We're back and headed to Grand Rapids!
 
Autumn Logo 
Registration is open!

MOA 17th Annual Autumn Scientific Convention 
October 29-31, 2021

Amway Grand Plaza, Grand Rapids, MI


22 AOA Category 1-A Credits

22 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS:
Sleep Apnea • Gastroenterology Update Business of Medicine • Hypertension in Geriatrics Driver’s Rehabilitation
Cardiology Update • Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist Addressing Pandemic • Basic Management of Parkinson’s Disease 
Lifestyle & Functional Medicine Sessions • Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine • Women’s Health

Autumn registration

 

Spring CME Sessions On Demand

The Spring CME sessions are available On Demand.
Visit the MOA Learning Center to register and view other On Demand programs. 

2021 Spring CME Program

MOA Learning Center

UPDATES ON COVID-19

Michigan Chamber of Commerce:
State Moves to Align MIOSHA Emergency Rules with Federal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard
June 22, 2021

Earlier today, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) rescinded and replaced its COVID-19 Emergency Rules.  The revised Emergency Rules align Michigan with Federal OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) specific to health care settings. The updated rules, which now only impact health care settings versus all employers, are effective today and set to expire on Dec. 22, 2021.

What does this mean for Michigan businesses?  It means health care settings continue to need protection to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, but employers in non-healthcare settings can use their best judgment in determining whether to maintain daily health screenings, face-covering requirements (regardless of vaccination status), social distancing requirements and the like.  This move is consistent with the rescission of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Epidemic Orders specific to face coverings and social distancing. (continue to the full article)

3 Steps for Health Care Professionals to participate in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program - LINK

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Preparation Checklist & Resource Toolkit - LINK 

Sign up to be a COVID vaccine provider, if you have not done so and enroll with MCIR.
Information on how to become a COVID Enrolled Provider in Michigan is available online:  Coronavirus - For Health Professionals (michigan.gov)

Here is a summary of the steps:

  1. All providers desiring to be COVID vaccinators must be registered in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR)
    1. Information on how to become registered is contained in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program FAQ document at the link above
  2. If you are already registered in MCIR, then you can proceed to file an application to become a COVID Provider.  There are two sections to the application.
    1. Section A – Organization/CEO/CMO information and signatures
    2. Section B  - Location specific information including Primary and Backup Vaccine Coordinators, Shipping location and Hours, Storage information (Make/Model/Brand) on refrigeration or freezer.
    3. Sample Section A and Section B applications are also available on the link above, as well as the link to the online application (click on the COVID-19 Provider Vaccination Registration Form link)
  3. Once the application has been submitted, the MDHHS COVID Provider Enrollment Team will review the application for completeness.
    1. Email address for the Enrollment Team:  [email protected]
    2. Request for assistance on completing an application as well as checking on a submitted application status can be sent to this email box.

FROM MICHIGAN HEALTH ALERT NETWORK:

COVID-19 Vaccine Providers,

Currently the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is looking at a surplus of Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, COVID-19 vaccine that was set to expire soon but was recently authorized an extension of the shelf life from three months to four and a half months by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This has granted providers with Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in their inventory with some extra time to use up those vaccine doses, however, even with this extended timeframe every effort should be made to use this vaccine as soon as possible. Michigan COVID-19 providers who have the Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, vaccine in their inventory should visit www.vaxcheck.jnj to confirm the latest expiration date for the vaccine and put plans in place to use this vaccine.

At this time, we estimate approximately 197,000 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are affected by the recent authorized extension. MDHHS continues to strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccination and we are asking all COVID-19 vaccine providers to act now and use all possible strategies in order to maximize vaccination opportunities and minimize wasted doses of vaccine.  

Strategies to increase vaccination opportunities.

MDHHS has directed all providers to follow a first-in, first-out process for vaccine inventory management to ensure vaccine doses with the soonest expiration dates are being used first. These strategies listed below can be applied to any COVID-19 vaccination outreach, but due to the recent authorized extension for the shelf life to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine these strategies will have that focus. 

In addition to ongoing efforts to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine during all regular, routine vaccination clinics as well as mobile and mass vaccination events, providers are urged to continue outreach to identify additional community partnerships to encourage vaccination:

  • Hospital providers can offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to patients upon inpatient or emergency room discharge.
  • Partner with Urgent Care and Fast Care centers to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to patients during their medical visit. Offering Johnson & Johnson to these patients will eliminate the barrier of scheduling them for second doses.
  • Partner with local aging agencies, home-delivered meal providers, developmental disabilities boards or Medicaid waiver programs to identify and offer vaccinations for homebound individuals and their caregivers and families.
  • Partner with local nursing homes and assisted living facilities as part of ongoing COVID-19 vaccine maintenance programs to determine if there are any opportunities to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to new and/or unvaccinated staff members or residents.
  • Identify partnership opportunities with employers, libraries, and community and faith-based organizations for special vaccination clinics at those locations. We may have new opportunities to form partnerships to offer vaccinations. 
  • Identify mobile vaccination opportunities through partnerships at community events, including festivals, fairs, food truck events, and farmers markets, for example, or at popular entertainment destinations such as zoos or ballparks.
  • Offer vaccination opportunities for shelters (homeless) or local jails and other correctional/detention facilities. The spread of COVID-19 remains a significant, ongoing concern in congregate settings. The short duration of stays at these facilities can make vaccination a challenge with two-dose products. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can offer full protection with one dose.
  • Partner with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Clinics to determine if there are any opportunities to offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
  • Reach out to the Migrant population as there still may be many individuals who need COVID-19 vaccination and Johnson & Johnson one dose COVID-19 vaccine can offer protection to this transient population.

As vaccination opportunities arise it is important to remember that the single-dose vaccine can provide convenience for patients who traveled long distance, will return to a congregate setting, or are impacted by social determinants of health that may pose barriers to receiving a second dose such as lack of transportation, nonflexible work schedules, primary language spoken, and other factors.

If you are a provider and seeking Johnson & Johnson vaccine or any COVID-19 vaccine to administer, MDHHS can assist. For any questions regarding enrolling in the COVID Vaccine Program please email your question to [email protected]. You may also visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccineProvider for additional information. 

Talking points for COVID-19 vaccination.

Ongoing education about the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and all COVID-19 vaccines is crucial to the success of these efforts. We ask providers to answer patient and public questions specific to each vaccine to help build vaccine confidence, share the benefits of vaccination, and help dispel vaccine myths that are rampant. Below are some suggested talking points and messages to share:

  • More than 4.8 million Michiganders aged 16 years and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The risk of going unvaccinated impacts not only those who choose not to be vaccinated, but to those around them. Lower vaccination rates put children under 12, who don’t yet have a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for their age group, at risk, as well as the small percentage of Michiganders who cannot be vaccinated, or those with certain immune disorders. The bottom line is that the more Michiganders who are vaccinated, the more we can protect ourselves, and one another.
  • All the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use have been proven to be highly effective at preventing severe disease and against known variants.
  • The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single-dose vaccine authorized for individuals ages 18 and older. Because the vaccine is available in one dose, you will be fully immunized just two weeks after receiving the vaccine. This means you can safely and quickly resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.

For more information about addressing vaccine hesitancy: Vaccine Recipient Education

MDHHS has two resources regarding increasing vaccination opportunities that can be found at www.michigan.gov/covidvaccineprovider, and are attached to this email as well:

Additional Resources for the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine:

MDHHS Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Information

CDC Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, COVID-19 Vaccine

Thank you for all your hard work to protect Michiganders from vaccine-preventable diseases!

MDHHS Division of Immunization

Stay up-to-date with the latest information about COVID-19 vaccines at Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine.

Please direct Coronavirus (COVID-19) related inquiries to the DHHS COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-535-6136.  For the most up-to-date information, facts and FAQs, go to www.michigan.gov/Coronavirus. 

MOA COVID-19 Updates and Resource page
Prior Authorization and Senate Bill 612

The legislature concluded work on the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget and  made good use of the few joint session days before adjourning until after the November 3rd Election.  It was a pleasant development that Senator VanderWall pushed action on his legislative proposal dealing with prior authorization (SB 612). As the primary sponsor of the bill and chairing the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee, Sen VanderWall succeeded in reporting out the measure despite strong opposition from insurers and purchasers. The committee vote was 8 -0 with 2 passes.  While much work needs to continue on the bill and negotiations will continue while the bill remains pending on the Senate floor,  the Michigan Osteopathic Association extends a  thank you to the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee and Chairperson Curt Vanderwall for advancing this bill that holds promise for ending dangerous delays in treating patients and removing step therapy obstacles physicians are subject to by insurance companies. When it comes to health care, Michigan patients deserve reforms that removes red tape and puts treatment in the hands of physicians and their patients. The issue of Prior Authorization has earned bi-partisan support and we salute the legislators who have moved Senate Bill 612 forward in the legislative process.

Take Action - Let your Senator know Prior Authorization needs reform

COVID-19 Practice Certification Assessment

It is recommended that participants read the PHYSICIAN PRACTICE COVID-19 PLAYBOOK and watch the video before taking this practice assessment.
Upon achieving a passing grade with this practice-assessment, participants will be able to print their own Certificate of Completion for display in your practice.

Please Note:
This assessment Will NOT allow you to save and finish at a later date
This assessment Will NOT allow you to go back and change your answers
You must attain of a passing mark at least 88% on this assessment to generate your own Certificate of Completion for your records

Practice Assessment Link

Only 2 assessments can be taken on the same device over a 24 hour period. As long as participants are on their own computer or device, it will not be an issue

The PHYSICIAN PRACTICE COVID-19 PLAYBOOK (link to PDF file)
Video recording of the Developing a Plan to Re-Open Your Practice webinar (link to YouTube video)  

The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) continues to monitor the ongoing spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While the immediate risk of exposure for the residents of Michigan remains relatively low, the MOA encourages all residents to follow recommendations to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The MOA conducts daily meetings to study updates to the situation in Michigan and stay informed on how other states are responding to the outbreak of COVID-19. In an effort to provide accurate information on the various issues surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak to MOA members, we have created a webpage to aggregate information: 

MOA COVID-19 Information & Resources

CORONAVIRUS HOTLINES
MDHHS Coronavirus General Information (8am-5pm daily): 888-535-6136
MDHHS COVID-19 Emergency Laboratory Network Hotline 888-277-9894 
Centers for Disease Control: 800-232-4636

 

 

 

 

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Opioid Prescribers' Legislative Alert

On December 27, 2017, the Lieutenant Governor signed into law several new requirements aimed at combating the opioid epidemic. The MOA is part of a coalition that is working with the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to provide input from healthcare professionals in regards to the laws, regulations and systems used by prescribers. 

For MOA members, a page has been created with an overview, a link to a summary (PDF) and a link to a survey designed to get feedback from the MOA membership.

Opioid Alert page (MOA login page)
Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) - User Support Manual