Independent Practice for NPs Faces Tuesday Deadline in Legislature

In the Mississippi legislature, Tuesday, January 30, is the day all bills must pass out of their originating committee in order to remain alive. MAFP is closely monitoring several bills, and none with more attention than the bills allowing nurse practitioners to practice independently of physicians. These bills are in the House Public Health committee, which will decide their fate. MAFP alerted our members to this situation and asked them to call representatives, especially those on the Public Health Committee, before Tuesday.  New developments happen daily on this issue. Please check our Legislative Report page for updated information.

Academy Asks MSBML for Specific Compromises on Opioid Regs

MAFP sent a letter Jan. 23 to the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure asking for specific changes to the board's proposed opioid prescribing regulations. Tuesday was the end of the comment period for the board's most recent version of the regulations.  MSBML is scheduled to meet this Thursday, Feb. 1.  New developments happen daily on this issue. Please check the MAFP   Opioid Prescribing Page  for updated information.

Reserve Your Rooms in Sandestin 

for Annual Meeting

Our room block has just opened up! It's time to make your room reservations for our Annual Meeting this summer, scheduled for July 21-25 at the Baytowne Conference Center in Sandestin, FL. Visit our website Annual Meeting page to make your reservation.

Family physicians are needed at the MAFP Capitol Day on Wednesday, March 7.  The visual show of strength that comes from having a Capitol full of 'white coats' cannot be underestimated -- especially when legislation threatens our scope of practice, and Medicaid reimbursements may be reduced.

MEA Medical Clinics will conduct health screenings while the MAFP Foundation, Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, and the Office of Mississippi Workforce will be there to discuss their programs. The schedule is as follows. Physicians DO NOT have to be there the entire day - you may come for as much as your schedule allows. The tentative schedule:

7 am - 12 noon - Buffet Breakfast, Health Screenings

12:30 pm - MAFP Members-Only Lunch

2 - 4 pm - Dessert and Coffee with Caricatures and Giveaways

There's no charge to attend - register online now.

Dr. Lampton Contributes Chapter to Leading Medical Textbook

Dr. Lucius M. "Luke" Lampton of Magnolia, MAFP past president and current AAFP National Delegate, has contributed a chapter to the 70th edition of  Conn's Current Therapy 2018, America's leading family medicine textbook.

Dr. Lampton

Dr. Lampton's chapter, "Yellow Fever," focuses on the re-emergence of this tropical disease. Chapters are written by nationally-recognized leaders in the field who provide their personal approaches and evidence-based clinical management options.

Dr. Lampton has served as a member of the Mississippi State Board of Health and was chair of the board for ten years. He has also served as editor of the Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association for two decades, writing thousands of articles and receiving national awards. He also served as medical editor of the recently-published Mississippi Encyclopedia.

QPP Physicians Must Report 2017 Data to CMS by March 31

Clinicians who are participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) path of the Quality Payment Program must report their data no later than March 31 to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). (The data submission window for those using the CMS Web Interface is Jan. 22 to March 16.)  More details can be found here .

Please Help: Participate in 3-Minute  Survey By Clicking Below

The Family and Children Research Unit (FCRU) at MSU's Social Science Research Center is conducting a study to better understand the availability of contraceptive care in Mississippi.

There has not been enough family physician response to this survey, causing the FCRU to extend the deadline for participation. The survey takes about 3 minutes.  Please click here to take the survey .