Kaine, Young, Kiggans, Wild, Carter & Dingell Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Health Care Provider Mental Health

Legislation Named in Honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, a Charlottesville Native Who Died by Suicide While Serving on Front Lines of the Pandemic

via kaine.senate.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Todd Young (R-IN) and U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-2), Susan Wild (D-PA-7), Buddy Carter (R-GA-1), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, a comprehensive law Senators Kaine and Young and Rep. Wild successfully pushed to pass to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals. The law has already provided $100 million in funding for mental health care for providers across the country, including $5.6 million in federal funding for Virginia providers at UVA Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, and George Mason University, but provisions of the law that made this funding possible are set to expire at the end of this year. The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act would reauthorize these grant programs for five years.

“Our health care providers make countless sacrifices to care for us, and we owe it to them to provide them with the mental health care and resources they need,” said Senator Kaine. “This bill will build on the progress the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act made and ensure we are continuing to do what we can to prevent burnout, protect the well-being of our health care workforce, address shortages in the field, and help Virginians get high-quality care.”

“As we’ve seen so often over the past several years, our frontline workers put their own health on the line every day to serve our communities in Indiana and across the country,” said Senator Young. “Congress must act to reauthorize this important program to provide our health care workforce with needed support to prevent suicide and promote mental and behavioral health.”

“I’m proud to be leading the bipartisan effort to eliminate stigmas surrounding mental health and provide the support that our incredible nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in our communities deserve,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “With shortages throughout our healthcare system, it is more important than ever to provide our medical professionals with the support and training needed to properly care for themselves and their patients.”

“Dr. Lorna Breen was a hero, one of many health care providers who put their lives on the line to keep us safe during the pandemic. And she was one of countless health care heroes who face mental health crises and a suicide rate twice that of the general public, largely due to the demanding, all-consuming nature of their work,” said Congresswoman Wild. “I was proud to introduce the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act last Congress and see it become law. Now, we must reauthorize this critical law to continue carrying on Dr. Breen’s legacy and investing in support for health workers’ mental health needs.”

“Our health care providers are some of the best among us, but too often, their mental health needs are not given adequate resources and support. This must change. By reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, we will prioritize health care providers’ well-being by ensuring their access to evidence-based mental health and substance use disorder strategies and education,” said Congressman Carter.

“Healthcare professionals dedicate their lives to serving their patients, often at the expense of their own physical and emotional wellbeing,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation that will provide much-needed resources to address the mental and behavioral health conditions doctors and nurses face and continue reducing the stigma surrounding mental health care.”

Named in honor of Dr. Lorna Breen, a physician from Charlottesville, Virginia who was working on the front lines of the pandemic in New York and died by suicide in the Spring of 2020, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is helping to address mental health concerns facing our health care providers.

Specifically, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act would:

  • Reauthorize a grant program for health care organizations and professional associations for employee education on strategies to reduce burnout, peer-support programming, and mental and behavioral health treatment for five years. Communities with a shortage of health care workers, rural communities, and those experiencing burnout due to administrative burdens like lengthy paperwork will be prioritized.
  • Reauthorize a grant program for health profession schools or other institutions to train health care workers and students in strategies to prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders for five years.
  • Reauthorize a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign. Currently, the campaign provides hospital and health system leaders with evidence-informed solutions to reduce health care worker burnout. Reauthorization will provide resources for the campaign to continue and expand beyond its current scope.

“We are profoundly grateful to Senator Kaine and all supporting organizations for their unwavering commitment to the mental health and well-being of our healthcare workforce,” said Corey Feist, JD, MBA, co-founder and CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation. “This landmark legislation, honoring the legacy of my sister-in-law, is a critical lifeline for health workers, offering support to address the mental health challenges they face and improving how our healthcare system operates so it no longer puts an immense strain on their well-being. It is vital that we reauthorize and increase funding of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. It’s not just a matter of policy—it’s a critical piece of legislation for our healthcare delivery supply chain that benefits every health worker, every patient, every caregiver, and every person that will require medical care in their lifetime.”

“Elevating the issue of health care provider and clinician physical and mental wellness is critically important to community and public health. Health care providers are people with lives and challenges, just like everyone else. They also happen to be the people patients and families count on in their hour of medical need,” said Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “Reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act will help ensure there are resources in place to support health care professionals so they can continue to care for patients. Given our ongoing focus on provider wellness, the hospital community enthusiastically supports this bipartisan legislation from Senator Kaine and Representative Kiggans and we urge Congress to act swiftly on it.”

“Our community needs healthcare providers to care for us and our loved ones. In doing this necessary work, our healthcare teams are facing a mental health and burnout crisis, leading many to leave the field of medicine. This hurts every community! The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is a key piece to changing the landscape of mental health and well-being for our healthcare professionals. The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) and SafeHaven support this Act and will continue to advocate for change alongside the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation,” said MSV CEO, Melina Davis.

“The pandemic has pushed our primary care workforce to the brink of exhaustion, with most reporting significant levels of burnout.  The mental health care of these precious resources is vital. Shenandoah Community Health strongly supports this bill,” said Michael Hassing, CEO, Shenandoah Community Health.

“As health care providers we are present at some of life’s best moments; the birth of a child, a biopsy that returns showing that it’s not cancer. At the same time, we are present at some of life’s most devastating too. It’s impossible to avoid absorbing some of the tragedy we see play out in our patients’ lives. I am so grateful this issue is recognized and addressed by the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. It provides a blueprint to mitigate and address the mental health crisis in our profession,” said Dr. David Roberts, Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Center of the New River Valley.

“The Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act addresses one of Inova’s most important priorities – the health and well-being of our 24,000 team members and all healthcare providers in Virginia. Ensuring every healthcare provider can practice in a psychologically safe environment where they feel supported in times of stress, burnout, and crisis is both a moral imperative and a health workforce necessity. This reauthorization will ensure that Dr. Breen’s memory will endure in the many lives that are saved in years to come, and we are grateful for Senator Kaine and Congresswoman Kiggans for their leadership,” said J. Stephen Jones, MD, President and CEO, Inova.

“Senator Kaine’s leadership in reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act will improve the lives of healthcare workers across the state, particularly in rural and underserved areas. By introducing practical, evidence-based intervention strategies, researchers at George Mason’s College of Public Health are helping healthcare organizations reduce worker burnout, increase resilience, and improve mental health support for their front-line healthcare workers. This legislation will continue to save lives,” said Dr. Melissa J. Perry, Dean of George Mason’s College of Public Health.

“UVA Health is grateful for Senator Kaine and Congresswoman Kiggans’ continued commitment to raise awareness of the mental health needs of our healthcare and frontline workers caring for patients and the need to engage openly in this conversation. We can provide the best care for our patients with a resilient and compassionate healthcare workforce and a healthcare environment that is responsive, caring and supportive,” said K. Craig Kent, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, UVA Health and Executive Vice President, Health Affairs. 

“Choosing a path to serve others as a health care provider is not for the faint of heart. The front lines of a hospital are often faced with very difficult and emotionally taxing situations, and they take its toll. Like Dr. Breen, many providers’ passion and dedication to taking care of others takes precedent over their own wellbeing,” said Marlon Levy, M.D, MBA, interim senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and interim CEO of VCU Health System. “VCU was one of three grant recipients in Virginia and has been able to use the funds to support our organizational focus on Workforce Wellness for our VCU Health team members. As such, VCU is pleased to support the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act and thank Sen. Kaine and Rep. Kiggans for their leadership on this important issue. We must take care of our health care workforce and this legislation helps us do that.”

“Our nation is in the midst of a mental health crisis and healthcare providers see this both through the patients they care for and through their own personal mental health needs.  I applaud the work to continue to destigmatize mental health and align resources to support our caregivers, especially in rural and underserved communities where there is already a shortage of healthcare providers,” said Mark Nantz, President and CEO Valley Health System, Winchester, Virginia. 

A full list of supporters and endorsing quotes is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

Senator Kaine would like to thank his Senior Health Policy Advisor Samantha Koehler for her work on this legislation.

What does Medicare cost? MSV President Alice Coombs, MD on the AMA Podcast

How physician pay cuts in 2024 impact patient care

From 2001 to 2023, Medicare payment has declined 26% when adjusted for inflation. What are the real-world consequences of declining Medicare physician payment?

Dr. Alice Coombs, an anesthesiologist and internist at VCU Health, joins to discuss the ways this underpayment impacts physicians and patient care, including longer wait times and less access to care. Dr. Coombs also shares how physicians can advocate for change based on her experience as the president of the Medical Society of Virginia. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

Watch on YouTube

5 New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthier 2024

Not surprisingly, New Year’s resolutions often focus on making changes to improve health and fitness. To help you give your patients some food for thought about their health goals for the year ahead, we’ve created a shareable list of 5 New Year’s resolutions for a healthier 2024.

  1. Schedule Your Screenings

Health check-ups and screenings are critical for preventative care. It’s a fact: finding and treating health issues early can improve your chances to live a longer, healthier life. Now’s the perfect time to make sure all your screenings are on your 2024 calendar. Start with scheduling check-ups with your primary care physician and your dentist, plus any other specialists you see on a regular basis. Your doctor can help you determine which additional screenings are recommended for you based on your age and other factors, or you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website to learn more about recommended screenings, which include a mammogram for breast cancer, a colonoscopy for colon cancer, and more.

  1. Improve Your Sleep

It’s not just a hot health trend making headlines, sleep has a real impact on everything from your heart health and blood pressure to your mental health and your metabolism. First, talk to your doctor if you have concerns you may have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea, so it can be assessed and properly treated. Second, strive to get the recommended amount of sleep for optimal health: 7-8 hours for adults. Strategies like a cooler, darker bedroom and limiting screen usage before bedtime can also make a difference.

For more sleep strategies, check out this Healthline article: “17 Proven Tips to Sleep Better at Night.” If you need help, ask your doctor or consult a sleep specialist.

  1. Focus on Mental Health

Better mental health is one of the top 3 New Year’s resolutions in the U.S. for 2024, according to a YouGov poll. Mental health is a broad category that includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health concerns can range from handling stress, to anxiety and depression, to mental illness like PTSD and schizophrenia.

It’s important to note your mental health can change over time, depending on things like your physical health and life events. You may not have thought your mental health needed addressing in 2023, but that could change in 2024. Talk to your doctor about ways you can improve your mental health, including at-home strategies, medication, counseling, and seeking an official diagnosis so you can get the treatment and support you need.

  1. Make Self-Care a Priority

Make a commitment to yourself in 2024 by focusing on improving your self-care. Self-care has benefits for your mental health as well as your physical health, including: reduced stress, improved immunity, better sleep, better mood, improved productivity, and more. Self-care is two-fold. First, it’s doing things that prioritize your mental and physical health. That could be as simple as walking, drinking more water, or practicing gratitude. Second, self-care is doing things you enjoy, to boost your mood and positivity. Self-care activities include making more time for hobbies or spending time with people you love.

Self-care is different for everyone, and it’s accessible for everyone — it doesn’t require investments like expensive fitness memberships, massage appointments, or vacations. (Though those can be nice, too, if they’re in your budget.) Get started with GoodRx’s article with “99 Self-Care Ideas You Can Try Right Now.”

  1. Get Your Vaccinations

Part of being healthy is staying healthy, and vaccinations can help you prevent illness or reduce its seriousness — which will also help you avoid complications if you do get sick. First up for adults are annual vaccinations for flu and COVID-19. Your doctor can help you determine which additional vaccinations are recommended for you based on your age and other factors, or you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website to view the adult immunization schedule by age, which includes RSV, shingles, tetanus, and more.

Here’s to a healthier 2024!

The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute health care advice.

Registration is Open for the 2024 AMPAC Candidate Workshop

AMPAC is excited to announce that the 2024 AMPAC Candidate Workshop will be held in person, March 22-24, 2024, at the AMA offices in Washington, DC – registration now OPEN!

Ever wonder how Doctors get elected to Congress or your state legislature? Considering a run for office for yourself? The AMPAC Candidate Workshop will teach you how to run a winning political campaign, just like we taught many of your AMA colleagues over the years. The Candidate Workshop is designed to help you make the leap from the exam room to the campaign trail and give you the skills and strategic approach you will need to make a run for public office.

At the Candidate Workshop, Republican and Democratic political veterans work together to give you expert advice about being a successful candidate and how to run a winning campaign. You will learn:

  • the importance of a disciplined campaign plan and message
  • the secrets of effective fundraising
  • what kinds of advertising may be right for your campaign
  • how to work with the media; as well as how to build your campaign team and a successful grassroots organization

Attendees include physicians, spouses of physicians, residents and medical students, and state medical society staff interested in becoming more involved in politics.

Please note the following:

  1. The Candidate Workshop is open to AMA physician members, member spouses, residents, medical students and state medical society staff.
  2. Registration fee is $250 for AMA Members/spouses and $1000 for non-AMA members. This fee is waived for AMA residents and students; however, space is limited and the AMPAC Board will review and select four participants from the pool of qualified resident and student applicants.
  3. Faculty, materials, and all meals during the meeting are covered by the AMA. Participants are responsible for their registration fee, travel to/from Washington, DC and hotel accommodations (AMA will provide you with a list of nearby hotels within walking distance of the AMA offices).
  4. Participants will be required to bring a laptop or Wi-Fi enabled tablet with them.

Registration for the 2024 AMPAC Candidate Workshop is now OPEN. Space is limited and the deadline to register is March 1, 2024.

For more information please contact: [email protected]

 

Flu Shot Patient Resource: 5 Reasons to Get Your Flu Shot

BY Mary Schmidt, MD, FIDSA, MPH
Our blog this month is written for you to share with your patients. 

It’s that sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching time of year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seasonal influenza — or flu — activity continues to increase in most of the country. Here in Virginia, flu activity is currently moderate. Considering Virginia’s flu season runs October to May, it’s really just getting started.

With only about half of all Americans getting the influenza vaccine every year, there’s a good chance your patients may need encouragement to get vaccinated this year.

To help, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 reasons to get a flu vaccine to share with patients in your office or in your electronic and print communications.

Top 5 Reasons to Get Your Flu Shot

  1. Avoid missing work and school

The flu shot can prevent you from getting symptoms of the flu. It’s not a guarantee, unfortunately, but it does prevent millions of people from getting the flu every year — and you could be one of them. If you don’t get the flu, that means no lost income from lost workdays. No using PTO. No missing school. And no medical expenses from doctor or hospital visits.

  1. Get Less Sick

Yes, you can still get the flu even if you get the flu shot. But with the shot, you have a higher likelihood of not getting as sick as you would without it. That can simply mean a quicker, easier recovery before you’re back at it. More seriously, getting less sick can also mean less chance of hospitalization, a lower risk of going to the intensive care unit, and a lower risk of dying from the flu.

  1. Protect Everyone in Your Community – Especially Newborns and Older Community members!

As a pregnant mom, getting the flu shot not only protects you, it also helps protect your infant from the flu in the first few months after they’re born — when babies are too young to be vaccinated for the flu themselves. Getting a flu shot also means you can help protect your parents, grandparents, and older community members you interact with throughout the day.

  1. Save Your Child’s Life

Shots can be scary for our kids, but the flu vaccine (can be a nasal spray) can literally save your child’s life. Not only does the flu shot reduce hospitalizations and emergency department visits for children with the flu, it actually can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from the flu. In fact, a 2022 study showed the flu vaccine can reduce a child’s risk of severe life-threatening flu by 75 percent — and that’s nothing to sneeze at.

  1. Protect Friends, Family & Others

If you’re better protected against the flu, there’s less chance you’ll transmit it to your friends, family, coworkers, and others around you. If you get sick, you’re not only putting the health of others at risk, but people who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness — including babies, young children, pregnant women, people over age 65, and people with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and more — are at even higher risk for serious complications and even death from the flu.

Even though the flu season has already started, it’s never too late to get your flu shot to protect yourself, your family, and your community!

The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute health care advice.

2023 Virginia Medical News MSV Member Magazine

The 2023 issue of the Virginia Medical News MSV Member Magazine is available here.

Featured articles cover the future of AI in medicine, what to expect during the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session, profiles of MSV leaders and officers, 2024 physician and PA self-care strategies, and more.

Register Now for the 2024 Virginia Patient Safety Summit – Free for MSV Members

Quadruple Aim: Innovation in Virginia Healthcare

Registration is now open for the 2024 Virginia Patient Safety Summit, which will be held as a virtual event on Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 9:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Having an innovative mindset in healthcare is in high demand right now. Healthcare delivery innovation is necessary to find new ways to improve quality, enhance the patient experience, expand safety initiatives, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.  As hospitals and health systems pursue innovative solutions in all aspects of their care delivery and quality and safety improvement efforts, they are making real strides toward what the industry refers to as quadruple aim:

  • Higher quality of patient care with improved and equitable outcomes
  • Increased value for both the patient and provider
  • Improved patient satisfaction
  • An improved care provider experience

The 2024 Virginia Patient Safety Summit will highlight the progress being made in Virginia, and across the country, in these efforts.

Some of the keynote speakers for the 2024 Summit include:

  • Dr. Aditi Mallick, the Acting Director of the CMS Office of Minority Health
  • Bonnie Clipper DNP, MA, MBA, RN, CENP, FACHE, FAAN,  an internationally recognized nurse futurist and nursing innovation expert

Register now for the 2024 Virginia Patient Safety Summit. If you have any trouble registering an account or creating a new password, please reach out to [email protected] for immediate assistance.

Registration is free of charge for staff and providers associated with all Virginia hospitals/health systems, members of the Virginia Patient Safety Summit partner organizations – Medical Society of Virginia (MSV), the Virginia Nurses Association (VNA), and the Virginia Pharmacists Association (VPhA); federal and state health partner organizations, and event sponsor organizations and students. Others may register for a fee of $95. 

 

Mpox Updates for Virginia

Dear Colleague:

This letter provides mpox updates on an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, recommendations for providers, and upcoming trainings in early 2024.

Democratic Republic of Congo Mpox Update

On December 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory, Mpox Caused by Human-to-Human Transmission of Monkeypox Virus with Geographic Spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Although Clade I Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is endemic in DRC, there has been a significant increase in cases in 2023, with more than 12,000 clinically-diagnosed cases, more than 500 deaths, and geographic expansion into new areas. Clade I MPXV historically has been associated with person-to-person spread through non-sexual contact. For the first time, Clade I MPXV has been documented to spread by sexual contact, including cases in men who have sex with men.

The global mpox outbreak that began in May 2022 was caused by a different virus subtype (Clade II MPXV) that is less virulent and less transmissible than Clade I. Cases continue to be reported in the United States and have mostly affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. CDC has tested a subset of specimens from U.S. cases, and all have been caused by Clade II MPXV. Although the risk of Clade I MPXV infections in the U.S. is low, providers should have a high index of suspicion in patients with recent travel to DRC and mpox-like symptoms, which may include a diffuse rash and lymphadenopathy.

VDH Recommendations for Providers

VDH encourages providers to collect a detailed travel and sexual health history on all patients with suspected mpox. For patients with travel to DRC in the 21 days before symptom onset, providers should rapidly report the case to the local health department (LHD) by phone or in VDH’s online Morbidity Report Portal and collect two swabs per lesion for mpox testing. Currently, the Division of Consolidated Laboratory  is validating a clade-specific test. Until that test is available at DCLS, specimens that are pre-approved by the LHD should be sent to DCLS for testing at CDC. Providers can submit specimens to commercial laboratories for testing of patients with suspected mpox who do not report travel to DRC in the 21 days before symptom onset.

VDH encourages providers to recommend JYNNEOS vaccine for people at risk of mpox. Vaccination is one of the best prevention measures. JYNNEOS is expected to be effective against Clade I and Clade II MPXV infections. In addition, treatments (e.g., tecovirimat, brincidofovir) are expected to be effective for both Clade I and Clade II MPXV infections.

Most patients who have recovered from mpox (including infection with Clade II MPXV) or have been vaccinated with JYNNEOS or ACAM2000 are expected to have cross-protection to Clade I MPXV. However, clinicians are recommended to consider mpox as a possible diagnosis if a consistent clinical presentation occurs, even in those who are vaccinated or were previously diagnosed with mpox. Providers who suspect mpox should also test sexually active patients for STIs and HIV per their routine procedures.

Upcoming VDH Training for Providers

In January and February 2024, VDH will host four regional mpox trainings. These free, in-person trainings are intended for healthcare providers, including those who care for patients at risk of getting mpox and those who provide HIV or STI care services. VDH staff and local clinicians will share information about mpox epidemiology, testing and treatment strategies, vaccination, incorporating mpox into routine HIV and STI care, and lessons learned during the 2022–2023 outbreak. We will provide a maximum of three AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for the training. Providers can register or learn more by visiting the VDH Mpox Training webpage.

Location Date (all sessions are 8:30 A.M–12:30 P.M.)
Fairfax (Northern session) Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Charlottesville (Central/Northwest session) Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Wytheville (Southwest session) Thursday, February 8, 2024
Chesapeake (Eastern session) Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Thank you again for your continued partnership. Please visit the VDH mpox website for healthcare providers for the most current information about mpox in Virginia.

Sincerely,

Karen Shelton, MD
State Health Commissioner

Confidential Resource to Address Burnout, Career Fatigue, Mental Health in Medical Profession Begins National Expansion

SafeHaven Provides Safe Space to Discuss Concerns Without Fear of Repercussions

As burnout in the medical profession is at an all-time high and the well-being of physicians, PAs and health practitioners has become a national concern, a program established in Virginia is launching across the country.

SafeHaven, created by the Medical Society of Virginia, is a confidential resource that provides physicians, residents, PAs, nurses, pharmacists and their families a safe space to address burnout, career fatigue and mental health concerns without the fear of repercussions to their medical license and professional reputation.

Launched in 2020 in Virginia, the program has expanded through a pilot period to Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota. Thanks to a grant from the Physicians Foundation, the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) is working with a cohort of five states – Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Montana and Pennsylvania – on legislative efforts to begin offering burnout and mental health resources to health practitioners as part of SafeHaven’s national expansion.

“For far too long, the medical profession has endured a stigma for simply admitting there are times – just like for the rest of us – when they need assistance or care,” said Melina Davis, CEO and executive vice president of the Medical Society of Virginia. “We’ve created a program that not only equips our health professionals with resources for issues like burnout and mental health, but also encourages them that it’s OK to seek the help they need. It’s past time that we provide those who take care of us with resources to take care of themselves.”

Dr. Russell Libby, a board member of the Physicians Foundation said: “SafeHaven transforms the landscape of how clinicians can access behavioral health resources and support. This means that more clinicians will get the help they need when they need it. It will help sustain and grow our healthcare workforce, reinforce their enthusiasm and increase access to care and better patient outcomes.”

In the latest survey about burnout conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA), the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of Colorado School of Medicine, 63% of physicians reported at least one manifestation of burnout in 2021, an all-time high. The Medscape Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023 showed a rate of burnout of 53% in 2022, a 26% increase since 2018.

Similarly, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported in 2022 a burnout rate of 49% – including 60% in 2021 – over a three-year window (2019-21). It estimates the annual cost of burnout-related physician turnover to be about $5 billion.

“It’s clear that our healthcare professionals, from doctors and nurses to pharmacists and lab technicians, are overwhelmed,” said Dr. John Whyte, chief medical officer of WebMD. “What’s also clear is that our healthcare professionals are choosing to leave their professions at alarming rates, in part because we’ve failed to appropriately address their needs. SafeHaven embraces the healthcare community, welcoming those who need support and providing them the level of care they deserve.”

MSV pushed for legislation to address physician burnout, fatigue and mental health issues during Viginia’s 2020 General Assembly session. The House and Senate bills for the creation of the SafeHaven program passed unanimously and became law on March 8, 2020. MSV began offering the suite of services to Virginia physicians in July of 2020.

“Demand was intense,” Davis said. “Based on the response we saw in Virginia, we knew SafeHaven would benefit healthcare professionals throughout the country.”

In addition to Virginia, SafeHaven services are available in Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota. In all, more than 6,500 clinicians have participated in the SafeHaven program, and national associations including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have begun offering the solution to their members.

Since its inception, SafeHaven has had a 47% engagement rate, a rate that far exceeds traditional employee assistance programs.

“We wouldn’t tell our patients they can handle their mental health concerns on their own, yet that’s exactly what many healthcare professionals try to do,” said Dr. Sterling Ransone Jr., board chair and former president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “Traditionally, we’ve put physicians in a no-win situation where they feel they can’t share their feelings of depression, anxiety or stress without retribution. With SafeHaven, the stigma of physicians being honest with themselves is removed.”

SafeHaven offers assistance through VITAL WorkLife’s Clinician Well-Being Resources, a comprehensive solution that includes peer coaching, counseling sessions for the physician and their family, leadership development and work-life balance resources to support well-being for physicians, PAs, nurses, pharmacists and medical, nursing, PA and pharmacy students.

“Through our program, we are challenging the historic culture of medicine, working to decrease traditional control elements,” Davis said. “We also are working to add more innovative services as we learn more about the needs of our clinicians.

“Most important, we think that normalizing this ongoing concern is one of the most important things we can do. It’s OK for health professionals to say they’re not OK.”

* * *

About SafeHaven

SafeHaven, the first of its kind in the nation, was founded in 2020 after recognizing a greater need to provide physicians and PAs the support they need to stay well and prevent burnout. As of 2021, the SafeHaven resources have been expanded to include nurses and pharmacists as well as medical, nursing, PA and pharmacy students. To learn more, visit www.SafeHavenHealth.org.

 

Important Updates from CMS on Medicaid and CHIP Renewals

Please see below for the following Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) renewal information:

  1. New Outreach and Educational Resources for Partners
  2. Updated Enrollment for HealthCare.gov
  3. Free CMS Printed Product Ordering
  4. Upcoming Partner Webinar

New Outreach and Educational Resources for Partners

CMS recently released several new resources to help partners share information about Medicaid and CHIP renewals with their communities. These resources include a toolkit for clinical offices and health care settings, drop in articles, and postcards in additional languages. Each resource is posted on the Outreach and Educational Resources Page on Medicaid.gov/Unwinding.

Patient-Centered Messaging for Clinical Office and Health Care Settings

Clinical offices and health care settings can use this toolkit to help share information about Medicaid and CHIP renewals with patients.

The toolkit includes ready-to-use resources, such as:

  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Recorded phone/hold messages
  • No reply text messages & push notifications for patient portals
  • E-newsletter & patient portal messages

These resources can be used at office front desks, in the lobby/waiting areas, billing departments, patient portals, and other places.

Drop in Article for People who Lost Medicaid

English Version | Spanish Version

Use this article for listservs, newsletters, and other outreach resources to educate people about what to do if they have been disenrolled from Medicaid or CHIP.

Postcards are also available in Ukrainian to help people get ready to renew their Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

Updated Enrollment for healthcare.gov

Approximately 4.6 million people have selected an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace plan since the 2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP) opened on November 1. Total plan selections include 920,000 people (20% of total) who are new to the Marketplaces for 2024, and 3.7 million people (80% of total) who have active 2023 coverage and returned to their respective Marketplaces to renew their coverage or select a new plan for 2024.

Additionally, data shows strong Marketplace enrollment increases during 2023. Prior to the start of the 2024 OEP, approximately 1.5 million more people enrolled in Marketplace coverage nationwide from March to September 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. These data point to the impact of new and stronger Marketplace systems and policies on helping people access affordable, comprehensive coverage through the Marketplaces. This includes individuals who are transitioning from Medicaid coverage as states resume Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility renewals for the first time in three years following the COVID-19 pandemic. CMS continues to release separate information about Medicaid renewals and coverage transitions.

Free CMS Printed Product Ordering

The following materials below are available for free to order through the CMS Product Ordering website. To order free printed materials, visit the CMS Product Ordering website. If you do not have an account, you will need to request an account on the login page. Once you log in to your account, you can enter the term “Unwinding” in the search bar to view the materials that are available for order, such as postcards for Kids with Medicaid or CHIP in English and Spanish.

Upcoming Monthly Partner Webinar

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS continue to host a series of monthly webinars on Medicaid and CHIP Renewals to educate partners. Topics covered during the webinar vary each month. To register for upcoming webinars, please click here.

Recordings, transcripts, and slides from past webinars can be found on the CMS National Stakeholder Calls webpage.