MISSISSIPPI ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
Newsletter - March 25, 2022
Register Now for April's Spring Conference
Registration is open for the MAFP Spring Conference, April 22-24, 2022, at the Sheraton Refuge Hotel in Flowood, MS. The event features 12 hours of CME and is held in connection with our Spring Fling for Residents and Students. More than 150 people are expected to attend.
SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: Beau Hill, an advisor with Tupelo-based LongView Planning Partners, will speak at the conference on "Tax-Aware Investing for Practicing Physicians." The talk will show the importance that time plays in investing for the future. It will explain how different types of accounts are taxed and give an overview of investing with proper asset allocation. Hill is a financial planner and has worked in the industry since 2013.
Shelby Swede Phung, right, matched into Family Medicine at South Baldwin in Foley, AL. She is pictured with her husband.
Chad Ross, left, matched into Family Medicine at the brand-new Baptist Desoto program in Southaven. He is pictured with his mother, Dianne.
Daulton Newman and Katie Cranston both matched into family medicine - he at North Mississippi in Tupelo and she at University of Texas SW in Dallas, TX.
Maggie Dickerson matched to Family Medicine at Prisma Health in Columbia, SC.
Hannah Ramsey matched into Family Medicine at Forrest General in Hattiesburg.
Lane Williamson, right, matched to Family Medicine at Univ. of Alabama Birmingham in Huntsville, AL. He is pictured with his wife, Haley.
Mississippi Match Results 2022
A record 4,470 medical students and graduates matched to family medicine residency programs nationally in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Main Residency Match on Friday, March 18. Family medicine represents 12.2% of all U.S. students or graduates who matched this year. Nationally, about 8.4 percent of all matching MD students matched to family medicine, compared to 22 percent of DO students.

In Mississippi, a total of 41 seniors matched to family medicine residencies - 17 from UMMC and 24 from WCUCOM. Of those 41, 15 will train at Mississippi residency programs. Lists of matches from Mississippi's medical schools and FM residencies are below:

For the Baptist Memorial Hospital - Desoto Family Medicine Residency Program in Southaven, it was their first time to participate in the NMRP Match. The program matched 6 new traditional residents and four transitional-year residents. Baptist Program Website


Legislative Session Nearing End
By Hope Ladner, MAFP Lobbyist
With a short time remaining in the 2022 Legislative Session, we wanted to give you all a quick update. MAFP has had an active session, starting with numerous scope of practice bills. Thanks to the outpouring of calls from physicians to legislative members, our concerns about patient safety and quality of care ultimately swayed the legislators to cease consideration of these bills this session.

SB 2033 that would have extended postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to twelve months, died on the calendar in the House. However, MAFP is very encouraged that this bill made it through a Senate Medicaid Committee vote, a Senate Chamber vote, and a House Medicaid Committee vote. These were huge steps towards one of MAFP’s priorities; improving maternal health in Mississippi.

There are other Medicaid bills of interest to MAFP still under consideration, primarily dealing with amending the rate freeze language that was added last session. The Senate and House have not agreed on particular language yet; therefore, this issue will be resolved in a conference report between the two chambers. Conference reports face deadlines of March 25 (appropriations) and March 28 (general bills) to be filed. 

Another bill heading to conference is HB 1509 that prohibits government entities or officials from requiring COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for services, licensing, employment, etc. There is a special consideration for government health facilities in the current version of the legislation; however, the bill allows religious exemptions from any COVID-19 vaccination requirements by a public or private employer. In addition, the bill as it passed the Senate also prohibits any COVID-19 requirements in public and private schools. So far, there has not been any push by the State Health Officer to include COVID-19 vaccine as a requirement for school attendance. However, there are concerns that this bill destabilizes our current state vaccine policies. As one of the few states that does not permit philosophical or religious exemptions for required vaccines, this current legislation certainly will set a contrary precedent. MAFP will continue to monitor bills of interest as the session continues. The official date for Sine Die (end of session) is April 3. 
Photos of the Grand Rounds Greenville event held Feb. 24.
Grand Rounds Meridian Registration Open
Register now for MAFP's Grand Rounds event in Meridian for an evening of networking and education. The event will be held Thursday, March 31 at The MAX in Meridian, with a reception at 6:30 pm and the program and dinner beginning at 7 pm. One hour of CME will be presented by the residents at the Meridian-based EC HealthNet Family Medicine Residency Program. There is no charge for MAFP members, but you must RSVP by Monday, March 28.
Resolutions Sought by June 15
Is there a family medicine issue that concerns you? Do you have a colleague who needs recognition? Consider writing a resolution!

All Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians members are invited to write and submit resolutions for consideration at the MAFP Business Meeting held on the Tuesday during the MAFP Annual Scientific Assembly. Submissions are due June 15 each year.

Writing and presenting resolutions is a great opportunity to direct MAFP policy and address issues of interest or concern to family physicians and family medicine. Resolutions can also honor outstanding individual achievement or memorialize deceased family physician leaders. More information.
Practice Enhancement Course - 20 Hours CME
(See video above) MAFP is offering a special Practice Enhancement Through Clinically-Correct Coding series with up to 20 CME hours to our members. This is an educational series designed to empower front-line physicians with knowledge and strategies to successfully navigate the clinical world of coding, billing and documentation of key offerings in primary care. The courses are authored by South Carolina family physician Dr. Nick Ulmer, a certified professional coder who has spoken at MAFP events over the years. There are 23 modules in the course offering and you can choose the ambulatory or hospital-based track to customize your learning. Watch the short video to learn more, and go to the ProTime website to sign up.
Nominate a Colleague for MAFP's Academy Awards by June 1
It's time to nominate a fellow family physician for the MAFP's annual awards, including Family Physician of the Year, Humanitarian Award, Military Award and New Physician of the Year. To nominate a member, please review the criteria for each award and complete the nomination form. The deadline for nominations is June 1 each year. Online Nominating Form - (only takes 2 minutes).
Sandestin Hotel Block Open
It's time to reserve your hotel rooms and condos for the MAFP's 2022 Annual Scientific Assembly in Sandestin, FL. The event will be July 16-20 and the room block spans July 15 to July 21. Browse the available rooms and make your reservations online using this link. Make sure you change the dates at the top to your desired arrival and departure dates to see everything available.

Exhibitors and sponsors can browse available rooms using the vendor link.

Some of the larger rooms - Luau 2 BR, Luau 3 BR and Grand Sandestin Complex 3 BR - do not show on the link. You must call Sandestin at 1-800-320-8115 to reserve them.
Save These Dates for MAFP's 2022 Events
Save the date for these upcoming Academy events:
  • Spring Conference - April 22-24, 2022 at Sheraton Refuge Flowood
  • Annual Meeting - July 16-20, 2022 in Sandestin, FL
  • Fall Conference - October 28-30, 2022
New MAFP Members for February 2022
New members joining in February 2022:

ACTIVE:
Christopher Joseph Richard, DO, West Point

RESIDENT:
Michael Samel, DO, Gulfport (Memorial Hospital Gulfport FMRP)

STUDENTS:
Syed Mohammed, Hattiesburg
William Ryan Henry, Canton
Ruby McCullough, Wesson