A bi-weekly newsletter from your physician organization to keep you informed of today's healthcare news

The Physician Alliance previously sent a survey seeking input from our private practice members on challenges facing your practice and potential services that might support business and clinical needs. Thank you to those who completed the survey! Several members were unable to take the survey in the open timeframe so we are opening the survey for another week.

WHY WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK:

For over a decade, The Physician Alliance (TPA) has been committed to supporting physicians and advocating for independent practice. As healthcare continues to evolve, TPA is exploring additional ways we can help practices remain strong, successful, and independent.

One opportunity we are evaluating is the creation of a physician-focused Management Services Organization (MSO). The purpose is to provide independent practices with services that can reduce the administrative burden, strengthen practice performance and improve our patients’ health.

Some service examples include:

• access to operational support
• technology
• revenue cycle expertise
• value-based care resources

To help determine needs and interest, we are seeking input from our private practice members. Your feedback is important as it will help us better understand the needs of independent practices and determine whether there is sufficient interest to move forward. Please complete the survey by Friday, July 17, 2026.

Providers should be aware Blue Cross is sending select Medicare Advantage patients with diabetes an in-home test kit. The Blues are working with LetsGetChecked, an independent company, to distribute these kits for convenient, no-cost testing of eGFR, uACR and/or Hemoglobin A1c.

Kidney Health Evaluation for Patients with Diabetes (KED) is a HEDIS^® measure that evaluates the percentage of diabetic patients who received both a serum estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and a urine albumin creatinine ratio (uACR) during the measurement year. Noncompliant members will receive a combination of eGFR, uACR and/or Hemoglobin A1c test kit based on the test they need.          

Members will be encouraged to discuss test results with their primary care providers.  

How test results will be distributed:

Medicare Plus Blue℠ or BCN Advantage℠ member:

• Normal: Mail
• Abnormal Results: Mail and phone call; Certified letter if unable to reach

Primary Care Provider will be notified of all results:

• Direct Trust electronic medical record messaging
• Fax (providers without a Direct Trust account)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) is offering live educational sessions focused on documentation and coding. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Visit BCBSM's provider training website to register for the free education sessions. Once logged into the site, look for Event Calendar to sign up for your desired session. Each program begins at 12pm EST and runs 30-45 minutes.

Upcoming sessions:

July 15: Annual Medicare Wellness Visits Q&A Forum

Aug. 12: Diabetes coding changes

Sept. 16: Oncology coding and documentation

Oct. 14: ICD-10-CM Updates

Nov. 18: OBGYN tips for coding

Dec. 9: CPT updates for 2027

Please direct questions or problems to BCBSM provider training team at ProviderTraining@bcbsm.com.

Michigan is one of several states experiencing an unusually rapid rate of reported cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite. 

The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) is alerting healthcare providers and residents to this because the state typically only identifies around 50 cyclosporiasis cases per year. In Michigan, the number of reported cases has risen to over 700 as of July 9, up from 170 on Tuesday, June 30. Cases remain the highest in Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson, Oakland and Livingston counties. No source has yet been identified.

MDHHS encourages individuals experiencing sudden gastrointestinal illness to be evaluated by a health care provider as symptoms of cyclosporiasis can be significantly improved with antibiotic treatment. If untreated, the illness may last for a few days to a month or longer. Providers are urged to consider cyclosporiasis among patients presenting with acute gastrointestinal illness in southeast Michigan. 

The specialties losing private practices fastest, Becker's Physician Leadership

Is ignoring a child’s doctor ‘neglect’? Michigan bill would allow an exception, Bridge Michigan

New Student Loan Rules May Limit New Clinical Providers, Kaiser Health News

Cancer centers ration chemo amid new shortages, Axios

Medicare rolls out $50 GLP-1 drugs. ‘Pandemonium’ ahead for Michigan doctors?, Bridge Michigan

Hospitals face rise in swatting calls, Clinical Leadership