IAC renames its new declination form for parents who refuse to vaccinate their children and updates “It’s Federal Law!”

IAC recently revised the following two handouts.

(1) IAC changed the name of a newly developed form from “Refusal of Vaccination for My Child” to “Decision to Not Vaccinate My Child.” Intended to be reviewed and signed by the parent, the form includes information about how an unvaccinated child might get seriously ill or could spread disease to another person. A second page includes background information and reference material for healthcare professionals. Go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4059.pdf

(2) IAC updated “It’s federal law! You must give your patients current Vaccine Information Statements (VISs)” to include all new and revised VISs released through November 8, 2011. Go to: http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2027.pdf

IAC’s Handouts for Patients and Staff web section offers healthcare professionals and the public approximately 250 FREE English-language handouts (many also available in translation), which we encourage website users to print out, copy, and distribute widely. To access all of IAC’s free handouts, go to: http://www.immunize.org/handouts

National Influenza Vaccination Week, December 4-10, “Get the flu vaccine, not the flu.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CDC published “National Influenza Vaccination Week 2011: Update from HHS and CDC.” It provides information on various plans the two federal agencies have developed to reach out to the public during National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). With the help of partner organizations, the two agencies will use traditional, digital, and social media to engage the public, and will also host public events such as kick-off meetings and influenza vaccination clinics.

To access the update from HHS and CDC, go to:http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/nivw/nivw-partner-update-11-10-11.pdf

 

 

Summary of Actions on Resolutions at 2011 AAFP COD

The Summary of Actions from the 2011 Congress of Delegates meeting has been posted online. Click on “2011 Summary of Actions” on the left sidebar. This document contains the process/activity of the resolutions and the key AAFP staff contact for follow up information. An update on the action(s) taken on resolutions will be provided in April 2012. This brief progress report will be incorporated into the Summary of Actions document and republished on the website at that time.

Individual resolutions posted on the website now include the Congress action and will also include progress reports along with a staff contact name.

Contact Diane McDaniel or Terresa Winch with questions.

Each Office Visit is an Opportunity

Medicare patients give many reasons for not getting their annual flu vaccination, but the fact is that flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Each year, it is estimated that 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths and more than 60 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations occur in people 65 years and older. Please talk with your Medicare patients about the importance of getting their annual flu vaccination. And remember, vaccination is important for healthcare workers too, who may spread the flu to high risk patients. Don’t forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself. Get the Flu Vaccine—Not the Flu.

Remember – The flu vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. CMS has posted the 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine payment limits at http://www.CMS.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/10_VaccinesPricing.asp. Note that the flu vaccine is NOT a Part D-covered drug.

For more information on coverage and billing of the flu vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational provider resources, visit http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp and http://www.cms.gov/immunizations.

Medical Licensure Renewal

If your medical license is set to expire on January 31, 2012, the process of renewing your license may take two to three weeks. Initiating contact to confirm the receipt of fees or the status of your license prior to this time will not expedite the renewal process. Applicable fees, forms and information for licensure renewal can be found by visiting: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/Renewal/medicine/renew-me1.html

 For licensure renewal, physicians must complete the following CE requirements: http://doh.state.fl.us/mqa/ceu.html

Please log into www.FLHealthsource.com and follow these steps:

• Click Renew my License and log in
• Click Renew License and select your renewal option
  • Renew online
  • Print your renewal notice to submit with your payment via mail

You will be promoted to complete the Physician Workforce Survey online.

Please note that if you currently dispense, an additional fee of $100.00 is required to the active renewal licensure fee as indicated on the FL DOH renewal webpage. If you are requesting to dispense, you will also need to add the additional $100.00 fee to the active renewal licensure fee. Dispensing Practitioner Registration can be found by visiting: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/medical/frm_dispensing.pdf.

Section 456.0635, F.S., may affect your ability to renew your license. Please visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/laws.html for more information

Remember, all renewals must be submitted no later than January 31, 2012, in order to avoid a delinquent fee.  For general licensing and renewal questions, please contact the FL DOH at 850-488-0595 and press option 3.

64B8-13.0045 Requirements for Reactivation of Retired Status License

To reactivate a license that has been retired for less than five years the physician is required to provide the following:

(1) Contact the board either by phone, mail , email or fax and let us know they want to react their retired license.

(2) Complete twenty course hours of AMA approved, category one, general CME, one hour of HIV/AIDS, and two hours of Preventing Medical Errors.

(3) Pay the reactivation fee of $250 plus all back renewal fees that the physician would have paid had the license remained in an active status.

(4) Complete a Financial Responsibility form indicating the type of medical malpractice insurance coverage they have.

To reactivate a license that has been retired for more than five years, and the physician has not practiced in any jurisdiction during this time, the physician must provide the following:

(1) Everything listed in (1) – (4) above.

(2) Pass a clinical competency exam given by the Federation of State Medical Boards otherwise known as the SPEX exam.  The SPEX score cannot be less than a 75.

(3) Appear before the Credentials Committee.

(4) Provide a statement accounting for all medical practice in another jurisdiction while the Florida license was in the retired status.

(5) Provide a statement establishing no malpractice or disciplinary action pending in another jurisdiction.

A retired status license shall be reactivated upon demonstration that the licensee has paid the reactivation fee set forth in Rule 64B8-3.004, F.A.C., and has complied with the following requirements:

(1) As a condition to the reactivation of a retired status license, a physician must:

(a) Submit documentation of successful completion of an average of twenty (20) hours per year of Category I, American Medical Association approved continuing medical education for each year of retired status;

(b) Document compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of Section 458.320, F.S., and Rule Chapter 64B8-12, F.A.C.; and

(c) Document compliance with Section 456.033, F.S., and Rule 64B8-13.005, F.A.C.

(2) Any physician whose license has been on retired status for more than five (5) years or a licensee from another state who has not been in the active practice of medicine within the past five (5) years shall be required to appear before the Credentials Committee of the Board and establish the ability to practice with the care and skill sufficient to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. At the time of such appearance, the physician must:

(a) Demonstrate compliance with subsection (1) above;

(b) Demonstrate successful completion of the SPEX with a score of at least 75 achieved within the year immediately preceding the appearance before the Credentials Committee; and

(c) Account for any activities related to the practice of medicine during the period that the license was on retired status or not practicing in another jurisdiction and establish an absence of malpractice or disciplinary actions pending in any jurisdiction.

(3) The Department shall refuse to reactivate the license of a retired status physician who is under investigation or prosecution in any jurisdiction for an action that would constitute a violation of this chapter or the professional practice acts administered by the department and the boards, until 15 days after the Department receives the final results of the investigation or prosecution. 

If you have questions, kindly contact Jennifer Young, FAFP Director of Membership and Social Media, jyoung@fafp.org.