PROGRESS NOTES Spring, 2010 Spring, 2010 PROGRESS NOTES Page 7
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PRSRT STD OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF JEFFERSON MEDICAL SOCIETY, INC. PROGRESS U.S. POSTAGE PROGRESS PAID Metairie, La. NOTESNOTES PERMIT NO. 55 EDITORIAL OFFICE Patient advocacy and 4937 Hearst St., Suite 2B PROGRESSPROGRESSPROGRESS professional development Metairie, LA 70001 through physician Patient advocacy and leadership Address Service Requested professional development through physician leadership NOTESNOTESNOTES Vol. 44, No.1 Robert W. McCord, M.D., President Spring, 2010 2010 LEGIS L ATIVE SESSION - MEDICINE ’S AGENDA The 2010 Session of the Louisiana community coordinated by LSMS, will be from Orleans Parish Medical Society and Legislature convened Monday, March corrected on the House floor. A prohibition the River Parishes Medical Society to host a 29th and will adjourn on Monday, June on balance billing has been introduced (SB Healthcare Legislative Forum on March 18th 21st. Among the issues of concern for 349 by Sen. LaFleur) along with a bill (SB to present our concerns to area legislators. medicine are the perennial challenge to 125 by Sen. Adley) that would force non- As Senator Martiny left the event, he told the medical malpractice cap (HB 175 by contracted physicians to accept a contracted the physicians at his table that he needed Rep. Edwards) and troublesome changes rate in some instances. Of great concern to hear from the physicians in his district. to the administration of the Patient’s is the projected state budget shortfall Look for regular Legislative Updates and Compensation Fund (SB 586 by Sen. that will jeopardize funding for Medicaid Alerts from JPMS and LSMS over the Martiny). We are supporting SB 514 once again. Medicaid funding must be next several weeks to provide you with the introduced by Senator Ed Murray that maintained at a level that will insure that information you will need to contact your would clarify that the PFC Oversight physicians can continue to afford to care senator and representative. Medicine will Board will independently administer the for this vulnerable population. hold a Day at the Capitol sponsored by PCF. HB 394 by Representative Fred Members of JPMS joined with physicians the LSMS Alliance on Wednesday, May Mills is identical to Senator 19. Additional information Murray’s bill. about this event is available on the LSMS website (www. HB 1419 by Rep. Leger lsms.org) or JPMS can poses another threat to forward a registration form. the operation of the PCF. Physicians are needed on This bill would change Wednesdays at the Capital. the membership of the LSMS staff will accompany PCF Oversight Board by you and transportation can adding the commissioner of be arranged. .Legislators want insurance as the ex-officio to hear from constituents chairman with the authority about the problems you face to set surcharge rates. in your medical practice. HB 1030 by Rep. St. The National Scene Germain that provides an Although all Louisiana exemption from disciplinary Senators and Representatives oversight to untrained and opposed health care reform, unqualified emergency Your 2010 Board of Directors (front left to right) Dr. Damon Dietrich, Member- the Patient Protection and personnel cleared the Health at-Large; Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, treasurer; Dr. Robert Chugden, secretary; Affordable Care Act is now and Welfare Committee (back left to right) Dr. Ralph Katz, member-at-large; Dr. Mohammed Suleman, the law of the land and but because of a vigorous immediate past president; Dr. Robert McCord, president; Dr. Brian Bourgeois, the implementation and response from the physician vice-president; and Dr. Beau Raymond, chairman of the Board of Censors. – continued on page two Page 2 PROGRESS NOTES Spring, 2010 Spring, 2010 PROGRESS NOTES Page 7 2010 Session President’s Notes – continued from page one Practice Matters Robert W. McCord, 2010 JPMS President, gave the following address at the 51st regulation phase has begun. President Obama n JPMS EMAIL & FAX review of Social Security disability wonderful reference tool for doctors, Anniversary Installation Dinner-Dance on Saturday, March 13th. acknowledges that the task of reforming the nation’s health care system is not finished. Of LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Your office claims. Malpractice insurance not nurses, social workers, seniors and should be receiving weekly Alerts by required. Must have current LA family members. Call 828-6362 or I’d like to take this time to thank some people who have who have helped me and the note, physicians are still pursuing a permanent fax and/or by email during the Regular license, no OIG sanctions and be email your request for free copies for Jefferson Parish Medical Society. resolution for the flawed Sustainable Growth Session of the Legislative Legislature comfortable with computer work. yourself, your staff and your patients to Rate (SGR) physician payment formula which began on March 29th. We hope Contact Terri Spurgeon at 225 342 [email protected] First my wife Barbara, without whom, I’d be alone in a research lab somewhere. under Medicare. Congress extended the 2009 payment rates until May 31st – so the the information in our Alerts will be 2242 or [email protected] or Thanks to Dr. Rick Paddock who once said “come on, you can go to this meeting and game continues with reports that the House helpful to you in communicating with Donna Glueck at 225 342 7951 n HAVE YOU ADDED A NEW see how it works and have a few drinks… and Senate are expected to consider a long- your Senator and Representative in or [email protected] PHYSICIAN TO YOUR term solution by early June. JPMS will Baton Rouge. If you are experiencing PRACTICE? Contact JPMS (504- Thank you to Charlene Baudier and Ana De La Garza, without whom, absolutely remain vigilant and seek ways to correct the any difficulties opening our emails or n Is your Office Manager a member 455-8282 or [email protected]) with nothing would get done. flaws through the implementation process. receiving the fax, or to be removed of the Greater New Orleans Chapter the names of your new colleagues and Thank you to all the past presidents of JPMS and LSMS, who paved the way. Please continue your communications from our fax or email alert file, please of the Louisiana Medical Group we’ll take care of the rest or retrieve an about a permanent solution to SGR with contact JPMS (455-8282 or email@ Management Association? This application under the Membership tab To our current board of directors for being there for JPMS. U.S. Senators Landrieu and Vitter and lsms.org). valuable organization was formed on the JPMS website www.jpms.org. To Dr. Thomas Nolan and the board of OPMS, I look forward to working with you in Representatives Scalise, Cao, and Melancon. in 1995 to further the personal and Physicians in the 1st or 2nd year of the future. n JPMS Website: JPMS is pleased to professional development and improve practice receive a dues discount. Dues announce our newly designed website. the medical practices of practice for new members are reduced by 50% I’d like to start my brief comments with a quote from the Charles Dickens’ novel A Changes/Additions to the Visit www.jpms.org and tell us what managers in our area. Annual dues are on July 1st. Tale of Two Cities: 2010 Pictorial Membership Directory: you think. Check the accuracy of $75. The JPMS office can email or “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was You should have just received your your listing in the physician directory fax application information to you or n Referrals - Have you received a new the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was copy of our 2010 Pictorial Membership section (also check the directory which contact the GNO LMGMA president, certification or expanded areas of interest the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the Directory by mail. Please check your will be delivered by mail in late April). Diane Weiss at 504-842-2694, with within your specialty? Your patients and winter of despair” listing and report changes to the JPMS Contact the JPMS office (455-8282 your questions. potential patients want to know. Please office (455-8282 or [email protected]). or [email protected]) or complete an mail, fax (455-7388) or e-mail (email@ “Update Your Information” form n The Senior Resource Guide of As we enter the second half-century of the Jefferson Parish Medical Society, we find You can access the directory on line at jpms.org) information about your www.jpms.org. under the Membership tab and fax it Greater New Orleans is a digest- practice to Progress Notes. JPMS will ourselves in similar times for Medicine. We are on the cusp of change…change, which to JPMS at 504-455-7388 (automatic sized directory containing over 50 for better or for worse will come. be better able to direct new patients to Add the following new members to your email return is not yet operational). categories of information pertinent to your practice and your editor would like We, as physicians, have explicit and implicit tasks. First we must be the best physicians directory: senior citizens. You may have already to ‘’Spotlight’’ your accomplishments. we can be and second, we have the non-mandated responsibility to engage the process Dr. Robert W. Jones n POSITION AVAILABLE: Opening received sample copies of this easy- to make the system the best it can be. Dermatology in Metairie for physician to assist with to-use guide for your office. It is a To obtain these goals we will need inspiration, perspiration, desire, persistence and 1111 Medical Center Blvd., zeal.