Oregon ACC - February 2011 Advocacy Update

February 23, 2011 Oregon ACC Advocacy Alert

Chapter Leadership

Sandy Lewis, MD, FACC
Governor - Oregon Chapter
sandral@nw-ci.com

Kirk Walker, MD, FACC
Advocacy Chair
- Oregon Chapter
kwalker@cascadecardiology.com

Oregon Legislative Alerts
Prepare Yourself for a CRAZY Session in Salem!

Oregon ACC Members - Only when you think you've seen enough.....more begins to happen!

Our state is forging ahead with major legislation toward a single payer system, increases in primary care reimbursement at the expense of the specialty groups, and uniform payment at MEDICARE rates.

This year's legislative session promises to be one of the most challenging in Oregon ACC history. For that reason we are going to be providing you regular updates on Oregon legislation and the effect it may play on your practice.

Please read these Advocacy Alerts carefully and consider joining our Oregon ACC contingent in Salem on March 17th. Our Oregon legislators must hear from us on these and other issues!

Critical Bills in the Oregon Legislative System that are being closely monitored by the Oregon ACC, ACC National and The OMA right now:

Senate Bill 210 - Primary Care Payment Increase Increases Medicaid Payment to Primary Care Providers, i.e., NPs, FPs, Internists to 150% of Medicare

House Bill 3510 - Creates a "national" health care plan in Oregon. Replaces all commercial insurance companies

House Bill 3522 - Stark Law on steroids - means docs CAN'T own anything they can refer to - not MRI, not an ASC, not PT - nothing.

House Bill 3559 - Creates uniform payment rates AND uniform payment for all services - at Medicare rates

Stay tuned and PLEASE consider getting involved in our Oregon Advocacy Efforts.

ACC/OMA Legislative Day in Salem

on March 17th

Please join us in the State Capitol

Come join the ACC and the OMA in Salem on March 17th for the Annual OMA Legislative Day! Meetings with your legislators will be scheduled....You'll have an opportunity to receive key legislation updates.....and if you are still in Salem that evening, you can join us for a no-host Oregon Heart Club dinner to discuss legislative issues. To RSVP - please contact: Alan Morasch, Oregon ACC

To view a brief video by Oregon ACC Advocacy Chair Kirk Walker, please click here.

Oregon ACC

We Want to Know.....

1) Do you know who your elected officials are? If not, click on this link to search for your elected officials in your home or business district.

2) Do you have a personal relationship with one of your elected officials or a key staff member (State or National? If so, please share the contact with the Chapter Office.

Advocacy on the National Level

The College continues to be closely monitoring national legislation in Washington, DC on behalf of Oregon's cardiology community. To keep you updated, please follow the national advocacy news on this link.

Political Action Committees (PAC)

are not Bad Words!

The Oregon ACC has a PAC as does the ACC National. Each uses its contributed funds to gain access to our elected officials and get our points of view heard. If you previously donated to the PAC (either one or both) - THANK YOU!!!! If you haven't - or it's time for another annual contribution - please consider making a contribution today.

The Oregon ACC PAC

The ACC National PAC

15 Seconds to Make a Difference

There is a move underway to assist the ACC in gaining more national attention. With a quick investment of 15 seconds of your time - please vote for Jack Lewin, the CEO of the ACC, as one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives in America. By helping Jack Lewin achieve this notoriety, the ACC will gain greater attention in the national advocacy environment.

Remember - just 15 seconds.....

Here is the link to cast your vote

Sandra Lewis, MD, FACC, FAHA
Governor, Oregon Chapter

Kirk Walker, MD, FACC

Advocacy Chair, Oregon Chapter

.Register Today for the 8th Annual
Oregon Cardiovascular Symposium
June 4 - 5, 2011
Doubletree Lloyd Center Hotel - Portland, Oregon

The 2011 Oregon Cardiovascular Symposium registration is now open. To register for this June 4 - 5, 2011 Symposium, or to get more information, please click here.

If you are an Oregon ACC Chapter 2011 Dues-Paying Member and you register for the 2011 Symposium, you will receive a $75 discount on your registration - effectively making your 2011 Chapter Dues only $25.00

An Outstanding Program has been planned for Attendees

Nationally Recognized Speakers and Critical CV Topics and Discussions

Saturday, June 4, 2011
TAVI: Replacing the Aortic Valve with the Engine Running
Raj Makkar, MD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Treatment of Mitral Regurgitation: The Goldilocks Decision: The Right Procedure, The Right Time, The Right Place
Hartzell Schaff, MD, Mayo Clinic

The Quality Agenda in Cardiovascular Care
William Zoghbi, MD, Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center

Multivessel CAD....Medicine, Angioplasty or Surgery?
Shabudin Rahimtoola, MD, LAC USC Medical Center

3-D Echo: Avatar in the Chest
Lissa Sugeng, Yale University

Platelets: More Important and Complicated Than Ever in Acute Coronary Syndromes
David Moliterno, University of Kentucky

Cardiovascular Manifestations of Systemic Disease
Michael Crawford, MD, UCSF Med. Ctr.

An Inconvenient Choice - Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure of 43 mmHg: Is a Work Up for Pulmonary Hypertension Warranted?
Michael McGoon, MD, Mayo Medical School

Screening Teenagers and Young Adults for Athletics: Where is the Tipping Point?
Michael Crawford, MD, UCSF Med. Ctr.

Sunday, June 5, 2011
STAT-1: Emergency Department Assessment and Treatment of the Cardiac Patient
Kaun Chatterjee, MD, Univ. of Iowa

Obesity and Heart Disease: A Single Generational Epidemic
Sheldon Litwin, Univ. of Utah

The Adult with Congenital Heart Disease: Pediatric and Adult Cardiologists Facing Role Reversals
Craig Broberg, MD, OHSU

Syncope: Going to Ground and the Cardiovascular Assessment
John McAnulty, MD, Legacy Heart Services

Sex and Heart Disease: Who Can, Who Can't and Who Shouldn't
Brian Gross, MD, Southern Oregon Cardiology

Chapter Contact Info

Alan Morasch, CAE
Chapter Administrator
Oregon Chapter of the ACC
PO Box 55424
Portland, OR 97238
503-345-9294
www.cardiologyinoregon.org
alan@cardiologyinoregon.org