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| From the President | |
In Thanksgiving
Susan M. Whitely, MD
First, I must apologize for last month's letter which was outdated almost immediately after I wrote it-no more trying to elaborate on the shifting sands of health care legislation!
This issue of Round-up celebrates the service of Anthony D. Mitten, J.D. Mr. Mitten announced his retirement from the Maricopa County Medical Society this month after serving the Society for 50 years, 36 of those years as CEO. Mr. Mitten has worked in various roles throughout his tenure, from editor of Round-up, administrator, attorney, diplomat and physician advocate. In 1969, the Medical Society incorporated a fee-for-service healthcare delivery system to employees in Maricopa County. This delivery system evolved into the present day Arizona Foundation for Medical Care, the largest PPO network in Arizona. Mr. Mitten was instrumental in the inception and implementation of the Arizona Foundation and continues to manage it.
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Congress is not listening: it is time to
get patients involved |
| Sign the Petition Online!
The Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) has tried for the last five years to convey to our legislators how devastating a reduction in Medicare payments will be to the sustainability of the program. Virtually every state medical association has taken the same action. While there is uniform agreement in D.C. that the sustainable growth rate (SGR) is broken, there is still no fix, and realistically, one is not on the horizon. It is time to take action to a new level and get patients involved. The Texas Medical Association (TMA) has launched a campaign called Stop the Medicare Meltdown. Their goal was to collect 1,000,000 signatures for a petition letting Congress know that a continuing series of temporary holds are no longer acceptable. The TMA's direct, hard-hitting campaign was shared with every state and our participation was welcomed. In two days this has gone viral; almost every state has joined, along with a growing number of specialty societies. Expectations now have been raised to collecting multiple millions of signatures. This will let Congress know the time for talking is over. ArMA is joining the campaign and everything you will need to get involved is contained in this STAT. Using the electronic petition, sponsored by the TMA, will provide an accurate accounting of all signors in a verifiable format which will be presented to Congress. Every physician and patient signature counts in this campaign. ArMA leadership urges you to assist with the petition drive and to encourage your patients to do so as well. Sign the Petition OnlineShare the Flyer with your Patients |
CDC report shows U.S. can do more to
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Tobacco Control State Highlights 2010 report shows that nearly half of states have passed comprehensive smoke-free laws and that 14 states and Washington, D.C., have raised taxes on cigarettes. Arizona has a smoke-free law that provides for strong protection against exposure to secondhand smoke in workplaces and public places.
"This report shows that while progress has been made in some areas of tobacco control, states need to focus on enacting policies proven to have the greatest impact on lowering tobacco use, such as raising tobacco taxes, passing comprehensive smoke-free laws and developing hard- hitting media campaigns," said AMA Trustee Mary Anne McCaffree, MD. "These actions can help limit exposure to secondhand smoke and discourage cigarette use. We urge states that haven't taken these steps to consider doing so for the health of their residents."
To learn more about Arizona's statistics in the report: http://bit.ly/cssJdt
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Regulator Gives Insurers Good News | | |
Some in the insurance industry worry
A first look at how a key provision in the federal health overhaul could be implemented suggests that insurers' profits won't take the hit that the industry had feared.
At issue is something called the medical-loss ratio, or MLR, which under the new law requires insurers in the large-group market to spend 85% of the premiums they collect on medical expenses, as opposed to administrative expenses and profit-taking. Insurers in the more costly individual and small-group markets must spend 80% on medical claims.
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| Congress Holds Off Doc Pay Cut | | |
The legislation extends the new period through May 31
Congress approved legislation on Thursday night that delays the looming 21% physician cut in Medicare reimbursements that had been in effect since April 1. The legislation extends the new period through May 31.
The House voted 289 to 112 to enact the bill that included the provision to postpone, at least temporarily, a reduction in physician payments mandated by the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. The Senate had approved the same bill several hours earlier in a 59 to 38 vote. The bill received some bipartisan support with 54 Democrats, three Republicans, and two Independents voting for the bill.
For the second time this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) agreed to step in and advise contractors to hold claims for medical services performed on or after April 1 for the first 10 business days of the month. That period ended Wednesday.
Complete article... |
| Study Shows 'Invisible' Burden of Family Doctors | |
Family doctors make up the embattled front line of the nation's health care system
A new study detailing the uncompensated work burden on family doctors points to the need to change how they are paid, medical experts say - particularly as the new health care law promises to add millions more patients to the system.
Family doctors make up the embattled front line of the nation's health care system. They earn about half the money of specialists who focus on treating particular ailments or parts of the body. That is a reason less than 10 percent of medical school graduates choose so-called primary care, which includes general internists and pediatricians.
Worsening shortages of family doctors were being predicted even before the recent health care legislation, which opened the door to an estimated 30 million newly insured people who will begin making appointments for checkups and other care.
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RX for Business Seminar
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Saturday, May 15 at 9:00 a.m. The Institute for Healthcare Business Education is offering a five hour course entitled, "Rx for Business" at the Phoenix Doubletree Guest Suites in Phoenix on Saturday, May 15 at 9:00 a.m.
The course, presented by Ann Couch, CPA and Sara Eversden, CPA is designed to educate new and existing physicians about the business essentials of operating their own business small businesses.
Click here to register or for more information call 602-955-5952.
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| Featured Business |
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MedaBytes is a part of the Maricopa County Medical Society's family of businesses operating under the Medical Society Business Services. We were established to assist the medical community with its computer and networking needs. Like the other family members, MedaBytes strives to offer a valuable service at a fair price. For more information, visit: www.medabytes.com
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