March 3, 2023
CMS Catch My Stride! Walk: Saturday, March 25 at Cascades Park
Honor a Doctor - If You Could Say One Thing To Your Doctor, What Would It Be?
NATIONAL DOCTORS' DAY - MARCH 30

National Doctors’ Day was first observed in Winder, Georgia, by the wife of a doctor to give others the opportunity to recognize and honor doctors who have impacted their lives. In 1958, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate approved a resolution to commemorate National Doctors’ Day on March 30, which President George Bush then signed into law in 1990. This is your opportunity to honor your doctor. Let’s acknowledge how much we appreciate them, their excellent healthcare, and their fantastic teamwork.
 
Join us in making a gift today to the Capital Medical Society Foundation to honor your doctor, medical physician or dentist, and include a note of appreciation to them at https://capmed.org/donate/ or mail your gift check, payable to: Capital Medical Society Foundation, 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL, 32308. 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 in their honor and the tribute you share.
 
To ensure your honoree receives their recognition letter before National Doctors’ Day, please make your gift by March 20, 2023.
Cyberattack 'Credit Negative' for Tallahassee Memorial, Moody's Says
The February cyberattack on Tallahassee (Fla.) Memorial HealthCare will be "credit negative" for the health system, Moody's said in a Feb. 27 report.

"The attack on TMH underscores the importance of strong cybersecurity as cyberattacks can have an adverse financial effect on healthcare organizations," the report said, pointing to the $150 million hit Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health took from a ransomware attack last year.


Source: Becker's Hospital Review
Understanding the Data Behind a Tallahassee Hospital's Low Safety Grade
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare has a grade of D, according to Leapfrog. That’s down from a C two years ago. Hospital officials say the rankings don’t give a complete picture.


Source: Health News Florida
Eli Lilly to Cut Insulin Price 70%, Customer Costs Capped at $35 Per Month
Eli Lilly & Co. is capping out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 a month, following a public plea from President Joe Biden for lower prices of the diabetes treatment for all Americans.


Source: Bloomberg
How Officials Cracked Case of Eyedrops That Blinded People
Some nasty eye infections in California led health officials to link a superbug bacteria to potentially contaminated eyedrops imported from India. At last count, 58 Americans in 13 states have been infected.


Source: Health News Florida
Florida Healthcare Law Firm - Monthly Health Law & Business Report
To read the Florida Healthcare Law Firm's Monthly Health Law & Business Report, click here.

Source: Florida Healthcare Law Firm
2023 Talent Innovation Summit - Untapped: The Hidden Talent Pool
Discover new strategies and solutions from national and local business leaders about creating dynamic talent pipelines in a competitive job market!

April 26, 2023
8:30 am - 1:30 pm
Turnbull Conference Center
555 W Pensacola St
Tallahassee, FL 32306

The struggle to find talent will continue, at least for the next few decades. It’s time, maybe past time, to implement new talent acquisition strategies and secure new talent pipelines. Join us to hear from subject matter experts who will deliver game changing information and practical applications for your organization.

For more information and to register, click here.

Source: CareerSource Capital Region
African-American Alzheimer's Caregivers Training and Support (ACTS 2) Project
Free CME on Environmentally Sustainable Practices - My Green Doctor
This month, the Capital Medical Society’s My Green Doctor program is the focus of a free 40-minute online CME program offered by the American Medical Association to any physician, not just AMA members. Watch the webinar yourself at any time and ask your office manager to watch as well to learn how easy it is to save money with environmentally sustainable practice management. There is one link to watch the webinar and another to claim CME credit.
 
My Green Doctor is a free money-saving & climate-saving membership benefit from the Society. Members use My Green Doctor’s “Meeting-by-Meeting Guide” to learn how to adopt environmental sustainability, save resources, and help create healthier communities. The program adds just five minutes to each regular office staff meeting or weekly office “huddle”, making small changes at each meeting that really add up over time.
 
Everyone in your practice can register as Partner Society members at www.MyGreenDoctor.org or at www.MyGreenDoctor.es (si, en Espanol). Use the discount code MGDCMS to save $60 instantly and give full free access to My Green Doctor forever. Ask your practice manager to register today and to put My Green Doctor on your next agenda. You can do this!

Source: My Green Doctor
Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education (FRAME) Program Launched February 1
On February 1, the state Department of Health launched the Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education (FRAME) Program.

The goal of the FRAME Program is to encourage qualified medical professionals to practice in underserved locations of the state by providing annual payments intended to offset the loans and educational expenses incurred by students for studies leading to medical or nursing degrees, medical or nursing licensure or advanced practice registered nurse licensure or physician assistant licensure.

Reimbursement Amounts
  • Up to $20,000 per year for physicians
  • Up to $15,000 per year for advanced practice registered nurses practicing under section 464.0123, Florida Statutes
  • Up to $10,000 per year for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants
  • Up to $4,000 per year for licensed practical nurses and registered nurses

All payments are contingent on continued proof of primary care practice in an area defined in section 395.602(2)(b), Florida Statutes, or an underserved area designated by the Department, provided the practitioner accepts Medicaid reimbursement if eligible for such reimbursement. For more information, go to:


Application Process:
The FRAME Program application window will be open February 1 through March 31, 2023.

To facilitate your application process, you will need to use the FRAMEworks Portal. Applicants will be able to log on and register to formally submit their application to the program.

You may alternatively choose to mail applications to the address below:
FRAME Program
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin A-05
Tallahassee, FL 32399

To get a jump start on the process, the required submission forms can be found below (forms are Adobe PDF and will open in new windows):

Applications will be evaluated, and selections will be made on or before June 1, 2023.
 
For questions or additional information, email FRAME@flhealth.gov.
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.
Pam Irwin, Executive Director, 850-559-8611, pirwin@capmed.org
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?
 
Send your updates to rcarlin@capmed.org.
Subject line: Member Updates
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.
CMS | (850) 877-9018 | rcarlin@capmed.org
Electronic Version of March 2023 Cap Scan
Click here to view the March 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.

For more information and to register, click here.

Source: MIRZA, Healthcare Law Partners
Medicare Revalidations
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.

Your Dose of Medical Humor
Save the Date for Upcoming CMS Meetings/Events
Discounted Event Tickets at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
Capital Medical Society members can receive a discount on upcoming events at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center by using our promo code "CMST". The upcoming event is:
 
April 22-23, 2023
 
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"
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!
AMA Resources
COVID-19 Shadow Pandemic: Mental Health Impacts on Patients & Care Teams
“Shadow Pandemic: Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 on Patients and the Care Team,” the latest on-demand webinar in the AMA’s Overcoming Obstacles series, explores how experts have engaged pediatric and adult patients before and during the pandemic, and how patient health needs have changed over time. Hear the challenges encountered and solutions used to creatively address patient needs, and what is next for patient care.


AMA to Host Interactive Session on Telehealth for Dermatology

The AMA is hosting an interactive session that will highlight the innovative ways that telehealth is currently being used in dermatology. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with speakers, as well as gain insights on ways to leverage a variety of telehealth modalities, including provider-to-provider e-consults, live audio/visual, and store-and-forward.


AMA STEPS Forward® Podcast: Creating A Culture That Supports Well-Being

In the latest AMA STEPS Forward® podcast episode, Dr. Nigel Girgrah, Chief Wellness Officer at Ochsner Health System, discusses strategies for creating a culture of well-being at your health care organization – including addressing mental health stigma, building a strong EAP program, employing an opt out vs opt in approach, and encouraging leadership to be vulnerable about their own burnout struggles.


Source: American Medical Association (AMA)
WEBINAR - Navigating the Current Healthcare Landscape: COVID-19, Staffing Crisis, and Administrative Burden
Physician practices across the country continue to operate in an atmosphere of uncertainty, now compounded by a staffing crisis due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. In the latest AMA STEPS ForwardTM webinar, “Navigating the Current Healthcare Landscape: COVID-19, Staffing Crisis, and Administrative Burden,” attendees will hear about the current health care workforce landscape, how to plan for workplace shortages, and best practices in workplace safety and efficiencies for staff. The webinar will also feature practical, actionable resources to transform and improve your practice. Accompanying the webinar, the AMA has released an updated version of “A Physician Guide to Keeping Your Practice Open During COVID-19” to address concerns about workforce protection and retention during the pandemic. 

Source: American Medical Association (AMA)
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.

On-Demand CME by The Doctors Company
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.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
If you suspect human trafficking, please call:
  
National Human Trafficking Hotline
1 (888) 373-7888
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
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.
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 $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 dbixler@capmed.org.
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: 
Paul Deitchman, Ph.D.
313 Williams St., #5
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-878-3571
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Tracey Morse, Ph.D.
1114 E. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, FL 32308
850-556-7944 
UNIVERSITY: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY – CARBONDALE
Stephen Wright, Ph.D.
313 Williams St., #7
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-222-3045
UNIVERSITY: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
SPECIALTY AREA WELLNESS COACHES:
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. 
Family and Marriage
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.
Grief, Loss, and Trauma
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.
Special thanks to the MagMutual Foundation and the TMH Medical Staff for helping the CMS fund this program.
Check Out the Latest CMS Member Benefits