Issue 4, July 27, 2021
America faces daunting and complex healthcare challenges that include and go beyond the current pandemic. In myriad ways, innovative healthcare companies are developing solutions to improve access to care, battle disease, strengthen population health, and meet the needs of underserved communities. This newsletter will offer examples of Healthcare Leadership Council members answering the call.
IN THE NEWS HLC Statement on Growing Number of States in Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
With the enactment of legislation in Ohio and Delaware, there are now 35 states in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which will enable licensed physicians to practice in all participating states.
ON THE BLOG Looking at Physician Training Through a Wide(r) Angle Lens
Many physicians are now returning to school to earn MBAs and medical schools are beginning to incorporate business concepts and training into their degree programs. UPCOMING EVENTS Realizing the Full Impact of Virtual Care
The rapid rise in utilization of virtual technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabled to a large degree by regulatory flexibilities, provided new insights on the beneficial effects of virtual care. Healthcare leaders will discuss how their organizations were prepared for this significant change and are embracing virtual care's potential to improve care quality, achieve health system efficiencies, and address health equity challenges. This will spur questions on future legislative and regulatory directions for virtual care and the steps necessary to fully achieve its promise.
Speakers:
Sheri Dodd
Kori Krueger, M.D.
Lewis Levy, M.D.
David Pryor, M.D. July 28, 2021 - 2:00 PM ET
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CONTACT US Healthcare Leadership Council 750 9th St. NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20001
Pfizer, BioNTech Delivering More Vaccine Doses to U.S., World's Underdeveloped Countries
Pfizer and BioNTech have announced that they will be delivering 200 million more doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to the U.S. government between October 2021 and April 2022, bringing the total doses supplied in the U.S. to 500 million. Earlier, the two companies announced they would provide the federal government with 500 million additional doses for donation to the world's poorest countries.
Under the agreement, the U.S. government also has the option of acquiring an updated version of the vaccine to address potential variants, as well as any authorized new formulations of the vaccine.
Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said, "As a long-term partner to the U.S. government in the fight against this pandemic, we are proud of the impact of vaccination efforts across the country. Vaccines have been and will remain critical to protecting lives against this devastating disease. These additional doses will help the U.S. government ensure broad vaccine access into next year."
BlueCross BlueShield of NC Initiative to Help Independent Physicians Can Improve Outcomes, Address Health Costs
To help independent physician practices succeed in a challenging environment, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina has launched an initiative that can have the additional benefits of improving health outcomes and addressing rising healthcare costs.
The program will provide administrative infrastructure and support to independent practices, provide access to technology to help physicians monitor, manage and coordinate patient care, and share data and insights with physician practices.
Tunde Sotunde, M.D., president and CEO of BlueCross Blue Shield of North Carolina said, "Independent physicians in North Carolina have an especially difficult burden when it comes to managing their practices without the resources and scale that comes with being part of a larger organization. We want to empower independent physicians, especially primary care, by offering a new level of support to help them lead their practices in a time of great change in healthcare." The health plan's chief medical officer added that "if we provide additional support to help physicians meet these demands, we can have a positive impact on health outcomes while doing more to addressing rising health costs."
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