2021 Renewal Incentive for AAFP Active Members

AAFP
AAFP is offering a renewal incentive to active members who pay their 2021 dues in full by December 31, 2020. The renewal incentive is a FREE livestream CME half-day session of their choice. Renew today!
Requirements for this dues incentive:
  • Must be an active member
  • Must pay 2021 dues in full no later than Dec. 31, 2020
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Don’t Forget to Update Your Email Address

AAFP

The AAFP website and mobile app have been launched! You should have received an email earlier this week about the change. Your email address will be your default username for both the website and mobile app. Make sure to confirm that the AAFP has your preferred email address on file if you have not already done so. If you’re using a shared email address (such as a generic practice address) that is also used by other AAFP members, you will need to add a unique email address to receive access. If you need assistance with your email, you can contact the Member Resource Center at AAFP@AAFP.org or 800-274-2237.

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July Updated COVID-19 Resources

AAFP/KAFP
We continue to update the COVID-19 resource page on the KAFP website for our members, including most recently, the educational opportunity: Lessons Learned in Finney County.
Be sure to bookmark the COVID-19 web page to easily find all resources in one location. Bookmark https://kafponline.org/COVID-19
Don’t forget to tune into AAFP’s valuable CME opportunities:
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Using Agenda Setting to Help with Virtual Visits

AAFP
Our evolving health care landscape has made telehealth or virtual visits a reality for many medical practices. Using the AAFP’s agenda setting tools may help. The AAFP National Research Network and Division of Practice Advancement developed an AAFP Transformation in Practice Series (TIPS™) resource to specifically address agenda setting. The AAFP TIPS™ Agenda Setting resources provide physicians, care teams, and patients with tools and information to help prepare for and prioritize visits. They are for both provider and patients, and include forms, checklists, scripts, workflow examples, role-playing activities, tips, and more. Agenda setting is a strategy all providers and care teams can benefit from using.
For a limited number of participants, the AAFP National Research Network is conducting an engagement evaluation project where providers can receive up to $200, and patients can receive up to $100 for using the agenda setting resources for visits. Space is limited, so if you would like to participate please contact Cory Lutgen (clutgen@aafp.org or 913-906-6150) for more information
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Calling All Members to Participate in “Week in Action” #StabilizeStrengthenSustain

AAFP

Act now! June 1-5 “Week of Action” ⁠is a first-time virtual event that’s replacing the usual Family Medicine Advocacy Summit. AAFP is rallying members nationwide to schedule online meetings and lobby their elected officials. Our message to lawmakers: stabilize, strengthen, and sustain primary care. The AAFP has prepared detailed, data-driven talking points and backgrounders for you, along with sample tweets and tips for recording video messages optimal for social media. To view these materials and participate in these activities, please join the AAFP’s Family Medicine Action Network. Need your legislator’s information? Can’t access the materials? No problem: email grassroots@aafp.org.

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Urge Congress to Support Family Physicians Fighting COVID-19

AAFP

Family physicians and other primary care physicians remain a critical part of our nation’s response to COVID-19, yet the virus has exposed critical shortcomings in our primary care safety net across the country. Last week, the AAFP called on congressional leaders to prioritize the needs of the primary care workforce and patients and take “bold steps” to address this pandemic. The April 13 letter urges Congress to stabilize our primary care system and increase patient protections during this uncertain time. Join us in telling Congress that relief to family physicians is essential for any comprehensive COVID-19 response action plan. Use this pre-written letter to speak out now!

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COVID-19 Resources for Kansas Family Physicians

AAFP/KAFP

The KAFP continues to update the COVID-19 web page for you to easily find all resources in one location. We hope you will find it useful. Bookmark https://kafponline.org/COVID-19

In addition, don’t forget AAFP has a daily update for you to bookmark and check each day to eliminate sifting through the flood of news.

And lastly be sure and tune in each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for AAFP’s weekly COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall. Members are invited to participate via:
AAFP Facebook
AAFP Twitter or
AAFP’s YouTube channel

If you miss an AAFP’s Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19, you can watch it anytime, anywhere on demand. Each session is approved for 1 AAFP Prescribed credit. Watch a session. Earn up to 2 additional AAFP Prescribed credits when you complete the Translation to Practice® (t2p®) process. Learn more.

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COVID-19 Administrative and Financial Relief for Members

AAFP

Yesterday you received a letter from AAFP about relief, both administrative and financial for you as a member. There have been several developments aimed at providing much needed relief, both administrative and financial, to you as a member:

  • The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed and signed into law. This bill aims to provide financial relief to small businesses, support health care workers, get medical supplies to the front lines, fund research for vaccines and stimulate the U.S. economy.
  • CMS announced the expansion of the accelerated and advanced payment program to fast track cash flow to Medicare providers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.  This particular announcement was very congruent with the direct request to HHS Secretary Azar in the AAFP letter to him last week.
  • The AAFP’s board of directors approved the following provisions around CME reporting/requirements and dues:
    • Any members whose CME re-election cycle ends on Dec. 31, 2020 and who have not yet met the CME requirement will have an additional year to do so.
    • Members whose three-year cycle ended on Dec. 31, 2019 will now have until Dec. 31, 2020 to report their CME to remain eligible for membership (original deadline was May 5, 2020).
    • Any members who have not yet paid their 2020 dues will now have until July 14, 2020 to submit payment
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Urge Lawmakers to support family physicians during COVID-19

AAFP
Speak Out

Family physicians continue to play an essential role in our nation’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the virus spreads, the pressures on family physicians will only increase. Many practices are facing severe shortages of equipment and supplies, and most are starting to feel the financial strains of the pandemic. It is critical that congressional leaders take action to support America’s frontline physicians by ensuring they have the equipment, supplies and financial resources needed to keep them operating.

Please join us in urging lawmakers to do their part to provide family physicians the support we need to be successful in responding to COVID-19. The AAFP SPEAK OUT tool is a valuable tool for all family physicians to use. The pre-written message may be edited as you see fit.

Most recently the AAFP joined the AMA, ACP, ACS and MGMA in sending a letter to House and Senate leadership calling for increase support to physicians. The legislative requests included in the letter are:

Require all payers, including ERISA plans, to provide coverage and payment for audio-only telehealth visits with patients, at the same level as in-person visits.

  1. Provide dedicated and direct financial support to physicians and their practices on the front lines of testing, diagnosing, and treating patients at risk of COVID-19, recognizing the increased costs they are incurring in the care of such patients.
  2. Provide dedicated financial support to all physicians and their practices who are experiencing adverse economic impact on their practices from suspending elective visits and procedures.
  3. We also strongly urge that Congress take all possible actions to ensure that every physician, and every health care worker, has access to critically needed PPE.
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Executive Order Issued to Expand Telemedicine; Tips on Telehealth

KAFP/AAFP

Under the new executive orders issued by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts is blocked from enforcing any law, rule or regulation that requires in-person examinations in order to issue a prescription or administer medication.

Out-of-state doctors may provide telemedicine services in Kansas if they are licensed in another state. All physicians are encouraged to utilize telemedicine, including those under self-quarantine.

This expansion of telemedicine is to deliver relief for COVID-19. As of March 22, 66 Kansas residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and two have died. See detailed map.

 The AAFP recently updated its guidance on using telehealth to specifically address caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tips included in that guidance address how to quickly implement telemedicine in a practice, how to get reimbursed for virtual visits and what codes to use for COVID-19. Additionally, there is specific guidance on Medicare payment requirements for these telehealth sessions.

Read more on how family physicians are using telehealth as a tool to care for patients.

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