UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - October 7, 2025/CLINICAL

Table of Contents

Message From the Chair

Upcoming Events

Focus of the Week - Clinical

Announcements

Frankly Speaking Podcast

Resources

Message From the Chair

I hope to see you shortly at today’s Town Hall at noon.

I will share an opportunity to influence our future and ask for your support. As most of you are aware, Chancellor Collins is stepping down next summer; a search committee has been formed and is asking for feedback. This is an opportunity to educate the search committee about the importance of primary care and communicate a vision for the next Chancellor. We are preparing a letter from our department to the search committee and I would appreciate broad input as we craft it.

We hope to reinforce points that address our school’s mission to care for the Commonwealth by training primary care and tertiary care providers. To accomplish this, we need leadership and financial support for primary care and in particular, family medicine. I invite you to send- via email or as chat during today’s Town Hall- your thoughts about specific ways in which a future chancellor could meaningfully support primary care and thus the health of the Commonwealth. You may also offer feedback directly to the committee, via the feedback form on the search committee's website.

Upcoming Events

FMCH Town Hall

Tuesday, October 7th, 12:00 - 1:00pm

Meeting ID: 191 986 273

Passcode: FMCH

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/191986273?pwd=NEtlZmNkdWlSUGwyeTJQU3dCeUs1QT09

Medicare coverage of telehealth changed October 1st, 2025.

• Temporary flexibilities expired September 30th, 2025.
• Medicare telehealth waivers and Acute Hospital at Home programs expired Oct. 1.
• Telehealth services under Original Medicare, patients may be required to be physically located in a rural office or medical facility in order to get telehealth coverage.
• Starting October 1st, 2025, you must be in an office or medical facility located in a rural area (in the U.S.) for most telehealth services.
• According to CMS also note that some types of practitioners can no longer render telehealth services. Such providers include occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

Impact on Private Insurers

• Private insurers often follow Medicare's lead, so these changes could affect telehealth coverage across the board. Currently, no major changes have been made.

UMass News

As a quick summary, the HR initiatives we are highlighting in October are: (Source System News - Just in case you missed it!)

• New Workforce Dashboard: Introduction of a workforce dashboard in Workday and Tableau (launching mid-October), providing managers with easy access to workforce data to help inform their daily work and operations.

Private Insurers Unaffected Unless They Choose to Change: Insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Tufts Health Plan, and others may continue offering broad telehealth coverage, but providers should confirm payer-specific guidance before altering non-Medicare telehealth visits.

• Financial Sustainability: System Leader Town Hall Tuesday, October 7th at noon providing updates on our financial sustainability efforts, current financial state, and cost-saving efforts planned for fiscal year 2026. An email communication with leader talking points will follow.
• Open enrollment: Cascading communications to leaders and caregivers informing all that open enrollment is coming, what’s changing for 2026, and what they need to know for this year’s open enrollment period (October 20 to November 7). A postcard is also being mailed to homes with information on how to access the Benefits Guide electronically, as it is not being mailed this year.
• Annual Required Education (ARE): Screensavers and other communications this month reminding caregivers of the December 8 deadline to complete ARE in Workday.
• Workforce development (WFD): Various communications highlighting the graduation celebration for the first cohort of the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program, as well as information to caregivers about upcoming Intro to Health Care Careers, Workplace English and U.S. Citizenship Preparation courses.

Wellness: Hub News reminding caregivers to use their Health Reimbursement Account funds in excess of $400 by December 31st. Additional communications in October highlighting National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, World Mental Health Day, and resources and supports available to caregivers.

Announcements

The Annual Judy Savageau Coat Drive has started!

Happening NOW through November 2nd to provide new winter coats for children at Worcester Public Schools. To make a financial donation, Venmo Tim Matthews, a UMass Chan medical student helping with the coat drive (it is a House Cup event too), at @tmatthews9. Checks can be mailed to Linda Cragin at 6 Alcott Dr. Northborough, MA, 01532. To donate a new coat, you can bring it to the Department Awards dinner on October 28th or drop it off in our collection box in Benedict on the 3rd floor. Questions - email Hugh Silk at hugh.silk@umassmemorial.org

Help Improve IUD Insertion Care at UMass – 5-Minute Provider Survey

Please help this student project. If you currently perform IUD insertions at a UMass Memorial Health clinical site, please share your insights in this quick, confidential survey. Your input will help improve patient comfort and standardize care across clinics. Click here to take the survey. Thank you for your time and contribution!

Rising Together: In support of Health Equity for Refugee and Immigrant communities, Friday, October 17th

RISE is committed to serving refugees and immigrants now and always. 

Please join RISE for a night of celebration, connection and impact. Savor flavors from around the globe, and help raise funds to advance health equity in our community. 

Secure your ticket soon! https://givebutter.com/RISE4Health See flyer for additional information.

Intro to Pocus Hands On Course (Introduction of Point of Care Ultrasound)

October 25th, 8:00 - 5:00pm, iCELS Simulation Lab, Albert Sherman Center

Please see flyer for additional information. https://www.umassmed.edu/icels

UMass Chan 30th Research Retreat, October 28th-29th, 2025

We cordially invite you to attend the UMass Chan 30th Annual Research Retreat, October 28-29, 2025. The retreat is scheduled on-site at the UMass Chan Medical School University Campus and typically features talks from new UMass Chan faculty and students, and offers opportunities for networking. More details regarding the agenda will follow as we get closer to the event. See flyer.

The Shriver Center is happy to host a training on Autism diagnosis for Primary Care Providers on November 6th and 7th. These will be all day sessions and will take place in the Paul DiMare Center. The training will be provided by Behavioral Pediatrics from Vanderbilt University. Training will include: Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT™) training plus implementation planning. CMEs will be provided, and the training is free to those participating. Please contact Deborah Dreyfus (Deborah.Dreyfus@umassmemorial.org) by October 6th if you would like to attend.



Mission of Mercy is coming to Worcester - WE NEED YOU

We need medical providers to help clear patients so they can get free Dental Care.

November 15th, 2025 at the DCU Center.

Sign up now - for more information and to sign up go here.

The goal is to serve 300 patients in one day who otherwise would go without. Thanks!

Frankly Speaking Podcast

Please join us for a weekly Podcast series. Many patients are still hesitant about the shingles vaccine, but the benefits go far beyond preventing a painful rash. Hear how varicella zoster vaccination can also reduce the risks of postherpetic neuralgia, dementia, and cardiovascular events, giving you powerful tools to guide more informed patient decisions. Guest: Robert A. Baldor, MD, FAAFP, presents, "Don't Forget the Shingles Vaccine". Frankly Speaking Episode #453. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frankly-speaking-about-family-medicine/id1194659367

Resources

Past editions of the Tuesday Talk are available at 

https://www.umassmed.edu/fmch/ under Resources.

The UMass Memorial Caring for Caregivers Program is available at 508-334-HELP,

EAP at 866-263-3525, and the UMass Chan EAP at 800-322-5327.

www.LiveandWorkWell.com 

Yoga Classes with Dr. Liz Erban.

New members always welcome. 

Please join us on Wednesday(s), 6:30-7:30am, for a gentle awakening yoga session led by the talented Liz Erban.

https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/91343267992?pwd=ZHF3NHVrVlR1MVdMV09HSE5lTzdsQT09