• The Maryland Department of Health will NOT hold an all-physician call today (Wednesday, June 17). Instead, a special webinar will be held tomorrow, Thursday, June 18 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm to discuss reopening primary care practices. MedChi is providing CME accreditation for this program. Topics will include in-office visit preparation, telehealth enhancement, resurgence preparedness, and more.

• MedChi President Michele Manahan, MD, will serve as a panelist on an AARP COVID-19 call this evening, Wednesday, June 17 at 6:45 pm. Register here or call 877-229-8493 and enter PIN 115393.

• Maryland MGMA will host "Preparing Your Practice for COVID-19's Second Wave" on Thursday, June 18 at 12:00 pm.

• MedChi and Merritt Hawkins will host "Emerging Physician Recruiting and Retention Paradigms During and Post-COVID-19" tomorrow, Thursday, June 18 at 5:00 pm. This program is accredited by MedChi for CME.

• CMS will host "Lessons from the Front Lines" on Friday, June 19, 12:30-2:00 pm.

• MDH is opening coronavirus testing at the Baltimore Convention Center today. There is no charge for testing. Appointments are encouraged.

• The FDA has revoked the emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.

• As of June 15, Maryland's positivity rate has dropped to 6.55% and ICU bed use has dropped below 300 for the first time in 10 weeks. This continues Maryland's downward trend in positivity rates and ICU use over the past several weeks.

• MDH has shared an updated overview of Medicaid telehealth flexibilities.

• HHS has shared a summary of CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Distributions.

• The Baltimore Sun shared our op-ed advocating for loan forgiveness for hospitals and physicians.

• The AMA and CDC are collaborating on an infection prevention and control training initiative for front line health care personnel. In order for this training to be as responsive to the needs of physicians as possible, we are asking you to complete this 10-minute survey on infection prevention and control training interests, needs, and preferences by June 23. Responses will be used to inform decisions on the development and delivery of training to ensure it best meets the needs of you and your colleagues.

• 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.

• MedChi has heard from several physician practices about business interruption insurance claim denials. We want to help these physicians and other health professionals. We hope to provide you with direct assistance, referrals, or other support. We can also develop a broad advocacy plan – but first, we need to learn more about who and how many physicians are impacted by these denials. If you have experienced a business interruption insurance claim denials, please email me to discuss.  

• Keep sending us your photos for our #MaskUpMonday social media campaign to encourage everyone to wear masks in public. Please send us a selfie or other photo of you, your family, and/or your colleagues wearing masks and tell us who you are "masking up" for (your patients, your family, an at-risk friend, etc). Let's share with the public why physicians encourage and participate in universal masking during this pandemic. Please send your photos to cjohannesen@medchi.org.