ACOFP President

By Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.

June 23, 2008

Legislative Update-ACTION NEEDED TODAY
This past Friday, new action occurred on the Medicare reform actions in an attempt to fix the flawed SGR system and prevent the largest single cut in Medicare history, a 10.6 percent decrease scheduled to take effect July 1, 2008. Your action is needed today.

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell-(D-MI) introduced the “Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008” (HR 6331) a modified version of SB 3101 introduced by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) containing the positive updates sought by the ACOFP, AOA and other physician groups but scaling back other provisions included in the Senate version.

With the introduction of the HR 6331, I am requesting that each of you contact your Representative to urge positive action on the legislation. Call 877.262.9400 today and urge an affirmative vote on the legislation to preserve access to health care for the millions of Medicare recipients today and the 7,900 U.S. citizens who turn 60 each day and who are in danger of not having access to quality health care if the more than 16 percent of cuts occur over the next 18 months as scheduled.

OHIO ACOFP
Sherri and I were recently hosted by the members of the Ohio chapter of the ACOFP in Columbus, Ohio. Executive Director Jon Wills and his staff provided outstanding hospitality in addition to reporting that they had the most successful meeting in several years at the Easton complex. I was hosted by outgoing president Jay Shubrook, DO, FACOFP and by Paul Martin, DO, FACOFP dist., ACOFP Governor from Ohio.

During the weekend it was my privilege to provide an update on the activities of the ACOFP with an emphasis on the Board of Governors and the ACOFP committee’s work in support of our mission of Advocacy, Leadership and Education, including the efforts to prevent a cut in payment for physicians discussed above. During remarks I discussed the efforts of the ACOFP on scope of practice issues and the response that we have made to NBME on their actions to administer an examination to “doctor-nurses”.

In a state with more than 90 osteopathic family medicine residents and 900 practicing osteopathic family physicians, we discussed the efforts of the Committee on Education and Evaluation to reform our residencies structure, including the development of special proficiency tracks and additional fellowships for those seeking extra or special knowledge and skills to expand their scope of practice as family physicians.

I was able to detail actions being taken to educate all our members on the medical home, electronic health records and electronic prescribing as we provide a mechanism for all our members to be prepared for the medical systems of the next decade. The assembled physicians and I discussed the challenges of welcoming and including all osteopathic family physicians into our profession and our organization; those training in allopathic programs, our expanding numbers of female family physicians, and the increasing numbers of underrepresented minorities. I detailed actions being taken to demonstrate to them the value of remaining involved with the osteopathic profession and its organizations.

It was my honor to install the incoming president for the Ohio ACOFP for 2008-2009, Mark S. Jefferies DO, FACOFP on Saturday. I also had the privilege to recognize and thank the state for the leadership it has provided to our profession for many years, including recognizing the efforts of past presidents Jay Shubrook, DO, FACOFP and William Burke, DO, FACOFP as well as the efforts of President-elect Brian Kessler, DO.

I was pleased to be able to recognize ACOFP’s Auxiliary Past President Margaret Thomas as well as current Auxiliary Vice President Teri Martin, ACOFP member and past AOA President George Thomas, DO, ACOFP Past Presidents Harold Thomas, DO, FACOFP dist. and Eugene Pogorelic, DO, FACOFP dist. who were in attendance and to thank them for their multiple contributions to our profession and our association.

Congratulations are extended to Lisa A. Phelps, DO who was recognized as Resident of the Year, John L. Oehler, DO who was recognized as Young Family Physician of the Year, Katherine A. “Tony” Clark, DO who received a Distinguished Service Award and M. Terrance Simon, DO who was recognized as Ohio Family Physician of the Year.

Get to Know the ACOFP Staff
Ray Quintero, ACOFP’s Director of Government Relations has spent more than two years working in the ACOFP/AOA Washington office. He is ACOFP’s presence and voice on Capitol Hill on issues important to family physicians. Ray can most frequently be found in the halls of Congress, meeting with elected officials and their staff members, and attending committee meetings and briefings. He also spends a large amount of time representing ACOFP in national coalitions throughout Washington.

Back to Campus
Resident Recruiter Matthew C. Petznick, DO, of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine Firelands Regional Medical Center, and OUCOM graduate spoke on “Choosing and Embracing your Residency” to the ACOFP Student Chapter at Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Thaddeus M. Pajak is chapter president. Dr. Petznick, an OUCOM graduate was spending a month at VCOM doing an elective rotation in sports medicine, with the Virginia Tech Team Doctors/VCOM Faculty. Dr.Petznick emphasized that students can find an FM residency program that suits their needs best. He explained that he chose his program because of its emphasis on Internal Medicine, and less extensive requirements in Obstetrics and his intention to do a Sports Medicine Fellowship. In addition, because he serves his program as Chief Resident, he was able to share insights with our chapter members on the residency application process.

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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