In yet another must-pass budget deal, the Congress passed and President Trump signed a $1.3 trillion budget bill last Friday (March 23). The bill represented many compromises but both parties heralded the allocation of $4.6 billion this year to fight the opioid crisis which cost 42,000 individuals their lives in 2016 and likely a larger number in 2017.

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Proposed CMS Rule Would Allow Some States to Skirt Medicaid Network Adequacy Requirement

CMS has proposed a new rule to exempt states providing a majority of services through managed care plans.

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US Obesity Rate Grows to Nearly 40%

Data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) show a sharp increase in US obesity in the last decade.

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Open Payments Reminder: 45-day Review-and-Dispute Period Starts April 1

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is required to publicly report, on an annual basis, items of value that are given to physicians and teaching hospitals by drug and device companies. Before the public data release, physicians are given a brief window of time, which typically begins in early April, to review their data and dispute errors. Read More


House of Representatives Urged to Address Gun Violence

The AMA wrote a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on March 12, urging action on common-sense solutions to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in America. While supportive of plans to vote on the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 (H.R. 4909), which passed the House on March 14, the letter recommended a more comprehensive approach to this public health problem. Read More


New AMA Survey: Patient Clinical Outcomes Shortchanged by Prior Authorization

New collaborative opportunities underway to create positive change - see below. MMA is pursuing a bill, L.D. 1032, advocating the AMA standards for prior authorization in the current legislative session. You can help by contacting your own Senator and Representative and encouraging them to support the minority "ought to pass as amended" report of the Insurance & Financial Services Committee on L.D. 1032. You can find your legislators here. Look for more information in this newsletter when L.D. 1032 comes up for debate in the House and Senate.

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RWJ Foundation Releases County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Report

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has released its report on County Health Rankings for 2018.

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Maine Quality Counts Publishes new "Choosing Wisely" Toolkit for Employers

 Maine Quality Counts has put out a new toolkit to assist employees in navigating the healthcare system and choosing the care that is right, and most affordable, for them.

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Do you hold a DEA X-waiver to prescribe buprenorphine?

If the answer is ‘yes’, we’d like to hear from you.  Please take our 8-minute survey.

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128TH MAINE LEGISLATURE

Legislative Call This Tuesday, March 27th

The Maine Legislature has returned to Augusta. That means public hearings and work sessions have resumed, and it's time for our weekly Legislative Committee calls to continue. The next call will be Tuesday, March 27th, at 8 p.m.

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Legislative Report: Destigmatizing language changes, child services, and more

A brief summary of some of the hearings and work sessions that took place during the last week, and a look ahead.

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LEGISLATIVE ALERT: MMA Bill to Push Electronic Prior Authorization (ePA) Scheduled for Debate in the Maine Senate this Week

Now is the time to contact your Senator and Representative to urge them to vote in favor of the Minority "Ought to Pass as amended" report from the Insurance & Financial Services Committee on L.D. 1032, An Act to Ensure Protection and Health Insurance of Patients! Read More

UPCOMING EVENTS

Diabetes Alert Day - March 27: 3 Strategies that Change the Conversation You Have with Patients on Type 2 Diabetes Prevention

In the current medical system, managing and preventing chronic disease requires a strong partnership between patients and doctors. Consider the statistics around prediabetes: 84 million U.S. adults have prediabetes and 9 out of 10 don’t know it.

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QC2018: Building Communities of Practice through Innovation - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY, MARCH 27

Maine Quality Counts (QC) will host their annual conference at the Augusta Civic Center. QC has decided to host a half-day conference this year, focused on a select number of topical innovations that are of strategic importance to QC’s members, partners, and stakeholders. Read More


MMA and Jackson Laboratory Seeking Volunteers to Assist with 2018 Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative Forum - April 6-8

The Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative will hold its 2018 Forum April 6-8 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine.  MMA has been asked to help staff the Forum and is seeking 4 or 5 volunteers from the ranks of our retired members to assist with registration and hosting of the attendees. In exchange, the volunteers will receive housing and free registration to the conference. Read More


FREE 8-Hr. MAT Waiver Training Being Offered in Dover, NH - Friday, April 27th

Helping connect the dots to more effectively address opioid use disorders.

The New Hampshire Medical Society, NH Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and New England Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network are pleased to offer FREE 8-hour buprenorphine waiver training in Dover, NH on Friday, April 27th. Read More


Introduction to Lean in Healthcare Full-Day Workshop on Tuesday, May 8

Are you frustrated by poor communication and waste in your work processes? Lean has recently transformed the way many hospitals and health systems operate. This full-day workshop on May 8 in Augusta provides those who lead hospitals, health centers, practices, and related service industries with an introduction to Lean thinking and process improvement tools.

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One River, One Ocean: June 2-14, 2018

River Awareness fundraiser on the Androscoggin River.

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New Free CME on Alzheimer's Risk, Detection, and Management

Discussing memory concerns with your patients can be difficult. Alzheimer's and other dementias are complex, and patients often have many questions and concerns.

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Peer Navigation Program from Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE)

Free program for those affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. Read More


Online Learning Opportunities Offering CME Credits - from the Northern New England Practice Transformation Network

Take Advantage of Online Learning Opportunities Offering CME Credits - Available 24/7 now from the Northern New England Practice Transformation Network (NNE-PTN).

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HEALTHCARE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Medical Board Physician

Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS or Retirement System) seeks to engage an additional Psychiatrist for the Medical Board.  Read More


Outpatient Only - Internal Medicine with Loan Repayment & Sign-on Bonus

The Central Maine Medical Group seeks BE/BC Internal Medicine physician to join cohesive, well-established, hospital-employed practice in Lewiston, Maine.  Read More


Family Practice Physician - Bucksport Regional Health Center

Bucksport Regional Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) has a unique opportunity in our small independent, community-based primary care facility offering great quality indicators, team atmosphere and excellent working conditions. 
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Hospice Physician – Lewiston, ME

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice seeks a part time (20 – 24 hours per week)* physician for its growing hospice programs, including home, long term care and general inpatient facility. Read More


Internal Medicine Outpatient Physician

Maine Medical Partners Internal Medicine Westbrook is seeking a BC/BE Internal Medicine physician for their well-established outpatient practice located in the greater Portland, Maine area.  Read More


Operations Director

Health Access Network (HAN), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Lincoln, Maine, is seeking a dynamic leader to provide overall leadership and direction in planning and coordinating clinic operations for six sites.
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Outpatient Internal Medicine Physician – Bangor, Maine

Eastern Maine Medical Center seeks a primary care physician, board-certified/board-eligible in internal medicine, to join our well-established, quality-driven, outpatient practice. Husson Internal Medicine is one of seven primary care practices operated by Eastern Maine Medical Center. Read More


Relocate to Beautiful Southwestern Maine - Medical Director/Family Practice Physician

Sacopee Valley Health Center has a position available for a Medical Director/Family Practice Physician for our multi-service, progressive, rural federally qualified community health center located in a medically underserved area. Read More


Clinical Cardiology Opportunity

Maine Medical Partners MaineHealth Cardiology is seeking an invasive clinical cardiologist (non-interventional) for their practice located in their Augusta and Waterville, Maine locations Read More


Opportunities at the VA for Volunteer Physicians

Take advantage of this opportunity with the Veterans' Administration to thank our veterans in a concrete way for their service and their sacrifices. Read More