Do You Still Need the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Local Health Departments Open Up Scheduling
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has reported that 152,511 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. Phase 1A of the COVID-19 vaccination prioritization included physicians, students and trainees, and others serving in healthcare settings. Healthcare settings include, but are not limited to, acute care facilities, long-term acute care facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, home healthcare, vehicles where healthcare is delivered (e.g., mobile clinics), and outpatient facilities, such as dialysis centers, physician offices, and others.
If you still need to be vaccinated or have your direct patient care staff vaccinated, please visit your local health department's COVID vaccine website. MAFP encourages you to make your initial vaccine appointment right away. On Jan. 11, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be opening vaccine distribution up to those aged 65+, frontline essential workers, child care through high school staff, and congregate care facilities. Please contact Director of Government Relations Matt Black with any issues or concerns.
If you plan to participate in administering the COVID-19 vaccine once it is available, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Division of Immunizations requires that you complete the online COVID-19 Provider Vaccination Registration Form. Click here for the registration form, sample forms, and FAQs. Physicians must also enroll in MCIR as a prerequisite to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Please note that if you are already enrolled to provide flu vaccine and intend to provide the COVID-19 vaccine, you must also complete the new COVID-19 Provider Vaccination Registration Form.
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Do you know someone who is award worthy? Each year, MAFP honors outstanding individuals in the Michigan family medicine community who exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the Academy. The awards are presented at a special Michigan Family Medicine Celebration. The deadline to submit a 2021 award nomination is March 1. Click here for submissions. You may contact us at info@mafp.com or 517.347.0098 with questions.
As you think ahead to 2021, now is the time to consider applying to volunteer on a board or committee of MAFP, Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan, or Family Medicine PAC. Board and committee members are vital to the success of our organizations, providing valuable guidance to advance the work of MAFP, FMFM, and FMPAC. Board applications are due March 1. Committee applications are due April 1. Appointments begin in August 2021.
Because your well-being as a physician is important to us, MAFP members will receive the one-hour webinar, Physician Well-Being: Skills to Manage Change During a Global Health Crisis, at a reduced rate of just $15. Participants will be introduced to the unique mental health challenges that arise during a global health crisis, with a focus on the psychological impact of social isolation/quarantine on patients and healthcare providers alike. Learn to utilize dynamic mindfulness and life-coaching techniques to create mental conditions that will facilitate peak performance in both the academic and healthcare settings. This webinar will take place virtually on Monday, Jan. 25, 7-8 pm ET.
Register now for the free one-hour on-demand webinar, The Diagnosis and Preventative Treatment of Migraine Headache in Family Medicine. This webinar reviews the ICHD-3 criteria for migraine, demonstrates how to utilize the diagnostic tools to support identification of candidates for migraine preventive therapy, describes the current understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine and how it relates to current and emerging therapies, and discusses clinical data on current and emerging CGRP antibody therapies for the prevention of migraine. This CME opportunity, sponsored by Catamount Education, expires Jan. 31.
All board and committee meetings and events hosted by MAFP and Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan are being held virtually through March 31.
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2021 Brings New Legislative Session
Several pieces of legislation and items in the COVID-19 Appropriations Supplemental were vetoed by Governor Whitmer in late 2020. Included in the vetoes were House Bills 4910 and 4911, which require a prescription and documentation for emotional support animal needs. The final bills were amended greatly from introduction, but many issues remained. Of concern to MAFP, was a requirement that physicians, or non-physician providers, would have been required to provide medical documentation to a patient’s landlord to prove the need for an emotional support animal. Due to this and other concerns, Governor Whitmer issued a veto. It is expected this legislation will return in the new legislative term, and MAFP will continue to work with stakeholders to address all concerns.
The new 2021-2022 Legislative Session will kick off Jan. 13, with a formal session handling procedural items. Normal legislative activities will begin the week of Jan. 18. For the new legislative session, the Michigan House of Representatives will see some changes in membership and new committee members. Committee rosters are anticipated to be released within the next week. MAFP Director of Government Relations Matt Black will meet with House Health Policy Committee Members in the coming weeks to share MAFP’s policy agenda and priorities.
The Trump Administration delayed until Apr. 5, 2021, implementation of its information blocking and interoperability rule, that had been scheduled for early Nov. 2020, citing the extra burden physicians face due to COVID-19. Physician and healthcare organizations lobbied for more time to prepare for the final rule, which was released just before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic.
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Understanding the business of medicine and building leadership skills are essential for a successful family medicine career, yet these topics aren't often included in medical school or residency training curriculum. Through Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan’s new “Business of Medicine” and “Chief & Senior Resident Leadership” on-demand webinar series, available 24/7, experts provide valuable information and guidance for skill-building in these areas. Topics range from debt management and income/asset protection, to coaching and conflict resolution, to implicit bias, and more. Support for these webinars is provided by a grant from AAFP Foundation through the Family Medicine Philanthropic Consortium.
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As the number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States continue to increase, we remember again our dear friend, leader, and former Southeastern Michigan Academy of Family Physicians (SEMAFP) President Dr. Angelo Patsalis, who succumbed to complications from COVID-19 in April of this year. SEMAFP board members are continuing Dr. Patsalis's legacy, and are very proud to announce the creation of the Angelo Patsalis MD, FAAFP Vanguard Award. The Vanguard Award ($2,500 and a personalized plaque) will be granted annually to two graduating family medicine residents who have committed to practice in southeast Michigan. The first award will be granted in May 2021. For information regarding the application process, please contact Rose Moschelli.
With public health and safety top considerations, AAFP will be hosting the 2021 National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students virtually. Mark your calendar for July 29-31. Based on valuable feedback from the 2020 virtual event, AAFP is working harder to make next year’s conference even more impactful.
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A growing body of organizations are coming together to make it easier for you to help care for patients struggling with Michigan's other public health crisis: the newly re-surging opioid epidemic. To help address this, a coalition of organizations has come together and advocated for all clinicians (physicians, APPs, and medical students) to be able to sit for a much easier/more convenient Zoom version of the traditional DEA-X waiver training while in person classes are temporarily curtailed. A fully remote Zoom DEA-X waiver training class for Michigan-based clinicians is on Monday, Jan 25.
AAFP’s new Tobacco Cessation Telehealth Guide, designed with Pfizer, includes educational resources and practice tools on telehealth and smoking cessation.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Jan. 25, 7-8 pm ET
Feb. 6, 8 am -12 pm ET
Feb. 18, 7-8 pm ET
Mar. 18, 7-8 pm ET
Apr. 14 (Save the Date)
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