Pertinent Information
HAVE YOU PAID YOUR 2024 HCMA MEMBERSHIP DUES?
Your HCMA membership renews on the first of each year. Check your membership status by logging into your account at HCMA.net. You can pay your dues securely online, or by calling the HCMA at 813.253.0471, or by mailing your payment to HCMA, 3001 W. Azeele Street, Tampa, FL 33609.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE...
TO RSVP FOR THE
HCMA Membership Dinner
Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 6:15pm
Westshore Grand Hotel
Dr. Joseph Dituri, our guest speaker, broke the world record for the longest time spent living in a fixed underwater habitat. Also known as “Dr. Deep Sea,” the USF professor lived underwater to study how the human body responds to long-term exposure to pressure from the underwater habitat. RSVP by clicking here! Sponsor and exhibit opportunities are available, 813.253.0471.
FOR SELF NOMINATIONS
If you would like to be placed, as a candidate, on the 2024 HCMA ballot, it is not too late to self-nominate. You must be a member in the ACTIVE, AFFILIATE, or LIFE membership categories and your 2024 HCMA membership dues must be paid in full. Nominations to specific seats will be determined by the Nominating Committee members on February 6th. However, if you have a preference to serve in a certain capacity, please indicate such when submitting your request. Click here if you have any questions or to submit your name for nomination.
TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE WITH YOUR PEERS
The HCMA's Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is coordinating a contingency of members to visit Tallahassee on February 20th, during the 2024 Legislative Session. This one-day event includes a meeting with FMA legislative experts followed by scheduled appointments with legislators and/or their administrative staff. Members often arrive in Tallahassee the evening before the scheduled day at the Capitol. If you are interested in joining the GAC contingency in their visit to Tallahassee, contact Elke Lubin or call the HCMA office: 813.253.0471.
JN.1 takes over as the most prevalent COVID-19 variant
The virus continues to evolve so rapidly that "our immune systems have not been able to keep up," an expert says. Here's what you need to know.
The US hasn't seen syphilis numbers this high since 1950
It's not clear why infectious cases of syphilis rose 9% while gonorrhea dropped 9%, the CDC reports. Syphilis is less common than gonorrhea or chlamydia but is considered more dangerous. Read more.
AI excels in patient interaction and diagnosis in pilot study
The Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE), an artificial intelligence algorithm, has been trained to conduct and evaluate medical conversations. In dialogues with "patients" who were trained actors, it matched or even surpassed the performance of human doctors. Read more.
Attention 4th year medical students planning a career in OBG
Robert Yelverton, Sr., MD Memorial Scholarship - Deadline April 1st
The HCMA Foundation USF Health/Morsani College of Medicine Robert Yelverton, Sr., MD Memorial Scholarship, established in 2023, will be presented at the May HCMA Membership Dinners to a senior USF medical student who will continue their graduate medical education in obstetrics/gynecology and is based on financial need and academic achievement. One $2,000 scholarship will be awarded annually. Among his many notable accomplishments, Dr. Yelverton served as HCMA President in 1997 and as a Clinical Associate Professor of Ob/Gyn at the USF Morsani College of Medicine. Click here to apply.
Membership Directory rates have been reduced
Now accepting ads for the Annual HCMA Membership Directory, Summer 2024 Edition. The HCMA Annual Membership Directory has proven to be an excellent referral source for physicians and businesses. 2024 advertising rates have been reduced for both members and businesses. Click here to view the rate sheet and to secure your advertisement. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Bauman, E&M sales associate, at 800-572-0011 or brian.b@eandmsales.com.
Tampa Bay Street Medicine - Wish List
Tampa Bay Street Medicine, a USF Health student-led organization dedicated to bringing healthcare to Tampa’s unsheltered population, is holding a donation drive via an Amazon Wishlist. Please view their list via THIS LINK and consider making a donation. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Heideman, MD Candidate ‘24, Morsani College of Medicine, eheideman@usf.edu.
Panera Heart Cookies support St. Joe's Hearts
The Panera Valentine cookie promotion benefiting the Patel Heart Institute at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital will be underway from February 1-14. With your purchase of a heart-shaped cookie at one of the 30 bakery-cafes throughout Tampa Bay owned by Covelli Enterprises, Panera will donate 100% of the profits to the kids at St. Joe’s. Find a participating location.
Bill would create police training on dealing with people who have Alzheimer's
A bill creating an Alzheimer's training program for law enforcement officers is making its way through the Florida Senate. The optional online course would teach how to interact with people who have dementia, recognize behaviors, use alternatives to physical restraints, and spot signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The training in SB 208 would be optional and count toward continuing education. Read more.
Expected to be a big deal, Alzheimer's drug is pulled after disappointing sales.
A drugmaker is pulling the plug on an Alzheimer's treatment that was once expected to be a blockbuster. NPR's Sydney Lupkin reports on what happened and what it could mean for patients. Read more.
When should your patients stop driving? Preparing to hang up the car keys.
As cognitive skills erode, driving skills weaken, but an older driver may not recognize that. Advance directives on driving are one way to handle this challenge. Resources to help family members address the issue with their elderly loved one are available. Many people with cognitive impairment continue to drive and don’t want to stop. There are no standards for when they should give up their car keys, but planning ahead is recommended.
Here are some resources that offer guidance:
For basic information:
Hitting the milestone:
A conversation guide:
CMS Prior Authorization regulations
On January 17, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that makes important reforms in prior authorization (PA) programs for medical services. The rule addresses PA in government-regulated health plans: Medicare Advantage, state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Fee-for-Service programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers on the Federally Facilitated Exchanges (FFEs).
The AMA continues to analyze the details of the final rule; their initial read suggests that CMS has taken important steps toward right-sizing the PA process by addressing both technological and operational requirements. Among the technology provisions is a requirement that impacted payers support an electronic PA process that is embedded within physicians’ electronic health records (EHR)—bringing much-needed automation and efficiency to the current time-consuming, manual workflow. In addition, CMS is curtailing payers’ PA processes by mandating shortened PA processing timeframes and significantly enhancing transparency around PA, including requirements for specific denial reasons and public reporting of program metrics. CMS is also requiring that payers provide physicians and patients more PA-related information.
CMS notes enforcement of its policies, particularly around Medicare Advantage payers, can include CMS sanctions and civil monetary penalties. CMS received considerable feedback on the effective date of its policies, including some concerns regarding technology challenges. Unless otherwise noted in the section summaries attached, CMS’ policies will go into effect January 1, 2027.
The AMA issued a press release commending the Biden Administration for its PA reforms that prioritize patients’ access to care and reduce administrative burdens for physicians and their staff. The AMA has been urging the Biden Administration to move forward on many of these reforms and this final rule is an important step. The AMA looks forward to continuing to work with CMS on this critical issue, including expanding these improvements to drug PA. A more detailed, preliminary summary of the new regulations can be found here.
PHYSICIANS NEEDED to conduct guardianship evaluations for the Court in Hillsborough County
Applications are currently being sought from licensed Florida physicians to serve as members of the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Guardianship Examining Committee. The work product of the Examining Committee is an essential consideration of the Guardianship Court, before declaring a person to be legally incapacitated, in whole or in part, and before removing any of that person’s rights and, potentially, delegating some of those rights to a legal guardian. Physicians are required to complete the evaluation and file a written report to the Court, for which they are paid a $350 or $500 flat fee, depending on the circumstances of the case.
A completed application must be submitted for consideration, along with a résumé reflecting relevant experience. Applicants must also be cleared through a court-conducted criminal records check. A one-time initial training is required to be completed within four months of appointment and is available in this Circuit via online video training. After that, members of the Committee must simply demonstrate 2 hours of relevant continuing education training that will enhance their ability to conduct the evaluations. For more information about this Examining Committee work and/or to request an application, please contact the Court’s Elder Justice Center by email at elder@fljud13.org or by calling (813) 276-2726. Thank you for your consideration regarding this important community service.
Florida Rx Card
A FREE statewide Prescription Assistance Program (PAP). This prescription discount drug card offers savings as high as 75% on both generic and brand medications. Anyone living in or visiting Florida can use this discount card; regardless of age, income, health conditions, or residential status. No restrictions or applications. No personal information is required to obtain a card. Accepted at over 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. Very easy to use and some prescription costs are less than health insurance co-pays! For more information, or to order cards to distribute to your patients, contact Timra Campbell, Florida Rx Card, info@floridarxcard.com.
In the immortal words of David Bowie, “Let's Dance”
Do your patients hate exercise? Have patients who want to lose weight? Tell them to put on their dancing shoes. Dancing can be an effective fat-loss tool for people who are overweight or have obesity, according to a recent meta-analysis in PLOS One. People who danced regularly lost about four more pounds — including three and a half pounds of fat — than those who didn't dance. They also shaved an extra inch off their waists. Read more.
Happy Heart Month!
Heart Month is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about heart health and cardiovascular diseases. It serves as a reminder to prioritize heart-healthy lifestyles, learn about heart disease prevention, and support those affected by cardiovascular conditions. Heart disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and this observance seeks to reduce its impact through awareness and action. Learn more
Connect with us!
Follow and connect with the HCMA on social media. Tap the links and also connect with HCMA administration staff:
Hillsborough County Medical Association, Inc. | Tampa FL | Facebook
Hillsborough County Medical Association (@medicalassn) • Instagram photos and videos
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC | LinkedIn
Hillsborough County Medical Association - YouTube
Debbie Zorian, Executive Director and
Elke Lubin, Executive Assistant
