Our mission
To support and promote Maryland family physicians in order to improve the health of our State’s patients, families and communities.
January 2107 | Vol. 11 No.1
On December 9, 2016 MAFP leaders and members met at DHMH in Baltimore with representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to further the Maryland Comprehensive Primary Care Proposal. Pictured (l-r) Stephen Cha (CMS), Drs. Steven Kravet, Kisha Davis, Andrew Dobin, Ramona Seidel, George Leon, Howard Haft (Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services, Kristin Clark, Pat Czapp (MAFP President), Kim Herman , Niharika Khanna, Esther Barr, Dr. Joseph Nichols, Willem Daniel (CMS). Read Dr. Czapp’s report about the Proposal
. Register for updates by Drs. Czapp and Haft at MAFP’s February 25th Conference.
In This Issue… - 2017 Legislative Session Preview, MAFP’s Advocacy Day for Patients on February 16th
- FamilyDoctor.org Trusted by your Patients: Upgraded
to Offer a Better User Experience
- Help Your Patients Discuss End-of-Life Care
- AAFP Member Interest Groups: Join, Start
- Environmental Scan and News You Can Use
2017 Legislative Session Preview, MAFP’s Advocacy Day for Patients - Reserve Your Spot Now!
As the Maryland General Assembly prepares to reconvene at noon on January 11, the Administration and legislators will no doubt have a sharp eye on what is going on in Washington, DC around the same time. Maryland was a leader on health care expansion before the Affordable Care Act was enacted, but had to seriously alter
many of its previously existing programs to meet ACA rules and regulations once the federal plan was enacted.
As a new President and Congress vow to “repeal and replace” the ACA quickly, the General Assembly will be considering how to react and expand state programs to make sure patients don’t fall through the cracks. It will be a fairly frenetic effort since nobody knows how quickly they will act in DC. But state legislators will be anxious to enact patient protections before they adjourn for the year in April.
Another major concern will be money. Revenue estimates for next year have been revised downward and the Governor and General Assembly will have to haggle on how to cut between $400 and $600 million from the upcoming budget. And those numbers assume no cuts in federal aid for Medicaid and other major health care programs, which is no guarantee. With deficits that large elected officials will no doubt consider slowing or repealing hard fought increases in Medicaid provider reimbursements. We will work diligently to ensure those hard-fought rate increases don’t fall by the wayside.
Another major initiative in the upcoming session will include a serious look at rapidly increasing prescription drug prices. Spurred by a couple of very high profile price increases the past couple of years, legislative leaders and a large coalition of advocacy groups have proposed a reform package that focuses on transparency in price setting and providing consumers with clear and accurate price information. This will be a major battle drug companies, health insurers, providers and consumers all fighting hard to frame the issues and shape the legislation.
These are just a couple of the major issues that will arise for medical providers and around health care in Annapolis during the 90-day session. We will keep you up to date throughout and hope you will speak to your representatives along the way and make sure they know where you stand. * Eric Gally, MAFP Lobbyist
Gally Public Affairs * MAFP’s Advocacy Day for Patients on February 16th ! Reserve your spot now!
Dear MAFP Members: As the 4th Annual Advocacy Day for our group rolls closer, I am truly excited about having input into what really is important to you. Only by hearing from you can your voice be heard. As the Interim Chairman for this event I emphasize to you how important your voice is for our legislators to hear. Please review Mr. Gally’s remarks above and give us feedback through our website or contact the MAFP Office. Also please afford us your time to Join MAFP to meet and greet our state representatives on February 16th. This unique experience allows us to craft our destiny. Lets all get to the table. Hope to see you there!
F. George Leon, M.D.
MAFP Vice President
Chair, Government Advocacy Committee
FamilyDoctor.org Trusted by Your Patients. Upgraded to Offer a Better User Experience
The AAFP recently unveiled an enhanced version of its award-winning patient education website,
familydoctor.org, offering visitors expanded content and an improved user experience. The upgraded familydoctor.org:
- provides new health and wellness information—in both English and Spanish—that’s been reviewed by family physicians and patients;
- delivers printable articles that can be used as patient education handouts, ensuring that patients have access to leading-edge information;
- offers patients basic diagnosis and treatment information with an updated Symptom Checker; and
- is fully functional on mobile devices, so patients can easily find family physician-supported answers to new and breaking health issues.
More than 4 million people a month visit the site looking for medical answers and advice from a source they know and trust. All content on the site is written and reviewed by physicians and patient education professionals at the AAFP and organized into five main sections and also offers monthly features emphasizing timely, credible content on specific topics that focus on achieving optimal health. Back to top
Help Your Patients Discuss End-of-Life Care
To support family physicians and their patients, the AAFP has partnered with The Conversation Project to provide resources for beginning the important, but often difficult, conversations about preferences for end-of-life care. Help your patients ensure their (and their loved ones’) wishes are fulfilled with the Conversation Starter Kit. It’s difficult, but necessary, to discuss end-of-life plans. Download the Conversation Starter Kit today to help them have the tough conversations.
AAFP Member Interest Groups: Join, Start
The AAFP acknowledges and embraces the diversity of its membership. In an effort to strengthen all member voices from within the larger membership as a whole, the AAFP Board of Directors approved the establishment of AAFP member interest groups (MIGs) in 2014 as a way to define, recognize, and engage members who have shared professional interests. Group members have the opportunity to: - Network with fellow AAFP members
- Participate in interest-specific continuing professional development activities
- Deliver a unified message to AAFP leadership
- Suggest AAFP policy
- Provide input on AAFP policies and
positions (upon request)
- Pursue professional leadership development within the AAFP
- Connect to existing AAFP resources
- Meet face-to-face at AAFP Family Medicine Experience (FMX)
- Promote AAFP membership
There are currently 16 Board-approved MIGs. Members interested in forming a new MIG can visit the AAFP website to learn more
or to download a member interest group application. Back to top
Environmental Scan and News You Can Use
- AAFP President Acknowledges Dr. Czapp’s Service as Commission Chair
- 2016 AAFP Congress of Delegates - The minutes from the 2016 Congress of Delegates are now complete and have been posted.
- Center for State Policy Legislative Tracker Available -
The State Legislative Tracker
is now available on the AAFP website. The new resource shows what legislation is being introduced in your state and across the country. Information is available by state or by topic of interest.
- Read MAFP’s Letter to Governor Hogan – MAFP President Dr. Pat Czapp has sent a letter to Governor Hogan
in response to AAFP’s request that Chapters contact their State Governors requesting their “ input on suggested changes to current health laws that impact family physicians and their patients.”
- Repeat items -
o DHMH Seeks MAFP Member for State Council on Heart Disease and Stroke - By statute MAFP must have a member on the Maryland Advisory Council on Heart Disease and Stroke. Information about the Council can be found by clicking here. The application process is completely online. For details contact the MAFP Office at info@mdafp.org or call 410-747-1980
o Sign Up to be Physician of the Day in Annapolis – Click Here
Special CME Events in February!
Click Below for Complete Information
Knowledge Self Assessment Study Hall
(KSA; formerly SAM)
Module: Pain Management
Friday, February 24, 2017
Sheraton Baltimore North
Towson, Maryland - Interactive group learning
- Meet part II requirement for ABFM MOC
- Review 60 core competency questions
- Receive 8 CME credits
- Dinner included
- Pre-Registration Mandatory
Click here to register
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