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Isolation is used to separate people who are infected with COVID-19 from those who are not infected. • You quarantine when you might have been exposed to COVID-19. This is because you might become infected with COVID-19 and could spread COVID-19 to others. • Any individual that displays COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should not attend school and should be tested for COVID-19.
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COVID-19 School Quarantine Guidelines for Asymptomatic Students
• Fully vaccinated contacts without symptoms do not
need to quarantine.
• Contacts that are not fully vaccinated and do not
have symptoms:
• If masking was maintained, contacts can participate in school activities if wearing a mask for 14 days after exposure and using a "Test to Stay" strategy • If masking was not maintained, if additional testing and mitigation strategies are used, contacts may participate in school activities at the discretion of the local health department.
MI Safer Schools Testing Program
MDHHS is providing schools antigen testing supplies free of charge through the MI Safe Schools Testing program. Schools and individual school districts can request antigen test kits through the MI Safer Schools: School Antigen COVID Test Ordering form. MDHHS will be leveraging our partnership with Intermediate School Districts to help distribute COVID-19 antigen tests based on the orders placed in the School Antigen COVID Test Ordering Form. Questions about test supply orders can be sent to your Intermediate School District and any other school testing related questions can be sent directly to MDHHS at MDHHSCOVIDtestingsupport@michigan.gov.
BIRTHDAYS
January
Jamal U. Akbar MD Ghaith Al-Qudah MD Sarosh Anwar MD Edward Austin MD Ernie P. Balcueva MD Steve Balian MD John K. Bartnik MD Ronald A. Bays MD Abbas Bekhrad MD Robert L. Borenitsch DO Tony Bourdkane MD Gary A. Brooks MD Paul B. Bry MD Lowell A. Butman MD Marcello L. Caso MD Doris D. Cataquiz MD Bryon C. Chamberlain MD Moonyoung S. Chung MD Louis L. Constan MD Elvira M. Dawis MD Lara DeStefano MD Angie Lynn F. Domingo MD Steven D. Hale MD Gabriel S. Hamawi DPM Leatha B. Hayes DO Gregory C. Hazen MD Carlyn M. Hinish DPM Alicia Hoban MD Ali E. Ibrahim MD Mohammad Jafferany MD Shakeel M. Jamal MD Michelle G. Jin Student Ashley Jones MD Roger N. Kahn MD Sreevastav T. Kalangi MD Nadim Kanaan MD Charles A. Keane Student Mohammad Yahya Khan MD Young H. Kim MD Haley Kopkau Student Ayushi A. Kumar Student Menelito D. Lilagan DO Marko Lubardic Student Mark R. Ludka MD Ben R. Mayne MD Matthew F. McDowell DO Vickie B. Mello DO Babu L. Nahata MD Sunil P. Pandit MD Abigail J. Pittard MD Emily Ridge Student Alan I. Rebenstock MD S. Sethu K. Reddy MD Douglas J. Saylor MD Susan K. Schmiege MD Michael L. Schultz MD Maliha N. Shaikh MD F. Ann Sobell Student Molly Stanford Student Craig J. Thomas MD Angelika J. Urbaniak Student Matthew N. Vartanian MD Venkatramana R. Vattipally MD Daniel J. Wechter MD Arno W. Weiss, Jr. MD Kiara A. Whitsell MD
CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TODAY!
Click on the following topics and access a prewritten, editable letter to send to your lawmakers in under a minute each!
• Health Can’t Wait, SB247, writing to the House of
Representatives in support • Auto No-Fault, asking lawmakers to support HB 4486 and SB 314 • Opposition to HB 4355 which allows out-of-state physicians to treat patients without a Michigan license via telemedicine • Expanding the mental health professional definition to include physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners and clinical nurses - oppose SB 191 • Ensure Safe Drinking Water in Michigan Schools support SBs 184-185 • Support Behavioral Health Integration by adding language to SBs 597-598 which would ensure the utilization of the team-based collaborative care model
Surprise Billing Litigation
On December 9, 2021, the American Medical Association (AMA) and American Hospital Association (AHA) filed a complaint and motion to stay against the federal government over the misguided implementation of the federal surprise billing law. The lawsuit challenges a narrow but critical provision of a rule issued on September 30, 2021, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other agencies. The provision being challenged ignores requirements specified in the No Surprises Act and would result in reduced access to care for patients. The rule and this flawed provision are set to take effect January 1, 2022. The AHA and AMA strongly support protecting patients from unanticipated medical bills and were instrumental in passing the landmark No Surprises Act to protect patients from billing disputes between providers and commercial health insurers. The legal challenge became necessary because the federal regulators’ interpretation upends the careful compromise Congress deliberately chose for resolving billing disputes.
According to the lawsuit, the new rule places a heavy thumb on the scale of an independent dispute resolution process, unfairly benefiting commercial health insurance
companies. The skewed process will ultimately reduce access to care by discouraging meaningful contracting negotiations, reducing provider networks, and encouraging unsustainable compensation for teaching hospitals, physician practices, and other providers that significantly benefit patients and communities. Congress created an independent dispute resolution process that is required when providers and insurers are unable to reach agreement on payment for out-of-network services from providers who are not under contract with the insurer. However, federal regulators have directed arbiters under independent dispute resolution to presume that the median in-network rate is the appropriate out-of-network rate and limiting when and how other factors come into play. The suit argues that the regulations are a clear deviation from the law as written and all but ensure that hospitals, physicians, and other providers will routinely be undercompensated by commercial insurers and patients will have fewer choices for access to in-network services. Importantly, today’s challenge does not prevent the law’s core patient protections from moving forward and will not increase out-of-pocket costs to patients. It seeks only to force the Administration to bring the regulations in line with the law before the dispute negotiations begin. Last month, a bipartisan group of 152 lawmakers urged the Administration to fix the independent dispute resolution provisions, noting the rule’s approach “is contrary to statute and could incentivize insurance companies to set artificially low payment rates, which would narrow provider networks and jeopardize patient access to care – the exact opposite of the goal of the law.” The AHA, AMA and their co-plaintiffs filed their lawsuit against the departments of HHS, Labor, and Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
AMA Truth in Advertising Campaign
The AMA Truth in Advertising Campaign is designed to ensure health care providers clearly and honestly state their level of training, education and licensing. Patients deserve to have this information when in face-to-face encounters, as well as, when they read health care providers’ advertising, marketing and other communications materials. Patients are confused about the qualifications of different health care professionals. Many non-physicians earn advanced degrees, and many of those degree programs now confer the title “doctor.” As a result, patients often mistakenly believe they are meeting with physicians (medical doctors or doctors of osteopathic medicine) when they are not. To ensure patients know which “doctor” is providing their care, truth in advertising legislation: • Requires all health care professionals to clearly and accurately identify themselves in all writings, advertisements and other communications. • Requires all health care professionals to wear, during patient encounters, a name tag that clearly identifies the type of license they hold. • Prohibits advertisements or websites advertising health care services from including deceptive or misleading information.
Andis Robeznieks, Senior News Writer
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safety network Creating a
for our community
Our goal is to save lives through prevention, intervention, and aftercare.
Our Network trains individuals in evidence-based suicide prevention with the hope of destigmatizing suicide, increasing help-seeking behaviors, and caring for those impacted by suicide.
To request trainings or resources, contact info@srrn.net I www.srrn.net I 989.781.5260
continued from page 9 If you have not completed your CME requirements by your license renewal date, you are allowed to use this grace period to complete those credits. Do not submit your renewal prior to completing your CME but do not exceed the 60-day period.
Renewing Your License
Physicians will be sent a renewal notification to both your mailing and email address on record approximately 90 days prior to the expiration date of your license. You will not be able to renew before that time. Remember to notify LARA of any address change by submitting a MiPLUS modification. LARA
states that it is the providers responsibility as a licensed health professional to renew your license on time. Failure to receive the renewal postcard, email notification, or to notify LARA of an address change does not exempt physicians from renewing their license on time.
To renew your license, go online to your MiPLUS account at www.michigan.gov/MiPLUS. Renewal payments can be taken by using a debit or credit card containing a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover logo.
MSMS Online CME Courses Online CME courses including the required content areas are available here>>
Details on the required and one-time CME are available here>>
For more information or for questions, please contact Brenda Marenich or Rebecca Blake.
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Key Provider to the SCMS
Health care professionals are not immune to substance abuse or mental health disorders. Many otherwise highly qualified professionals may develop these problems due to stress, long hours, a genetic predisposition, or a
tendency to self-medicate. To assist health care professionals impaired by these disorders, consider the care monitoring services of the Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP). The Michigan HPRP was established by legislation in 1993 to assist impaired professionals before their actions harm a patient or damage their careers through disciplinary action. Any licensed or registered health care professional in the State of Michigan is eligible to participate in the program. To maintain participant confidentiality, the HPRP is operated by a private-sector contractor under the authority of the Health Professional Recovery Committee (HPRC), a committee comprised of a representative from each of the health professional licensing boards. The Michigan Department of Community Health, Bureau of Health Professions provides administrative services to the HPRC. Participation in the HPRP is confidential. If a licensee/ registrant is referred to the program, has a qualifying diagnosis and complies with the HPRP requirements, his/her name will not be disclosed to state regulatory authorities or the public. Provided there is no readmission, records of HPRP participants are destroyed five years after successful completion. Referrals to the HPRP may come in the form of a selfreferral from a licensee/registrant or from colleagues, partners, employers, patients, family members or the State. Any of the 20 health professional licensing boards may also refer licensees/registrants to the HPRP for monitoring as a condition to regain or retain their license to practice. The names of individuals reporting a licensee/registrant suspected of impairment are also kept confidential. For more information on the HPRP, call 1-800-453-3784 or visit www.HPRP.org. Informational presentations on the HPRP are available to employers and health professional groups at no charge. Call the toll-free number to arrange a presentation at your facility.
TO MAKE A REFERRAL OR SELF REPORT, CALL 1-800-453-3784
SafeHaven™ ensures that physicians and health care providers can seek confidential assistance and support for burnout, career fatigue, and mental health reasons. In-the-moment telephonic support by a licensed counselor, 24/7 Peer Coaching—talk with someone who has walked in your shoes that can help you grow both personally and professionally • Six sessions per incident • Physician or provider chooses coach from a panel of coaches WorkLife Concierge, a virtual assistant to help with every day and special occasion tasks, 24/7 RESOURCES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
SafeHaven™ ensures that physicians and health care providers can seek confidential assistance and support for burnout, career fatigue, and mental health reasons. Legal and financial consultations In-the-moment telephonic support and resources, available 24/7 by a licensed counselor, 24/7 Counseling, available in either Peer Coaching—talk with someone face-to-face or virtual sessions; who has walked in your shoes that addressing stress, relationships, can help you grow both personally eldercare, grief, and more and professionally • Six sessions per incident • Six sessions per incident • Available to all extended family • Physician or provider chooses members coach from a panel of coaches VITAL WorkLife App—Mobile WorkLife Concierge, a virtual access to resources, well being assistant to help with every day and assessments, insights, and more special occasion tasks, 24/7 RESOURCES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
SafeHaven™ ensures that physicians and health care providers can seek confidential assistance and support for burnout, career fatigue, and mental health reasons. In-the-moment telephonic support by a licensed counselor, 24/7 Legal and financial consultations Peer Coaching—talk with someone and resources, available 24/7 who has walked in your shoes that can help you grow both personally Counseling, available in either and professionally face-to-face or virtual sessions; • Six sessions per incident addressing stress, relationships, • Physician or provider chooses eldercare, grief, and more coach from a panel of coaches • Six sessions per incident • Available to all extended family WorkLife Concierge, a virtual members assistant to help with every day and special occasion tasks, 24/7 VITAL WorkLife App—Mobile access to resources, well being assessments, insights, and more RESOURCES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
SafeHaven™ ensures that physicians and health care providers can seek confidential assistance and support for burnout, career fatigue, and mental health reasons. In-the-moment telephonic support by a licensed counselor, 24/7 Legal and financial consultations and resources, available 24/7 Peer Coaching—talk with someone who has walked in your shoes that Counseling, available in either can help you grow both personally face-to-face or virtual sessions; and professionally addressing stress, relationships, • Six sessions per incident eldercare, grief, and more • Physician or provider chooses • Six sessions per incident coach from a panel of coaches • Available to all extended family members WorkLife Concierge, a virtual assistant to help with every day and VITAL WorkLife App—Mobile special occasion tasks, 24/7 access to resources, well being assessments, insights, and more RESOURCES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
SafeHaven™ ensures that physicians and health care providers can seek confidential assistance and support for burnout, career fatigue, and mental health reasons. In-the-moment telephonic support by a licensed counselor, 24/7 Legal and financial consultations and resources, available 24/7 Peer Coaching—talk with someone who has walked in your shoes that Counseling, available in either can help you grow both personally face-to-face or virtual sessions; and professionally addressing stress, relationships, • Six sessions per incident eldercare, grief, and more • Physician or provider chooses • Six sessions per incident coach from a panel of coaches • Available to all extended family members WorkLife Concierge, a virtual assistant to help with every day and VITAL WorkLife App—Mobile special occasion tasks, 24/7 access to resources, well being assessments, insights, and more RESOURCES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
Legal and financial consultations and resources, available 24/7 Counseling, available in either face-to-face or virtual sessions; addressing stress, relationships, eldercare, grief, and more • Six sessions per incident • Available to all extended family members VITAL WorkLife App—Mobile access to resources, well being assessments, insights, and more
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT www.MSMS.org/SafeHaven To support the needs of physicians and health care providers struggling with stress, burnout, and the effects of COVID-19, www.MSMS.org/SafeHaven TO LEARN MORE, VISIT www.MSMS.org/SafeHaven To support the needs of physicians and health care providers struggling with stress, burnout, and the effects of COVID-19, To support the needs of physicians and health care providers struggling with stress, burnout, and the effects of COVID-19, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and VITAL WorkLife have partnered to offer a comprehensive set of well being resources and confidential counseling services for their use, SafeHaven™. the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and VITAL WorkLife have partnered to offer a comprehensive set of well being resources and confidential counseling services for their use, SafeHaven™. To support the needs of physicians and health care providers struggling with stress, burnout, and the effects of COVID-19, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and VITAL WorkLife have partnered to offer a the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and VITAL WorkLife have partnered to offer a To support the needs of physicians and health care providers struggling with stress, burnout, and the effects of COVID-19, comprehensive set of well being resources and confidential counseling services for their use, SafeHaven™. comprehensive set of well being resources and confidential counseling services for their use, SafeHaven™. the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and VITAL WorkLife have partnered to offer a comprehensive set of well being resources and confidential counseling services for their use, SafeHaven™.
END THE EPIDEMIC MI CARES
How Raising Her Hand is Strengthening Our Country’s Addiction Medicine Workforce
‘You can’t train medical students in addiction if you don’t have trained faculty’
Board-certified Addiction Medicine Physician Cara Poland, MD, MEd, FACP, DFASAM wanted the State of Michigan to train a future generation of physicians to treat substance use disorders, but first, she realized that Michigan’s medical schools needed core faculty. Like nearly every state in the United States, Michigan is seeing staggering increases in overdose due to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, methamphetamine and cocaine. Prescription opioid-related overdose and alcohol use disorder also remain top issues in Michigan. “In 2018, during a statewide meeting of the seven medical schools, I asked how many schools had core faculty to teach addiction. Only one did,” Dr. Poland said. “Now, almost all do. It sounds obvious, but you can’t train medical students in addiction if you don’t have trained faculty.” Dr. Poland, Assistant Professor of Women’s Health at Michigan State University, said that the 2018 meeting was eye-opening for everyone. The state had been working through multiple efforts to increase access to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), but it hadn’t considered the role of medical schools and residency programs. “We had a blind spot, but we all had that ah-ha moment when we realized we could do better for our communities if we just built it into the curricula.” Given the relative lack of examples across the board, the Michigan physicians and deans realized that it was up to them to act. Through utilization of State Opioid Response funds, a collaboration was born: MI CARES. Led by Dr. Poland, the program not only trains physician-level addiction specialists in Michigan but across the country. Nearly 400 physicians in 43 states are currently on the pathway to becoming board-certified in addiction medicine. Michigan State University’s MD and DO colleges also began implementing curricular changes to offer more training in treating persons with substance use disorders to their medical students. Student response has been overwhelmingly positive. Of the inaugural 36 first-year elective students taught by Dr. Poland and Jamie Alan, RPh, PharmD, PhD, all 36 stated that they would recommend the elective to a colleague. “We didn’t figure it out overnight, but we’re on a great path. I also realize that not all of our students and residents will choose addiction medicine as their career,” said Dr. Poland. “But all of them - whether they become surgeons, Ob-gyns, family physicians, general internists or any other specialty - will be able to better serve their patients.” Dr. Poland emphasized that the training being done in Michigan builds on a foundation of medical evidence, nonstigmatizing practice, and the recognition that a patient with a SUD is like any other patient with a chronic disease. Followup surveys given to students are also helping Dr. Poland and other faculty evaluate the coursework and the students’ perceptions of patients with a SUD, the role of treatment, and addiction medicine overall. Among the students’ responses: • Amazing intersession! Completely changed my mindset and understanding of patients with SUDs. The PCSS training we completed should be mandatory for all ECE students. Extremely valuable. • Dr. Alan and Dr. Poland are both extremely passionate about the topic, and it came through and made the class interesting and enjoyable. • This was fantastic!! I absolutely loved this intersession, and Dr. Poland & Dr. Alan are amazing! They made the zoom time together not only informative and engaging but truly fun. • This was probably my favorite intersession and I can’t say enough positive things about it. Just keep it up! I appreciate the work that everyone put in to make this intersession possible. • This was the best intersession I have taken. The combination of patient care, board cases and training were great. Also, I wish Dr. Poland and Dr. Alan could teach all of my classes! “I’m grateful for my co-faculty and the students who challenge themselves and are open to learning a field of medicine that is incredibly rewarding,” said Dr. Poland. “And as faculty, I need to learn how to continue to be better for my students. What we’re building at the medical school will resonate throughout the state, so we must always strive to improve.” To learn more about MI CARES, please visit micaresed.org. Dr. Poland’s brother Max died of a substance use disorder, and she dedicates her life’s work to him.
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