For more information on The Doctors Company, click here. | |
DEA Extends Pandemic Telehealth Rules for Prescribing Controlled Substances | |
The Biden administration on Friday extended flexibilities regarding controlled substances to be prescribed via telemedicine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said in a notice it would allow providers to continue using telemedicine to prescribe certain controlled substances through the end of 2024.
READ MORE
Source: The Hill
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Officials Defend Medicaid Redetermination Process at State Senate Committee Hearing | |
Amid heavy scrutiny, DCF, AHCA and Florida Healthy Kids officials updated the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee about the process for determining eligibility after the COVID pandemic and said they are trying to help children find other health insurance if they must leave the program.
READ MORE
Source: Health News Florida
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Pharmacist Shortages Challenge Drugstores | |
Drug and staffing shortages remain, and stores are dealing with a new COVID vaccine. Some retailers have addressed issues, but you can expert slower service and lines.
READ MORE
Source: Health News Florida
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Feds Hope to Cut Sepsis Deaths with Medicare Rule | |
A new rule sets specific treatment metrics for suspected sepsis cases in an effort to reduce deaths, but some experts say the measures could add to antibiotic overuse and need to be more flexible.
READ MORE
Source: Health News Florida
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Americans are Better Armed for Winter with New Vaccines | |
Last year’s “tripledemic” marked what may be a new normal: a confluence of respiratory infections. But the latest vaccines could save lives.
READ MORE
Source: Health News Florida
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Rare 'Flesh-Eating' Bacteria, No Stranger to Florida, Spread North as Oceans Warm | |
A rise in cases nationally and the spread to coastal communities in Connecticut, New York and North Carolina have heightened concern. Warmer waters from climate change, combined with a growing population of older adults, may result in infections doubling by 2060, according to a recent study.
READ MORE
Source: Health News Florida
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Younger Women are Getting Breast Cancer. An Oncologist Says Poor Nutrition Plays a Role. | |
A new study finds that from 2010-19 about 63% of cancer patients were women with early onset, and breast cancer was the most common diagnosis. No direct cause was offered, but the study did offer a possible explanation. "It has to do with your entire lifestyle," says Dr. Amber Orman at AdventHealth in Central Florida.
READ MORE
Source: Health News Florida
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Dengue Will 'Take Off' in Southern Europe, US, Africa This Decade, WHO Scientist Says | |
Dengue fever will become a major threat in the southern United States, southern Europe and new parts of Africa this decade, the WHO's chief scientist said, as warmer temperatures create the conditions for the mosquitoes carrying the infection to spread.
READ MORE
Source: Reuters
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Florida Settles Lawsuit Over Release of COVID Data | |
Former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith sued after the health department denied his public records request for COVID data in 2021, The settlement requires the state to release COVID stats to the public for the next three years.
READ MORE
Source: Health News Florida
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Loneliness Increases Risk for Incident Parkinson Disease | |
Loneliness is associated with the risk for incident Parkinson disease (PD), independent of other risk factors, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Neurology.
READ MORE
Source: Physician's Weekly
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New Cybersecurity Training Videos Available | |
The “Cybersecurity for the Clinician” video training series on the AMA Ed Hub™ provides physicians and students in the medical profession with what they need to understand how cyber-attacks can affect clinical operations and patient safety. The eight videos in the series use easy, non-technical language to explain how you can do your part to help keep health care data, systems and patients safe from cyber threats. With October recognized as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, use this resource to stay current on your security training and posture.
Produced by the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council Cybersecurity Working Group, Episode 1 of the series, Cyber Safety Is Patient Safety, discusses the threat cyber-attacks pose to patients, including stealing patient data, disrupting clinical operations, and ultimately harming patients. Other episodes feature discussions on the social engineering techniques that are used to acquire patients' personal information, medical device cybersecurity, and the teams that act after a cyber-attack occurs. Each episode is hosted by Christian Dameff, MD, an emergency medicine physician and medical director for cybersecurity.
Also, in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take advantage of other resources. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 405(d) Program is focused on providing the health care sector with impactful resources, products and tools to raise awareness and strengthen its cybersecurity posture against threats. In addition, at its physician cybersecurity webpage, the AMA has curated resources and tips for physicians and health care staff to protect patient health records and other data from cyberattacks.
Source: American Medical Association (AMA)
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Calling for Auction Item Donations - 2023 CMS Foundation Holiday Auction | |
Thank You to Our Sponsors of the 2023 CMS Foundation Holiday Auction | |
Capital Health Plan - Walk with a Doc - Saturday, October 14, 2023 | |
New DEA Requirement CME Available |
The Florida Medical Association (FMA) has announced they will be providing the 8-hour, required DEA continuing education requirement through their CME portal: www.flmedical.org.
Here is the clickable link to the FMA site for further information and courses. Signing in is required, membership is not required.
Course fees apply: Member $200 / Non-Member $300 for the one-time requirement.
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DEA Extends Telehealth Flexibilities Until November 11, 2023 |
The ability to prescribe controlled substances based on telehealth patient visits was set to expire when the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ends on Thursday, May 11th. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initially issued two proposed rules establishing new policies for controlled substance prescriptions based on telehealth visits, one for buprenorphine and one for other controlled substances. After receiving more than 38,000 comment letters, however, the DEA has decided to extend [federalregister.gov] the same policies that have been in place during COVID for an additional 6 months, until November 11, 2023.
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DEA-Registered Practitioners' Training Requirement |
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On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 enacted a new one-time, eight-hour training requirement for all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered practitioners on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. Below is information on this new requirement.
Who is responsible for satisfying this new training requirement?
• All DEA-registered practitioners, with the exception of practitioners that are solely veterinarians.
How will practitioners be asked to report satisfying this new training requirement?
• Beginning on June 27, 2023, practitioners will be required to check a box on their online DEA registration form—regardless of whether a registrant is completing their initial registration application or renewing their registration—affirming that they have completed the new training requirement.
What is the deadline for satisfying this new training requirement?
· The deadline for satisfying this new training requirement is the date of a practitioner’s next scheduled DEA registration submission—regardless of whether it is an initial registration or a renewal registration—on or after June 27, 2023.
· This one-time training requirement affirmation will not be a part of future registration renewals.
· How can practitioners satisfy this new training requirement?
· There are multiple ways that practitioners can satisfy this new training requirement.
• First, the following groups of practitioners are deemed to have satisfied this training:
1.Group 1: All practitioners that are board certified in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Board of Addiction Medicine, or the American Osteopathic Association.
2.Group 2: All practitioners that graduated in good standing from a medical (allopathic or osteopathic), dental, physician assistant, or advanced practice nursing school in the United States within five years of June 27, 2023, and successfully completed a comprehensive curriculum that included at least eight hours of training on:
· Treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a substance use disorder; or
· Safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders.
• Second, practitioners can satisfy this training by engaging in a total of eight hours of training on treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders from the groups listed below. A few key points related to this training:
1.The training does not have to occur in one session. It can be cumulative across multiple sessions that equal eight hours of training.
2.Past trainings on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders can count towards a practitioner meeting this requirement. In other words, if you received a relevant training from one of the groups listed below— prior to the enactment of this new training obligation on December 29, 2022—that training counts towards the eight-hour requirement.
3.Past DATA-Waived trainings count towards a DEA registrant’s 8-hour training requirement.
4.Trainings can occur in a variety of formats, including classroom settings, seminars at professional society meetings, or virtual offerings.
5. What accredited groups may provide trainings that meet this new requirement?
· The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
· The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP)
· American Medical Association (AMA)
· The American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or any organizations accredited by the AOA to provide continuing medical education
· The American Dental Association (ADA)
· The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS)
· The American Psychiatric Association (APA)
· The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
· The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
· The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
· Any other organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical
Education (AACCME) or the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition (CCEPR), whether directly or through an organization accredited by a State medical society that is recognized by the ACCME or CCEPR
· Any other organization approved or accredited by the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, the ACCME, or the CCEPR
We hope this information is helpful. For information regarding the DEA Diversion Control Division, please visit www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov. If you have any additional questions on this issue, please contact the Diversion Control Division Policy Section at (571) 362-3260.
Sincerely,
Thomas W. Prevoznik
Acting Assistant Administrator Diversion Control Division
Source: U.S Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
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About Exception Applications PY 2023 |
There are 2 exception applications available to clinicians:
Source: U.S Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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CMS Foundation Physician Wellness Program is Here for Physicians and TMH Residents |
Overloaded? Stressed? You're Not Alone.
Does your workday start before dawn and end well after dusk? Do you go to bed tired and wake up the same way? Maybe it’s time you talk to someone who can help you make positive changes for a healthier, happier life and lifestyle. The CMS has six professional counselors who are available to you - free of charge - free of worry. This program remains one of the few in the state that serves all local practicing physicians and TMH Residents, without cost, without question. Six sessions annually are completely confidential and autonomous.
WELLNESS COACHES:
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Paul Deitchman, Ph.D.
313 Williams St., #5
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-878-3571
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
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Tracey Morse, Ph.D.
1114 E. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32308
850-556-7944
UNIVERSITY: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY – CARBONDALE
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Stephen Wright, Ph.D.
313 Williams St., #7
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-222-3045
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
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SPECIALTY AREA WELLNESS COACHES: | | |
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Family, Marriage, and Trauma |
Kenneth Fowler, Ph.D., LMHC & Certified Traumatologist
1028 E. Park Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-212-6873
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
CERTIFICATE: FSU TRAUMATOLOGY INSTITUTE
Dr. Fowler is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) and an Approved Supervisor for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists and social workers. As a result of his expertise in psychological trauma, Dr. Fowler was called to respond in New York City following the 9/11 attacks. As a leader in his field, he was able to help with this national tragedy. His work with natural disasters led to him being called to assist with the Hurricane Katrina disaster by debriefing first responders who were exposed to the aftermath of the trauma. Currently, he consults with the Southcom Command of the United States Armed Forces to help returning soldiers and their families deal with the effects of war as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Jane Marks, LFMT, LMHC
3325-C Thomasville Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
850-385-8222
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
For five decades, Jane Marks has helped countless families navigate the challenges in life. As a Licensed Family & Marriage Therapist, she will bring a thoughtful approach to wellness for those seeking individual, family or marriage coaching through the CMS Foundation’s Physician Wellness Program.
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Brenda Rabalais, Ph.D.
216 Lake Ella Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-841-7733
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Brenda Rabalais, Ph.D., specializes in providing counseling services to those who are struggling with a loss or a trauma. Examples include; divorce, abandonment (foster care, adoption, service families), abuse, suicide, homicide, crime, loss of functionality, loss of home or job, long-term illnesses, other life transitions, as well as death. Brenda founded Lee's Place, a grief, loss and trauma counseling center, in 2000 and has been a practicing therapist as well as the Executive Director for those 21 years.
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Special thanks to the MagMutual Foundation and the TMH Medical Staff for helping the CMS fund this program. | |
African-American Alzheimer's Caregivers Training and Support (ACTS 2) Project | |
Informational Correspondence with the Capital Medical Society |
In this digital era, we strive to keep you updated with the latest in information. Please let us know when your emails and contact information change. We want you to be part of this Society and be active in your practice networking. Patients seeking provider referrals and providers seeking provider referrals keep your practice flourishing. If your membership information is old and you would like to contact us about relocating, new staff changes, or if you haven’t heard from us in a while, your information may not be current. Your personal contact information is kept confidential but is our way of reaching out to you about meetings, medical updates, license requirements, legalities in medicine and patient privacy and care, Journals, newsletters and more.
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Are You One of our Members on the Move? |
If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, we want to know more!
· Is your practice expanding? Are you adding staff members?
· Do you have a new practice administrator/office manager?
· Have you changed or added locations?
· Have you changed your email/phone/fax?
· Have you added a new specialty or passed your Board Certification(s)?
· Have you retired within the last six months?
Subject line: Member Updates
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Updated Physician Headshots |
The CMS website is your link to our physician member database. The CMS has been actively working on each provider search. Please take the time to search the listing. If you find there is any inaccurate information or an outdated headshot, please reach out to CMS to update your information. Let us know as soon as possible to make sure your information is current.
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Electronic Version of October 2023 Cap Scan | Click here to view the October 2023 Cap Scan. | |
Free Monthly Webinars: "The Business Side of Medicine" |
Each webinar is on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM.
Source: MIRZA, Healthcare Law Partners
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Medicare Revalidations are back in full force after a brief pause during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. All healthcare providers and suppliers are required to revalidate their Medicare enrollment every 3-5 years per CMS’ request. Medicare has implemented new revalidation screening criteria that you will need to be aware of. Missing this important deadline will have significant financial consequences on your medical practice! This link is to a tool to a searchable database that allows you to look up the revalidation due date for Medicare providers who must revalidate their enrollment record information every three or five years.
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Your Dose of Medical Humor | |
Save the Date for Upcoming CMS Meetings/Events | |
October 17, 2023
CMS Membership & CME Meeting
"Prevention of Medical Errors"
2-Hour CME
Presenters: E. Victoria "Tori" Penny, Esq. and Julia Weeks, M.D.
6:00 pm
Maguire Center for Lifelong Learning at Westminster Oaks
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Friday, December 8, 2023
*NEW DATE*
CMS Foundation Holiday Auction
6:00 pm
Dunlap Champions Club at FSU
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Here's Another Connection for CMS Members: Healthcare Lawyer On Call |
The CMS has had a long-standing relationship with Jeff Cohen and The Florida Healthcare Law Firm. Did you know that you can tap into a program called Healthcare Lawyer On Call through Jeff and his firm? That's right! On-Call is different than what you may be used to and doesn't mean that you'll find an attorney at 3 AM to answer a question, but what it does mean is that you can call and speak with someone at The Florida Healthcare Law Firm for 15 minutes at no charge! Please remember that any purely verbal discussion on legal matters is simply the lawyer’s best (and unconfirmed) understanding. Another benefit of being a CMS member!
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Accredited Education Courses to Meet DEA Training Requirement
The Doctors Company offers 6.75 hrs. that meet the DEA requirement for free. These hours can be combined with previous opioid education the physician may have completed to achieve the 8 hr. requirement. This, and all The Doctors Company CME, is available for free to any physician. They do not have to be a The Doctors Company insured.
https://www.thedoctors.com/patient-safety/education-and-cme/accredited-education-courses-to-meet-dea-training-requirement/
FreeCME.com
Easy to use web portal makes it easy to find courses and track credits. Accredited activities for over 30 medical specialties; Over 100 active courses at any given time; Activity accreditations include ACCME, ANCC, AANP, ACPE, and more; Content is always current, and always free.
CME - From Brain Disorders to Brain Health
Free 1-hour online CME opportunity!
University of Florida's Department of Epidemiology
Raising awareness for Alzheimer's disease and increasing screening for cognitive impairment. This CME has a focus on primary care physicians but is applicable to all physicians who may encounter patients with cognitive impairments.
On-Demand CME by The Doctors Company
Prevention of Diagnostic Error in Primary Care
Diagnostic error continues to be a top patient safety concern, a global burden, and cause patient harm from treatment delay, testing, or misdiagnosis. “Prevention of Diagnostic Error in Primary Care” is an on-demand CME activity that features patient safety expert Jeffrey A. Gold, MD, professor of medicine, vice chair for quality and safety, for the department of medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University. This program highlights major contributing factors of diagnostic error along with the diagnostic process of care framework with additional focus on strategies to mitigate risk of patient harm in the primary care setting.
On-Demand CME by The Doctors Company
Telemedicine to Telehealth: Trends and Emerging Risks
1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Explore the challenges and risks associated with telehealth. Concerns regarding privacy, security, licensure, and technology that might instigate a malpractice claim are discussed.
On-Demand CME by The Doctors Company
Safe Opioid Prescribing for Physicians and Dentists
2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or 2.5 ADA CE Credits
Opioids play an important role in pain management—both in acute and chronic care settings—but overuse, misuse, and diversion have contributed to an opioid-related epidemic leading to addiction and death. Our on-demand program provides a useful and informative examination of the epidemic’s prevalence and effects.
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National Human Trafficking Hotline |
If you suspect human trafficking, please call:
National Human Trafficking Hotline
1 (888) 373-7888
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Suicide Prevention Hotline |
Reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line by Phone and Text
By Phone:
Call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline today. 988 is not a nationwide calling code right now.
Veterans should Press 1 to be connected with the Veterans Crisis Line.
By Text:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available today through online chats. 988 is not a nationwide texting code right now.
Service members, Veterans, and their families can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by texting 838255, and through online chats at veteranscrisisline.net.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
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House Bill 831 (2019), Electronic Prescribing, was signed into law by Governor DeSantis. The effective date is January 1, 2020. The bill provides important new requirements for prescribers to generate and transmit all prescriptions electronically upon licensure renewal or by July 1, 2021, whichever is earlier.
The purpose of the Florida ePrescribing Clearinghouse is to provide information that contributes to the promotion and implementation of electronic prescribing by health care practitioners, health care facilities, and pharmacies in order to prevent prescription drug abuse, improve patient safety, and reduce unnecessary prescriptions. This Clearinghouse contains information on the advantages, processes, products, rules, and laws of ePrescribing as well as Florida ePrescribing reports.
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PAP Machine Donations Needed! |
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A PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) machine is an electronic respiratory ventilation device used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Capital Medical Society Foundation, Inc.'s We Care Network program assists low-income, uninsured adults, whose income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, with obtaining these potentially life-saving medical devices, when prescribed by a pulmonologist. Thanks to our partners at Desloge Home Oxygen and Medical Equipment, Inc., we are able to provide refurbished CPAP, AutoPAP, and BPAP machines for eligible We Care Network patients in Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Wakulla Counties. We Care Network also accepts unused, unopened supplies for PAP machines, such as masks, nasal cannulas, and tubing. We Care Network coordinates over $5,000,000 in donated specialty medical and dental care annually.
Machine donations can be dropped off at Capital Medical Society Foundation's office at 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Donations to Capital Medical Society Foundation are tax-deductible within IRS guidelines Federal Tax I.D. #: 59-2104510. For additional information, please call 850-942-5215 or email [email protected].
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Check Out the Latest CMS Member Benefits | | | | |
