Danielle Miller, MD, a family physician with Luz Medicine in Ephrata, has been named PAMED’s Everyday Hero for August 2021. She was presented with the award on Aug. 26.

September 17 is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. It is a day to acknowledge the nearly four hundred physicians - an average of one physician per day - that die by suicide in the U.S. every year. Learn more from Dr. Edwin Kim, Medical Director of the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

The following is a letter from PAMED Board Chair Edward Balaban, DO re: masking.

On Aug. 23, 2021, the Pfizer vaccine got full FDA approval for ages 16 and older. It is still available under emergency use authorization, including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

PAMED members have access to a toolkit that is designed to help physicians navigate opioid-related laws in Pennsylvania; learn what education is available, including PAMED CME that meets the state's requirement for licensure renewal; and much more!

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a proposed rule that would rescind the Most Favored Nation (MFN) Model interim final rule.

In a significant victory for health care providers, the PA Supreme Court reversed the Superior Court’s ruling in the case of Leadbitter v. Keystone Anesthesia Consultants, LTD., et al, by holding that peer review activities of a credentialing committee are protected under the state’s Peer Review Protection Act. PAMED, in collaboration with the AMA, filed an amicus brief in this case.

On Aug. 18, 2021, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that they have developed a plan to begin offering booster shots this fall subject to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducting an independent evaluation and determination of the safety and effectiveness of a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issuing booster dose recommendations based on a thorough review of the evidence.

Stay up to date on new regulations that impact your practice.

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Prescriptive Authority Collaborative Agreement Applications will soon be transitioning to an online only submittal process through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS).

The last few decades have been marked by tremendous advancements in endoscopic technology, which have redefined the practice of gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery. Learn more from PAMED member Shyam Thakkar, MD.

John H. Doherty, Jr., MD, an orthopadeic surgeon from Lackawanna County who practices at Geisinger Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine in Scranton was named the 2021 recipient of PAMED's Distinguished Service Award.

Elliott Jody Bilofsky, DO, FAOCO, an otolaryngologist at UPMC Altoona Ear Nose & Throat and chief of UPMC Altoona ENT Service, has been named a PAMED Everyday Hero. He was nominated by a colleague, who said that he is not only an outstanding otolaryngologist, but also a humanitarian and leader.

David I. Silbert, MD, an ophthalmologist from Lancaster County, was recently named the 2021 recipient of PAMED's Physician Award for Community Voluntary Service.

Tower Health has announced a strategic alliance with Penn Medicine. Tower Health has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to develop a strategic alliance with Penn Medicine.

PAMED's endorsed partner for medical liability insurance The NORCAL Group offers PAMED members on telemedicine/telehealth during a public health emergency.