COVID-19 News
9th COVID Virtual Town Hall
Thursday, July 20, 2022
6:30pm-7:30pm
Midway through 2022 - Latest Updates & Guidance from Expert Panelists. Featuring Dr. Margarita Cabrera-Cancio, Dr. Douglas Holt, Dr. Kami Kim, & Dr. John Sinnott. Moderated by Dr. Eva Crooke, HCMA President. Pre-registration is REQUIRED. To pre-register for this event, CLICK HERE. You will receive a confirmation email and log-in instructions.
COVID Headlines & News Briefs
· Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation.
· FDA advisers recommend updating COVID booster shots for the fall.
· Publix is not offering COVID vaccines to the youngest kids.
· Can I use my expired at-home COVID tests?
· Should young and healthy patients take Paxlovid?
Pertinent Information
Physician debt relief
Eligible physicians soon will be able to apply for up to $20,000 per year in debt relief through the state’s Medical Education Reimbursement and Loan Repayment Program. The FMA secured an annual appropriation of $6 million for the program, which is not limited to recent graduates, and DOH intends to begin disbursing payments next spring.
Office surgery rule
NOW IN EFFECT - both state medical boards amended their office surgery rules to establish a standard of care for gluteal fat transfers, commonly known as Brazilian Butt Lifts.
Telehealth & controlled substances
Effective July 1, authorized prescribers in Florida will be able to prescribe Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances via telehealth.
These new Florida health care laws are set to hit the books July 1st.
Nearly 150 laws that legislators passed this year are set to hit the books on July 1. The focus may be on the new abortion ban, but there are others affecting Medicaid, medical marijuana, and telemedicine. Read more.
Governor acts on key healthcare bills
More than three months after the end of the 2022 Legislative Session, all the bills that passed both chambers have finally been presented to and acted upon by Gov. Ron DeSantis. FMA General Counsel Jeff Scott, Esq., summarizes important healthcare-related bills that passed, the Governor’s action on each of those bills, and when the legislation takes effect. Read the summary.
Roe v. Wade overturned: What it means for Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law in April a 15-week abortion ban, which has no exceptions for rape or incest. It only allows for abortions to be performed past the 15 weeks if there's a medical emergency or a "fatal fetal abnormality." Read more.
Campaign seeks to educate patients on the importance of a physician-led care team
The Florida Academy of Family Physicians (FAFP) and the Florida Medical Association (FMA) have joined forces to launch The Physician Decision, a patient empowerment campaign to help educate on the importance of seeking a physician-led care team. You can help in this campaign by posting The Physician Decision video on your website and sharing information with your patients. Please visit The Physician Decision website.
AMA helps physicians put telehealth into practice and get paid for it
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for telehealth services has skyrocketed. That’s why the AMA is leading the charge to aggressively expand telehealth. Learn more.
No Surprises Act fact sheets
CMS has created fact sheets you can share with your patients to help protect them from surprise billing. As of January 1, 2022, they have new billing protections when they get: Emergency care, non-emergency care from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, and air ambulance services from out-of-network providers. CLICK HERE to download the fact sheets.
Flu cases are declining in Florida but still higher than normal.
Health officials advise residents not to let their guards down when it comes to infection control as the flu is still more prevalent in the community than it typically is over the summer. Read more.
What you need to know about monkeypox.
For now, monkeypox poses a low risk to the U.S. public, but it could become a problem if the spread is left unchecked. Here’s what everyone should know about it. Read more.
One doctor's experience in a mid-flight emergency opens questions about medical kits
A couple of hours into her Delta Air Lines flight to Portugal earlier this month, Dr. Andrea Merrill heard the call to help a fellow passenger with a medical emergency. She approached the scene and was handed a red bag, the plane's "medical kit." What was in the kit surprised her. The blood pressure cuff was a manual one, which needed to be put together, and she had to listen for a pulse with a less-than-optimal stethoscope. Read her story.
Kids and mental health: tell them it’s okay not to feel okay.
From economic instability to at-home isolation, the COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on America’s collective mental health. But for children and young adults, a steady rise in mental illnesses like anxiety and depression has been in the works for much longer. Read more.
HCMA Foundation grants awarded
Due to member contributions and the success of the 24th Charity Golf Classic, the HCMA Foundation has provided awards to:
The Barbara Higgins Legacy Corp.
Children's Home Network
Frameworks of Tampa Bay, Inc.
I Support the Girls/Tampa Bay
Judeo Christian Health Clinic
Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision
MORE HEALTH, Inc.
Outreach Free Clinic & Resource Center
USF MCOM Medical Student Scholarship
Voices for Children
If you know of a 501c3 charitable organization that promotes health or medically related programs, send them to the HCMA website to submit a grant application. Grants are awarded after the annual Charity Golf Classic. To donate to the Foundation, CLICK HERE.
HCMA is on Instagram
The HCMA has recently created an Instagram account. We are planning to be more active on our social media platforms, highlighting upcoming events, benefits, and activities. We hope you will visit our page, HCMA on Insta, follow us, and share it with your colleagues. If you have an Instagram page for your practice, please let me know…we’d like to connect! Our other social media platforms are listed below – please visit us there too!
PAC FUNDS ARE NEEDED!
HILLPAC traditionally interviews candidates after the primary election for the purpose of determining which candidates are thought to be "friends of medicine." 2022 is a crucial year as there are many open seats in our legislative delegation. At this time, the HILLPAC funds are depleted. In order to make an impact with our local legislators, our ability to contribute to their campaigns is imperative. Your help is needed! Please consider making a donation to HILLPAC so our HILLPAC Board can comfortably choose to support all candidates that will help us in our legislative efforts to assist physicians and their patients in our communities. Thank you for your consideration. Donate to HILLPAC.
Hurricane season began on June 1st!
Resources you may find helpful:
· Tampa.gov office of Emergency Management - includes details on the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday (May 28 - June 10).
· Hillsborough County - Hurricane and tropical storm preparedness information.
· Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council - Disaster planning guide.
HCMA Database & Website - New and Improved!
In order to make use of our innovative new database and all of its features, all HCMA members need to create a password for their profile.
By setting up your profile, it will ensure that you have full access to our website in which you can update your office information, your home mailing address, RSVP to our events, pay dues, and receive all future correspondence from the HCMA.
Please follow these few simple steps to set up your profile:
· Log in to your HCMA account at www.hcma.net
· Click the orange sign-in icon located in the upper right-hand corner
· Enter your email address - IF YOU HAVE NOT CREATED A PASSWORD YET, click the "forgot password" link and follow the instructions.
If you have any questions please contact Anni Blackwell.
LAST CHANCE to market your practice
Final preparations are being made for the Summer 2022 edition of the HCMA’s Annual Membership Directory. HCMA members can enhance their listing and/or place an ad at a discounted rate. Visit HCMA.net, click on “members” and then “membership directory” to see the current edition. For advertising information in the 2022 issue, visit HCMA Membership Directory - Members' rates.
