ITEM ONE: Tulane Surgery Grand Rounds went very well. Of special interest is the first question after my presentation. A medical student asked, You are a former AMA president and why did the AMA support this PPACA health “reform” law as the law would not have passed without AMA support? You have heard my response in previous DJP Updates but in effect I stated AMA is a good organization but AMA made a serious error in judgment and, also in my opinion, disregarded long-standing AMA policy that if followed, would have prevented AMA from supporting the law.
ITEM TWO: Coalition of State Medical & National Specialty Societies article in Modern Healthcare I realize some of you do not accept attachments. It can be viewed online by going to: http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20100823/MAGAZINE/308239999 or you can go to http://www.modernhealthcare.com/ and click on the title of article submitted under the name of Dr. Todd Williamson. See at bottom of page: Grappling with a leviathan by M. Todd Williamson “The Right to Contract Provides Needed Counterbalance to Government Power in Healthcare”
You may have to enter a password but the first link may bypass the password. If unable to get the article, contact Mr. David Cook at MAG. His email is: DCook@Mag.org
Excerpts:
The coalition includes the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the Medical Society of Delaware, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, the Florida Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, the Kansas Medical Society, the Louisiana State Medical Society, the Medical Society of New Jersey, the Mississippi State Medical Association, the South Carolina Medical Association, and the Tennessee Medical Association. It also includes the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Society of General Surgeons, and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. And it includes three former presidents of the American Medical Association—Daniel Johnson Jr., Donald Palmisano and William Plested III. …. We collectively believe that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has given the federal government too much power when it comes to the decisions that are made surrounding our healthcare. What’s more, it is not financially sustainable.
We are convinced that a critical mass of the rank-and-file physicians who practice medicine in this country—across both geographic and specialty lines—share our belief that the key to preserving patient access to care is reforming the nation’s medical payment system, which is a message we have been delivering to as many stakeholders as possible for a year and a half now.
As the largest government-run healthcare program, Medicare represents a glaring example of the need for change. It is becoming increasingly difficult for physicians to accept Medicare patients as a simple economic matter as the gap between payment rates and the cost of running a practice grows wider.
The good news is that, at our urging, the AMA House of Delegates took an important step in the right direction when it passed a resolution during its meeting in Chicago in June with overwhelming support that read:
“Resolved, that our American Medical Association immediately formulate legislation for an additional payment option in Medicare fee-for-service that allows patients and physicians to freely contract, without penalty to either party, for a fee that differs from the Medicare payment schedule and in a manner that does not forfeit benefits otherwise available to the patient. This legislative language shall be available to our AMA members no later than Sept. 30, 2010.”
We believe that patients and physicians should be free to privately contract without bureaucratic interference or penalty. This change would empower patients as they make important healthcare decisions, including the source and cost of their medical care. ————
ITEM THREE: The wonderful Dave Tarver is retiring from EVP position at Louisiana State Medical Society after a very distinguished career. This man is a fountain of wisdom for the various presidents of LSMS as they served their presidential years. He will be missed greatly and we wish a wonderful well-deserved retirement. I had the privilege to serve on the search committee that recommended Dave Tarver to the LSMS Board. And a hearty welcome to Jeff Williams, a man well-known to the leadership of LSMS.
Here is the official press release:
EVP Dave Tarver to Retire Sept 30 After three decades of leadership and service, Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS) Executive Vice President Dave Tarver will officially retire effective September 30, 2010. “Through the years, Dave Tarver’s experience and leadership have proven invaluable to the LSMS,” said Dr. Patrick C. Breaux, president of the LSMS. “His departure will leave a void in the hearts and minds of those who have worked with him. We are truly appreciative of all that he has done for Louisiana physicians.” In 2002, the House of Delegates, the LSMS’ policy-making body, awarded Tarver permanent honorary membership status in appreciation for his 20 years of service. Since the organization’s inception in 1878, the LSMS traditionally elected a physician as the secretary-treasurer/chief administrative officer of the association. In the early 1980s, the House of Delegates approved a resolution to open the chief administrative officer position to lay person. Hired in 1982, Tarver was the first non-physician chief administrative officer to lead the society. Most recently, Tarver has been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) with the 2009 Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006, he received the AMA’s Medical Executive Meritorious Service Award for his outstanding individual effort and leadership in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He also served as president of the Louisiana Society of Association Executives (LSAE) in 2006 and holds membership in several state and national medical executive and association management groups. The LSMS Board of Governors established an ad hoc search committee, chaired by Dr. Jeff White of Shreveport, to review and recommend candidates for the position of executive vice president. After a national search and extensive deliberations, the Board has chosen current LSMS Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration Jeff Williams as Tarver’s successor, effective October 1. “I thank Dr. Jeff White and the members of the Search Committee for their diligence and commitment to the future of the LSMS,” said Dr. Breaux. “After thoughtful deliberations, the Board of Governors selected a new executive vice president from a group of highly qualified candidates.” Search Committee Members Frederick J. White, III, MD, Chair, Shreveport Barbara Tomek, MD, Lake Charles Jay Busby, Jr., MD, Monroe Daniel H. “Stormy” Johnson, Jr., MD, Metairie Thomas Nolan, MD, New Orleans Barry Landry, MD, Thibodaux Wallace Dunlap, MD, Baton Rouge Patrick C. Breaux, MD, President, ex-officio F. Dean Griffen, MD, President-Elect, ex officio ——– ITEM FOUR:
Missouri Voters Reject Health Law
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), one of the chief authors of the healthcare law, suggested Tuesday that he did not read the entire 2,400 page piece of legislation.
Speaking at a forum in his home state, Baucus and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius were asked by an audience member if they had read the whole bill and “if not, that is the most despicable, irresponsible thing.”
“I don’t think you want me to waste my time to read every page of the healthcare bill,” Baucus said, according to the Flathead Beacon. “You know why? It’s statutory language … We hire experts.”
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Another article about this topic.
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LAGNIAPPE: Wisdom by John Goodman. I tweeted the link.
Yes! “problem is…person who benefits from..service..not…person who pays..bill.” #Goodman http://tinyurl.com/2awwxvr #hcr10:34 AM Aug 23rd via web
Stay well,
Donald
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