The US CDC this week updated pandemic guidance for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant.

• Fully vaccinated people should wear masks in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.

• Fully vaccinated people should get tested after exposure even if asymptomatic

"Our updated guidance recommends vaccinated people get tested upon exposure regardless of symptoms," Rochelle Walensky, MD, director of the CDC, wrote in an email to The New York Times. "Testing is widely available." Read More

Annual Membership Meeting

Registration Open for MMA’s 168th Annual Membership Meeting (Sep 10-12)

When the COVID-19 pandemic stalled travel and eliminated in person meetings, MMA leaders quickly adjusted and took the 2020 meeting online. The 2020 MMA Virtual General Membership Meeting took place in mid-October.

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COVID-19 Pandemic Updates, Guidance & News

Resources & News: COVID Vaccination Mandates Dominate Recent Pandemic Discussion

• AMA In Support of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Health Care Workers

• President Announces Federal Workers Will Be Forced to Show Proof of Vaccination or Face Regular Testing

• How to Develop a Covid-19 Employee Vaccination Policy

• Federal Law Does Not Prohibit Mandating COVID Vaccines Under Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA

• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Allows Private Employers to Require Employees to be Vaccinated with Exceptions Being Granted for Religious and Medical Reasons.

• Individually Addressed Email Reminders May Be Effective in Reducing Health Care Worker Vaccine Hesitancy

“The delta variant of the coronavirus appears to cause more severe illness than earlier variants and spreads as easily as chickenpox, according to an internal federal health document that argues officials must ‘acknowledge the war has changed.’”

The information is part of a Washington Post article posted online (subscription service), Thursday evening, July 29, and comes from an internal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention slide presentation, shared within the CDC and obtained by The Washington Post. Read More


NEW US CDC Morbidity & Mortality Report: Breakthrough Infection Outbreaks in Massachusetts

• The MMWR studies an outbreak of the Delta variant in Provincetown, Massachusetts

• Three-fourths of people infected had been vaccinated.

• Those who had been vaccinated had similar levels of virus in their noses as the unvaccinated did.

The Federation of State Medical Boards’ Board of Directors released a statement this week in response to a dramatic increase in the dissemination of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and disinformation by physicians and other health care professionals on social media platforms, online and in the media. Read More


FDA Authorizes Baricitinib Alone as Treatment For COVID-19

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration revised the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for baricitinib (sold under the brand name Olumiant) now authorizing baricitinib alone for the treatment of  COVID-19 in hospitalized adults and pediatric patients two years of age or older requiring supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Under the revised EUA, baricitinib is no longer required to be administered with remdesivir (Veklury). Baricitinib is not FDA-approved as a treatment for COVID-19. Read More


Maine.gov Media Release: Maine DHHS and DOE Promote COVID-19 Vaccination in Maine Schools

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in partnership with the Maine Department of Education (DOE) announced a comprehensive plan to support vaccination of school staff and students against COVID-19. This plan complements the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s new recommendation on universal masking in schools by helping students and staff safely gather in person and in classrooms amidst the nationwide surge of the Delta variant. Read More

Regulations & Rule-making

Comments Due, Friday, August 5; Immunization Requirements for Maine School Children

AMA Resources & Updates

AMA News: Why VA’s Move to Nationalize Standards of Practice Is Misguided

The Maine Medical Association joined the AMA and 102 other physician organizations in objecting to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supremacy Project, which involves developing national standards of practice for 48 categories of health professionals that would override long-established state laws governing scope of practice and health-professional licensure. Read More


AMA: What Doctors Wish Patients Knew Series

When it comes to effective doctor-patient communication, it's important that both parties are speaking from a base of shared knowledge. The American Medical Association provides a space where physicians share what they want patients to understand about today's health care headlines.

• What doctors wish patients knew about the dangerous Delta variant

• What doctors wish patients knew about summer skin safety

• What doctors wish patients knew about healthy eating

• What doctors wish parents knew about keeping unvaccinated kids safe

• What doctors wish patients knew about post-COVID anxiety

• What doctors wish patients knew about home BP measurement

The Maine Vaccine Board voted to include two new vaccine products to the approved list of

available vaccines supplied through the Maine Immunization Program (MIP).

The newly approved vaccines are:

• The meningococcal quadrivalent conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) vaccine formulation, MenQuadfi™ (Sanofi).

• VAXELIS™ (Sanofi and Merck), the new hexavalent vaccine indicated for protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)

Beginning Tuesday, August 3, the Maine Immunization Program will be hosting twice weekly trainings for all VFC provider sites. These trainings will serve as a refresher of VFC requirements and will continue each Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the months of August and September. Maine CDC will re-evaluate the need to continue trainings for October at the end of September.

All provider staff are welcome and encouraged to join. Read More

MaineCare

MaineCare: Weekly News and Updates

• Primary Care Provider Incentive Payment (PCPIP)    

• Kepro Address Change on August 1st, 2021

• Attention Providers of Children’s Services: Pediatric Codes Document

• Safety of Second Dose mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines After First-Dose Allergic Reactions Research Letter

• Changes in Disparities in Access to Care, Health After Medicare Eligibility Study

• Self-reported Memory Problems After COVID-19 Research Letter  

• Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Hospital Health Care Workers Study  

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ SUPPORT for ME initiative, in collaboration with the University of Southern Maine, is hosting virtual group discussions for Maine providers who deliver services to people with substance use disorder (SUD).

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SUPPORT for ME: Strengthening Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Services for MaineCare Members

SUPPORT for ME is a statewide effort to improve SUD treatment and recovery services for all Mainers.

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Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership’s Renowned Physician Executive Leadership Institute – The Advanced Course

Enrollment is now open! ONLY A DOZEN SPOTS LEFT for Cohort VII Commencing September 2021. Enroll today and strengthen and extend your leadership skills by learning about the key intersections in the science of management and the business of medicine.

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Maine Community Action Partnership: Did You Know?

Did you know that almost half of parents surveyed say they are more concerned about the COVID-19 vaccine than they are of the vaccine itself?  That’s an alarming statistic, but a full 71% of all parents said they would be more likely to get their child vaccinated if in-person school could be “normal”.

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MMA Mary Cushman, MD Award for Humanitarian Service - 7/30 Nomination Deadline

Nominations for the 2021 award are due by next Friday, July 30, 2021.

The Mary Cushman, MD Award is presented each year by the Maine Medical Association to recognize the humanitarian service of medical volunteers who serve in Maine, the US or abroad. 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Upcoming Specialty Society Meetings

Below you will find an on-going list of Upcoming Specialty Society Meetings. Any questions should be referred to the contact person listed for each specialty.

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AAP EQIPP Course: Immunizations - Strategies for Success (for RURAL Health Providers)

The recently revised EQIPP immunization course is designed to identify immunization rates in your practice, uncover barriers to immunization delivery systems, and provide techniques to overcome those barriers using clear aims that reflect expert principles and proven quality improvement methods and tools.

The Maine Medical Association- Center for Quality Improvement, in partnership with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, launched the SUPPORT for ME Training and Technical Assistance initiative.

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Working with Children & Adolescents? Maine Pediatric & Behavioral Health Partnership (MPBHP) Webinar Series (August thru December 2nd Wednesday of month)

The Maine Pediatric & Behavioral Health Partnership (MPBHP) is a partnership between Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Northern Light Acadia Hospital, and MaineHealth. MPBHP is offering a webinar series for medical providers who work with children and adolescents and you will earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit.

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HEALTHCARE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Physician (BC/BE in Family Medicine) - Richmond Area Health Center

Richmond Area Health Center seeks a Physician (BC/BE in Family Medicine) with outstanding clinical and interpersonal skills. In addition, an X waver is desirable.
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Help educate new physicians – join our accredited Family Medicine Residency Program as faculty

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center's Family Medicine Residency program is seeking a BC, full-spectrum Family Medicine provider to join our dynamic faculty in Bangor, Maine. 
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Join our region-leading Neuroscience/Stroke Center

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Neuroscience Center in the vibrant small city of Bangor, Maine seeks to expand its Neurology Department.  Read More


Contract Clinical Advisor - Healthcare Coalition of Maine

We are searching for a detail oriented, highly skilled and motivated Contract - Clinical Advisor (clinically active physician, advanced practice provider, or registered nurse) to provide clinical leadership to the Healthcare Coalition of Maine and serve as a liaison between the Coalition and medical directors/medical leadership at health care facilities, supporting entities, and EMS agencies!