ACOFP President

By Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.

June 13, 2008

LATE BREAKING NEWS: Senate Fails to Pass Medicare Bill
The U.S. Senate failed to pass a cloture vote on Thursday when it could not obtain the 60 votes needed to allow debate to begin and a vote to occur on the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Physicians Act of 2008” (S. 3101) sponsored by Senator Baucus from Montana. At least seven senators were absent and did not vote, including Presidential candidates Senator McCain and Senator Obama, as well as Senator Clinton of New York.

This bill would have provided for a positive update for physicians for the next 18 months and prevented the 16 percent cuts that will take effect over the same period of time. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid switched his vote from yes to no, allowing him to recall the bill at a future date, which is expected to happen by Monday. If you have not done so, contact your Senators (call 877.262.9400) and encourage them to support the cloture vote and to support the bill to ensure access to quality health care for our nation’s 44 million seniors and fairness to our more than one million providers. If you have already contacted your Senators, do so again and remind them that you cannot provide access to health care to support wellness for our nation nor operate a business with the current failed formula for Medicare reimbursement.

ACOFP Support for Osteopathic Family Physicians Affected by Floods in Midwest
The ACOFP Family Practice Disaster Recovery Fund was created by a generous donation from the ACOFP Education and Research Foundation in 2005 to support disaster relief for osteopathic physicians affected by Hurricane Katrina. Today, the funds are available to assist any osteopathic family physicians who have had their practices adversely affected by a natural disaster such as the tornados and floods that have struck much of the country's heartland. If you need assistance to get your practice up and going or if you would like to make a tax deductable donation to assist others, please contact the Foundation at ACOFP Headquarters in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Wall Street Journal Article on the Rewards of Primary Care
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal published “Primary Care Has Rewards Despite Hassles”. In this column, Benjamin Brewer, MD extols the reasons for being in primary care. “Despite the monetary rewards, I think many of these [specialist] docs are missing out on the best parts of medicine I get to see every day. Not everyone agrees…The fun is in the follow-up. Doctors who never see the rest of a patient's life are missing out.”

ACOFP Educational Program in Las Vegas, Nevada
Have you registered for the 2008 ACOFP/AOA Annual Convention? If not, there is no time like the present! Register today. The meeting will be held at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, October 26 – 30, 2008. The Chairpersons for the ACOFP meeting, James Froelich III, DO FACOFP and Bruce Maniet, DO along with all the members of the Program Committee, under the leadership of Katherine Galluzzi, DO FACOFP dist. are assembling an outstanding program that will provide you the opportunity to improve your clinical knowledge and skills as well as update you on emmerging systems of practice including the Medical Home, PQRI standards and the latest in Electronic Medical 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
Students from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine ACOFP Student Chapter volunteered their time and talents to help support the May 31 Summer Special Olympics, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The students, led by President Matthew Zimmerman, volunteered all day, helped assemble the athletes, instructed them on what to do, recorded their jumps at the standing long jump event, and awarded them with medals and participated in the Volunteer Long Jump Shuffle after each round of jumpers. Carol Monson, DO FACOFP, Margaret Aguwa, DO FACOFP and Dr. Myral Robbins, DO FACOFP all members of the ACOFP and leaders in the state of Michigan, provide support for the local chapter along with ACOFP Secretary/Treasurer George Sawabini, DO FACOFP.

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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