DJP Update 6-24-2010 AMA featured in Roll Call article & some recent tweets PLUS breaking news from AMA about SGR
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_152/lobbying/47622-1.html
AMA Chief Has Internal Divisions to Stitch Up
By Bennett Roth
Roll Call Staff
June 23, 2010, 12 a.m.
In a speech last week marking his ascension to the presidency of the American Medical Association, Cecil Wilson, an avid sailor and former Navy doctor, couldn’t resist tossing out some precautionary sea tales.
….
Excerpts:
Son of a Preacher Man
Wilson’s backers say the 75-year-old former naval surgeon, who grew up in south Georgia as the son of a Methodist minister, possesses the even temperament needed to lead the organization in this fractious period.
“One thing about him, he always keeps his cool,” said Russ Jackson, senior vice president of Florida Medical Association, where Wilson once served as president.
———
Despite the considerable resources it pours into influencing Congress and the executive branch, some health care experts say AMA’s clout has waned.
Robert Moffit, a health care specialist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said at one time “the AMA was not only respected, it was feared.”
But he said over the years the proliferation of specialist groups has diluted the group’s influence.
Many of these specialists, particularly surgeons, were among the most critical of the Democratic health care reform proposals. Among AMA members, there was vocal dissent when the group threw its support behind the House and Senate bills, endorsements that were viewed as crucial in swaying some undecided Democratic lawmakers.
……..
Intensive Care
But in his address at the AMA convention in Chicago last week, Wilson promised to mend those divisions and hold regular conference calls to reach out to the group’s members.
The tensions over the direction of the organization were reflected in a rare three-way race to become the group’s next president-elect, which was held at their Chicago meeting.
Peter Carmel, a pediatric neurosurgeon from New Jersey, won that race, and he will take the helm of the organization in June 2011.
Carmel vowed to take a tougher stand toward Washington.
“The AMA is going to be more insistent and little edgier with its relationships with Congress and the administration in demanding some of the things we doctors need,” Carmel told the Chicago Tribune.
But for the time being, even one of the more outspoken AMA members said he was willing to give the new leadership a chance.
Donald Palmisano, a New Orleans physician who was active in the conservative faction opposing health care reform, called Wilson “a fine gentleman.”
But Palmisano, a former AMA president, noted that the group’s leaders are bound by policies set by its board of delegates. The test for Wilson, he said, is whether he will be able to effectively communicate those policies on issues such as Medicare physician payment formula.
“I’m going to give Dr. Wilson the benefit of the doubt,” he said.
———-
DJP Comment: I just wrote the reporter who was very nice during the interview, complimented him on the article, and thanked him for calling and interviewing me. I also pointed out:
————
You wrote: “policies set by its board of delegates.”
It should be “policies set by its House of Delegates.” (approximately 535 delegates)
Second point:
You wrote: “…faction opposing health care reform, ”
It should be: “…faction supporting health system reform but opposing the bill that became law.”
If there is an opportunity to put that in a posting on your Website, you have my permission.
———–
Here are some RECENT TWEETS I posted at www.Twitter.com/DJPNEWS
Depressing! #oilspill #BP via @sonodoc99 @jaketapper@DJPNEWS Re: Gulf Oil Crisis – Doomsday Scenario http://tinyurl.com/2dft84t
about 5 hours ago via Echofon
RT @CDCgov CA: Whooping cough epidemic in Calif. Teens & adults can infect babies. Get your Tdap booster shot. http://is.gd/d0QE4
about 7 hours ago via Echofon
Wow! #MichaelBarone in #IBD “Chicago Way…Gulf Crisis” & quote #RandSimberg re Dunkirk! http://tinyurl.com/2bh3qyo#oilspill
about 18 hours ago via Echofon
RT @BobbyJindal Shutting down dredging while oil hits our shores is absolutely absurd. We need to act now.http://twurl.cc/2zuk #oilspill
about 19 hours ago via Echofon
Crisis! RT @CatoInstitute The Jones Act used to just kill free trade. Now it’s killing beach and sea life too http://bit.ly/aUNBZE #oilspill
2:18 PM Jun 23rd via Echofon
Teach cooperation with prison guards? RT @AmerMedicalAssnFind success with new payment models during July seminar http://bit.ly/aMeYaa
2:11 PM Jun 23rd via Echofon
England: “to pay the bills of past irresponsibility” more taxes; & #VAT, value added tax, rises to 20% in Jan. Via Times/London
11:55 AM Jun 23rd via Echofon
New research option: Data sets & powerful computers re #Parkinson’s disease: see #Wired Magazine July 2010 “Sergey’s Search”
9:02 PM Jun 22nd via Echofon
Will Congress be able to operate on seniors and families of military? Shame on Congress for SGR and 21% cut. Show some leadership!
8:15 PM Jun 22nd via Echofon
Price-fixing disaster! RT @SenateDoctors ABC News: Medicare Havoc is Here – 50 Million Medicare Claims Get Trimmed http://bit.ly/c0UFJR
8:12 PM Jun 22nd via Echofon
Cost Sharing RT @NCPA current health insur: govt isn’t telling you to be in poorly-designed plan. ..about to changehttp://bit.ly/bO6aul
8:03 PM Jun 22nd via Echofon
Should only be Opt In; not Auto r Opt Out” RT @AppleMacGeek Apple Updates #Privacy Notice with Locationhttp://bit.ly/cP1CdV
11:13 PM Jun 21st via Echofon
————
Breaking news from AMA:
The AMA learned that the House intends to consider the Senate-passed bill (H.R. 3962) that would provide a 2.2 percent Medicare fee schedule update for physician services through November 2010. This update would replace the 21 percent cut currently in effect, and be applied retroactively to claims for services provided on or after June 1. The bill will be considered on the House floor under suspension of the rules at about 5:30 EDT this evening.
Terri Marchiori
American Medical Association
Director, Federation Relations
312.464.5271
terri.marchiori@ama-assn.org
————————–
Stay well,
Donald
P.S. Stop by http://twitter.com/djpNEWS and sign up for DJPNEWS to get tweet alerts that may not make it into DJP Updates. Twitter is free and takes minutes to join. Put email in and pick password. Great source of breaking news and you don’t flood your email with it. You can get free app for BlackBerry or IPhone etc and you check on tweets when you want.
Also, recent selected DJP Updates can be found at: http://www.donaldpalmisano.com/html/djp_update/
Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD
Intrepid Resources® / The Medical Risk Manager Company
5000 West Esplanade Ave., #432
Metairie, Louisiana USA 70006
504-455-5895 office
504-455-9392 fax
DJP@donaldpalmisano.com
www.donaldpalmisano.com
www.onleadership.us
This DJP Update goes to 2261 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”. Best to put in Subject line so I can do immediately.