eProgress Notes / April 2019
MSMA Represents All Medical Specialties
Several bills this month are of particular interest to our doctors who specialize in pediatrics. The most contentious by far was HB 711, which would prohibit K-12 schools, colleges, and health care providers from discriminating against children who are unvaccinated. If passed, it would be incredibly difficult for physicians to prevent unvaccinated children from coming into contact with patient populations who may be otherwise immunocompromised.
MSMA testified against this bill in the House Health and Mental Health Committee, along with a group of intrepid pediatricians who waited hours for the chance to speak against this harmful bill. Other bills of interest include HB 1213 (prohibits tanning for kids under 18) and SB 87 (reauthorizes a tax refund donation check-off for pediatric cancer research), and another bill of concern is HB 1164 (requires informed consent before vaccinations may be given to a child).
Dozens of MSMA members responded with letters, emails, and calls after the Association sent a Call to Action urging physicians to reach out to committee members asking them to vote no on HB 711. We appreciate your voice in governing the practice of medicine in Missouri!
As you read MSMA legislative news and note issues which you want to discuss with your elected officials there’s a handy Legislator Lookup available to find the right senator or rep’s phone and email. Find Legislator Lookup on the MSMA website at: www.msma.org/engage.
MSMA Annual Convention Wrap: New Leadership Elected at Annual Convention in Kansas City
James DiRenna, DO, Family Physician from Kansas City, Missouri, took the helm of MSMA for 2019-2020 from Joe Corrado, MD, General Surgeon, from Mexico, Missouri, after being installed as President during the Association’s 161st Annual Convention in Kansas City on April 6. Numerous resolutions and reports were heard and adopted during the House of Delegates, and MSMA members earned many FREE hours of CME. Watch for in-depth coverage of the Annual Convention, including new officers, resolution results, and presentations at www.msma.org/convention-wrap. The May Progress Notes and the May/June issue of Missouri Medicine will feature complete reports.
MO HealthNet Opioid Prescription Update
MSMA physicians have continued their participation in the Opioid Policy Advisory Council. Assisting MO HealthNet are MSMA members: Drs. David Barbe, Bridget Early, Fola Fasuyi, Alex Hover, Daniel Millspaugh, and Matt Stinson. Prior authorization for opioids may be obtained by calling 800-392-8030 option 3 or through CyberAccess. Medicaid beneficiaries need a pain related diagnosis documented every six months – down from two years. No additional refills will be allowed if a one-time authorization is granted for a prescription if MO HealthNet requested information is not subsequently submitted. Please contact Patrick Mills if you have a specific MHD beneficiary opioid story to share.
Pain Management and Opioid Resources
The New England Journal of Medicine’s Knowledge+ has recently launched a free CME course on Pain Management and Opioids. This course was developed through an educational grant awarded by the Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Program Companies. Here is a link to more info: https://knowledgeplus.nejm.org/pain-opioids. The AMA has its own website: End the Opioid Epidemic (https://www.end-opioid-epidemic.org) which includes numerous links to opioid resources.
Missouri Medicine Online / www.msma.org/missouri-medicine-library
Medical Marijuana Resources
The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services is the state agency tasked with developing the administrative rules and regulations regarding implementation of the medical marijuana amendment passed by voters last November. MSMA anticipates publication of the proposed regulations late in the spring. MSMA will review and comment on the proposed regulations, which are likely to not become official until this summer. Until this occurs, no patient certifications will be issued by the state, and hence, no patient recommendations may be made by physicians. MSMA will continue to follow this issue closely and separate fact from fiction as we move closer to implementation. You can find a number of medical marijuana resources on the MSMA website.
MSMA & MSMA Insurance Agency Create New Insurance Partnership
We are excited to announce that MSMA is partnering with Mylo (My Lockton) to provide MSMA members with a digital one-stop shop for home and auto insurance that may be able to save you time and money. Mylo is part of Kansas City based Lockton Companies, launched in 1966 and now the world’s largest independent insurance broker.
Mylo offers:
Medicare eHandbook
Earth Day was last week so CMS is extending its offer for their electronic Medicare handbook. Sign up by May 31 for your free edition at: https://www.medicare.gov/gopaperless/.
MSMA Reaching Out and Representing You!
Watch Your MSMA Colleagues on YouTube
MSMA’s YouTube channel has more than two dozen videos featuring MSMA members from around Missouri. Watching these video testimonials, you discover how your colleagues chose careers in medicine, hear about the challenges they face every day, and learn why they find MSMA membership so valuable. Click here to get started watching and email stephen@msma.org if you’d be interested in being the subject of our next MSMA Member Spotlight video!
Thank you April Volunteers – Physician of the Day
MSMA Communications / 800-869-6762 / Unsubscribe
Several bills this month are of particular interest to our doctors who specialize in pediatrics. The most contentious by far was HB 711, which would prohibit K-12 schools, colleges, and health care providers from discriminating against children who are unvaccinated. If passed, it would be incredibly difficult for physicians to prevent unvaccinated children from coming into contact with patient populations who may be otherwise immunocompromised.
MSMA testified against this bill in the House Health and Mental Health Committee, along with a group of intrepid pediatricians who waited hours for the chance to speak against this harmful bill. Other bills of interest include HB 1213 (prohibits tanning for kids under 18) and SB 87 (reauthorizes a tax refund donation check-off for pediatric cancer research), and another bill of concern is HB 1164 (requires informed consent before vaccinations may be given to a child).
Dozens of MSMA members responded with letters, emails, and calls after the Association sent a Call to Action urging physicians to reach out to committee members asking them to vote no on HB 711. We appreciate your voice in governing the practice of medicine in Missouri!
As you read MSMA legislative news and note issues which you want to discuss with your elected officials there’s a handy Legislator Lookup available to find the right senator or rep’s phone and email. Find Legislator Lookup on the MSMA website at: www.msma.org/engage.
MSMA Annual Convention Wrap: New Leadership Elected at Annual Convention in Kansas City
James DiRenna, DO, Family Physician from Kansas City, Missouri, took the helm of MSMA for 2019-2020 from Joe Corrado, MD, General Surgeon, from Mexico, Missouri, after being installed as President during the Association’s 161st Annual Convention in Kansas City on April 6. Numerous resolutions and reports were heard and adopted during the House of Delegates, and MSMA members earned many FREE hours of CME. Watch for in-depth coverage of the Annual Convention, including new officers, resolution results, and presentations at www.msma.org/convention-wrap. The May Progress Notes and the May/June issue of Missouri Medicine will feature complete reports.
MO HealthNet Opioid Prescription Update
MSMA physicians have continued their participation in the Opioid Policy Advisory Council. Assisting MO HealthNet are MSMA members: Drs. David Barbe, Bridget Early, Fola Fasuyi, Alex Hover, Daniel Millspaugh, and Matt Stinson. Prior authorization for opioids may be obtained by calling 800-392-8030 option 3 or through CyberAccess. Medicaid beneficiaries need a pain related diagnosis documented every six months – down from two years. No additional refills will be allowed if a one-time authorization is granted for a prescription if MO HealthNet requested information is not subsequently submitted. Please contact Patrick Mills if you have a specific MHD beneficiary opioid story to share.
Pain Management and Opioid Resources
The New England Journal of Medicine’s Knowledge+ has recently launched a free CME course on Pain Management and Opioids. This course was developed through an educational grant awarded by the Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Program Companies. Here is a link to more info: https://knowledgeplus.nejm.org/pain-opioids. The AMA has its own website: End the Opioid Epidemic (https://www.end-opioid-epidemic.org) which includes numerous links to opioid resources.
Missouri Medicine Online / www.msma.org/missouri-medicine-library
- Bashing Big Pharma
- Ovarian Cancer and Tainted Talc
- Non-Opioid Solutions for Acute Pain Management
- Cardiovascular Toxic Effects of Marijuana
- Feature Series: Innovations in Pediatric Medicine
Medical Marijuana Resources
The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services is the state agency tasked with developing the administrative rules and regulations regarding implementation of the medical marijuana amendment passed by voters last November. MSMA anticipates publication of the proposed regulations late in the spring. MSMA will review and comment on the proposed regulations, which are likely to not become official until this summer. Until this occurs, no patient certifications will be issued by the state, and hence, no patient recommendations may be made by physicians. MSMA will continue to follow this issue closely and separate fact from fiction as we move closer to implementation. You can find a number of medical marijuana resources on the MSMA website.
MSMA & MSMA Insurance Agency Create New Insurance Partnership
We are excited to announce that MSMA is partnering with Mylo (My Lockton) to provide MSMA members with a digital one-stop shop for home and auto insurance that may be able to save you time and money. Mylo is part of Kansas City based Lockton Companies, launched in 1966 and now the world’s largest independent insurance broker.
Mylo offers:
- An exclusive MSMA group discount
- Convenient shopping from multiple top-rated carriers
- A customized recommendation for your home or vehicle
- Visit choosemylo.com/MSMA or call 844-208-4544 to learn more!
Medicare eHandbook
Earth Day was last week so CMS is extending its offer for their electronic Medicare handbook. Sign up by May 31 for your free edition at: https://www.medicare.gov/gopaperless/.
MSMA Reaching Out and Representing You!
- MSMA staff met with more than 170 medical group managers from around the state at the Medical Group Management Association Annual Conference April 10-12 in Osage Beach, along with MSMA Insurance Agency staff. They spoke with group managers and offered up information on MSMA advocacy work, practice resources, services and membership benefits.
- Boone Country Medical Society hosted educational seminars on April 2 and April 16 for residents, fellows, and early-career physicians in Columbia. Guest speakers focused on topics such as asset protection, personal and professional insurance, investing, saving for retirement and IRS implications for new physicians. Speakers were Casey Elliott from Van Metre Law Firm; Ronnie Staggs from MSMA Insurance Agency; Robert Doroghazi, MD, author of “The Physician’s Guide to Investing”; Marsha Fifer, CFP, of Central Investment Advisors; and Jeff Echelmeier, CPA, of Williams Keepers CPAs.
- MSMA staff joined the Missouri Healthcare Workforce Coalition. The goal is to strengthen the primary care workforce for the state of Missouri by increasing the number of primary care providers practicing in Missouri and retaining primary care provider that are educated and/or trained in Missouri to continue practice in our state.
- The Time Critical Diagnosis Committee and DHSS is moving forward to review existing and new resources, and to discuss next steps.
- MSMA is a partner of a newly formed Missouri Immunization Coalition, which is studying the current state of immunization in Missouri, challenges and opportunities, best practices in other states, and future goals.
- MSMA attended the scholarship winners’ luncheon at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. This awards ceremony is for all the medical students who received private scholarships, such as an MSMA Scholarship, at SLU School of Medicine. There were 10 MSMA Scholarship winners from SLU.
Watch Your MSMA Colleagues on YouTube
MSMA’s YouTube channel has more than two dozen videos featuring MSMA members from around Missouri. Watching these video testimonials, you discover how your colleagues chose careers in medicine, hear about the challenges they face every day, and learn why they find MSMA membership so valuable. Click here to get started watching and email stephen@msma.org if you’d be interested in being the subject of our next MSMA Member Spotlight video!
Thank you April Volunteers – Physician of the Day
- April 2 / Tom Saak, MD - St. Louis
- April 4 / Greg Terpstra, DO - Potosi
- April 10 / Jennifer Conley, MD - Nevada / Michael Kortz - Student Shadow, KCUMB
- April 11 / Nikhat Salamat, MD - St. Louis
- April 1 / Joanne Loethen, MD - Kansas City
- April 17 / Gary Gaddis, MD - St. Louis
- April 18 / Sam Page, MD - St. Louis
- April 24 / Tammara Goldschmidt, MD - St. Louis
- April 2 / Louis DelCampo, MD - Springfield
- April 30 / Amanda Turner, MD - Nevada
MSMA Communications / 800-869-6762 / Unsubscribe
