ACOFP President

By Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.

June 6, 2008

YOU, YES YOU, MUST TAKE ACTION NOW
Medicare Payment and the SGR
If we are to be successful in spurring Congress to enact legislation to prevent the impending 10.6 percent cut in the Medicare physician payment, legislation must be enacted by June 16, 2008. By the time you read this, the deadline will be only 10 days away.

At that time, CMS will instruct carriers to implement the cut beginning June 17. Even if a provision to reverse this negative payment update is enacted after June 16, there will be a period of time required for retroactive payments for physician services to correct the deficiency that inactivity will create. Not only will physicians suffer, but administrative costs related to reversing CMS policy will increase.

Since the 2008 DO Day on the Hill, when more than 900 DO students and physicians were engaged on Capitol Hill, I do not believe that enough grass roots activity has occurred among DO physicians to let legislators know how these cuts will affect our practices and our patients' care. Anecdotal “war-stories” shared among ourselves will not stimulate Congress to take action. If it is true that you will have to change business practices - and I do not know anyone who can look at a 40 percent decrease from 2001 to 2008 and not make changes in action - then you must act. If it is true that this will hurt patient care and access to care, you must act now. The enzyme to stimulate Congressional action must come from your voice and your activity.

Contact your legislator TODAY and let them know that action is essential and that it must occur now. If you have questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact ACOFP’s Director of Government Affairs, Ray Quintero, or the AOA’s Leann Fox for assistance.

Immunizations Update from the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that in 2005, two new combination tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines were licensed in the United States for single-dose use in adults and adolescents to protect against pertussis and to replace the next dose of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids vaccine (Td).

This report describes the clinical features of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria among pregnant and postpartum women and their infants, reviews available evidence of pertussis vaccination during pregnancy as a strategy to prevent infant pertussis, summarizes Tdap vaccination policy in the United States, and presents recommendations for use of Td and Tdap vaccines among pregnant and postpartum women .

Participation in Advocacy
The ACOFP does not endorse candidates for political office, but encourages it members to participate in the political process at a grass roots, state and national level as well as through financial support for advocacy. One example of participation by an osteopathic physician is Dr. Stephen Blythe, an ACOFP member is running for Congressional office in Florida. Running for state or national office is another way to become involved and extends the influence of osteopathic medicine beyond your personal patients and practice. If your interest is not political, I encourage you to become involved in your community through other businesses and volunteer organizations.

Physician of the Year Nomination Deadline – Aug 31
The Osteopathic Family Physician of the Year Award is one of ACOFP’s highest honors. Last year’s honoree, Dr. Alan Brewer from Missouri marked it as one of the proudest moments of his life when he was presented with the award for his contributions to our profession, his state and his patients.

Nominees for this award are presented by the state societies. If you personally or your state has an osteopathic family physician that you believe is deserving and one that you would like to nominate for the 2009 Osteopathic Family Physician of the Year Award, I encourage you to commit your thoughts to action. Submit your nomination to the ACOFP affiliate society from the state in which the nominee practices (or by the state osteopathic association if no ACOFP affiliate society exists in the nominee’s state of practice. All nominations will be forwarded to the Awards Committee prior to August 31, 2008. If you have any questions regarding the ACOFP’s Osteopathic Family Physician of the Year Award, please contact Cathy Sansone.

Back to Campus
Des Moines University (DMU) Osteopathic Medical Center ACOFP Student Chapter sponsored a presentation by DMU graduate David Wensel, DO, who completed his residency training in Family Medicine with a subspecialty in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Wensel spoke on the topic of incorporating Hospice and Palliative Care into Family Medicine. He discussed how time must be taken with families to discuss end of life care with terminal patients and the options available to them. Alexandra B. Ionnone is chapter president and Dr. Roberta Wattleworth provides outstanding service to our profession not only as the advisor for the DMU chapter of the ACOFP but as the national advisor for our student organization as well.

The chapter also hosted DMUOMC graduate Kristyn Ann Schelhaas, DO, a second year Family Medicine resident who spoke about her residency experiences, what to expect in residency, and how to balance family life with residency. She answered questions about the benefits of entering a Family Medicine residency. Last year, approximately 600 graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine (COM) entered family medicine residencies in the United States, once again making family medicine the largest specialty choice among graduates of our COMs.

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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