On Monday, the FDA fully approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for persons 16 years of age and older after an approximately three-month review of the applications for approval. Pfizer shots will still be dispensed to 12- to 15-year-olds on an emergency basis. Read More

COVID-19 & Pregnancy

New JAMA Studies Respectively Show Higher Maternal Risks for Mortality and Ventilation For Birthing Mothers And Vaccine Antibodies In Breast Milk

According to the CDC, pregnant and recently pregnant women are at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 than nonpregnant women. NBC News reported this week that physicians nationwide in Covid ICUs have seen a surge in critically ill pregnant women. Additionally, pregnant women with COVID-19 are at a higher risk for preterm birth and might have a higher risk for other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Earlier this month the US CDC, using the latest data, released a statement that COVID-19 vaccination is safe for pregnant women. Read More


Women’s Health Experts to Participate in Community Forum and Discuss the Latest COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations

Spread the word and join the upcoming community forum featuring Maine experts on women’s health, pregnancy and early childhood education as they discuss the latest COVID-19 vaccination recommendations. Speakers will share their perspectives on the role COVID-19 vaccines play in keeping pregnant women and young children as safe as possible, and answer audience questions. Read More


More SARS-CoV-2 News, Updates, & Guidance

·       COVID-19 anxiety in U.S. at highest level since winter, poll shows

·       COVID has sent more than 90,000 students to quarantine already

·       Maine Health Care Worker COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs 

·       Delta infection: Unvaccinated and vaccinated people have similar levels of virus

·       Booster shots may start earlier than expected

·       Notice: Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Expiration Extension

·       Moderna Expiration Guidance

·       FDA warns against using ivermectin to treat COVID-19

·       Resumption in Use and Distribution of Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab in Certain States

·       Vaccinations Against COVID-19 May Have Averted Up To 140,000 Deaths In The United States

·       Unvaccinated COVID-19 hospitalizations cost billions of dollars Read More

Update: Annual Membership Meeting

Please Join Us Virtually If You Can

With the ever-changing reality of the current COVID-19 landscape and the addition of the Delta variant, the MMA Executive Board recently made the decision to present its 168th Annual Session in a hybrid model to also allow a fully virtual attendee experience for members.

If you haven’t yet decided to sign up for virtual attendance, please do so. The Maine Medical Association Annual Session helps foster a dialog about the unique opportunities and challenges facing physicians and patients in Maine, and nationwide. It also brings us together for one of the few times that can fit into your busy schedules. Read More

Immunizations

Immunization Law Change: Preparing Students for 2021-2022 School Year

We want you remind members that as of September 1, 2021, changes to Maine’s immunization law take effect for school-aged children. 

Read More


2021-2022 Provider Seasonal Influenza Ordering Procedure in Maine

The Maine Immunization Program (MIP) is pleased to announce that influenza vaccines will be available for VFC enrolled providers to order through ImmPact on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Download this document on how to order the vaccine.

MIP will also be hosting a 2021-2022 influenza season call on September 1, 2021 from 12:00 – 12:30 PM. Read More


Maine CDC Vaccine Provider Training

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


ACIP General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization Updates - 8/17/2021

Revisions have been made to the ACIP General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization.

To see the revisions, please go to ACIP List of Errata/Updates for Guidelines for Immunization | CDC Read More

Substance Use Disorder

Benzodiazepine-Involved Overdoses Increasing, Researchers Say

MedPage Today reports that even though “absolute numbers of fatal benzodiazepine-involved overdoses remained small (less than 3,000 in 2020)...the percentage increase from April to June 2019 to the same period in 2020 was not: 42.9%.” In addition, “total overdoses treated in emergency departments (EDs) with benzodiazepines detected also increased sharply.” Read More

MaineCare

MaineCare News, Updates, & Guidance

The following updates to MaineCare were received by MMA this week:

• Addition of New COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Product and Administration Codes to MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM), Chapters II and III, Sections 9, 31, 45, 90, and 103 Providers, CR 103435, 103801, & 103802

• Primary Care Plus Estimated Population-Based Payment Request Update  

• Primary Care Provider Incentive Payments (PCPIP) and Report Schedule 

• National Drug Code (NDC) Reminder

• Required on Claims: National Provider Identifier with Service Location Indicator (NPI+3)

• Tobacco Cessation Program Improvements: Prior Authorization (PA) No Longer Needed for MaineCare Members  

• MaineCare Covers Medications to Help You Quit Tobacco

• MaineCare and Cub Care for Kids

• Child Tax Credit

• Your MaineCare Card

The proposed rule includes payment rates for Medicare next year as well as several other policy proposals that could affect physicians.

Becker’s Hospital Review provided a short summary of five things to know about the new rule. Read More

AMA News

American Medical Association 2021 Interim Meeting Suspended

The following email was received at MMA on Friday, August 27, 2021:

AMA: 8 Keys To Succeeding As A Physician In Private Practice

In this article, the AMA states, “Private practice remains a vibrant choice of setting for doctors. Learn more on how you can flourish in it.” Read More

More News

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.

  Read More


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.

Read More


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”.

  Read More


MMA-CQI Has Launched a New Module: "Increasing HPV Vaccination Rates in Clinical Practice"

The goal of this online learning module is to provide an easily accessible, quality improvement resource for pediatricians, family clinicians, practice staff, and other quality improvement healthcare professionals to increase HPV vaccination rates in their clinical practice.

  Read More


Simplified Treatment of Hepatitis C in Primary Care Settings

Presented by the Maine Independent Clinical Information Service (MICIS) at your medical practice or hospital. Read More

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.

  Read More


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.

  Read More


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.

  Read More

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. 
Read More


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!