Upcoming Events
| MSDC "Finances First" Seminar
"Increasing Retirement Income
With Less Risk"
September 15
7101 Wisconsin Ave. 12th Floor
Bethesda, MD
Dinner/drinks provided
6pm-7pm
"Finances First" Save the Dates
September 29
"Business Succession Planning"
October 13
"Tax Law Changes: What They Mean
for Business Owners and High Income Earners"
October 27
"Reducing Healthcare and Group
Benefits Costs"
November 10
"Controlling
Downside Risk in a Rising Interest Rate Environment"
December 8
"Business, Property &
Casualty Insurance- Liability Protection or Business Owners and High Income
Earners"
ProAssurance Loss Prevention Seminars**
Click to Register
September 21
American College of Cardiology
2400 N. St. NW
Washington, DC
5:30pm - 8pm
September 22
The Legacy
1775 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
5:30pm - 8pm
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"On the Waterfront"
Annual Meeting
and Social | Wednesday
October 20, 2010
6:00pm-9:00pm
Phillips Restaurant
900 Water Street, SW
Registration:
$60/members; $105/members/spouse;
$50/students/residents;
$80/non-members
$425/Table of 8
RSVP by October 15 to Barbara Allen at allen@msdc.org
(202) 355-9403
On-site Registration will increase in cost by $20 for each category
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2009-2010 Board of Directors
| Stuart F. Seides, MD
At-Large; Chair of the Board
Peter E. Lavine, MD
President; AMA Alternate Delegate
Frederick C. Finelli, MD
President-Elect
Joseph Gutierrez, MD
Treasurer; AMA Delegation Chair
Robert W. Keisling, MD
At-Large; Secretary
Carlos A. Silva, MD
AMA Delegate
Laura L. Tosi, MD
At-Large; AMA Alternate Delegate
James C. Cobey, MD
At-Large
Julian R. Craig, MD
At-Large
John W. Larsen, MD
At-Large
Joan B. Loveland, MD
At-Large
Richard McCarthy, MD
At-Large
Reginald Robinson,MD
At-Large
K. Edward Shanbacker
Executive Vice President
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Contact the MSDC Office
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1115 30th Street, NW
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 466-1800 (phone)
(202) 452-1542 (fax)
info@msdc.org
www.msdc.org
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Forward Me!
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Washington Hospital Center is Partnering with United Medical Center to Provide Maternal/Child Services
|  The Not-For-Profit Hospital Corporation (NFPHC),
known as United Medical Center (UMC), is continuing its transformation as a hospital. On September 9th, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty joined At-Large Councilmember David Catania  and other District
officials to announce a partnership with MedStar Health's Washington
Hospital Center (WHC) and Unity Health Care to enhance Maternal and
Infant Services at UMC.
This NFPHC/MedStar partnership will shift physicians to UMC from WHC, and share referrals from Unity Health Care between WHC and UMC. This influx of physicians provides both clinical and administrative oversight of UMC's
Maternal/Child Services. The partnership is expected to begin in the fourth
quarter of 2010. UMC will be investing in new equipment and renovations
to support the development of an improved Labor and
Delivery Unit (L&D) and OB/GYN Clinic. WHC will provide UMC with
24-7 on-site physician support for its L&D Unit. WHC
will also provide management service to the unit to include clinical practice
guidelines, and will locate physicians to practice on the UMC campus.
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Update from the AMA: October 5th Deadline for UnitedHealth Group Claims; AMA, MSDC Seek to Block Tax Breaks for Lawyer's Litigation Expenses
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UnitedHealth Group UCR Settlement update: Pursuant to Court Order, all Class Members have until October 5, 2010 to
file their claim form to be eligible to receive monies from the Settlement Fund.
When Class Members submit requests for claims data from the
Claims Administrator, as described in the Class
Notice at pages
4 and 8, or
submits the claim information request form on page 15 they will be
assigned an Initial Claim Number, which will satisfy the filing deadline. Once
Class Members receive the requested claims data, they should submit their claim
form directly to the Claims Administrator at the address shown, using the
Initial Claim Number for identification purposes. After the October 5, 2010
deadline, and after all requested claims data has been provided, the Claims
Administrator will send a Deficiency Letter to any Class Member who has been
assigned an Initial Claim Number but who has not yet submitted a complete and
signed claim form, as well as to any Class Member whose submitted claim form is
deficient in some manner. The Deficiency Letter will notify the Class Member of
what has to be submitted as well as a new due date by which such new information
must be supplied. All deficiencies in Class Members' submissions to the Claims
Administrator, including the lack of complete and signed claim forms for those
class members assigned an Initial Claim Number, and the absence of all necessary
evidence, must be resolved by the due date set out in the Deficiency Letter in
order for Class Members to be eligible to receive their Recognized Losses from
the Settlement Fund. Please note that the deadline for filing claim forms for
those Class Members who did not submit requests for claims data to support their
claims remains October 5, 2010.
- The AMA, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and 89 medical organizations sent a letter to the U.S.
Treasury Department last week opposing any changes to the tax code that would
encourage trial attorneys to file more lawsuits and add to the overall cost of
health care.
The organizations oppose a policy under consideration that would
allow trial attorneys nationwide to deduct litigation expenses from their taxes
in certain cases.
The September 1 letter comes on the heels of a recent AMA report that
found that 95 medical liability claims are filed for every 100 physicians. The
report also found that 65 percent of medical liability claims are dropped or
dismissed, and average defense costs range up to more than $100,000 and take
physicians away from patient care.
View the letter.
View an AMA news release about the letter.
View the AMA report.
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Behavioral Economics and Health Care
Part I: What Patients Have in
Common with Soccer Goalkeepers
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 By Douglas E. Hough, Ph.D.; Associate Professor; The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Mainstream economics (as
represented by such renowned Nobel laureates as Milton Friedman and Paul
Samuelson) has been roundly and increasingly criticized, in part because it
assumes that buyers and sellers act as if they are perfectly rational
calculating machines. The latest barrage
against standard economics has been led by what are called "behavioral
economists" (and psychologists), as exemplified by Daniel Kahneman, a
behavioral psychologist at Princeton who won the Nobel Prize in economics in
2002. Kahneman and his colleagues argue
that not only do consumers and producers make mistakes, they make systematic
mistakes. In fact, behavioral economist
Dan Ariely titled one of his books, Predictably
Irrational. Behavioral economists are just
beginning to turn their attention to health care, which seems rich with
examples of where patients, physicians, and society are acting predictably
irrational. For example, behavioral
economics can explain - at least in part - why there was such an uproar late
last year when the US Preventive Services Task Force released its
recommendations regarding screening mammographies. This line of thought can be helpful in
explaining why upwards of 30,000 patients die each year in the US from central
line-associated bloodstream infections, even though a simple 5-point checklist
used by physicians and nurses can reduce that number by 2/3. I will be discussing these issues
in future issues of eNewsline. I want to start, though, by using behavioral
economics to address why patients seem to insist on getting a prescription or
having a test ordered whenever they go to a physician's office with an
ailment. To do this, we need to consider
what soccer goalkeepers do during penalty kicks. To continue reading, please click here. |
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Come Ashore with Your Fellow Society Members at MSDC's 2010 Annual Meeting
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"On the
Waterfront" Annual Meeting
When: October 20, 2010 from 6:00pm to
9:00pm  Where: Phillip's Restaurant at
900 Water Street, SW, Washington, DC, overlooking the Washington Channel off the
Potomac River. Register: Contact
Barbara Allen at (202) 355-9403 or allen@msdc.orgto join the crew. Price: $60
for members, $105 for members and spouses, $50 for students/residents, and $80
for non-members, Tables of 8 for $425 Hurry and register soon - if you don't make the
Captain's Log before Sail Date, registration at the door will increase to $80
for members and $100 for non-members. Joanne Grossi, will attend our Annual Meeting, "On the Waterfront," as the evening's featured
speaker. This past April, Ms. Grossi was appointed as the Regional Director of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Region III, which includes
the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the
District of Columbia. As Regional Director, Ms. Grossi serves as the key
representative in this region in working with federal, state, local and tribal
officials on a wide range of health and social services issues. Prior to
this appointment, Ms. Grossi served for seven years in the administration of
Governor Edward G. Rendell, first as Deputy Secretary of Health and later as the
first- ever Director of the Office of Women's Services.
Annual Meeting Sponsors   |
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"Finances First" Dinner & Discussion Event Series - September 15th
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There are just a few open seats left
for Wednesday's "Finances First" Dinner and Discussion titled "Increasing Retirement Income with Less Risk". Call or e-mail Chris Lee at lee@msdc.org or (202) 355-9414 as soon
as possible to reserve one of the final remaining seats.
MSDC and
First Financial Group are sponsoring a timely and very relevant session to today's economic climate focused on minimizing risk exposure in these volatile markets while finding ways to maximize the return on your hard-earned investments.
Date: September 15, 2010
Location: 7101 Wisconsin Avenue,
Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814
Time: 6pm
to 7pm
Speaker: Adam Bass, First Financial Group
Complete "Finances First" Dinner and Discussion List
9/29/2010- "Business Succession Planning" -
Sarah Cato, First Financial
10/13/2010 - "Tax Law Changes: What They Mean
for Business Owners and High Income Earners"
- Tim Grace
Regan, Grace & Kerley, LLC
10/27/2010 - "Reducing Healthcare and Group
Benefits Costs" - William MacCartee, Monument Benfits
11/10/2010
- "Controlling
Downside Risk in a Rising Interest Rate Environment" - Dave Mengden,
Genworth Wealth Management
12/8/2010 - "Business, Property &
Casualty Insurance- Liability Protection or Business Owners and High Income
Earners" -
Andrew Howard,
Howard insurance Agency
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For Residents who Trained from January 1, 1995 and March 31, 2005, You May Be Eligible for FICA Tax Reimbursement
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Recently the IRS came to an agreement that residents who trained between the
years of January 1, 1995-March 31, 2005 are eligible for a refund plus
interest of their FICA taxes which are withheld on each paycheck. The AMA and other state societies have been working with the IRS for years to change the policy to reflect that residents are like students and
should be exempt from paying these taxes. The IRS finally came to an agreement
that they would refund such taxes during the above stated time period but that
those who trained after 2005 will be considered employees and NOT be eligible
for a refund. If you did do your residency training between 1995-2005, please
contact the Graduate Medical Education (GME) office at the institution you
trained at to find out your next steps towards the FICA reimbursement.
Click here for more information.
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From By30 Designs: Managing Your Online Reputation
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There are currently many websites in addition to
your personal website- known as directories and local search sites- that
provide the public with vital information about doctors and other local
businesses in their area. These websites make available physician information,
allow patients and colleagues to search for local professionals, and allow
patients and colleagues to review medical professionals. These directories and
local search sites are very important to a practice's online reputation and
play a crucial role in a patient or colleagues first impression. Simply having a website may not be enough for a physician/practice to
get the attention of a search engine such as Google or Yahoo. Since directories
and local search sites such as HealthGrades.com
are often the first to appear atop search engines, these websites by default
control your public image. Many of these directories and local search
sites are not filled out accurately or managed properly and in turn can have a
negative impact on your practice. Click here to continue reading. |
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Give Back to Your Community Through MSDC - Volunteer Service Opportunities | - The Human Rights Clinic (HRC) is organizing a one-time, half-day training session for physicians
and mental health professionals on September 25, 2010 from 8:30am-1:30pm in Washington, DC. The session provides trainees with an understanding of the
asylum process in the United States, prepares them to evaluate the effects of
torture on survivors, and advises evaluators on writing effective affidavits.
The training is free of charge and this activity has been reviewed and is
acceptable for up to 4.25 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family
Physicians.
The Human Rights Clinic (HRC) is a
nationwide network of volunteer physicians and mental health professionals who
document the clinical sequelae of human rights abuse, thereby assisting
survivors to present their cases fully and effectively to the adjudicating
authorities. Clinicians examine clients and evaluate the medical and/or
psychological evidence of their alleged abuse. If the clinicians judge the
client's claims to be consistent with their findings, they provide a written
affidavit for use in the asylum or other immigration proceedings.
Please contact
April Grigsby, HRC Program Assistant at April.Grigsby@healthright.org, if you have any questions or
would like to register.
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Classified Ads
| Suite available to share. Approx one-half of 2800 sq ft suite in prime downtown medical building immediately available. Presently occupied by solo surgeon. Fax 202-887-8288
Medical Office Space to Share. Looking for physician to share 3,000
square foot, well-equipped space in internal medicine office in prestigious
medical building at 2440 M Street, NW. Individual consultation room. Have
interpretive ECG, digital x-ray, Dexa scanner, audiometer, spirometer, etc., and
multiple exam rooms. Available immediately. Contact Dr. Charles Bier, (W)
202-466-4646; (M) 202-498-0731; cbier43@gmail.com P/T physician(s) needed : Primary Care physicians needed to join our group. We are a multi-specialty practice with a stable census and great staff. We're looking for a Team Member to complement our team. We offer a flexible schedule and are willing to work with you if you have a current patient census. DC License and/or MD license. Competitive salary. Email us your CV to: melleck88@yahoo.com.
MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SUBLEASE at Medical Park West, 10301 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20902. This suite has a convenient outside entrance. If interested, please contact Jody Horner at (202) 726-7474 ext. 19 MIDTOWN OFFICE
AVAILABLE FOR RENT-SHARING: Semi-retired ophthalmologist seeks to rent and share
overhead on a beautiful 2300+ sq ft office with another ophthalmologist or
medical professional. The office is furnished, well equipped, and ideally
located at 3 Washington
Circle across from the George Washington University Medical Center and the Foggy Bottom Metro
station. Valet parking is available in the building. For more information
please call Dr. Don Schwartz at (202) 466-7711 |
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