Earlier this week, the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) Board of Directors met to address the upcoming House of Delegates, physician sustainability, Medicaid, and more. Below are some of the highlights:

• The Executive Council of Physician Organizations continues to grow with the addition of three new physician organizations: Sparrow Care Network, The Physician Alliance and United Physicians. Representation now stands at more than 7,500 members.
• Medicaid has asked for assistances from MSMS to increase the number of completed and returned health risk assessments (HRAs) for Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) beneficiaries. As required in the legislation and CMS’ approval of the second waiver, HRAs are required as one mechanism the state can use to verify that beneficiaries have selected a healthy behavior.
• MSMS has been working with the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to find a way to ease the administrative burden involved in the billing of newborn care when the newborn has Medicaid. The issue involves the delay of newborns being assigned to a health plan and offices billing Medicaid FFS.
• The Spring Scientific Meeting (SSM) and the Maternal and Perinatal Health Conference agendas have been finalized. The Annual Scientific Meeting Planning Committee will have the task of prioritizing the numerous practice gaps and need strategies identified by local and state experts in the field.
  • Spring Scientific Meeting (SSM), May 19-20, 2016. This year’s SSM will feature Infectious Disease Update, Hip and Knee Arthritis and Joint Replacement, Dermatology, Diabetes and Lipid Updates, Conflict Management, Cardiology, Allergy and Immunology, Neuroscience: Update on Neurological Disorders, and Updates in Psychotic Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
  • Maternal and Perinatal Health Conference, May 19, 2016. Conference will highlight strategies in addressing and managing drug addiction in pregnancy for the mother and baby, goals of preterm birth prevention including use of progesterone, newborn screening challenges, non-invasive perinatal testing, and potential impacts of Level II Special Care Nurseries.
• MSMS has sought legislation to limit the ability of insurers and health systems to use Maintenance of Certification (MOC) as a criterion for participation. MOC has grown onerous for many physician specialties with very no evidence that such requirements benefit the patient. The time and costs associated with MOC have become increasingly burdensome largely because certifying boards know physicians need board certification to participate in a health plan. MOC should be voluntary based on the quality of the program and not because physicians are captive to their specialty board. Hearings on the bills are forthcoming in both Chambers.