Nearly 80.000 Maine Residents Enroll for Coverage in Healthcare Marketplace

Nearly 80,000 Mainers have signed up for healthcare coverage or had their coverage automatically renewed through the HealthCare.gov platform since open enrollment began in November, federal officials at HHS announced last week, a substantial increase from last year.

Last year, 68,037 Maine residents enrolled through the Marketplace Exchange.  January 15th was the deadline to enroll for 2016 coverage which begins February 1st.  Of the 78,891 who enrolled this year, more than 57,000 were in the Portland-Lewiston market and the remainder were in the Bangor market area.  

Health Insurance Marketplace 2016 Open Enrollment ends this Sunday January 31, 2016

The Health Insurance Marketplace is where people can learn about health coverage options and enroll in a health insurance plan.  Outside of Open Enrollment some people may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period if they have a life event such as getting married, having a child, or losing other health coverage.

For more information and Marketplace enrollment assistance:

• Go to www.healthcare.gov. 
• Call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 or the Maine Helpline at 1-800-965-7476.
• Find free in-person assistance in Maine at www.enroll207.com/locator or localhelp.healthcare.gov.
• For your practice: order enroll207 resources about the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Contact: Susan Kring, ACA Outreach Coordinator 662-2364 skring@mainemed.com.

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POLITICAL PULSE: Legislature Enacts and Governor Signs $3.7 Million "First Step" in Addressing Drug Crisis

LEGISLATURE ENACTS/GOVERNOR SIGNS INITIAL BILL ON OPIOID ABUSE PROBLEM

 On Tuesday, January 19, 2015, Governor LePage signed a $3.7 million anti-drug law after the House and Senate passed the proposal (L.D. 1573)unanimously.  The bill includes $1.2 million to help fund 10 new positions in the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and $2.5 million for modest treatment options, including $900,000 to establish and operate a new drug detox center in northern or eastern Maine.  Some of the treatment money will fund projects operated by local police departments to help persons suffering from substance use disorders access treatment and recovery programs. $800,000 of the package will pay for treatment for persons with no insurance.

Next MMA Weekly Legislative Committee Conference Call is Tuesday, January 26th at 8 p.m.

MMA Legislative Committee Chair Amy Madden, M.D. welcomes you to participate in the weekly conference calls of the MMA Legislative Committee.

The next MMA Legislative Committee weekly conference call for the Second Regular Session of the 127th Maine Legislature will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, January 26th at 8:00 p.m.

Legislative Committee members and specialty society legislative liaisons are strongly encouraged to participate.  Any physician, practice manager, or other staff member who is interested in the MMA's legislative advocacy also is welcome to participate.  It is not necessary to RSVP for the calls.

Please use the following conference call number and passcode.  These will remain the same for every weekly call during the session.

Conference call number:  1-302-202-1092

Passcode:  729-7185

The purpose of the weekly conference calls is to review and finalize the MMA's position on bills printed the previous week, to hear the views of specialty societies on the new bills or their concerns about any current health policy issues, and to discuss the highlights of legislative action of the week.  The calls rarely last longer than an hour.  The MMA staff lists a suggested position for each bill and any medical specialty particularly affected by the bill.  

If you have an opinion about any of these bills, but cannot participate in the call, please contact Andrew MacLean, Deputy EVP & General Counsel at amaclean@mainemed.com or 622-3374, ext. 214.

The following is a report generated through our tracking system software program called StateTrack from CQRoll Call.  Please click on the report link and you should go to the bills highlighted by MMA staff for review from the bills printed that day.  You will be able to click on a link to the text of the bill for review and you will find the same staff recommendations you have seen in the past - a suggested category or "profile," a suggested position (support, monitor, or oppose), and any medical specialty society or MMA committee that might have a particular interest in the bill.

Weekly Bills for Review, LDs 1563-1572:  http://www.cqstatetrack.com/texis/statetrack/insession/viewrpt?report=56a67ee672a0.

MMA Board Meeting Focuses on Opioid Prescribing and CompareMaine Website

MMA's Board of Directors met on Friday, January 22nd in Portland preceding a weekend board retreat.   The priority topics for the board were a presentation by Neil Korsen, M.D., chair-elect of the Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) on the new MHDO website at CompareMaine.org and further discussion on opioid prescribing and the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).  Board members approved revisions to the 2016 budget which will allow for the hiring of a grants manager/outreach director in April.  Unaudited figures for 2015 showed a positive bottom line to the tune of approximately $50,000.  

Community Forums on Opioid/Heroin Epidemic Scheduled for So. Portland, Rockland, and Belfast

The Maine Anti-Opioid Collaborative has announced the next three Community Forums, as follows:

• February 3rd:  South Portland Community Center, 7:00 - 9:00 pm;

• February 4th:  Rockland City Council Chamber, 5:30 - 7:30 pm;

• February 10th:  Belfast (site TBA),  6:00 - 8:00 pm.

CMS Chief Vows to Establish Better Meaningful Use Policy

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt earlier this month said that the agency is changing its culture to focus more on listening to physician needs and giving them the freedom they need to keep patients at the center of the practice of medicine.

Regaining physicians’ trust

“The day-to-day work of CMS at this point in time is to start up new consumer- and provider-facing capabilities, and then scale them, nurture and mature them,” Slavitt said during a panel at the 34th annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.  “It demands that we change our culture and execute with clarity, with discipline and with collaboration. Things we haven’t always been known for.”

“We have to get the hearts and minds of the physicians back because these are the people that our beneficiaries and consumers count on every day,” he said.  “And I think we lost them.”

Referring to execution of the electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use program, Slavitt noted that the agency’s previous regulatory approach created difficulties. “When in doubt, I think, do less and figure it out. … I remind people all the time that good ideas piled on top of other good ideas become bad ideas pretty quickly because they sink under their own weight.”

Instead, Slavitt said he views the agency’s role in setting policy and acting as a regulator as a two-way street. “Here our most important job is to listen and learn,” he said.  “Policy is often a blunt instrument, and in the real world, it takes continual adjusting.”

The recent ICD-10 transition is evidence of how this collaborative approach can work well.  Listening to physician needs, CMS adopted AMA recommendations to make implementation of the new code set less disruptive for their practices.

Slavitt now is turning his attention to a critical issue that has plagued the nation’s physicians for the past several years.

The start of something new

While the meaningful use program still exists, it will be replaced with the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), called for in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.  MIPS is intended to sunset meaningful use, the Physician Quality Reporting System and the value-based payment modifier and streamline them into a single program.

“The stakes are high for this program,” Slavitt said.  “As any physician will tell you, physician burden and frustration levels are real.  Programs designed to improve often distract.  Done poorly, measures are divorced from how physicians practice and add to the cynicism that the people who build these programs just don’t get it.”

“At its core, we need to simplify,” he said.  “That program needs to be streamlined and simple to use so physicians can focus where they need to—on their patients.”

Importantly, Slavitt noted that they are taking an “outside-in” approach to designing this program.  “Since late last year, we have been working side by side with physician organizations across many communities—including with great advocacy from the AMA — and have listened to the needs and concerns of many,” he said.

Over the coming months, CMS will be proposing changes for elements of meaningful use that will be incorporated within the new MIPS program.  The AMA will remain heavily engaged with the agency to secure the necessary changes that would significantly ease the burden of meaningful use as it currently exists.

In November, the AMA and 100 state and specialty medical associations submitted 10 principles to guide the foundation of the MIPS, and provided detailed comments as part of its ongoing efforts on this issue.  The AMA also continues to drive home the message that the problems inherent in the meaningful use program must not be adopted into the MIPS.  To that end, the AMA last month submitted a detailed framework for what needs to change.

“Administrator Slavitt acknowledged the frustration of physicians attempting to comply with the meaningful use regulations and pledged to work collaboratively with physicians to replace the program with a more effective alternative,” said AMA CEO and Executive Vice President James L. Madara, MD.  “His leadership is a model for how Washington should work.  He listened to working physicians who said the meaningful use program made them choose between following byzantine technological requirements and spending more time with their patients. This is a win for patients, physicians and common sense.”

Slavitt said several themes will be guiding implementation of the new system:

• Emphasis will be placed on outcomes. “The focus will move away from rewarding providers for the use of technology and towards the outcome they achieve with their patients,” Slavitt said.
• Health IT will be about physician needs. “Providers will be able to customize their goals so tech companies can build around the individual practice needs, not the needs of the government,” he said. “Technology must be user-centered and support physicians, not distract them.”
• Vendors will need to unlock data. Slavitt said requirements will be put in place to “allow apps, analytic tools and connected technologies to get data in and out of an EHR securely.”
• Vendors will need to make health IT interoperable. “We are deadly serious about interoperability,” he said. “We will begin initiatives in collaboration with physicians and consumers toward pointing technology to fill critical use cases like closing referral loops and engaging patients in their care.”

“The AMA will continue to work with CMS and the Administration on moving to a new framework for EHRs,” Dr. Madara said.  “Physicians are at the front lines of these programs, and their insights should guide how the regulations are written and implemented.”

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Maine Opiate Collaborative Task Force Meetings February 4th and February 18th at MMA

Upcoming meetings of the Task Forces organized by the Maine Opiate Collaborative are as follows:

Supreme Court of Canada Authorizes Physician-assisted Death

On January 15th, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision providing authority for assisted suicide to begin under certain conditions and provided the Canadian government four months to come up with a federal law that would be intended to protect vulnerable citizens.  The Court had previously overturned a ban on physician-assisted suicide last February but had stayed the decision for a year in order to give the national government an opportunity to enact legislation.  The year time-line was delayed with the election of a new Liberal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau so the Court provided the authority to begin now under certain conditions and granted the Trudeau government four months to complete and enact a national law.

CMS Issues Draft Quality Measurement Development Plan

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in December released for comment its draft Quality Measure Development Plan (MDP).  The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) required the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and post “a draft plan for the development of quality measures” on the CMS.gov website by January 1st for application under certain provisions related to the new Medicare Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and to certain alternative payment models (APM).

The purpose of the MDP is to meet the requirements of the statute and serve as a strategic framework for the future of clinical quality measure development to support MIPS and APMs.  The MDP also highlights known measurement and performance gaps and recommends approaches to close those gaps through development, use and refinement of quality measures.  CMS has informed the AMA that the MPD and the comments CMS receives on it will influence the type of funding CMS distributes for measure development over the next five years.

CMS will accept comments through March 1st.  The final MDP, taking into account public comments CMS receives on the draft plan, will be posted on the CMS.gov website by May 1st, followed by updates annually or as otherwise appropriate.  Read the CMS blog post on the release of the Quality Measure Development Plan for additional information.  [return to top]

Job Openings

Experienced Internist or Family Physician Wanted for Per Diem Work 

Southern Maine Geriatrics Associates (SMGA) is recruiting physicians to work for physicians and midlevel providers during vacations and CME in a long term care practice in skilled/rehab, nursing home and assisted living.  Great work-life balance.  No call, no weekends, no holidays with hours typically 8 to 5.  Southern Maine Geriatrics provides geriatric medical care to residents in facilities in southern and central Maine.   Must have current Maine license, DEA, and meet hospital credentialing requirements.  Interested candidates should send their CV to Susan Pratt, Southern Maine Geriatrics Associates, 50 Marquis Road, Freeport, ME  04032,pratts@smga.me.  

2/22/16

GASTROENTEROLOGIST - Brunswick, Maine

Mid Coast Medical Group in Brunswick, Maine is seeking a BC/BE Gastroenterologist  who will provide superior inpatient and outpatient care.  The candidate will join a 3 physician/1 FNP practice that is conveniently located adjacent to Mid Coast Hospital, a 93-bed Joint Commission accredited hospital. Mid Coast Medical Group is a thriving group practice that provides both primary and specialty care in Mid Coast Maine.

The Coastal location, thriving downtown, historic neighborhoods and Bowdoin College campus make this part of Maine a very desirable place to live.

Mid Coast offers competitive benefits and compensation package, along with an excellent work environment.

Visit our website at www.midcoasthealth.com.

For more information or to submit CV, contact Melanie Crowe, Physician Recruiter: mcrowe@midcoasthealth.com, Phone 207-406-7872.

2/1/16

HOSPITALIST - Brunswick, Maine

Full time (1900 hr/year) Hospitalist needed to join Mid Coast Hospital, 93-bed independent, non-profit community hospital located in beautiful coastal Maine, one of Maine’s most desirable regions. Candidate will be joining an established hospitalist service which is expanding due to growth. Physician should be BC/BE in internal medicine or family practice. A competitive salary and benefits package, including CME, is offered for this position.

• flexible schedule
• procedures not required, including vent management
• excellent Pulmonology/Intensivist support
• excellent subspecialist support
• No J-1/H1B candidates

Part-time and Per Diem candidates will be considered.

Visit our website at www.midcoasthealth.com.

For more information or to submit CV, contact Melanie Crowe, Physician Recruiter: mcrowe@midcoasthealth.com, Phone 207-406-7872. 

2/1/16

INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIST - Brunswick, Maine

Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick has an exceptional opportunity for a BC/BE Adult Psychiatrist. The position is primarily providing inpatient care within a 13-bed acute-care behavioral health unit and consults throughout the hospital, with some coverage in the outpatient setting. ECT and X-waiver certification (or a willingness to obtain upon hire) is required. Weekend call and rounding is 2 weekends per quarter, and weeknight call is 1:9.

Mid Coast Hospital is a Joint Commission accredited 93-bed community hospital. The state of the art Emergency department includes two specially designed behavioral treatment rooms, and a Behavioral Health Observation Unit to accommodate the behavioral health patients who experience longer stay in the E.D.

Mid Coast offers competitive benefits and compensation package.  New graduates and experienced candidates will be considered.

For more information or to submit CV, contact Melanie Crowe, Physician Recruiter: mcrowe@midcoasthealth.com, Phone 207-406-7872. 

2/1/16

OUTPATIENT INTERNAL MEDICINE - Mid Coast Maine

Mid Coast Medical Group, a division of Mid Coast-Parkview Health, is seeking a BC/BE Outpatient Internist. Admitting is through a high-quality Hospitalist service.

The Coastal location, historic neighborhoods, superior schools, and Bowdoin College campus make this part of Maine a very desirable place to live. 

Mid Coast offers a competitive salary and great benefits, all in an employee-centered environment.  The growing mid coast region offers all of the amenities of a large city in a rural setting.  Here’s your opportunity to come join our team. 

Visit our website at www.midcoasthealth.com.

For more information or to submit CV, contact Melanie Crowe, Physician Recruiter: mcrowe@midcoasthealth.com, Phone 207-406-7872. 

2/1/16

E.M. BC/BP Physicians

St. Joseph Hospital is recruiting E.M. BC/BP physicians for its dedicated group.  Collegial, nurturing workplace with latest technology and just-completed expansion.  Members support each other and know patient satisfaction is achieved through staff satisfaction.  Leadership development and participation in policies and direction available. 

Equitable scheduling based on 1440-1472 clinical hours per year; more flexible arrangements available. 

Staffing: 51 hours per day, mostly physicians, for 27,000 visits.  We have great E.D. nurses.   

Area offers many cultural attractions, including the University of Maine, natural and organic food producers, pleasant pace, low crime, friendly people, great public schools and affordable housing.  Acadia National Park, Baxter, scenic towns and harbors, Sugarloaf,  I-95 and Bangor International Airport are right here or close.

Highly competitive package includes relocation, signing bonus, loan repayment, retirement and protected vacation and CME time with allowance.

Contact: Charles F. Pattavina, MD, F.A.C.E.P., Chief, Emergency Medicine at 207.907.3350  or cpattavina@sjhhealth.com

7/18/16

Family Medicine Physician

Growing Direct Primary Care practice in Rockport, Maine is looking for the right family medicine physician to join our practice. 

Includes pediatric and adult outpatient care without OB, but skills that add value for patients are highly desired, such as: Office orthopedics, procedures, occupational medicine, DOT & USCG exams, ultrasound and buprenorphine waiver, etc.

Emergency room or hospitalist credentials may be helpful during the start up phase. 

For more information, please email Practice Manager, Jennifer Overlock, at answers@megunticookfamilymedicine, or call 207-390-8570.

2/1/16

Full Circle Family Medicine Seeks Family Practitioner

An opportunity awaits you in the heart of Mid-Coast Maine - you are able to live, play and work in one of Maine’s beautiful coastal villages.  Our medical practice is in Damariscotta, just an hour northeast of Portland, Maine’s largest city, and three hours from Boston.

Full Circle Family Medicine, is in search of a Family Practitioner wanting to join our NCQA recognized Patient Centered Medical Home practice.  We are proud to be a physician owned, independent practice which includes three MDs and three PA’s.

Job Details and Requirements:

• Flexible work schedule
• Provide a full range of care including: newborn and pediatric care, adult medicine, gynecology, geriatric and nursing home care
• Telephone Call Coverage
• Electronic Medical Records

Benefits of practicing at Full Circle Family Medicine include:

• Competitive salary
• Generous earned time program
• Health Benefits
• CME allowance
• Retirement plan with employer match
• Malpractice Coverage

For more information contact Wendy Williams, Practice Manager at wwilliams@fullcirclefamilymedicine.com or (207) 563-6623 option 7. 

1/18/16

Family Medicine/ Outpatient Internal Medicine Physician

As a result of our continuous growth, Katahdin Valley Health Center is recruiting a Family Medicine/ Outpatient Internal Medicine Physician that is committed to providing quality health care services to the people in Brownville/Millinocket Maine.   Join our practice in a newly renovated facility.  KVHC is a fully electronic medical record site and offers a four day work week with a competitive salary and benefit package which includes: a 10% of first year salary sign on bonus, generous amounts of paid time off and $2500 annually toward CME. Physicians who join KVHC are eligible to apply for NHSC Loan Repayment.  

To learn more about KVHC and Practitioner Opportunities, please contact Michelle LeFay at mlefay@kvhc.org or visit our website at www.kvhc.org.  KVHC is an equal opportunity employer.

2/22/16

Family Practice Physician – Bucksport Regional Health Center                                                                

The Bucksport Regional Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, has a unique opportunity for an experienced Family Practice Physician to work at a small, independent, community-based primary care facility that offers great quality indicators, a team atmosphere, and excellent working conditions.  Responsibilities will include the diagnosis, treatment, coordination of care, preventive care and provision of health maintenance services to patients of all life cycles. 

Candidates must have graduated from an accredited medical school and completed a residency in Family Practice or Med/Peds, have a current State of Maine Medical License and D.E.A Certificate, and at least five years of experience in the practice of family or internal medicine. The successful candidate will be offered a generous compensation package, including a competitive salary and excellent benefits. 

The Bucksport Regional Health Center has been offering easy access to quality, affordable care for persons of all ages since 1974.  Interested applicants should apply with a resume and cover letter to Carol Carew, Executive Director, 110 Broadway, Bucksport, ME 04416 or via email at ccarew@brhc.info (or call 207-469-7371).

2/1/16

FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN Sought In Oakland Maine!

Inland Hospital Family Practice is seeking a full time Family Medicine Physician without OB to join the employed practice in Oakland.

The practice has been serving the greater Waterville/Oakland area for many years. The practice provides care for infants, pediatrics through geriatric care. A competitive salary with incentives, plus full benefits is offered along with assistance with medical education debt, paid time off, paid CME, and relocation allowance. Qualifications: Board Certified/Eligible in Family Practice. This site is not eligible to sponsor a J-1 waiver.

Inland Hospital is a dynamic healthcare organization that believes in putting the patient first in every way. We are a 48-bed community hospital in Waterville; Lakewood, a 105-bed continuing care center on the hospital campus; 18 primary and specialty care physician offices in Waterville and five surrounding communities. Inland has been a proud member of EMHS since 1998. Inland patients have seamless access to a higher level of care when needed.

For further information, please contact:

Sherry Tardy, Director Business Development/Provider Recruitment, Inland Hospital by email at: stardy@emh.org or by phone at: 207-487-4085.

1/25/16

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Upcoming Events: MEMGMA Payer Seminar is Tomorrow!

Maine Medical Group Management Association (MeMGMA) Payer Seminar

January 26, 2016

Following on its event in Portland, the Maine chapter of the MGMA will present its Third-party Payer Seminar at the Fireside Inn in Waterville on January 26th (with a January 27th snow date).  Participating payers include Aetna, Anthem, Community Health Options, Harvard Pilgrim, Humana, MaineCare, Martin's Point and NGS Medicare. Breakfast and lunch will be included.

More information can be found at: http://www.memgma.com/event/758/ .

MCMI Training Programs – Level 1 and Level 2

General Information for 2016

When and where held:

              March 11, 2016 in Bangor at St. Joseph’s Hospital  

              April 8, 2016 in Presque Isle at UMPI                   

              June 10, 2016 in Waterville at Colby College

              October 25, 2016 in Portland in conjunction with the Maine Brain Injury Conference

                                (Registration and fees will be through the Maine Brain Injury Conference for October 25)

                 March and April programs will be morning only with Level 1 and Level 2 at the same time.

               June and October programs will be Level 1 in the morning and Level 2 in the afternoon.

Training Programs:

              Level 1 – An Introduction to Concussions and Concussion Management

                            Speaker: Deb Nichols, CPNP or Peter Sedgwick, MD or Bill Heinz, MD

                           Level of Difficulty: beginner

                           Content: The Diagnostic and Return to Play Dilemma

                                           How Concussion Occurs and Pathophysiology            

                                           Concussion Signs and Symptoms

                                           Concussion Evaluation Tools

                                           Concussion Treatment

                                           Recovery Epidemiology

                                           Return to Function – Academics and Play

                                           Risk Factors and Protective Equipment

                                           Short and Long Term Sequelae

                                           Neurocognitive Testing

                                           Concussion Sideline Assessment

                                           Key Points

              Level 2 – Advanced Concussion Management (Level 1 is a prerequisite for taking Level 2)

                           Speaker: Mike Rizzo, FNP-C, CIC or Paul Berkner, DO

                           Level of Difficulty: intermediate

                           Content: Updates from Zurich 2012       

                                           Using ImPACT Testing in Concussion Management

                                           Interpreting ImPACT Test Results

                                           Concussion Case Reviews

Schedule:

              March and April – Level 1 and Level 2 (Offered at same time)

                           8:00am – 8:15am           Registration

                           8:15am – noon               Training Program

              June – Level 1:

                           7:45am – 8:00am           Registration

                           8:00am – noon               Training Program

                           Level 2:

                           12:15pm-12:30pm          Registration

                           12:30pm – 4:30pm         Training Program

Registration Fee:           

              For morning only training programs: March 11 and April 8

              $100 for Health Care Professionals (MD, DO, NP, PA, Neuropsychologist, AT, RN, PT, OT, SLP)

              $40 for school personnel and all other attendees

                           (School nurses, coaches, school athletic directors, administrators, parents, etc.)

              $20 for students – currently enrolled in a college program

              For morning and afternoon training program: June 10

              $100 for Health Care Professionals (MD, DO, NP, PA, Neuropsychologist, AT, RN, PT, OT, SLP)

              $175 for Health Care Professionals taking Level 1 and Level 2 - Only June 10

              $40 for school personnel and all other attendees                                                                                                              (School nurses, coaches, athletic directors and administrators, etc.)

              $70 for school personnel taking Level 1 and Level 2 - Only June 10

              $20 for students currently enrolled in a college program            

              $35 for students taking Level 1 and Level 2- Only June 10

CME/CEU contact hours: 3.50

Registration Confirmation will be sent by email.

Refund / Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel contact Jan Salis, PT, ATC. You can choose to apply your registration fee to another training program or have your check returned.

For more information contact:

              Jan Salis, PT, ATC

              MCMI - Membership and Education Committee - Chair

              jsalis@aol.com

              (207) 577-2018

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