June 2017
VIRGINIA MEDICAL NEWS
CONTENTS Advocacy ��������������������������� 2 Leadership ������������������������ 5 Networking �����������������������6 Business �����������������������������9 Closing ��������������������������� 10
ADVOCACY
Legislative Update By Lindsay Larkin
Through year-round programs and events, physicians have united to form a powerful network of leaders. Through the collective influence of the house of medicine, MSV developed effective policies and solutions to improve healthcare in the Commonwealth during the 2017 legislative session. OPIOID MISUSE Prescription Monitoring Program
Legislation initially proposed day limits on opioid prescriptions. Through MSV Advocacy, the bill was amended; now prescribers must check the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) when initially prescribing opioids for longer than 7 days; 14 days after surgical or invasive procedure. Exceptions were maintained for certain settings or when the PMP is unavailable. The law has a sunset date of July 1, 2022.
Prescribing Regulations
The Boards of Medicine and Dentistry was directed to develop regulations on opioids and buprenorphine prescribing.
E-Prescribing
Bills established a workgroup to review e-prescribing for opioids by July 2020, including a discussion of necessary hardship exemptions needed by prescribers.
Increasing Naloxone Availability
Authorizes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to train community peer recovery support groups on how to administer and dispense naloxone.
PRACTICE ISSUES
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Licensure Parity
Legislation was passed to level the playing field between U.S. and international medical school graduates (IMGs). Now, all graduates must complete one year of U.S. residency before a medical license may be obtained.
Medical Record Request Fee Limits
Allows medical practices to also charge for electronic copies of medical records.
Direct Primary Care
Ensures that direct primary care (DPC) agreements are not defined as insurance products and prevents physicians offering DPCs from being prohibited from also participating in a health insurance carrier network.
COPN Reform
Legislators introduced many bills, including comprehensive reform plans, attempts to remove some services from COPN, and creating definitions of charity care. While bills defining charity care passed both bodies, the legislature did not pass any COPN reform bills. The Senate committed to studying the topic again, and MSV will continue its involvement in those discussions.
Virginia Medical News | An MSV Publication
ADDITIONAL TOPICS Health Insurance Issues
Legislators filed several bills dealing with insurance reform issues, such as step therapy reform and requiring insurers to accept a patient’s assignment of benefits requests. While neither issue succeeded, both caught the attention of legislators who requested that both topics be sent to the Health Insurance Reform Commission (HIRC) for further study
Telemedicine
The House and Senate passed bills to expand access to care via telemedicine; the bills bring Virginia law in line with federal regulations on telemedicine. Both bills have been passed and signed by the Governor.
Budget Items
The final budget, which has been approved by the Governor, includes funding for a PMP pilot project, the Virginia Student Loan Repayment Program and an Emergency Care Coordination program.
AVERTED LEGISLATION New level of licensure for Doctors of Medical Science CME specifically on suicide prevention Required prescriptions to include on the label the reason the medication was prescribed. Prohibited use of Opternative refractive eye tests, defined ophthalmic prescriptions and defined eye examinations in the Code of Virginia Physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant to notify a patient prior to conducting an examination if they believe the exam could result in the patient’s driving privileges being revoked. Localities would not be responsible for the costs of an inmate’s medical care relating to a pre-existing condition Requests for information from any departments, agencies, or institutions of Virginia by any member of the General Assembly would not be subject to redaction. Creating a Division of Supervision of Regulatory Boards
To be an effective force in health care, you must become an active voice in Virginia Politics.
The Medical Society of Virginia Political action Committee (MSVPAC) works to elect legislators who will make Virginia the best place for medicine – for physicians and patients. Your contribution to MSVPAC supports General Assembly legislators and candidates who will serve as strong advocates for Virginia’s patients and physicians. Please join our efforts by making donation to MSVPAC! To make an online donation, visit www.msvpac.org. If you’d prefer to mail your contribution, please make checks payable to “MSVPAC” and address your envelope to: MSVPAC 2924 Emerywood Parkway Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23294
www.msv.org
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Virginia Medical News | An MSV Publication
LEADERSHIP
Opening New Pathways for Physician Involvement By Jenny Young Over the past six months our Physician Leaders have been working hard to identify and create additional opportunities for members to be involved with MSV in meaningful ways. As part of this initiative our top leaders are focused on involving new members, coaching, mentoring, and developing future leaders and reaching out to groups that have not always been engaged with MSV. New opportunities are available in Richmond, across the Commonwealth, and throughout different practice settings. Our goal is to ensure that we are offering a range of programming to meet physicians where they are currently in their practice of medicine. If you’re a physician who would like to become more engaged in various activities spanning from Health Policy, Advocacy, Community Outreach or Networking now is a great time to reach out to the Physician leaders at MSV so we can get you plugged into our new programs. Please contact Jenny Young, our Senior Engagement and Membership Manager, at jyoung@msv.org. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
SYNC By Amy Swierczewski On June 8th, ten interprofessional health care teams started their SYNC learning experience to transform healthcare leadership. SYNC is an immersive learning program for healthcare teams ranging from practice managers and CMOs to pharmacists and LPNs. The program recognizes that healthcare teams face a need for interprofessional collaboration, creative problem solving, and impactful leadership training to drive organizational performance. This will be SYNC’s third cohort since its launch in June, 2015. Previous cohorts have praised the program with one hospital system participant stating: “I loved SYNC and how it was a catalyst in having us examine our processes and find ways to improve leadership that directly impacted patient care.” The learning experience has teams identify a current challenge within their organization or community and implement a real-world solution. Previous projects included promoting community hypertension management, improving patient flow for ED-admitted patients, and streamlining a prescription refill process. SYNC’s success is attributed to its dedicated partners; the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, Virginia Nurses Foundation, and the Virginia Department of Health with generous support from The Physicians Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Instructor Lynne Hughes leading a 2016 SYNC session.
SYNC
Transforming Healthcare Leadership Joint Partnership of VHHA, VNA, MSV & VDH
www.msv.org
VDHLiveWell.com
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NETWORKING
Eat Drink Engage By Holly Marsilio Eat Drink Engage was the first annual series of Central Virginia networking events that focused on the future of medicine and what it means for physicians and their practices. Through March and April, four events were hosted between Charlottesville, Richmond, and Lynchburg. The dinners encouraged inspiring conversations around the healthcare landscape and gave physicians the opportunity to meet like-minded peers, discuss ideas, forge new relationships and stay connected. Members from MSV’s Government Affairs, Membership, and Engagement teams attended to facilitate and bring back the ideas shared to help MSV understand how we can best support physicians.
Practice Manager’s Annual Meeting By Carolyn Godbey, Senior Vice President of Property and Casualty
The Practice Manager’s Advisory Committee meeting was held on May 18, sponsored by The Doctors Company.
Mike Gill of Hancock Daniel Johnson & Nagle PC discusses effective partnerships for tackling the opioid epidemic.
Interested in hosting an event? Contact our Director of Marketing, Holly Marsilio, at hmarsilio@msv.org.
Lauren Bates-Rowe, Assistant Vice President of Health Policy for MSV, Ruth Carter, guest speaker from the Drug Enforcement Agency, and Melina Davis-Martin, Executive Vice President for MSV. Lauren shared Virginia legislative updates battling the opioid epidemic and Ruth discussed best practices for opioid diversion control with the audience.
The fight to end the opioid epidemic was the main focus among presenters that included Ruth Carter from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Mike Gill of Hancock Daniel Johnson & Nagle PC. The program was well-received by attendees with feedback about speakers including:
“Informational” 6
“Fascinating”
“Timely!”
Virginia Medical News | An MSV Publication
Advancing the practice of good medicine.
NOW AND FOREVER.
ANNOUNCING THE 2017 DIVIDEND FOR VIRGINIA MEMBERS The Doctors Company has returned nearly $400 million to our members through our dividend program—and that includes 12.5% to qualified Virginia members. We’ve always been guided by the belief that the practice of good medicine should be advanced, protected, and rewarded. So when our insured physicians keep patients safe and claims low, we all win. That’s malpractice without the mal.
Join us at thedoctors.com www.msv.org
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Virginia Medical News | An MSV Publication
BUSINESS
Practice Services We are partnered with Practice Management Institute (PMI) and American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) to provide MSV-instructed courses. Here’s what’s up next! Date JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
Class
Location
Certified Medical Insurance Specialist
Richmond
Transform the Front Desk
Richmond
Professional Medical Coding Curriculum
Richmond
Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
Woodbridge
Certified Medical Coder Certification
Richmond
Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
Woodbridge
Certified Medical Coder Certification
Richmond
Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
Woodbridge
Find more details at www.msv.org/education or contact lwagner@msv.org for inquiries.
MSV Insurance Agency Did you know that by insuring through MSVIA you are directly supporting MSV with non-dues revenue? The profits generated are funneled directly back to MSV. These funds support organized medicine by helping us provide services to physicians like you. The MSV’s agency has a staff of individuals who are all highly experienced and committed to the physicians we work for, and who are passionate about what we do.
Who better to help you?
www.msv.org
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SAVE THE DATE
Annual Meeting By Lynne Hughes This year’s Annual Meeting will take place at the Hilton Norfolk, The Main, in Norfolk, Virginia, October 19 – 22. Last year’s annual meeting was a resounding success with over 300 attendees and sessions that focused on supporting physicians to improve every aspect of their personal and professional lives.
SAVE THE DATE!
15th ANNUAL PHYSICIANS GALA
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 Hilton Norfolk The Main Norfolk, Virginia
Stay tuned for registration information for the 2017 Annual Meeting.
Some highlights from last year’s Annual Meeting:
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Virginia Medical News | An MSV Publication
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Medical Society of Virginia 2924 Emerywood Parkway, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23294 800-746-6768 | www.msv.org
President
Bhushan H. Pandya, M.D.
President-Elect
Kurtis S. Elward, M.D., M.P.H., FAAFP
Directors
Michael S. Amster, M.D. Joel T. Bundy, M.D., FACP, FASN John F. Butterworth IV, M.D. Sandy L. Chung, M.D., FAAP, FACHE Clifford L. Deal III, M.D., FACS James R. Dudley, M.D., M.B.A. Jacqueline M. Fogarty, M.D. Joshua D. Lesko, M.D. Ibe O. Mbanu, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H. Monica N. Melmer Larry G. Mitchell, M.D.
Immediate Former President Edward G. Koch, M.D. FACOG
Secretary-Treasurer
Alan L. Wagner, M.D., FACS
Mohit Nanda, M.D. Edilberto O. Pelausa, M.D., FACS, FRCSC Patricia A. Pletke, M.D. William S. Prominski, M.D. John D. Ward, M.D., M.S.H.A. Chi Young, M.D.
Associate Directors
Teresa W. Babineau, M.D., FAAFP S. Kathleen Carlson Samuel D. Caughron, M.D. Trevar O. Chapmon, M.D.
Speaker of the House Arthur J. Vayer Jr., M.D.
Vice Speaker
Alan H. Wynn, M.D., FACS
Andrea R. Giacometti, M.D. FACR J. Mark Hylton, M.D. Lisa S. Kennedy, M.D. AAFP William D. Kiser, M.D. Adlai L. Pappy, M.D. Pradeep K. Pradhan, M.D., FACP Timothy L. Raines, M.D. Richard A. Szucs, M.D.
Executive Committee Advisors Barbara A. Allison-Bryan, M.D. Sterling N. Ransone Jr., M.D., FAAFP
AMA Delegation Chair
Randolph J. Gould, M.D., FACS
Vice Chair
Claudette E. Dalton, M.D.
Delegates
David A. Ellington, M.D. Edward G. Koch, M.D., FACOG Hazle S. Konerding, M.D. Mitchell B. Miller, M.D. FAAFP Lawrence K. Monahan, M.D. FACP
Alternate Delegates
Clifford L. Deal III, M.D., FACS Thomas W. Eppes Jr., M.D., M.B.A. Russell C. Libby, M.D., FAAP Bhushan H. Pandya, M.D. Sterling N. Ransone Jr., M.D., FAAFP William C. Reha, M.D., M.B.A. Cynthia C. Romero, M.D., FAAFP