The Show-Me-State Update is your source for the latest news and information impacting the medical community. Time-sensitive information and requests related to healthcare, advocacy issues, and professional development opportunities from MAFP are included.

September 2024 – MAFP News & Events

Register for MAFP 32nd Annual Fall Conference

Join us for MAFP’s Annual Fall Conference on November 7-9, 2024, at the Intercontinental Kansas City at the Plaza. We are thrilled to host this year’s conference at a new location and have prepared a schedule featuring excellent CME sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Don’t miss the optional procedures workshop, “OMT for All Physicians,” on November 7. Friday night will feature the FHFM silent auction fundraiser and the MAFP Awards and Installation Dinner with “The Roaring 20s” theme– dress to impress! Early bird registration pricing is available until October 9. Learn more at www.mo-afp.org/cme-events/annual-fall-conference/.

Annual Meeting Notice: November 8, 2024

You are invited to the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians Annual meeting held in conjunction with the 32nd Annual Fall Conference. The meeting will be on November 8 from 11:30 am -12:00 pm at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. This meeting is open to all members. 

For more information about the Annual Fall Conference, please visit www.mo-afp.org/cme-events/annual-fall-conference.

Recording Available:  Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and Their Long-Term Impact into Adulthood

The MAFP hosted a virtual session, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and Their Long-Term Impact into Adulthood presented by Jay Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP as part of a grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics.  A recording of this session can be found on MAFP’s website at https://www.mo-afp.org/cme-events/virtual-cme/.  Only those who participated in the live event may claim CME.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3,700,000 with no percentage financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the US Government.

Donate to the FHFM Silent Auction

The Family Health Foundation of Missouri supports family medicine residents and students as they train to become our future family physicians.  The Foundation is hosting a silent auction during this year’s Annual Fall Conference, and you can show your support for these initiatives by donating or bidding on items. Online bidding will open on November 1. Join the fun and support the future of family medicine.

Upcoming Virtual CME Sessions

Next session is on September 19: “Value Based Care for Family Physicians ” from Kate Lichtenberg, DO, MPH, FACPM, FAAFP

Members are encouraged to visit www.mo-afp.org/cme-events/virtual-cme to register for upcoming Virtual CME sessions and view information from the Virtual CME sessions that have already been delivered.

Recorded sessions with videos and informational slides are available on previous sessions, including MAFP 2024 Advocacy and Legislative Review, Harm Reduction Strategies for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder, Coronary CT in Chest Pain: A Paradigm Shift, A Comprehensive Guide to STD Management, and How Sick Are Your Patients? Reflecting Patient Disease Burden Using the HCC Risk Adjustment Model.

CME can only be claimed by those who pre-register and view these sessions Live.

Member Interest Groups (MIGs)

The AAFP is committed to giving all members a voice within our increasingly diverse organization. MIGs were created as a way to define, recognize, and support AAFP members with shared professional interests.  MIGs create a network with fellow members, participate in interest-specific continuing professional development activities, deliver a unified message to leadership, suggest AAFP policy, pursue professional leadership development within the AAFP, connect to existing resources in their area of interest, and participate in an online community forum for discussion and idea-sharing.  Learn about objectives and long-term goals for each MIG. Each group offers an online community for connection and conversation.

AAFP Calls for MPFS Sweeping Payment Reform

The Medicare program is essential in helping millions of people access comprehensive, continuous primary care. However, Medicare physician payment declined 29% between 2001 and 2024, when adjusted for inflation.  While the 2025 Medicare physician fee schedule proposed rule includes some proposals to strengthen primary care, its 2.8% reduction in the Medicare conversion factor once again highlights the urgent need for congressional action to ensure that physician payments keep up with the costs of running a practice. Read the AAFP’s executive summary.

The AAFP is working with lawmakers to secure positive, inflation-based annual updates for Medicare physician payment, They are also advocating for a payment system that enables family physicians to invest in practice transformation and adopt alternative payment models — something that is out of reach for most primary care practices given the long history of undervalued payment for primary care.  Without reform, the current Medicare payment system will further destabilize primary care practices, accelerate consolidation, and erode the primary care physician workforce.

AAFP Shares Advocacy Priorities with Congress During August Recess

The AAFP has long been concerned about systemic underinvestment in primary care, which has fueled our ongoing shortage of family physicians, who provide comprehensive primary care services for patients across the lifespan, including chronic disease management, treatment of acute illnesses, and preventive care.

Primary care is the only health care component for which an increased supply is associated with better population health and more equitable outcomes, and we need every tool available to bolster strong future generations of family physicians. During August recess, the AAFP is advocating for policy priorities that reform Medicare payment, grow the primary care workforce, and alleviate clinician burden. The AAFP is supporting the reintroduction of the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702 / S. 4518), which would streamline and standardize prior authorization under the Medicare Advantage program and protect patients from unnecessary delays in care.

The AAFP continues to share recommendations with Congress that highlight several issues and policy proposals to reform graduate medical education (GME) programs and grow our primary care workforce such as the reauthorization of the Teaching Health Centers GME (THCGME) program through the end of 2024, but we are strongly urging Congress to provide permanent funding and greater stability for the THCGME Program as well as for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps.

Updates to Coverage of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)

Effective August 29, 2024, MO HealthNet will expand coverage of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) to participants currently diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes allowing this vulnerable population to obtain a CGM without a prior authorization.  Claims for a CGM will auto-approve if the participant has had a gestational diabetes diagnosis billed to MO HealthNet recently OR if the pharmacy submits the appropriate gestational diabetes diagnosis code with the claim.

As a reminder, any MO HealthNet participant who currently utilizes insulin can also obtain a CGM without a prior authorization. See the edit for more details: Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) Clinical Edit | mydss.mo.gov 

MO HealthNet Provider Overview Guide

The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) Education & Training has created a new Provider Overview Guide for all physicians and providers. This Guide helps with questions regarding billing, eligibility, verification, and more. Providers can also use this Guide to learn the basics of the Spend Down Program and eMOMED.  Physicians and providers can access the entire course to learn about all topics or they can go directly to a targeted lesson. The course is also searchable by keyword if you are looking for specific information.  All the information in the MO HealthNet Provider Overview Guide is also covered in our live webinars. These webinars allow providers to ask questions and receive answers in real time. Please visit our training calendar to sign up for a webinar.  For questions, contact MHD.Education@dss.mo.gov.

New Medicaid Provider Communications Portal

The Missouri Medicaid Audit & Compliance (MMAC) created a New Provider Communications Portal.  This Portal will be a secure, efficient method for physicians, providers, and MMAC to exchange information and records.  Physicians and providers will be able to register online after the launch.  The new portal provides a ‘One-Stop-Shop,’ which will allow Providers to:

• Update and maintain contact information, allowing for multiple contacts.
• Submit a form and supporting documentation for loss or destruction of records.
• Submit any required quarterly/annual reports and audits.
• Submit forms and questions.
• Submit an anonymous complaint or fraud referral.
• Choose to receive targeted emails for specific provider types and retain the communication in the portal.
• Receive text (SMS) messages.
• Securely upload documents electronically versus U.S. mail or attachments to emails.
• Research Frequently Asked Questions.

The new portal will allow the MMAC team to send emails and/or text messages advising that they have important program information requiring their attention.  In addition, new capabilities include courtesy reminders, such as when the due date for their five-year revalidation is approaching or when a required quarterly or annual report is due.