healthcare facilities that:

Effective Oct. 1, clinicians who prescribe or provide controlled substances to Medicaid beneficiaries must check the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) for beneficiaries' most recent 12-month prescription drug history before prescribing or filling controlled substances. Documentation that MAPS was checked prior to prescribing or dispensing controlled substances must be retained for seven years, or longer if specified by law. This policy applies to Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, Children’s Special Health Care Services, and Maternity Outpatient Medical Services. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is accepting public comments on this policy through June 24.

Beginning June 1, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will accept Notices of Intent to Apply (NOIAs) for the Medicare Shared Savings Program January 1, 2022, start date. Visit the Application Types & Timeline and Application Toolkit webpages to help you prepare your applications. If you intend to apply, you must submit a NOIA via the ACO Management System by June 7 at 12 pm ET. This doesn’t bind your organization to submit an application. Each ACO should only submit one NOIA. After you submit a NOIA, submit your application from June 8-28. Shared Savings Program final rule.

As part of the AAFP's Leading Physician Well-being certificate program, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is offering a new 75-minute webinar, "Physician Mental Health: Preventing Suicide and Building Resilience." Learn about a wide range of mental health topics, such as helping to identify physicians and trainees most at risk for depression and suicide; creating protective processes, policies, and programs for preventing and addressing depression and suicide in physicians and trainees; and more.

Atlantic Health Partners–an MAFP partner and a leading vaccine purchasing program–offers favorable pricing and expert customer service to help strengthen members' immunization efforts. Now available through AHP is Vaxelis, the newest pediatric combination vaccine. Created by Sanofi and Merck, Vaxelis includes DTAP, Polio, HIB, and Hepatitis B and has been approved for a three-dose schedule at ages 2,4, and 6 months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seeking to partner with physicians and patients through the PrEP locator to help identify physicians in communities most affected by HIV. The Ending HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative will scale up four science-based strategies that can end the epidemic: diagnose, treat, prevent, and respond. This provides a major boost to the bold initiative to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by 2030.

This new Federal Communications Program’s temporary benefit will help lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Included are discounts toward broadband service and the one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet. Program enrollment is now open.

Lucrative Family Medicine Opportunity, Alpena, MI

Clinical Faculty – University Health Services Medical Director, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI

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