The DJP Update

DJP Update 12-22-2011: While Congress plays games, read about a true leader & hero; Lagniappe

The chains will remain on doctors and patients regarding SGR with the usual last-minute follies in DC.  Courage needed to restore liberty and end coercion and price-fixing.
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Thanks to Dr. Stormy Johnson, former AMA president, for bringing this wonderful story below to my attention.

This man, Van T. Barfoot, born in 1919, was told by his neighborhood association in December of 2009 he couldn’t fly the American Flag on a flagpole in front of his home.

His response at age 90,

“In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without
interference”.

Oh, by the way, he won the Medal of Honor in WWII.  An American Hero!  Yes, he continued to fly the flag.
Citation:

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to

BARFOOT, VAN T.

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Carthage, Miss. Birth: Edinburg, Miss. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot’s extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

See the photos at this link: http://www.relentlessknives.com/MedalofHonor.html

He advanced alone through minefields to get to the first machinegun nest.
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Learn from heroes and leaders.  They all have courage.

“Whereas, Sir, you know courage is reckoned the greatest of all virtues; because, unless a man has that virtue, he has no security for preserving any other.
–Samuel Johnson
Quoted at start of chapter 5 in my book.

LAGNIAPPE

A few recent DJPNEWS tweets at: www.twitter.com/DJPNEWS

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DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
It could happen! Brokered Repub convention. No majority 1st vote; delegates on own; @RepPaulRyan chosen & @marcorubio is VP. #2012 #BigWin
51 minutes ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Want to improve the photos you snap? People: frame from chest up; no feet or empty space. Don’t jerk camera shutter #photography #PhotoTip
1 hour ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Treasure #Liberty – Must read article by @domjoly “A Strange Ride in the Totalitarian Theme Park”. His visit to North Korea 2010. #KimJong
1 hour ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Good for #Congress re #PPACA #Medicaid #PriceFixing RT @miss_quotation: Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. ~ Confucius
3 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Fear no one will come to the price-fixing party? MT @texmed: Medicare extends Drs’ ann enroll period till Feb. 14-2012. fb.me/OMOEE8Cq
7 hours ago

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DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Dr Ezekiel Emanuel @nytimes wrong in critique re Medicare premium support http://tinyurl.com/844rpzz #PPACA & #IPAB = bad. http://tinyurl.com/yb9ge5o
20 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Dr Corey Howard re no longer enroll in #Medicare – his reasons blogtalkradio 12-22-2011 “Live A Better Life” tinyurl.com/828qn9s #HR1700
21 Dec

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Shame on Congress if 27.4% cut Medicare payments occurs 1-1-2012. Affects access to care for Seniors, military families, etc. #SGR #HR1700
21 Dec
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Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a healthy & wonderful New Year!  Think of the courage displayed long ago on the days we celebrate each year at this time.

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Stay well.

Donald

Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD

Intrepid Resources® / The Medical Risk Manager Company
5000 West Esplanade Ave., #432
Metairie, LA 70006
USA
504-455-5895 office
504-455-9392 fax

DJP@donaldpalmisano.com
www.donaldpalmisano.com
www.onleadership.us

DJP Updates:  www.DJPupdate.com
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/DJPNEWS
YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/IntrepidResources

This DJP Update goes to over 2300 leaders in Medicine representing all of the State Medical Associations and over 100 Specialty Societies plus some other friends.
You can share it with your members and it has the potential to reach 800,000 physicians.
To join the list, send me an  email stating “Join DJP Update”
To get off the list, state ” Remove DJP Update” in subject line.

DJP Update 12-17-2011 Saturday morning vote includes SGR

DJP Comment: Too bad Liberty will not be restored by passing H.R. 1700 or an equivalent that would allow balance-billing.  Let government pay what it an afford and let patients and physicians negotiate the rest.  Instead, more SGR nonsence; the chains remain on doctors.  Until Congress gets courage and restores liberty, Medicare patient access to care will suffer.  Everyone in Congress should be given Medicaid, which price-fixes below Medicare, as the Congressional health plan.  Then the the system would get fixed quickly.  Imagine a patient with internal bleeding and the doctors keep holding conferences as to what to do rather than operating and ligating the bleeder.  Failure to act timely causes patient to die.  That is what Congress is doing to the honorable profession of Medicine.  Yet in all of the presidential debates, not one word is mentioned about this disaster of price-fixing.

WORD FROM SENATE SOURCE (Excerpt from the message)
Sens. Reid and McConnell have introduced a substitute amendment for H.R. 3630, the House passed payroll tax bill.  Among other things, the substitute includes a two-month extension of Medicare payment provisions, which would prevent a 27 percent reduction in physician payments scheduled to take effect on January 1.  Per the unanimous consent request entered into yesterday evening, the vote on this payroll tax agreement will take place at 9 AM TODAY, subject to a 60-vote affirmative threshold.

The legislation provides a zero percent update in physician reimbursement levels for January and February 2012, and stipulates that the payment increase shall be disregarded for purposes of calculating SGR rates for future periods.  The bill also includes several two month extensions of expiring Medicare provisions (which are usually extended with the SGR).  The entire bill is paid for through non-health savings, namely an increase in guarantee fees for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages.  CBO scores are not yet available.

Medicare Physician Payment:  Provides for a 0 percent update in reimbursement levels for January and February 2012.  Provides that the payment update shall not be considered when calculating the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) reimbursement levels in future periods.

Medicare “Extenders:”  Extends for two months a series of Medicare and health-related provisions, all of which would expire at the end of the calendar year unless otherwise noted:
·         Section 508 hospital reclassifications;
·         Geographic floor for work;
·         Therapy caps exception process;
·         Technical component of certain physician pathology services;
·         Reimbursement raises for ambulance services;
·         Mental health reimbursements (5% increase);
·         Outpatient hold harmless provision;
·         Minimum payment for bone mass measurement;
·         Qualifying Individual (QI) program, assistance to low-income seniors in paying Medicare premiums; and
·         Transitional Medical Assistance, which provides Medicaid benefits for low-income families transitioning from welfare to work.
———-END of SUMMARY NOTE FROM CONGRESS

LAGNIAPPE: I have been doing radio shows in the mornings across the USA and I continue to mention the price-fixing system in government programs as well as the broken medical liability system.  Let’s all try to spread the work via radio shows, Op-Eds, and letters to the editor.  It is up to us to get the message to the American people.  Time to try something different.  Relying on others is not working very well.

AND here are some samples of my tweets Friday.  Get on Twitter and start spreading the word!

www.twitter.com/DJPNEWS

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Restore #Liberty & #HR1700 a good start. #AnimalFarm RT @texmed: Quit Playing Politics with Medicare Patient’s Health http://goo.gl/fb/EzA3f
9 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Too bad #POTUS & #Congress don’t realize #hcr going wrong direction RT @medpagetoday: Docs Glum on Healthcare Reform. tinyurl.com/bp43pjh
9 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Restore #Liberty and allow Docs & patients to decide on value of service. Let gov & ins co decide what they can afford to pay. #HR1700
17 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Not one person who wants to be #POTUS discusses the coercion of #Medicare price-fixing & penalties if Dr wants to balance-bill true value
17 hours ago

Stay well.

Donald

Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD

Intrepid Resources® / The Medical Risk Manager Company
5000 West Esplanade Ave., #432
Metairie, LA 70006
USA
504-455-5895 office
504-455-9392 fax

DJP@donaldpalmisano.com
www.donaldpalmisano.com
www.onleadership.us

DJP Updates:  www.DJPupdate.com
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/DJPNEWS
YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/IntrepidResources

This DJP Update goes to over 2300 leaders in Medicine representing all of the State Medical Associations and over 100 Specialty Societies plus some other friends.
You can share it with your members and it has the potential to reach 800,000 physicians.
To join the list, send me an  email stating “Join DJP Update”
To get off the list, state ” Remove DJP Update” in subject line.

DJP Update 12-3-2011 A few words about Twitter & some tweets

Lots going on and my communication of late has been with interviews and speeches PLUS tweets.  I did a media tour in Ohio following the AMA Interim Meeting in New Orleans.  That is reason for lack of recent DJP Updates.

As in in the past, I encourage you to get on Twitter.  You don’t have to send tweets.  One option is just to follow people and news organizations.  The short messages they sent are limited to 140 characters, including spaces.

These tweets come to your smart phone or to your computer or both.  You merely have to select a free or minimal cost software program that receives the tweets.  I keep two such programs on my iPhone 4S: Twitter & Echofon and one on my MacAir 11″.  Echofon has a few extra features either one or some other competitor will suffice for just viewing tweets.  The tweets go to that software and not to your email so don’t worry about the tweets filling up your email.
If you have an iPhone, just go to iTunes and “Apps” and put in twitter in the search engine.  Also, if you don’t see Echofon show up, put Echofon in search engine and it will show up.  When given the choice of free version or PRO version for a few bucks, get the pro version.  But if you just want to follow tweets, the free Twitter app works fine.

I previously recommended to you an excellent small book that tells you everything you need to know to tweet like a pro.  It is available at Amazon:

The Twitter Book [Paperback]Tim O’Reilly (Author), Sarah Milstein (Author)
4.8 out of 5 s
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If you see an interesting tweet, you can “retweet” it.  That shows up as RT followed by the name of the person who did the original tweet.  I posted a few examples below with the other tweets.

The advantage of Twitter is to get immediate information about news items or items you are interested in, such as #photography or #PPACA or any hobby etc.  You thus will learn the same news that shows up on the evening news and frequently you will learn it hours in advance.  To get “Followers” you have to tweet something of interest to the people or companies who elect to follow you.

Here are some selected tweets recently that I posted.  As you will see below, my tweets usually are about #PPACA, #hcr, #photography, #gadgets,  #leadership, #MedicalLiabilityReform and #quotes PLUS the New Orleans #Saints. To see them all, go to www.twitter.com/DJPNEWS

Inside most tweets, you will see a link that takes you to an article.  Also, a neat search mechanism is to click on a hashmark item, such as #PPACA and the twitter search engine will take you to hundreds or thousands of tweets with that same # hashmark included in the tweet.  Very easy way to find other sources of information on a topic.  INFORMATION is power! Add wisdom to the learned information and you are on the road to leadership.

When at my Twitter site, look to the right and you will see some recent photos I posted to Twitter.  Double-click on images to enlarge.  Also, I have some of the same plus others at www.twitpic.com/DJPNEWS
When I post to the twitpic site, it also gets posted to my Twitter site.

Here are my stats on Twitter including the 3,482 tweets I have sent out and the 418 people/organizations following my tweets.

3,482Tweets
418Following
415Followers
NOTE to all medical and specialty societies:  Send me your Twitter name so I can follow you.  I get great tweets from @texmed & Tim_Stapleton (FMA) & @FloridaMedical & #GaSACS & @DPalmisanoMAG & @MAG1849, & @LaMedSoc

You also can follow @AmerMedicalAssn, @AMNews, @oreilly_amnews and @AAPSonline to get a various perspectives on health system reform in addition to Heritage, Galen Institute, WSJ, Washington Post, etc.

A top individual physician tweeter to follow is #Sonodoc99  He covers the #hcr and #PPACA as well as medical liability reform extremely well.

Some of the tweets that I sent today and one from Dec 1 about the Texas medical liability reform
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DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Nice! #photography #landscape RT @instapundit: 100 INCREDIBLE VIEWS OUT OF AIRPLANE WINDOWS….: http://bit.ly/sb0dUN
57 minutes ago

jstrevino Joshua Treviño
by DJPNEWS
George Will declares that conservatives need to take a second look at Perry …. and Huntsman: wapo.st/suMQb9
2 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Ethics RT @sonodoc99: @DJPNEWS @AAPSonline WH needs to come clean on Kagan & #PPACA washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-w… #SCOTUS #recusal #verisimilitude
3 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
All is well. Keep up the great reporting! RT @JenHale504: @DJPNEWS thanks! Hope you’re well!
3 hours ago

gracemarietweet Grace-Marie Turner
by DJPNEWS
George Will is exactly right in his Sunday column, “The economy is choking on ObamaCare.” It’s killing jobs & growth! tinyurl.com/6mw3cgl
4 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Terrific #App at iTunes store for maps: National Geographic “World Atlas”; works well on iPhone; can expand globe to get details. #map
4 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Sad. = why NPSF.org formed. #safety RT @DPalmisanoMAG: Nurse Gives Patient Paralytic Instead of Antacid tinyurl.com/74wcwwp
4 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Print via Internet or WiFi AirPrint. #gadgets RT @digigeeky: HP to offer Apple printer exclusive bit.ly/tfujKV #gadgets
4 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Via @texmed Grandma and the Big Bad SGR! ow.ly/7Loiw Video we’ve been waiting for from @b_n_tx #MedicareMeltdown
4 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Philip Howard, author of best-selling “The Death of Common Sense”, nails regulations @WSJopinion tinyurl.com/d7m4ejy More at CommonGood.org
4 hours ago

Here is one about my nephew, Dr. Michael Brown, who sang at my AMA Inauguration.

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Check out Michael Brown’s new album TRAVEL TIME mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London. http://tinyurl.com/bpz66ug #music #creativity #Freedom
8 hours ago

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DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
@WSJopinion @Peggynoonannyc The Comeback Kid of 2012; noted wordsmith crafts provocative opinion @newtgingrich & #POTUS tinyurl.com/d76boa9
8 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Reduce meritless suits: elim contingency fees; lawyer accountability for suits without merit (peer review & new rules for countersuits) #law
9 hours ago

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
@WSJopinion “The City of Unbrotherly Torts” | Replace lucrative contingency-fee with LegalAid for needy & per-hour price-fixing = end prob.
9 hours ago

——

DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Res ipsa loquitur #Prop12 #ContingencyFee #MedicalLiabilityReform RT @texmed: Tort reform benefits speak for themselves http://ow.ly/1BjPHo
1 Dec

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On the road again Monday.  Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Stay well.

Donald

Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD

Intrepid Resources® / The Medical Risk Manager Company
5000 West Esplanade Ave., #432
Metairie, LA 70006
USA
504-455-5895 office
504-455-9392 fax

DJP@donaldpalmisano.com
www.donaldpalmisano.com
www.onleadership.us

DJP Updates:  www.DJPupdate.com
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/DJPNEWS
YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/IntrepidResources

This DJP Update goes to over 2300 leaders in Medicine representing all of the State Medical Associations and over 100 Specialty Societies plus some other friends.
You can share it with your members and it has the potential to reach 800,000 physicians.
To join the list, send me an  email stating “Join DJP Update”
To get off the list, state ” Remove DJP Update” in subject line.