ACOFP President

By Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.

May 23, 2008

I want to take this opportunity to wish each of you a happy and healthy Memorial Day holiday. I hope that each of you enjoys time with family and friends. I am very thankful for and appreciative of the sacrifices made my millions of men and women who have served this country to preserve our way of life and our liberties. To all DO's who currently serve our country in the uniformed services or have served in the past, I send a special measure of gratitude.

Advocacy in the Capitol
The ACOFP Board of Governors spent this past week in Washington, D.C. for the annual Board Retreat. The Board members focused on strategic planning and advocacy for family physicians and the osteopathic profession. Ray Quintero, ACOFP Director of Government Relations in cooperation with the AOA Washington Department of Government Relations, coordinated a busy and productive week for the Board that included multiple opportunities to represent the profession and the members of the ACOFP.

Presentations by representatives of the House Ways and Means Committee on possibilities for a solution to the impending greater than 16 percent Medicare cut scheduled by January of 2009, the flawed SGR system in place currently and other physician payment issues along with information on how the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MPAC) is approaching future physician workforce and payment issues led off the week. The week continued with a look at the anticipated political landscape for 2009-2010 and an overview of the medical home and specifics on demonstration projects being developed around the medical home and the Patient Centered Primary Care Consortium.

The board requested and was presented with an update on developments in Graduate Medical Education and Medical Workforce issues by representatives of Senator Bingaman's office in addition to an overview of opportunities available for the development of new family medicine education programs in cooperation with the VA and the Community Health Centers. The possibilities of synergy between these institutions and ACOFP was debated and plans for implementation developed.

Two days of intensive development for the board served to prepare each member for Wednesday when the entire board spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with representatives and senators from the home of each of the Governors. The board had the opportunity to directly advocate for the health and welfare of our patients as well as issues important to osteopathic family physicians, osteopathic medical students and residents and the osteopathic profession.

In addition, the board met with the leadership of the House Committee's on Rural Health, Veterans Affairs and Small Business to explore ways that the osteopathic profession and osteopathic family physicians can assist them in meeting the health care and professional needs of our citizens and advancing the interest of our members simultaneously.

Advocacy in your District
While you may not be able to travel to Washington, D.C. on a weekly basis, I encourage you to establish close contacts with your representative and senator at their home offices. Our elected officials return to their home districts regularly and are much more accessible at when at home than in Washington. The old saying that all politics are local is as true today as anytime in our history and your interaction and connections are the key to any successful grassroots efforts.

Greatness and the ACOFP
During the week, the ACOFP Board of Governors hosted AOA Executive Director John Crosby for a presentation on plans for the Greatness Fund and how the association may support the project in Washington, D.C. Recognizing that the advocacy is one of the top three items our members look to our national organization to provide for them, and believing that a strong presence in Washington, D.C. will also advance the members desire to improve national recognition and respect of the osteopathic profession and osteopathic family physicians, the board is deliberating how it will participate in Dr. John Strosnider’s vision and a significant portion of the AOA and the ACOFP strategic initiatives for the next decade.

Take Action Now to Stop Medicare Payment Cuts
Speaking of federal advocacy, it is vitally important that all DOs make their voices heard in Washington as Congress works to stop a payment cut amounting to more than 16 percent over the next 18 months. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services put forth a proposed rule that would revise the process for designating medically underserved populations and health professional shortage areas, and The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule on e-prescribing and NPI utilization. Contact Leann Fox at the Washington Office if you need assistance in contacting your representative office. As a voter and a constituent, urge them to take actions that will allow you to continue to provide care to your patients and practice your profession.

ACOFP Educational Program in Las Vegas, Nevada
It is not too early to register for the 2008 ACOFP/AOA Annual Convention to be held at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, October 26 – 30, 2008. The Chairpersons for the ACOFP meeting, James Froelich III, DO and Bruce Maniet, DO along with all the members of the Program Committee, under the leadership of Dr. Katherine Galluzzi, are assembling a quality program that will provide you the opportunity to improve your clinical knowledge and skills as well as update you on immerging systems of practice including the Medical Home, PQRI standards and the latest in Electronic Health Records.

Make your plans early to attend and be sure to register with the ACOFP to have access to all of the educational and social events that will be provided for our members and participating physicians.

Back to Campus
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine ACOFP Student Chapter, led by President Sibi P. Thomas, sponsored a presentation by the Susquehanna Health Center of Williamsport Hospital on their graduate medical education programs and what each graduate should expect during the matching process and into residency. During the meeting the student members competed in “DO Jeopardy” that included medical and pop culture topics.

The LECOM Primary Care Department and the LECOM ACOFP student chapter also hosted “Bowl with a DO.” First year students and osteopathic family physicians from throughout the area were invited to interact with each other in an informal and fun-filled environment. There were prizes for all students present and the LECOM ACOFP student chapter also created team t-shirts for each of the groups that were bowling together as a fundraiser.

Under the leadership of John Feretti, DO, and Silvia Feretti, DO, in addition to the campus in Erie, Pennsylvania and the newly announced distant site in Beaver, Pennsylvania, the college operates a branch campus in Bradenton, Florida. Former ACOFP President, Robert George, DO, FACOFP dist., is the Dean at the Bradenton campus. s.

Make your opinions known! Send an email to me and ACOFP. Share your thoughts, make comments, and tell us what you have been doing in regards to osteopathic family medicine.

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