February 25, 2022
CMS/CMS Alliance Children's Play Date - March 7, 1:30-2:30pm, Tekesta Park
Honor a Doctor - Recognize a Physician Who Inspires You
RECOGNIZE A PHYSICIAN WHO INSPIRES YOU
NATIONAL DOCTORS’ DAY – MARCH 30 

Please join the Capital Medical Society in wishing the doctors in our community a Happy Doctors’ Day! They persevere with excellence through a challenging time. We want to recognize them as they care for patients and each other. We want to acknowledge how much we appreciate them, their excellent healthcare, and their fantastic teamwork. They have done their best for the patients of this community and others transferred here for care. At the core, they are our medical family.
 
As we try to social distance as much as possible to avoid illness, they don their PPE and move towards those in need. The work in clinics, hospitals, and care facilities is part of the worldwide story of those knowingly putting themselves at risk to save lives. They are working together to distribute vaccines and boosters in our community.
 
Many are physically and psychologically tired from the relentless impact of the pandemic.
And yet, these doctors continue to care for us. Now, is your opportunity to thank and encourage them. March 30 is National Doctors’ Day, a day to recognize physicians, their service, and their contributions to society and communities. This year, celebrate National Doctors’ Day by choosing to make an honorary donation to the Capital Medical Society Scholarship Fund supporting future physicians. Leave a comment in the Tribute Gift box on the donation page to be shared by letter with your doctor honoree.

To ensure your honoree receives their recognition letter before National Doctors’ Day, please make your gift by Monday, March 21.

Donate at:
Or mail your gift check, payable to: Capital Medical Society Foundation, 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32308. 

Please include the name of your honoree and a sentence about why you are honoring them.
Each honoree will receive a letter notifying them of your thoughtful gift.
DeSantis signs a bill that extends COVID protections for health care providers to June 2023
Lawmakers last year passed a measure to help shield hospitals, nursing homes and other providers from lawsuits related to the coronavirus. The measure was set to expire March 29.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill that extends COVID-19 legal protections for hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers to June 1, 2023.

The governor’s office, as is common, announced the signing without comment.

Lawmakers last year passed a measure to help shield health care providers from COVID-19 lawsuits, but the protections were set to expire March 29. With the pandemic continuing, the House and Senate during this year’s legislative session approved the extension to June 2023.

The extension took effect immediately with DeSantis’ signature Thursday.


Source: HealthNews Florida
Senate signs off on Ladapo as Florida's surgeon general
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointment of Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo was confirmed by the Senate, despite objections from Democrats who criticized his handling of the pandemic.
Senate Republicans on Wednesday approved the nomination of Dr. Joseph Ladapo as Florida Surgeon General amid criticism from Democrats that his opposition to coronavirus mandates is too aligned to the politics of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The confirmation vote followed party lines, 24-15.

Ladapo, who was appointed by DeSantis in September, has drawn scrutiny over his shared resistance with the governor against COVID-19 mandates for vaccines and masks and other health policies endorsed by the federal government.


Source: HealthNews Florida
Big win for physicians on No Surprises Act implementation
In a major victory for medicine, a United States District Court Judge yesterday issued a ruling setting aside certain portions of the controversial Sept. 2021 interim final rule implementing the federal No Surprises Act. The interim final rule has been challenged in multiple venues as giving insurance companies an unfair advantage over physicians in the arbitration process established in the No Surprises Act. In this challenge from the Eastern District of Texas, the court held that:

Physicians have standing to challenge the interim final rule.
The interim final rule conflicts with the unambiguous terms of the No Surprises Act; and
The Departments that issued the rule improperly bypassed notice and comment requirements.

The court found that the provision in the rule establishing a rebuttable presumption in favor of the insurer-determined qualified payment amount effectively “rewrites clear statutory terms” and was unlawful on this basis alone. The court vacated the offensive portions of the rule while leaving the rule as a whole intact. Read the court’s opinion here. FMA members who need more information can contact our General Counsel’s office at jscott@flmedical.org.


Source: Florida Medical Association
Health care firms were pushed to confront racism. Now some are investing in Black startups
A new investment fund launched by one of the few Black venture capitalists in health care is focused on backing Black entrepreneurs. And the investors include some of the biggest names in for-profit health care.
Marcus Whitney stands out in Nashville’s $95 billion health care sector as an investor in startups. In addition to co-founding a venture capital firm, he’s organized an annual health tech conference and co-founded the city’s professional soccer club.

And, often, he’s the only Black man in the room.

So in summer 2020, as Black Lives Matter protesters filled city streets around the country following George Floyd’s murder, Whitney pondered the racial inequalities that are so obvious in his industry — especially locally.


Source: HealthNews Florida
Florida gets new COVID recommendations ahead of the CDC's plan to loosen mask guidelines
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced the updated Florida guidelines, which discourage mask wearing and promote off-label medications.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo on Thursday announced new COVID-19 guidance for the state that discourages mask-wearing and promotes physicians prescribing off-label medications.

The Florida announcement comes amid reports that the Biden administration is expected to significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines.


Source: HealthNews Florida
Capital Regional Medical Center & UCF College of Medicine Announce GME Residency Program
Capital Regional Medical Center, an affiliate of HCA Healthcare North Florida Division, is proud to announce the launch of their first ever Graduate Medical Education Residency Program in partnership with the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Accredited by the Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the new program will train residents in dermatology, and psychiatric medicine. The psychiatric residency is the first and only program of its kind in the Big Bend Region.


Source: Capital Regional Medical Center
Massey Drug Store to Close After Over 80 Years in Quincy
It’s an emotional goodbye for the Quincy community as the long-time Massey Drug Store prepares to close for good.

The pharmacy has been passed down three generations, building quite the reputation amongst Gadsden County residents.

“The people of Gadsden County and Quincy have been very supportive of the business, and very kind to have come in and let us take care of them,” said Terrance Massey. “But it’s just, I need to, I want to enjoy life a little bit.”


Source: WCTV.tv
State House backs away from dental change to Medicaid program
The Health & Human Services Committee OK'd the bill, positioning it to go to the full House. The revision would keep dental services as a carve-out.
The Florida House pulled back Wednesday from a controversial proposal that would have changed how dental care is provided to people in the Medicaid program.

But a bill that would revamp the Medicaid managed care system continued to draw objections from the hospital industry, which is concerned about potential consequences if hospitals cannot reach agreements with HMOs.


Source: Health News Florida
State Seeks to Throw the Book at Marijuana Doctor
Officials want an administrative law judge to ban Dr. Joseph Dorn from ordering medical marijuana for patients, suspend his license for five years and impose a $10,000 fine after an investigation that included undercover agents posing as patients. Dorn claims he was tricked by the agents, who lied about their conditions. 


Source: Health News Florida
NYT: CDC Isn't Publishing All of Its COVID Data
A New York Times report says the CDC has withheld "not yet ready for prime time" data it has collected that could help health officials slow the virus, including info on hospitalizations, vaccination status and wastewater. 


Source: Health News Florida
Committee Approves Florida's 15-Week Abortion Limit, Sending the Measure to the Senate Floor
After the House passed the measure last week, a bill that would prevent abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy is poised to go to the full Senate.

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday voted 13-6 to approve the bill (HB 5), which is similar to a Mississippi law that is being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.


Source: Health News Florida
Retail medicine and private equity are important drivers of primary care delivery in the U.S., and they are poised to become even more so. Corporate entities have always been involved in healthcare, but now mega corporations—from outside the medical space—are entering the field. The involvement of these large non-legacy corporate entities in healthcare is growing and is challenging—and while this trend brings some benefits, it will also impact how all clinicians provide healthcare.


Source: The Doctors Company
Today should be relatively straightforward, just another typical day of rounding and seeing patients in the office, I thought to myself as I sat at the computer and reviewed the day’s patient census for both the clinic and the hospital.


Source: Orlando Medical News
The AMA has advocated against the culture of violence in America, including domestic violence, gun violence, racism, police brutality, and xenophobia—and violence against physicians and health professionals is no exception. While not a new occurrence, the reported uptick in intimidation, threats and attacks toward people in the medical field has been on the rise for at least the last decade—and has become even more of an alarming phenomenon since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Source: Orlando Medical News
One day, I was thinking about my life and realized enough people were financially dependent on me that getting a life insurance policy was a responsible step to take. I was married with a beautiful baby girl, and I had just bought a house in the suburbs. I decided it would be a good idea to make sure everyone was provided for should something go seriously awry.


Source: The White Coat Investor
According to the NIMH (2014), patients diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder experience more physical ailments, including heart disease, blood pressure issues, migraines, respiratory disease, allergies, thyroid disease, and other conditions. Additionally, medical interventions can be less successful in this population due to high anxiety, distorted beliefs, obsessive rumination, and compulsive behaviors.


Source: Orlando Medical News
Physician Bootcamp - Spring 2022

Registration is Free
Presented by Medical Economics.
Medical Economics® understands physician burnout and challenges that impact your business. Join us on March 31st for this must-attend virtual learning event. Expert-led panelists will guide you through ways to: streamline challenges, maximize efficiency, and put more money in your pocket.

Your time is valuable which is why we have thoughtfully curated four sessions with practical learning objectives and actionable solutions.


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
Get Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

Order your tests now so you have them when you need them. 

COVID-19 Testing, Vaccination, and Monoclonal Antibody Sites and Hours of Operation in Leon County
Search https://arcg.is/1LLfLi0 for a map of all available testing and vaccination sites in Leon County, along with hours and scheduling details.  
 
Source: Leon County COVID-19 Information Portal
CMS Movie Night - Mark Your Calendars!
Saving Money with the Capital Medical Society Has Never Been Easier - My Green Doctor
CMS’s My Green Doctor practice management program is about practices becoming environmentally sustainable and creating healthier communities. The new website makes it even easier to learn how your office will save money by “going green”. Ask your practice manager to register as a Partner Society member and to use the new CMS member discount code MGDCMS to save $60 instantly and make the program free for your entire practice: https://www.MyGreenDoctor.org.

Source: My Green Doctor
Volunteer for Florida Mission of Mercy - March 11-12, 2022
Discounted Event Tickets at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
Capital Medical Society members can receive a discount on certain events at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center by using our promo code "CMST". The upcoming events are:
 
April 3, 2022

April 21, 2022
 
Members can receive the discount a few different ways:
1. Click the show link above and enter the promo code "CMST"
2. Call 850-645-0746 to purchase over the phone and mention the promo code "CMST"
Florida E-Prescribing
Electronic Prescribing Requirements (Florida Board of Medicine)
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.

Florida ePrescribing Clearinghouse (Agency for Healthcare Administration)
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.
Save the Date for Upcoming CMS Meetings/Events
March 31, 2022

2022 Celebration Awards Dinner

6:30 pm

The Dunlap Champions Club at FSU (formerly known as the University Center Club)
CMS Foundation Physician Wellness Program
We all need co-pilots. That's why the Capital Medical Society Foundation Physician Wellness Program is here for its members. The CMSF has teamed up with four wonderful resources who will help you fly - confidentially and autonomously. Your first six wellness coaching visits are at no cost to you. None. Nada. No identifying information. Nothing except peace of mind. Seriously. Pick up the phone and call any of the resources noted below. Telehealth options available.

Special thanks to MagMutual Foundation and others who are helping the CMSF fund this program.
 
Local Wellness Coaching Resources:
  • Paul Deitchman, Ph.D. - 850-878-3571
  • Tracey Morse, Ph.D. - 850-556-7944
  • Debra Weaver, Ph.D. - 850-942-5585
  • Stephen Wright, Ph.D. - 850-222-3045

C. Vincent Dix, Ph.D. has announced his retirement effective March 31, 2021. We appreciate the services Dr. Dix has provided to local physicians since the inception of the Capital Medical Society Foundation's Physician Wellness Program in 2017.

To view Physician Wellness resources, click here.

The Elephant in the Doctors' Lounge - With roughly 156 million Americans fully vaccinated for COVID-19, physicians are seeing signs of relief on the horizon. That relief can't come soon enough. The initial energy and adrenaline that drove physicians to treat their acutely ill patients in the early months of the pandemic have been replaced by fatigue, burnout, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It's time to talk -- and to act -- so these feelings of struggle don't drive more of our colleagues into a mental health emergency.
Source: MedPage Today
CME Resources
Wolfson Pediatric CME Webinars - 5.5 CME Credit Opportunity
Wolfson Children’s Hospital is proud to provide Continuing Medical Education opportunities to our partners and referring providers by offering monthly virtual CME sessions at no cost. If you have missed any of our previously offered live webinars and still wish to obtain CME credit for them, we have provided 4 recorded webinars for a total of 5.5 CME credits possible. Please follow the instructions below in order to take advantage of this opportunity!
 
1.      Open the flyer and choose which education session you would like to watch.
2.      Click the link in the attachment for the desired education session.
3.      Watch the webinar.
4.      Follow the instructions included in the video description to complete the required survey and input the associated activity code.
*Please note, if you are licensed outside of the state of Florida, you must contact the CME office at Kimberly.Branham-Nelson@bmcjax.com to request an official transcript of your participation.

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.

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
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
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.
ABIM Extends Maintenance of Certification Requirement Deadlines Through 2022
Board-certified physicians are getting another extension on the deadline to maintain their internal medicine credentials.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) once again extended the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements through December 2022.


Source: Fierce Healthcare
Coronavirus - Information, Updates, Resources
Updates and Resources

Maguire Medical Library - Florida State University College of Medicine: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Basic & Current Information

The State-Level COVID-19 profile for Florida. This data is collected from medical facilities in one of two system HHS protect or National Healthcare Safety Network  
 and the White House Coronavirus Task Force analyzes and distributes the report.
   
The New England Journal of Medicine - A collection of articles and other resources on the Coronavirus outbreak, including clinical reports, management guidelines, and commentary
 
Epidemiological and Clinical Resources For The COVID-19 Pandemic
 
CDC Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment
 
CDC Guidance for People at Higher Risk for COVID-19 Complications
 
CDC PPE Poster
 
CDC Guidance for Travelers from Countries with Widespread Sustained (ongoing) Transmission Arriving in the United States
 
CDC Communication Resources
 
NETEC coronavirus page includes PPE validation checklists and video resource, in addition to many others:
 
 
From the Florida Medical Association: Coronavirus Educational Resource Center

Vaccine Updates


 
See the latest state Department of Health data summarizing the number of people in Florida who have either received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or completed the vaccine series (FMA) 
 
 (Florida Department of Health in Leon County)
 
(Florida Department of Health in Leon County) 
 
 
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
 
 
COVID-19 Pandemic Planning FAQ (dated 11/19/2020) includes important information regarding procurement and handling of costs for vaccine administration. (FEMA) 
 
What Happens Once There is a COVID-19 Vaccine? Key Challenges to Vaccinating America (12/3/2020) - VIDEO or SLIDES (Kaiser Family Foundation) 

Reporting for Health Care Providers and Laboratories

 
 
 
 
Notable recent additions to CDC guidance include more detailed infection prevention and control recommendations for health care settings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/infection-control.html.

Please continue to closely monitor the CDC novel coronavirus website for situation and guidance updates. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

If you have any patients who meet the person under investigation criteria, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Leon County Epidemiology Program at 850-404-6299.
 
Epidemiology and Disease Control Program
Florida Department of Health in Leon County
2965 Municipal Way
Tallahassee, FL 32304
Office Number: (850) 404-6299 
Confidential Fax: (850) 921-9855
PAP Machine Donations Needed!
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 $8,000,000 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 942-5215 or email dbixler@capmed.org.
You Can Support the CMS Foundation! Sign Up and Shop Today on AmazonSmile!
For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the Capital Medical Society Foundation! 
 
Click here to access AmazonSmile and support the CMS Foundation today!
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