On July 24, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Karen Mullins will hear arguments in a lawsuit filed by disgruntled legislators over then-Governor Brewer's decision to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to include individuals with incomes from 100% to 133% of the federal poverty level. The expansion was approved by a majority of legislators but the legislators who voted against it claim that the enactment was invalid because the bill did not receive a 2/3 vote as required under Arizona's constitution for a new tax. The expansion is funded by an assessment paid by hospitals based on the number of discharges. The constitution expressly exempts certain fees and assessment from the 2/3 vote requirement.

The suit was originally filed in 2012 when Governor Brewer was still in office. The defendant in the case is Tom Betlach, the Director of the Arizona Health Care and Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). The court initially dismissed the case on the grounds that the legislators did not have "standing" to bring it. But by the time that the Arizona Supreme Court disagreed and reinstated the case, Governor Ducey had been elected. Questions arose about how vigorously the state would defend the lawsuit because of now-Governor Ducey's opposition to Medicaid expansion during the gubernatorial campaign. As a result, four individuals who were able to enroll in AHCCCS as a result of the expansion intervened in the case over the objection of Betlach. The individuals are represented by the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest and the Morris Institute for Justice. So far, the increased eligibility for AHCCCS has resulted in healthcare for over 300,000 individuals who were previously ineligible.

The argument on July 24 will involve the legislators' claim that the hospital assessment is a "tax" subject to a 2/3 vote. The Intervenors argue that it's not a "tax" but a "fee" like university tuition and is, therefore, exempt from the supermajority requirement. The hearing is at 11 am and is open to the public. Judge Mullins' courtroom is in the Old Court House, Room 309 located at 125 W. Washington, Phoenix.  

If you'd like more information about the case you can contact Tim Hogan at the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, thogan@aclpi.org.

The Maricopa County Medical Society Board of Directors serves as an advisory group that oversees the activities of the Society. The Board's primary role is to ensure that the Society's mission is being upheld and to oversee implementation of our strategic plan through various committees. The time commitment is minimal, and does not interfere with your practice, typically meeting once per month for less than two hours. 

We are looking for fresh ideas and welcome new additions to the Board. No experience is necessary as an interest in protecting the practice of medicine is all you need! Please consider a position on our Board of Directors and complete the brief application using the link below.      

If you have any questions or concerns prior to applying, please contact Jay Conyers, PhD, Executive Director, by email at jconyers@mcmsonline.com.

We hope to see you on the Board next year!

Estrella Gastroenterology, a rapidly expanding private practice in metro Phoenix, is actively recruiting a BE/BC gastroenterologist as well as an NP or PA. ERCP, EUS, and hepatology experience are desired.

Bilingual is a plus. Practice has multiple locations and affiliations with 5 hospitals and offers flexible schedules and a competitive salary with benefits.

Please send CV to sa@gastroaz.com  

Physician Group of Arizona, Inc., an organization comprised of primary and specialty care physicians, announced the addition of The Mollen Clinic in Scottsdale.

From left to right:  Martin Mollen, MD  Art Mollen, DO  Monika Sajecki, PA-C  Barbara Firminger, CEO, Physician Group of Arizona  Mel Bottner, MD

Dr. Art Mollen, president and founder of The Mollen Clinic, is accompanied by physician assistant Monika Sajecki and will welcome Drs. Martin Mollen and Mel Bottner to the team.

Dr. Mollen is a nationally-recognized health and fitness expert; his medical practice emphasizes the benefits of preventive medicine. With 45 years of experience, Dr. Mollen is an advocate of exercise and diet as the primary treatment for many diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, arthritis and depression.

In 2007, Dr. Mollen was also recommended for Surgeon General of the United States of America. He also received Arizona Physician of the Year in 2014 by the Arizona Osteopathic Association.

A.T. Still University's Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) announced July 6 it is the recipient of a $1.7 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to strengthen interprofessional education (IPE) among dental, medical, and physician assistant students.

The grant will support significant expansion of IPE at A.T. Still University (ATSU). Specifically, dental students will engage collaboratively in clinical settings with medical students from ATSU's School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona and physician assistant students from ATSU's Arizona School of Health Sciences. ATSU will also engage non-dental partner agencies, including the Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinics and Greater Valley Area Health Education Center to facilitate both didactic and clinical team-based care.

With less than three months remaining until the nation switches from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding for medical diagnoses and inpatient hospital procedures, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA) are announcing efforts to continue to help physicians get ready ahead of the October 1 deadline. In response to requests from the provider community, CMS is releasing additional guidance that will allow for flexibility in the claims auditing and quality reporting process, as the medical community gains experience using the new ICD-10 code set.

By Angela Gonzales, Phoenix Business Journal
Originally posted July 8, 2015

Phoenix-based the Medical Memory LLC has raised $2.1 million, with plans to build its sales force nationwide and further develop its technology.

The company uses a tablet to record physician-patient interactions and then store the video online to help patients remember physicians' orders and advice. Dr. Randall Porter, a neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, created the concept and company when he realized his patients were having trouble remembering what he told them.