• Register here for today's Maryland Department of Health all-physician call at 5:00 pm.

• We are hosting a CME program on COVID-19 and obesity on September 17.

• MedChi's Committee on Ethics & Judicial Affairs and the Center For a Healthy Maryland will present “Lessons Learned: Ethical Dilemmas Faced During The COVID-19 Pandemic” on Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 pm. If you would like to submit questions for the panel prior to the event, please send them to center@medchi.org. 

• The Physicians Foundation, a national, nonprofit advancing the work of practicing physicians to facilitate the delivery of high-quality health care to patients, is assessing physician well-being in the face of COVID-19. We strongly encourage you to complete this 3-minute survey to ensure that policymakers, legislators, the public, and the media hear the physician's voice in this challenging time.   

• Check out this week's MedChi News, our digital newsletter for MedChi members.

• Are you on social media? If so, we encourage you to join these campaigns:
• AMA #MaskUp campaign
• CDC #FightFlu campaign
• HHS #CatchUpGetAhead campaign

• The Maryland Department of Health has extended the time frame for requests by Medicaid providers to file appeals under COMAR 10.09.36.09 until 30 days after Maryland's COVID-19 state of emergency ends.

• HHS has issued a vaccination planning update for state and local public health programs.

• Our AMA is advocating for the FDA to ensure that physicians are included in the COVID-19 vaccination development and deployment process.

• We are aware of several services for physicians and other health care providers who would be interested in stress relief services during the time of the pandemic. The Physician Support Line was launched on March 30 to provide free counseling to doctors facing challenges during the pandemic. Its website describes it as a “national, free, and confidential support line service made up of 600+ volunteer psychiatrists, joined together in the determined hope to provide peer support for our physician colleagues as we all navigate the COVID-19 epidemic.” More information is available at the website. The support line can be reached at 1-888-409-0141. Physicians in Maryland are reminded that stress or other issues can also be addressed by appointment through the Maryland Physicians Health Program, 410-962-5580 or 800-992-7010.