A bi-weekly newsletter from your physician organization
Friday, Dec. 31, 2021
Cheers to a great new year
Thank you for your continued dedication to patients and our communities! Your compassion and hard work are truly appreciated.
Cheers to a happy and healthy 2022 for all!
Educate patients on where to go for care
As Michigan hospitals struggle to manage the recent surge in Covid-19 cases and emergency room patients, now is a good time for providers to remind patients on when to go to the emergency room, urgent care or their doctor.
The Physician Alliance created resources to help practices initiate these conversations with patients. This poster can be printed and posted in waiting areas and exam rooms and this handout can be customized with practice information and recommended urgent care facilities. Social media graphics are also available for use.
Population health and quality webinars continue into 2022
A popular education series will continue into the new year! The monthly Population Health & Quality webinars will focus on helping practices improve quality measures and more in 2022. Registration is now open for the first webinar on Tuesday, Jan. 11 from 12-1pm.
Hosted by The Physician Alliance's practice transformation and quality department leaders, the webinars strive to help practice staff better understand:
quality metrics related to chronic conditions
updates related to BCBSM quality programs and/or initiatives
performance reporting and performance improvement
The Population Health & Quality webinars will be hosted on the second Tuesday of the month from12-1pm. Registration and more details, along with other upcoming education programs, are available at TPA's Learning Institute. Education programs are open to TPA members only.
Michigan prescribers now have until Jan. 1, 2023 before being required to electronically transmit all prescriptions for controlled and non-controlled substances.
The original deadline was delayed due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) decision to postpone enforcement of Medicare’s e-prescribing mandate. This led Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to also delay enforcement of the standard. The 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule extended the date of compliance actions to no earlier than January 1, 2023.
The Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN) provides great resources for providers on e-prescribing and educating patients on safe use of opioids. The Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) helps to monitor patients who may be seeking opioid prescriptions from multiple physicians. MAPS and other coordinated responses help assist the state in their efforts to address opioid drug abuse.
The Physician Alliance has been working with physician members for the past few years to increase electronic prescribing of controlled substances. Physicians who are not yet set up to e-prescribe should contact their electronic health records vendor for assistance on this feature.
Healthcare marketplace open enrollment extended to Jan. 15
Patients or employees needing health insurance coverage now have until Jan. 15 to apply for coverage through the government's health insurance marketplace.
The federal government reports a "historic high" of more than 13.6 million people already enrolling in the insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces. Many people can quality for tax credits to help offset costs of premiums, helping to provide coverage to many previously uninsured. In 2022, 213 issuers are offering a diverse option of plans.
Featured Affiliate Partner: PHYSICIAN MORTGAGE & BANKING SERVICES: Huntington helps physicians and residents buy or refinance a home through a special physician mortgage program with exclusive benefits for TPA members.
