David Best, DO, named president of Michigan Osteopathic Association
Okemos—The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) announced on May 22, 2021, that David K. Best, DO, will serve as the organization’s president for a one-year term. Dr. Best will serve as the 122nd president of the association after serving several years as a Board of Trustee.
“Dr. Best is well-positioned to serve as the MOA’s president during this pivotal time. He is committed to his peers, his field and his community, and his forward-thinking approach to leadership will help Michigan’s osteopaths adapt to the changing landscape of healthcare. Dr. Best understands the needs of physicians and their patients and will help shape the way in which our organization evolves to meet the needs of those we serve,” said Kris Nicholoff, Executive Director of the Michigan Osteopathic Association.
Dr. Best has practiced medicine since 2002, specializing in primary care and addiction medicine, and has served on the Michigan Osteopathic Association’s Board of Trustees since 2014. In addition, he served on the board of the Michigan Osteopathic Family Physicians for eight years. He has spent the majority of his career in Northern Michigan, most recently serving as a hospice physician at Heartland Hospice and running Best Medical Services, PLLC in Traverse City. He holds a D.O. from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, an M.S. in Medical Sciences from Wayne State University, and a B.A. in Chemistry from Kalamazoo college.
“I am honored to serve the Michigan Osteopathic Association as its president and look forward to meeting the unique challenges we face in 2021. One of the casualties of the pandemic was the drop in scheduled visits and exams and getting our patients back on track is among our highest priorities. Vaccinations, testing, elective surgeries and preventative medicine must resume, and it is our mission as physicians to lead these efforts and provide quality healthcare to our patients. I am eager to help find innovative ways for osteopathic physicians to meet these needs as our state recovers from unprecedented economic and health crises,” Dr. Best said.
Dr. Best was sworn in by the previous president, Jeff Postlewaite, DO, at the Michigan Osteopathic Association’s annual House of Delegates, held virtually on May 22.
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House of Delegates Resolutions
The House of Delegates resolutions were posted on the AOA’s website this past Friday, June 25. The AOA Board of Trustees has reviewed and provided their position on each resolution. You can find these materials on the website here.
Note that you will need to login to the website to access this information. If you need assistance with your login, please contact Jenny Hull ( email link).
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From the American Osteopathic Association
Call for nominations for the AOA’s inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Unification award
The AOA is now accepting nominations for its inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Unification award.
This award will be presented to one individual and one organization that has proven exemplary leadership and commitment to promoting and advancing DEI initiatives in the osteopathic community.
How to nominate
Nominations may be submitted on the candidate’s behalf with their permission and must include the following:
- Curriculum vitae or resume.
- Description of how the candidate or organization has advanced DEI initiatives in the osteopathic community, which could include but is not limited to:
- Raising awareness about the challenges and opportunities related to DEI in the osteopathic profession.
- Working to increase opportunities for demographical groups historically underrepresented in osteopathic medicine.
- Developing DEI programs, resources and tools for an organization or the profession.
- Advocating for underrepresented minorities in osteopathic medicine.
- Letter of recommendation.
Eligibility requirements
Candidates will fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a contributing member to the osteopathic community with significant and demonstrable contributions to the DEI field.
- Be an AOA member in good standing.
Nominations should be submitted by Friday, July 9, 2021. Winners will be notified in August and recognized in October during OMED 2021.
Submit a nomination here.
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Revenue Recovery made easy - It's your money
MCAG is a revenue recovery consulting firm where teams of advisers, auditors, analysts and IT professionals provide expertise, analysis and breakthrough technology to ensure its clients capture every recoverable dollar.
As a trusted adviser, MCAG shares its expertise and know-how of class action litigation claim recovery through a range of services tailored to meet its clients' revenue recovery needs.
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Lunch and learn webinars for physicians and coders focus on risk adjustment, coding
Blue Cross Blus Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) is offering lunch and learn webinars for physicians and coders focusing on risk adjustment, coding. Starting in April, BCBSM began offering webinars that provide updated information on risk adjustment documentation and coding of common challenging diagnoses.
All sessions start at 12:15 p.m. Eastern time and run for 15 to 30 minutes. They also provide physicians and coders with an opportunity to ask questions.
Click on a link below to sign up for a webinar.
Physician led
Coder led
Wednesday, Nov. 17: Coding scenarios for primary care and specialty Register here
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Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Implements Important New Health Insurance Consumer Protections
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is informing Michiganders of important new health insurance consumer protections now in place under bipartisan “surprise billing” legislation signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer last year.
“Unexpected medical bills can cause patients significant stress and confusion,” said DIFS Director Anita Fox. “These new consumer protections can help prevent this problem when a patient, unbeknownst to them, receives a portion of their care from a provider outside their insurer’s network, allowing patients to focus on their own health and recovery without worrying about surprises medical bills.”
“Surprise billing” occurs when a person receives health care in a facility or from a provider that is covered by the person’s health plan, but a portion of their care is rendered by an out-of-network provider. In some instances, the person receives an unexpected bill for these out-of-network services. For example, a person who undergoes surgery may receive a bill from an anesthesiologist who was out-of-network even though the surgeon and hospital were in-network with the person’s health plan. These “surprise” bills are often for significant amounts of money that exceed charges that would be covered in-network and can cause confusion for patients who had assumed their health plan would cover their medical care at agreed to in-network rates.
Bipartisan legislation, signed by Governor Whitmer in 2020, requires health care providers to inform consumers of the possibility of surprise billing using a disclosure form sent at least 14 days before a scheduled medical service. The form must explain that the consumer’s insurance company may not cover all services and that the patient would be personally responsible for any uncovered costs. As part of the notice, patients must also be given a good faith estimate of the total cost of the care they will receive, enabling them to budget for these expenses in advance or choose alternative care. The legislation applies to most health plans.
Consumers who do not receive the required disclosure form or who receive a surprise medical bill after receiving care should contact their health insurer, and if they cannot resolve the issue, contact DIFS Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 877-999-6442 or visit the DIFS website to file a complaint.
In addition to establishing disclosure requirements, the new law states that payment for out-of-network emergency services must be negotiated between the provider and the patient's insurance company, and not with the patient directly. Beginning July 1, 2021, certain payment disagreements between out-of-network providers and insurers can go to binding arbitration under the law.
DIFS is currently seeking applications from arbitrators to assist in resolving these disagreements. Information on this program, including the application form, is available on the DIFS website.
“It is important that consumers understand their rights under this new law,” said Fox. “DIFS is first and foremost a consumer protection agency and we are always here to help answer questions or concerns that consumers might have related to their insurance.”
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Electronic Health Records: Documentation Pitfalls
By Ginny Adams, RN, BSN, MPH, CPHRM and Jennifer Garcia, Esq.
The potential of the electronic health record (EHR) to improve patient care and safety was a major impetus in its adoption. However, studies on how EHRs impact the processes and outcomes of care have generated mixed results. While the EHR provides a platform for comprehensive management of medical information and secure exchange between practitioners and healthcare consumers, its theoretical safety and quality benefits are blunted by limitations in design, adoption, and use. (Continue to full article)
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MDHHS Health Alert for Providers:
Strategies to Increase Vaccination Opportunities and Minimize Vaccine Waste
Currently the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is looking at a surplus of Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, COVID-19 vaccine that was set to expire soon but was recently authorized an extension of the shelf life from three months to four and a half months by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This has granted providers with Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in their inventory with some extra time to use up those vaccine doses, however, even with this extended timeframe every effort should be made to use this vaccine as soon as possible. Michigan COVID-19 providers who have the Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, vaccine in their inventory should visit www.vaxcheck.jnj to confirm the latest expiration date for the vaccine and put plans in place to use this vaccine.
At this time, we estimate approximately 197,000 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are affected by the recent authorized extension. MDHHS continues to strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccination and we are asking all COVID-19 vaccine providers to act now and use all possible strategies in order to maximize vaccination opportunities and minimize wasted doses of vaccine.
Strategies to increase vaccination opportunities
MDHHS has directed all providers to follow a first-in, first-out process for vaccine inventory management to ensure vaccine doses with the soonest expiration dates are being used first. These strategies listed below can be applied to any COVID-19 vaccination outreach, but due to the recent authorized extension for the shelf life to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine these strategies will have that focus.
In addition to ongoing efforts to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine during all regular, routine vaccination clinics as well as mobile and mass vaccination events, providers are urged to continue outreach to identify additional community partnerships to encourage vaccination:
- Hospital providers can offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to patients upon inpatient or emergency room discharge.
- Partner with Urgent Care and Fast Care centers to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to patients during their medical visit. Offering Johnson & Johnson to these patients will eliminate the barrier of scheduling them for second doses.
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Partner with local aging agencies, home-delivered meal providers, developmental disabilities boards or Medicaid waiver programs to identify and offer vaccinations for homebound individuals and their caregivers and families.
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Partner with local nursing homes and assisted living facilities as part of ongoing COVID-19 vaccine maintenance programs to determine if there are any opportunities to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to new and/or unvaccinated staff members or residents.
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Identify partnership opportunities with employers, libraries, and community and faith-based organizations for special vaccination clinics at those locations. We may have new opportunities to form partnerships to offer vaccinations.
- Identify mobile vaccination opportunities through partnerships at community events, including festivals, fairs, food truck events, and farmers markets, for example, or at popular entertainment destinations such as zoos or ballparks.
- Offer vaccination opportunities for shelters (homeless) or local jails and other correctional/detention facilities. The spread of COVID-19 remains a significant, ongoing concern in congregate settings. The short duration of stays at these facilities can make vaccination a challenge with two-dose products. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can offer full protection with one dose.
- Partner with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Clinics to determine if there are any opportunities to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
- Reach out to the Migrant population as there still may be many individuals who need COVID-19 vaccination and Johnson & Johnson one dose COVID-19 vaccine can offer protection to this transient population.
As vaccination opportunities arise it is important to remember that the single-dose vaccine can provide convenience for patients who traveled long distance, will return to a congregate setting, or are impacted by social determinants of health that may pose barriers to receiving a second dose such as lack of transportation, nonflexible work schedules, primary language spoken, and other factors.
If you are a provider and seeking Johnson & Johnson vaccine or any COVID-19 vaccine to administer, MDHHS can assist. For any questions regarding enrolling in the COVID Vaccine Program please email your question to:
Talking points for COVID-19 vaccination
Ongoing education about the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and all COVID-19 vaccines is crucial to the success of these efforts. We ask providers to answer patient and public questions specific to each vaccine to help build vaccine confidence, share the benefits of vaccination, and help dispel vaccine myths that are rampant. Below are some suggested talking points and messages to share:
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More than 4.8 million Michiganders aged 16 years and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
- The risk of going unvaccinated impacts not only those who choose not to be vaccinated, but to those around them. Lower vaccination rates put children under 12, who don’t yet have a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for their age group, at risk, as well as the small percentage of Michiganders who cannot be vaccinated, or those with certain immune disorders. The bottom line is that the more Michiganders who are vaccinated, the more we can protect ourselves, and one another.
- All the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use have been proven to be highly effective at preventing severe disease and against known variants.
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The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single-dose vaccine authorized for individuals ages 18 and older. Because the vaccine is available in one dose, you will be fully immunized just two weeks after receiving the vaccine. This means you can safely and quickly resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
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MDHHS COVID-19 Vaccine information
This webpage will have valuable information to support COVID-19 Vaccine Providers in the successful implementation of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program. It will also be home to a live MDHHS COVID-19 Provider Toolkit. This toolkit is currently being worked on and as soon as it becomes available, we will get a message out. This webpage will be partnered with CDC to provide important and timely education as it is arriving.
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June is National Cancer Survivor Month. This month and year-round, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute celebrates all of the incredible and brave cancer survivors. |
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Strategic Partner Career Opportunity Spotlight:
McLaren Health
Team McLaren
Headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, McLaren Health Care is a fully integrated health network committed to quality, evidence-based patient care with locations in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
MD/DO Physician positions in:
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Coalition Newsletter
JUNE 21— Beginning June 22, capacity in both indoor and outdoor settings increased to 100% and the state will no longer require residents to wear a face mask.
Nearly five million Michiganders ages 16 and older have received their first vaccine dose, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. According to data from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry, half of Michigan residents have completed their vaccination and over 60% have gotten their first shots.
Case rates, percent positivity and hospitalizations have all plummeted over the past several weeks. Currently, Michigan is experiencing 24.3 cases per million and has recorded a 1.9% positivity rate over the last seven days.
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The MOA has developed an online Learning Center to deliver CME in a virtual format. Our Spring and Autumn sessions as live events were a tremendous success with over 900 attendees. These sessions can still be accessed, along with other CME sessions, all qualifying for AOA Category 1-A CME credits.
These sessions can be accessed at any time by clicking the link below. Evaluations are within the system and can be taken after you have viewed the program.
Coming CME Opportunities
October 29-31, 2021
On Demand CME programs
Single session CME Credits
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Michigan Osteopathic Physicians CME Information
As a courtesy to MOA Members, this is a reminder that all Michigan licensed Osteopathic Physicians must complete 150 hours CME during the 3 years immediately preceding the application for renewal. Of the 150 hours, at least 60 hours must be earned in Category 1 programs.
To better serve our members, the MOA has developed an online CME platform to help you meet MI LARA CME requirements. For a current listing of MOA Learning Center On-Demand CME programs offered to members at a discounted rate, visit www.domoa.org/meded
Continuing Medical Education Requirements for Michigan Osteopathic Physicians
Requirements for Renewal
150 hours of CME per 3‐year cycle
60 hours must be Category 1
- 40 hours must be AOA Category 1-A
- 20 hours either AOA Category 1-A or AMA PRA Category 1
90 hours either Category 1 or Category 2
Osteopathic physicians must also meet the following requirements,
- 3 hours pain and symptom management education (per 3-year cycle) R 338.141
- Training on human trafficking (one-time requirement) R 338.120
- Training in opioids and controlled substances for all prescribers or dispensers of controlled substances (one-time requirement) R 338.3135
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May 19, 2021, saw the passing of John Bodell, DO
April 15, 2021, saw the passing of Bruno Borin, DO
January, 26, 2021, saw the passing of William Stettler, DO
January 16, 2021, saw the passing of Steven Schlabach, DO
December 14, 2020, saw the passing of Lewin Wyatt, DO
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