This is a reminder that a new law removing religious and philosophical exemptions for childhood immunizations to attend school in Maine is set to be implemented this school year, on September 1, 2021.

• Overview of the New Law
• Maine DHHS Memo: Preparing Students for the 2021-2022 School Year
  
• Vax To School Maine Resources
• ACIP & AAP Childhood Immunization Links and Resources
  

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

• US CDC: COVID Vax Doubled Protection for the Previously Infected

• AAP: Pediatric COVID-19 cases up 84%

• 'Never Seen Anything Like It': Delta Is Making A Growing Number Of Kids Very Sick

• Coronavirus Booster Shots for the Immunocompromised Expected To Be Authorized Soon

• Moderna Says Booster Likely Needed Before Winter

• Should You Recommend a COVID Booster to Patients?

• Half of total US population fully vaccinated; 65+ Percent of Mainers

• Poll Finds Most Unvaccinated Americans Believe Coronavirus Vaccine Poses Greater Health Risk Than the Disease

• Delta Variant Q&A with Associate Professor in Epidemiology at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

• Northern Light, MaineHealth, University of Maine Mandate Vaccinations

• Are Vaccine Mandates Legal? Maine Labor Attorney Says Yes

• National Mandate News:

• Houston-Area Hospitals Suspend Elective Surgeries as Delta Variant Rages, Hospitalizations Increase

• Florida Hospitals Suspending Elective Surgeries and Putting Beds In Conference Rooms, Auditorium and a Cafeteria

• Yelp Announced It Is Adding COVID-19 Guidelines to Its Business Listings

If you are a school nurse and interested in supplying COVID-19 vaccine to your students or are a provider interested in partnering with a local school to provide the COVID-19 vaccination, please join the Maine Immunization Program for a virtual meeting to discuss plans for the fall. Read More

Maine CDC Health Action Alerts

Maine CDC Investigates Four Recent Cases of Legionella in Bangor Area

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has confirmed four recent cases of Legionella in the Bangor area. Maine CDC is actively investigating whether the cases are coincidental or if there is a common exposure among them. All four individuals were hospitalized. Read More


Maine CDC Health Alert Network: Varicella (Chickenpox)

Maine CDC is seeing a rise in the number of reported cases of varicella (chickenpox). Varicella is a notifiable condition in Maine, and all confirmed or suspect cases of varicella should be reported to Maine CDC. Read More

Maine CDC Immunizations

Maine CDC Makes New Vaccine Products Available Through Maine Immunization Program (MIP)

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)

The Maine Immunization Program isbe 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

Independent Physician Practices

JAMA: The Increasing Role of Physician Practices as Bill Collectors—Destined for Failure

Through increasing deductibles, coinsurance, and co-payments, the privately insured population in the US is responsible for a larger share of health care out-of-pocket costs. Although many studies have examined the effects on patients, the implications for physicians have received less attention. The increase in cost sharing is forcing many physicians and health systems to take on the role of bill collectors. It is a task for which physician practices are unsuited. The result is a system with substantial administrative burden, frustrated patients struggling with confusing bills, and physicians receiving less compensation. Read More


AMA Drafts CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Summary

The American Medical Association (AMA) has drafted a summary of the CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 13, 2021. The proposed rule covers diverse topics, including the CY 2022 Rate Setting and Medicare Conversion Factor, Evaluation/Management (E/M) office visit services, telehealth and other services involving communications technology, and updates to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) through Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) activities, methodology, payment adjustments, and the Promoting Interoperability performance category, amongst other provisions. Read More

JAMA

This Week’s Top Articles from JAMA Network

• 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  

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

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

Nurse Practitioner

Nasson Health Care is seeking a qualified Nurse Practitioner to work collaboratively with a team of health and administrative professionals providing comprehensive primary care to patients while utilizing the Patient-Centered Medical Home model of care delivery.
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Physician

Nasson Health Care is seeking a qualified Physician to work collaboratively with a team of health professionals providing comprehensive primary care to patients while utilizing the Patient-Centered Medical Home model of care delivery.
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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!