Plan Focuses on Strengthening Economy, Investing in Public Schools, Supporting Families and Workforce, and Protecting the Environment

Governor Carney on Thursday presented his Fiscal Year 2024 Recommended Budget, sending the General Assembly a plan that will strengthen Delaware’s economy, invest in public schools, support Delaware’s families and workforce, and protect our environment. Budget highlights include:

• General Fund Operating budget totals $5.5 billion, growing 7.4% from FY23
• Sets aside over $18.9 million in reserves (after projected cash to bond bill and grant in aid)
• Appropriates $324.9 million toward one-time items in a separate supplemental appropriation bill
• Takes continued steps toward providing compensation and pay equity for state employees
• Increases teacher pay by 9% and public education employee pay by 3%
• Increases Opportunity Funding investments by $15 million in our schools for low-income students and English language learners
• Historic investment of $101.5 million in affordable housing programs and incentives
• Supports economic development and infrastructure throughout the State
• Continues investments in clean water, economic development and fulfills our commitments to new school construction

Supporting Delaware’s Workforce

• ·Additional year of historic pay policy, with a 3% to 9% with lowest wage workers receiving the highest percentage
• Historic wage increase for teachers, 9% raise for teachers and a 3% raise for public education workers
• Establishes a $15 minimum wage for merit full-time state employees
• Invests $194 million in state employee health care and other post-retirement employee benefits

Investing in Delaware’s Children

• Purchase of Care rate increase to 100% of the 75^th percentile of the 2021 Market Rate - $10.3 million
• Increase of $6.1 million for a total of $12.2 million in Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP)
• Increases Opportunity Funding Investments by $15 million for a total of $53 million
• $30 million for mental health services for elementary and middle school students
• Increase of $3 million to the Wilmington Leaning Collaborative for a total of $10 million

Environmental Initiatives

• $5.1 million for Cover Crop Investments to support climate smart initiatives and improve water quality
• $2.9 million for lead assessment and remediation
• $18 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
• $1.7 million for Conservation Cost Share

Investing in Affordable Housing

• $101.5 in affordable housing investment – the largest in Delaware’s history – including $31.5 million for housing initiatives including Catalyst Fund, Accelerator Fund, Market Pressure Relief Fund, and Preservation Fund 

Click here to download Governor Carney’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget presentation.

 Watch the budget presentation on Governor Carney’s YouTube page.

HB 1 and HB 2 Move Out of Committees

Sponsored by Representative Edward S. Osienski, House Bill 1 (HB 1) and House Bill 2 (HB 2) go hand in hand to address the use and the regulation and taxation of recreational marijuana in Delaware. HB 1 removes penalties for use or possession of a personal use quantity of marijuana and accessories for those 21 years of age or older, legalizing the use of recreational marijuana. HB 2 regulates and taxes marijuana in much the same manner as alcohol. Both bills have been voted out of committee and placed on the Ready List. MSD submitted written comment in opposition of the legalization of recreational marijuana, supporting removal of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug so that more research on both the recreational and medical effects of marijuana can be done. The bill may be scheduled for a vote in the House in March, shortly after lawmakers return from six weeks of Joint Finance Committee hearings.

American Lung Association Report Reveals Best, Worst States

Delaware is one of the states with most improvement to prevent and reduce tobacco use, moving from a grade of "C" last year to "A" this year, according to the American Lung Association’s 21st annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released on Wednesday. The state earned mostly passing grades on this year’s report and, thanks to increased tobacco control funding by 2.5 million compared to last year, Delaware is a leader (along with Maine and Oklahoma) in making significant strides in tobacco control funding. The “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policies on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives. This is critical, as tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in America and takes the lives of 1,440 Delaware residents each year. The report noted the need for Delaware policymakers to focus on tobacco prevention and quitting smoking strategies.

VRBPAC to Review Proposal at Meeting on January 26

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday proposed a simplified approach for future vaccination efforts, allowing most adults and children to get a once-a-year shot to protect against the mutating virus. The agency indicated that many Americans have sufficient preexisting immunity against the coronavirus because of vaccination, infections, or both. Those with weakened immune systems and also small children may require a two-dose combination, but data would need to be studied to determine whether a single shot or two dose series is needed. Using a similar approach in the annual flu vaccine development, the FDA proposes that it would be determined annually which strains to target by the early summer, to allow time to produce and launch the updated vaccine prior to the fall. The FDA has asked its panel of outside vaccine experts, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), to weigh in on a more simplified immunization schedule for future vaccination campaigns at its meeting scheduled for Thursday this week. The FDA is expected to take the VRBPAC advice into consideration while deciding future vaccines requirements. If agreed upon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) advisory panel would next review at its meeting in February.

XBB and XBB.1.5 Dominant in U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated this week that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continue to hold up well against the latest viral variant. The Omicron variant known as XBB and its subvariant XBB.1.5 have taken over in the U.S. this last month as the cause of more than half of COVID-19 infections. A CDC study showed that the bivalent mRNA booster dose provided additional protection against symptomatic XBB/XBB.1.5 infection for at least the first three months after vaccination in person who had previously received 2-4 monovalent vaccine doses. The findings indicated the bivalent vaccine was 52% effective at preventing infections against BA.5 and 48% against XBB/XBB.1.5 among those aged 18-49, however, effectiveness fell to 37% against BA.5 and 43% against XBB/XBB.1.5 among those aged 65 years and older.

RxPass Exclusive to Amazon Prime Members

Amazon has introduced a new prescription drug subscription program for Prime members, called RxPass, that will ship generic medications to customers' homes for a flat monthly fee of $5. The $5 charge includes the cost of delivery and is added to Prime customers’ existing monthly subscription fee. The RxPass $5 fee is a flat rate that doesn’t increase even if users require multiple prescriptions each month. Medications can be delivered on either a monthly or quarterly basis depending on the prescription requirements. A full list of generic medications covered by the RxPass subscription can be found on the Amazon pharmacy website. The program does not require insurance coverage and customers who are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government health care program are not eligible for RxPass but can still use government insurance to fill prescriptions at Amazon Pharmacy, which has a range of generic drugs, some priced as low as $1 for a 30-day supply. The benefit of this new program will vary by customer. Within the Amazon Pharmacy program, at this time Amazon does not dispense medications for office use and patients are required to sign up on their own. Amazon Pharmacy obtains provider information from the Sure Scripts Directory. If you are not in the Sure Scripts Directory, you can call Sure Scripts at (888) 926-3776.

Free, Fast-Paced Publishing

The MSD Academic Channel is your opportunity to submit original, review, case report, and technical report articles to be considered for publishing. Medical publishing is made smarter, affordable, and hassle-free with the platform for clinicians and researchers to publish and share their work globally. Why publish through the MSD Academic Channel in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science? Cureus article publications grew 46%, from 8,400 in 2021 to 12,300 in 2022. The Cureus audience also increased significantly. Cureus received over 28 million pageviews in 2022 - a 65% increase over 2021's 17 million pageviews. With continual focus on streamlining the publication process and increasing efficiency, the average time to publish an article has decreased to 37 days with 55% of articles publishing within 4 weeks or fewer. Cureus is increasingly becoming one of the most popular places to publish medical knowledge and is a space in which physicians, clinicians, and researchers can connect, discuss, and evaluate peer-reviewed medical science. Cureus now has a record number of new academic channels, with the MSD Academic Channel being one of them. MSD recognizes the value delivered by the MSD Academic Channel for free publishing, fast-paced publishing, and brand building. There's never been a better time to join this exciting and innovative opportunity! Consider publishing your next article through the MSD Academic Channel.

To Bolster Supply of Pediatric Ibuprofen

On Monday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an immediately-in-effect guidance on compounding certain ibuprofen products in an effort to bolster supply of pediatric ibuprofen amid record high demand. The guidance clarifies FDA’s regulatory and enforcement priorities regarding the compounding of certain ibuprofen oral suspension products in outsourcing facilities for administration in hospitals and health systems. FDA is not addressing acetaminophen oral suspensions at this time due to additional considerations.

According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dashboard, cases of RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 hospitalizations are falling. Still, experts caution the U.S. could see additional increases in flu, which sometimes has two peaks, and another RSV season in the spring, as well as considering the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 could continue to spread.

2023 Directory is Now Available

The 2023 Medicare Participation Physicians / Suppliers Directory (MEDPARD) is now available. As in the past, there will be no hardcopy distributions. Beneficiaries can use the Physician Compare website or contact 1-800-MEDICARE for assistance in locating a participating supplier near their home. Access the online MEDPARD Directory.

FY 2024 GME Slots Application Cycle Open Until March 31, 2023

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the distribution of the first 200 GME slots, out of the additional 1,000 slots, that were created as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). The slots were adamantly supported by the American Medical Association and will be effective July 1, 2023. In this first distribution of slots, 100 teaching hospitals in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico received awards. The application cycle for the 200 FY 2024 slots is currently open and will remain open until March 31, 2023. In order be eligible for these additional FTE resident cap slots, a hospital must qualify in at least one of the following four categories: (1) hospitals in rural areas (or treated as being located in a rural area under the law), (2) hospitals training a number of residents in excess of their GME cap, (3) hospitals in states with new medical schools or branch campuses, and (4) hospitals that serve areas designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). Additionally, no hospital can receive more than 25 FTE resident cap slots. Answers to questions concerning the Section 126 application process for additional slots can be found here. The application for additional slots can be found here.

Coverys

MSD is pleased to highlight a 2023 Premier Educational Program Partner. Coverys has been a 

part of the growing effort to keep our medical professionals educated through its partnership with MSD as a Premier Educational Program (PEP) Partner.

Coverys is a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance committed to helping reduce distractions so health care professionals and organizations can focus on what matters most—patients. You can count on Coverys for flexible coverage options, innovative insurance solutions, advanced data analytics, best-in-class education and risk mitigation resources, and unique support programs to assist physicians and health care professionals who are experiencing a claim, adverse event, or burnout. With 40+ years of experience serving the medical community and underwriting companies with “A” (Excellent) ratings from A.M. Best, you can be confident in Coverys’ financial strength and stability. Please visit coverys.com for more information.

If you would like to become a PEP Partner, please contact Lynn Robinson, Director of

Professional Education.

2023 is the Biennial Physician Medical Licensure Renewal Year

Delaware law requires that, in order for medical professionals to renew their license, they must attest that they have completed training on:

• how to recognize child sexual and physical abuse, exploitation and domestic violence
• your reporting obligations under the Medical Practice Act and Regulatory Provisions Concerning Public Health

The 2023 Mandatory Reporting Training for Medical Professionals is available, and licensed physicians must take the 2023 Mandatory Reporting training even if they recently completed mandatory reporting training. This training must be completed before every medical license renewal. Physicians are required to attest to completing the training on their renewal application. Failure to do so will delay the renewal of the medical license.  To complete the training, go to https://stateofdelaware.csod.com/default.aspx?c=courts-oca to create an account. If you already have an account, just click the “login in” icon and sign in User ID and Password. Once training is completed, medical professionals can then reapply for licensure through the Division of Professional Regulation's website at https://delpros.delaware.gov/OH_HomePage.



If you are having difficulty accessing or logging in to the site, the state has provided a step-by-step self-registration guide to assist you. MSD does not have access to DELPROS. You must contact the State for questions and/or technical assistance.

For Those Working with Adult Patients or in the Field of Gerontology

Senate Bill 283, signed by Governor Carney in 2022, requires practitioners who treat adults to take continuing education on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. MSD opposed this legislation on all fronts (read the MSD/DNA joint letter of opposition).

According to the Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, the following requirement must be completed during each biennial medical license renewal period beginning with the 2025 renewal cycle. Senate Bill 283 requires all medical professionals who work with adult patients or in the field of gerontology in a health care setting to complete at least one (1) hour of continuing education on the topic of diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. During license renewal in 2023, you will be required to acknowledge your understanding that, you will have to complete this mandatory CE requirement starting in renewal cycle 2025, if you work with adult patients or in the field of gerontology in a health care setting.

History of Racism in US Health Care: Root Causes of Today's Hierarchy and Systems of Power

Register for the inaugural event in the National Health Equity Grand Rounds series, History of Racism in U.S. Healthcare: Root Causes of Today’s Hierarchy and Systems of Power. This event will highlight the root causes of present-day health inequities by tracing the social, economic, political, geographic, and environmental forces that shape opportunity for health in the United States. Keynote speaker Harriet A. Washington, MA, author of Medical Apartheid, will explore the history of structural inequities in health care and unethical medical experimentation followed by a panel conversation moderated by American Medical Association (AMA) Chief Health Equity Officer Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH, and featuring Rupa Marya, MD; David Ansell, MD, MPH; and Jack Resneck, Jr., MD. The event will livestream on the website www.healthequitygrandrounds.com starting at 2:00 pm EST on February 7, 2023. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit will be offered at no cost to attendees. This activity has been approved for 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Register.

Learn About VIP and How it Supports Enrollees in Health Care Connection

Register to attend the Voluntary Initiative Program virtual Lunch and Learn education session on Thursday, February 9th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (or use your phone to scan the QR code). This informative hour is designed for current VIP participants and for those who are interested in participating or learning more about the program. Objectives of the program are to: 

 

• Understand the Voluntary Initiative Program (VIP) process and how it supports patients enrolled in the state's Health Care Connection (HCC) - "a day in the life of an HCC patient";
• Learn who can join the VIP network of physicians and health professionals and how you can participate; and
• Find out about VIP benefits and programs and how VIP supports your practice.

The event will take place via Zoom. After registering, log in details will be sent 24 hours prior to the event. Registration deadline is February 7th.

Have Questions - contact Michelle Seymour, Manager of Membership and Community Outreach - michelle.seymour@medsocdel.org or (302) 224-4905.

Register to attend MSD's "Pubs & Politics" social on Tuesday, February 21^st beginning at 5:30 p.m. at JD Shucker's in Georgetown (or use your phone to scan the QR code).

This event series is for MSD members! Join your colleagues for the first Pubs & Politics event of the year, where we will feature a chance to hear and discuss issues with legislators, as well as enjoy good food and beverages. Registration deadline is Wednesday, February 15th.

Registration Open; Early Bird Rates End This Friday

Registration for the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center's (MATRC’s) 2023 Annual Summit is open and Early Bird rates end this Friday. This year's theme is "Telehealth Equity: Is the Solution for Addressing Inequities in Health Quality and Access Now Exacerbating Those Same Issues?" This is an excellent opportunity to further explore telehealth, policy updates, and associated technologies. Participation is both in-person and virtual to accommodate more schedules. The event will take place March 15-17 at the Hilton Norfolk The Main, 100 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA. Learn more and register.

Creating a Supportive Space: LGBTQ+ and Mental Health Awareness

Join MSD for a virtual "Hot Topic" education session on Wednesday, March 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Speaker Wesley Ingram, Program Manager, NAMI Delaware, will present on LGBTQ+ and Mental Health Awareness, Creating a Supportive Space. Learn more and register.

Returns to In-Person Event, March 31-April 2

Ever wonder how physicians get elected to Congress or your state legislature? Considering a run for office for yourself? The AMPAC Candidate Workshop will teach you how to run a winning political campaign. The AMPAC Candidate Workshop is returning in-person March 31 – April 2 at the AMA offices in Washington, DC – registration now OPEN!

The Candidate Workshop is designed to give you the skills and strategic approach you will need to make a run for public office.

Please note the following:

1. The Candidate Workshop is open to AMA physician members, member spouses, residents, medical students and state medical society staff. 
2. Registration fee is $250 for AMA Member/$1000 for non-AMA members. This fee is waived for AMA residents and students; however, space is limited and the AMPAC Board will review and select four participants from the pool of qualified resident and student applicants.
3. Faculty, materials, and all meals during the meeting are covered by the AMA. Participants are responsible for their registration fee, travel to/from Washington, DC and hotel accommodations (AMA will provide you with a list of nearby hotels within walking distance of the AMA offices).
4. Participants will be required to bring a laptop or Wi-Fi enabled tablet with them.
5. All participants will be required to attest to being fully vaccination with at least one booster for the COVID-19 virus.

Space is limited and the deadline to register is March 17, 2023. For more information please contact: Politicaleducation@ama-assn.org. 

Community Service Event - Talley Day Park, North Wilmington

Join your fellow Delaware Chapter, American College of Physician (ACP) members and co-host, the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, for this educational day of service on Saturday, April 22nd from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.! Participants will be joined by a master gardener who will discuss invasive species and why they are harmful. Volunteers will then help to remove those invasive species and clean up trash around the park. There are also plans to plant a few trees as well.  Family and friends are welcome!

The DE Chapter of ACP will provide trash bags, water, and snacks. Please bring gardening gloves, and if you have them, clippers to cut back the invasive multiflora rose growing in the park. Bring a shovel if you have one as well. The event is FREE for all, but it is asked that your register ahead of time: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4CAEA82EAA8-earth2

Bayhealth

Bayhealth employees volunteered their time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service to assemble bicycles donated for the first Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K) event in Delaware. FB4K is a nonprofit organization geared toward helping all kids ride into a happier, healthier childhood by providing donated bikes to those most in need. Bayhealth partnered with the organization to help bring community members and resources together to give local, underserved kids access to their first bikes. Bayhealth’s Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Tom Vaughan, MD, was approached by FB4K in December, and within a few weeks, was able to establish a FB4K Delaware chapter. Over 115 volunteers from Bayhealth, corporate and nonprofit partners including Delaware State University, and the greater community, gathered at Blue Hen Corporate Center in Dover to assemble over 300 bicycles donated by Kent Bicycles company. Bayhealth is partnering with local charities to identify low-income and underserved children in our community without bicycles. Bayhealth plans to host additional FB4K Delaware activities in the months ahead, including giveaway events where the bikes will be distributed to the identified kids in need. Visit Bayhealth.org/fb4k to learn more. 

For the second consecutive year, Bayhealth is teaming up with Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD) and Delaware State University (DSU) Athletics to host the Ballin’ for Blood Drive on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The blood drive is scheduled from 12-6 p.m. on Bayhealth Court in Memorial Hall Gym on the main DSU campus, 1200 N. DuPont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901. Bayhealth will be cheering on the Hornets and encouraging fans to register for the Ballin’ for Blood Drive during the Hornets’ basketball doubleheader against Morgan State University on Saturday, Jan. 28. The first game begins at 2 p.m.

Beebe Healthcare

Beebe Healthcare announced that all three of its laboratories have been awarded accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The Margaret H. Rollins Campus in Lewes received reaccreditation in October 2022. Most recently, the South Coastal Campus received reaccreditation, and the new Beebe Healthcare Specialty Surgical Hospital laboratory received their first-time accreditation. Accreditation is awarded based on the results of recent on-site inspections, conducted by practicing pathology and laboratory medicine professionals. The site assessment involved analysis of laboratory records and quality control procedures, departmental management protocols, staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, and safety procedures. CAP is recognized as the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and is the leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs.

ChristianaCare

Since April 2021, the ChristianaCare Center for Virtual Health has offered a COVID-19 online clinic for patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19, who have debilitating symptoms at least eight weeks after initial onset of COVID-19. So far, it has treated 359 patients from Delaware and neighboring states. The multidisciplinary clinic meets twice weekly, and is comprised of a primary care physician, pharmacist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, sports medicine physician, neurologist, endocrinologist and psychologist. For more information or to refer, please visit: https://christianacare.org/coronavirus-covid-19#recovery/

The Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons, has granted three-year reaccreditation to the cancer program at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, one of the original National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program sites in the U.S. ChristianaCare has received accreditation since 1951. To earn accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. The Commission cited zero deficiencies during its site visit and in its final report.

Christopher J. Whitney, MD

It is with sadness we share that MSD member Christopher J. Whitney, MD passed away on Friday, January 20, 2023. Dr. Whitney was 75 years of age. He was a graduate of Temple Medical School and prior to that, he served in the US Army, stationed in South-East Asia during the Vietnam War. After surgical residency, he joined his father, Leslie Whitney, MD, at their Wilmington General Surgery Practice, later specializing in breast surgical oncology. Dr. Emily Penman and Dr. Greg Pahnke later joined the group. Memorial service plans were pending at the time of this publication.

Amy H. Chang, MD - First State Pediatrics, LLC

Lauren Healy-Scarpaci, MD - First State Pediatrics, LLC

John W. Murphy, MD - First State Pediatrics, LLC

Robert M. Olivieri, MD - First State Pediatrics, LLC

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 on the current pending member(s) listed above.

• DPH Flu Dashboard
• DPH Delaware Weekly Influenza Surveillance Reports by week.
• CDC https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm
• WHO https://www.who.int/teams/global-influenza-programme/surveillance-and-monitoring/influenzaupdates/current-influenza-update

• Delaware "My Healthy Community" COVID-19 Dashboard (updated weekly on Wednesdays)
• COVID-19 by County Community Level Check (# hospital admissions and beds used and total number of new cases)
• COVID-19 Community Transmission (based on cases per 100,000 people and positivity rate, both measured over the last 7 days)
• Fact Sheet: Data Points on Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccination (November 16, 2022)
• DPH Public Health Alerts: de.gov/publichealthalerts
• DPH COVID-19 Booster Information: de.gov/boosters
• Federal website for information on navigating COVID: COVID.gov
• CDC COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
• COVID-19 Treatment Options
• Medical Provider Guidance for Administering Therapeutics
• COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator
• CDC COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review.
• For testing flyers (available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole): https://covidmaterialsde.com/resources/community-organizer
• For all testing site referral locations, visit: de.gov/gettested
• For vaccination site referral locations, visit: de.gov/getmyvaccine
• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Presentation Wall Chart (updated November 15, 2022)
• Pfizer/Moderna pediatric vaccine information: de.gov/youthvaccine
• FDA At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests provides a list of all FDA-authorized at-home over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests
• Know the COVID-19 Community Level where you live
• DPH COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Check Page to help separate fact from fiction.
• Subscribe to the COVID-19 Update podcast - on Apple Podcasts or Simplecast.