October 31, 2023

NEED TO KNOW

Today is the Last Day to Register for the 210th Annual and Collaborative Meeting!

The 210th VMS Annual Meeting will be held this week on November 3rd and 4th in person at Topnotch Resort, Stowe, VT, with virtual options. The weekend will be filled with educational content, time spent with colleagues, policy-setting meetings, and the opportunity to honor physicians and other health care leaders across the state.

Learn more about the agenda and register here!

Applications Due Nov 1 for VMS ERF Clinician Leadership Course

The Vermont Medical Society Education & Research Foundation is accepting applications through tomorrow, November 1st for a 5th statewide Executive Leadership Course beginning in January 2024. VMSERF is pleased to continue to offer an experiential learning opportunity that will enhance and fine-tune leadership skills and concepts for a statewide cohort of Vermont physicians and PAs.  The course will run from January through November 2024.  It is aimed at individuals with 5 or more years of clinical experience but minimal formal leadership training, with a goal of enrolling 15-20 physicians and PAs from across Vermont.  To apply, submit a CV and brief description of interest to swinters@vtmd.org by November 1^st. View the full 2024 brochure, schedule and application information here.

Applications Due Today, October 31st for Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Grant

The American Academy of Pediatrics- Vermont Chapter is pleased to again partner with the Vermont Department of Health to offer another round of funding for flu and COVID-19 immunization clinics. The grant allows practices to apply for a maximum grant award of $10,000 (pending availability of funds). Applications will be reviewed on receipt. The last date to return the completed application with the required budget is today, October 31, 2023.  Find more details and how to apply by October 31st here. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Birdie Pauley at BPauley@vtmd.org.

Commissioner of Health Call Thursday, November 2nd

The Commissioner of Health, Mark Levine, MD, will hold his next Public Health Update with VMS Members on Thursday, November 2nd at 12:30 pm. Hear about  the most pressing public health information affecting the state and nation and have the opportunity to submit questions to Dr. Levine who will answer them, time-permitting.  You can join the zoom meetings here.

Commissioner Levine last joined the VMS for a public health update on October 5th. You can find the notes here.

VMS Board to Meet Next Wed, Nov. 8

The VMS Board will meet virtually next Wednesday night, November 8^th, from 6:30-8:30 pm.  Topics on the agenda include reviewing for approval the 2024 VMS Budget; electing Board members to open or expiring seats; discussing the proposed resolution Addressing Ethical Dilemmas in Some of CMS’s Pay for Performance Programs; and hearing from AHS Director of Health Care Reform, Pat Jones, about the new CMMI AHEAD Model.  Members are invited to any Board meeting - contact Birdie Pauley at bpauley@vtmd.org for the Zoom link.   

GunSense Vermont Hosts Vigils Across the State

In light of the recent tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, GunSense Vermont and their partners at Moms Demand Action invite the public to join in a series of candlelight vigils across the state. These vigils will serve as a symbol of support for those in Lewiston and as a reminder of our own losses here in Vermont and beyond. They are also an opportunity to support meaningful action and change, including a ban on assault weapons. Find vigil locations here. A statement and resources from the Maine Medical Association in response to the Lewiston shooting can be found here.

VMS expresses deep sympathy for the families of those killed, as well as the physicians and health care providers who have cared for the victims. VMS will continue to fight for evidence based gun safety and violence prevention laws. 

MISC.

VPMS Compliance Mailing & Reminders

The Vermont Prescription Monitoring Program (VPMS) recently sent a compliance mailing to prescribers who do not have active VPMS accounts.

• These providers were identified as having prescribed controlled substances at least 5 times in the prior quarter and did not have an active account.
• Some of them may have had active accounts in the past but through lack of use, they may have been locked or deactivated. They may not have been required to query the account, but they still are required to have an active one.
• Reactivation is simple, if necessary. All prescribers are encouraged to login to their VPMS account to ensure it is still active.

For any questions around reactivation or registration contact ahs.vdhvpms@vermont.gov.  As a reminder, all Vermont-licensed prescribers of controlled substances and their delegates must have an active VPMS registration.  For more information, see the VPMS rule here and website here.   

Clinician Participation Needed in Community Meetings to Inform Hospital Transformation

In 2022, the legislature passed Act 167 (of 2022) which called for healthcare delivery reform in the state of Vermont, focused on reviewing the services offered in each of Vermont’s hospital service areas.  A central part of the information gathering process is a listening tour to hear directly from health care clinicians and Vermonters about current experiences with the healthcare system.  It is critical that physicians, PAs and other clinicians attend and share input on the services provided in your area.

A schedule of community meetings is available on the Green Mountain Care Board website.   On this page you can register directly for the meeting(s) you’d like to attend in your region.

Provider meetings are all scheduled from 6:30-8:30 pm on the remaining dates:

• Barre / Central Vermont Medical Center - Monday, November 6, 2023
• Bennington / Southwestern Vermont Medical Center - Thursday, November 2, 2023
• Middlebury / Porter Medical Center - Wednesday, November 8, 2023
• Morrisville / Copley Hospital- Wednesday, November 8, 2023
• Newport / North Country Hospital - November 14, 2023
• Randolph / Gifford Medical Center - Thursday, November 9, 2023
• Rutland / Rutland Regional Medical Center -  Thursday, November 16, 2023
• Springfield / Springfield Hospital - Wednesday, November 15, 2023
• St. Albans / Northwestern Medical Center -  Monday, November 13, 2023
• Townshend / Grace Cottage Hospital - Tuesday, November 7, 2023 
• White River Junction / Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center - Wednesday, November 1, 2023

See the full schedule and sign up here: https://bit.ly/Healthcare-Community-Meetings.  

Seeking Feedback on Department of Health Proposed Rule Changes: Telehealth Licenses Created, ALS Reporting, Co-Prescribed Naloxone

The Department of Health has released a number of draft rules for comment, described further in the Rounds from last week, available here.  The proposed changes impact:

• The Board of Medical Practice – adding telehealth licensure and registration
• ALS Registry – establishing an ALS reporting registry
• Naloxone co-prescribing – allowing co-prescribing of any opioid antagonist to the Opioid Prescribing Rule
• Hub and Spoke rules: updates to the rules for Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) Providers and Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP)

Please share comments or concerns regarding any the rule proposals with Jessa Barnard at VMS at jbarnard@vtmd.org by Friday, November 17^th.   

PlanWell - Today Through Retirement Series

PlanWell developed a holistic financial education curriculum that provides thoughtful and objective information focused on the achievement of personal financial goals at any stage of career, or life.

These workshops are offered virtually at no cost to any of the participating physicians. We look forward to seeing you!

The next workshop is on Monday, November 13th at 12:30 p.m. or 5 p.m.

This SaveWell workshop focuses on the first step of planning for a successful retirement: Helping each employee understand their individual retirement goals and the factors that will impact those goals. We explore external factors and those that an individual can control — like taking a more informed approach to saving. Attendees move forward into the PlanWell™ Series with a better feel for how saving today will impact their options tomorrow. 

Learn more about the other workshops being offered and register here. 

You Are Invited to the 2024 Vermont Voices of Medicine Advocacy Breakfasts

Please join us in January to meet your lawmakers and to advocate for health care policies over coffee and a light breakfast. These breakfasts, which will be held in the cafeteria at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier, are an informal opportunity to educate lawmakers on ways to improve Vermont's practice environment. Each breakfast starts on specific Thursdays and runs from 7:30-9 AM. 

The Vermont Medical Society (VMS) will be hosting several of the breakfasts with others hosted by the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, the Vermont Ophthalmological Society, the Vermont Psychiatric Association, the OB/GYN residency program, and Larner College of Medicine medical students. Please RSVP to attend the breakfasts being hosted by the specialty society of which you are a member. The VMS advocacy breakfasts are open to all specialties to attend. Please reach out to Jill Sudhoff-Guerin at jsudhoffguerin@vtmd.org if you have any questions. 

Click here for the list of dates & to register. 

Click here for more information. 

EVENTS

Osteoporosis Update for Primary Care November 2, 2023

Hampton Inn Conference Center, Colchester, VT

This conference is designed to improve the skills of the primary healthcare team, as they are often the first to encounter patients who have (or are at risk of developing) osteoporosis. A wide spectrum of diagnostic, management and treatment options will be presented. Topics will include: osteoporosis treatment and fractures, physical therapy and bone health, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, and risks, evaluation and treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Registration information, full agenda, and accreditation details can be found here.

#MEAction New Hampshire - The Untreated Epidemic: Understanding and Treating Long Covid and ME/CFS

November 6, 2023

Virtual and In-Person at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

This free AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (3.5 hours) features Grand Rounds speaker Dr. Lucinda Bateman, Medical Director of the Bateman Horne Center and one of the leading worldwide experts in Long COVID and ME/CFS. Also featuring Ryan Prior, former CNN reporter and author of “The Long Haul”, who will moderate our panel titled “Educating Each Other: Enhancing Patient/Provider Collaboration”, and Lisa McCorkell, co-leader of thePatient-Led Research Collaborative who will speak on the future of medicine and research. 

To register and learn more, click here.

New England Rural Health Association's Annual Fall Conference

"New Horizons in Rural Health Equity"

November 8-9, 2023

Killington Grand Resort Hotel, Killington VT

This conference is an opportunity for rural healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, educators, students and community leaders to learn from experts in rural topics, and to network with each other. Designed to involve all sectors that impact the health of people in rural New England, this multidisciplinary event gives attendees the opportunity to delve into specific areas of interest or participate in sessions spanning a variety of topic areas.

Register today for NERHA's Fall 2023 Conference and learn more here.

Vermont Reimagining Drug Policy Conference

November 9, 2023 from 10am to 2pm

Webinar

Keynote speaker Dr. Sarah E. Wakeman is the Medical Director for the Mass General Hospital Substance Use Disorder Initiative, program director of the Mass General Addiction Medicine fellowship, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. 

Panels on evidence-based reforms and the impacts of criminalization will feature international experts, including:

• Corey Davis (Network for Public Health Law)
• Niamh Eastwood (Release)
• Jeffrey Bratberg (University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy)
• Daniela Gilbert (Vera Institute)
• Kennedy Stewart (SFU School of Public Policy)
• Jennifer Carroll (NC State)

Learn more about the conference agenda, featured speakers, and register for FREE here. 

CPT & RBRVS 2024 Annual Symposium

November 15-17, 2023

CPT & RBRVS 2024 Annual Symposium is the world's only medical coding conference where attendees learn about the upcoming changes to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set and payment policies directly from members of the AMA-convened CPT Editorial Panel, AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), and CPT and RUC Advisors.

Join virtually to get the first look at the 2024 CPT code set with guidance from the experts, earn continuing education credits, and join over a thousand of your peers for premier coding education at the CPT & RBRVS Symposium!

Register with early bird discounted rates through September 30th here.

For more information about offerings from UVM CMIE, visit here.

Vermont Medical Society

134 Main Street

Montpelier, VT 05602

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