Volunteer's Note
Listserv Hot Topic: The Future of Health Care in the US
AMA Membership Update
Register Today for Brachial Plexus Reconstruction Surgical Course
Year-End Reminder: Membership Dues and AFSH Donations
Thank You to AFSH Donors
Congress Acts to Extend 2011 Medicare Rates Through February 29, 2012
CMS Releases Proposed Physician Payment Sunshine Rule
Bill Includes $30 Million for Peer-Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program
Volunteer's Note
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.
As in most member-driven organizations, volunteers working at the committee level identify members' needs and help dictate the course of the ASSH.
In his upcoming Presidential Update, Andy Lee, MD, will discuss how the Executive Committee and Council have taken steps to engage those who have not previously served on committees and also to improve members' understanding of our governance structure.
New volunteers bring fresh ideas and energy to the committee process. In return, they get to play a role in the decision-making processes that affect all Hand Society members.
The committee application process will begin in February. Prior to that date, individuals interested in serving should look through the 2011–2012 Governance Book available on the ASSH website. This comprehensive description of the ASSH governance structure will help members identify committees on which they might be interested in serving. Committee appointments are for three-year terms, unless otherwise noted. For further information, contact ASSH Governance Coordinator Alexzandra Wallace at awallace@assh.org.
As chair of the Committee Advisory Group, I ask that you all please look at committees that you'd be interested in serving on and apply. We need your involvement, commitment, and hard work to continue to improve upon what the ASSH provides for its members.
Happy holidays!
Ed Akelman, MD
Chair, Committee Advisory Group
Listserv Hot Topic: The Future of Health Care in the US
There has been much discussion on the Listserv this week about what the US medical system will look like in the coming years. Not surprisingly, their are many different view points and angles being shared.
If you have already signed up for the Physician Listserv, you can view or contribute to the discussion on US health care by visiting the archives and scrolling down to the thread titled "Soapbox Ahead: our medical system's future." If you don't know or remember your Listserv password, you can reset your password here.
To sign up for the Listserv, visit the ASSH website.
AMA Membership Update
AMA rules stipulate that in order to qualify for a seat in the AMA House of Delegates, 25% of our members must be AMA members. We'd like to recognize those who have answered the call to either join or rejoin.
Thank you to all of the ASSH members who notified us this week (via email or the Listserv) that they've joined or rejoined the AMA:
Jon W. Ark, MD
Robert L. Bassett, MD
Allen R. Berkowitz, MD
Scott H. Kozin, MD
James E. Lyles, Jr., MD, MPH
Kenneth R. Means, Jr., MD
David L. Nelson, MD
Roger G. Rosenstein, MD
David T. Sowa, MD
Ann E. Van Heest, MD
Have you recently joined or rejoined the AMA? Please let us know by contacting amitchell@assh.org so we can track the progress of your AMA membership. ASSH will reconcile our membership list with the AMA to get credit for our members in early 2012.Have your voice heard: Join the AMA.
The course, chaired by Alexander Y. Shin, MD and co-chaired by Allen T. Bishop, MD and Robert J. Spinner, MD, will provide a state-of-the-art update on adult and pediatric brachial plexus reconstructive surgery from a renowned faculty of leading multispecialty brachial plexus surgeons.
Techniques will be covered in detail, including: adult and obstetrical brachial plexus injuries; surgical planning; supra and infraclavicular exploration; various nerve transfers and grafting; secondary surgical reconstructions; obtaining grasp; and management of pain. Course attendees will have the opportunity to perform surgical procedures in the laboratory and are encouraged to bring cases for discussion with faculty. Read more about the
program and
register online today!
Year-End Reminder: Membership Dues and AFSH Donations
If you are holding off until the last minute, please note:
- The ASSH/AFSH Central Office will be closed December 23-26 and December 30-January 2.
- For AFSH donations, any checks dated 2011 and received in the Central Office by January 10, 2012, will be credited toward the 2011 giving year.
Thank you for a wonderful year and happy holidays!
* As with all tax-related matters, you are advised to consult a tax professional.
Thank You to AFSH Donors
Marshall L. Balk, MD
Charles Carroll, IV, MD
Douglas H. Chin, MD, PhD, FACS
Gina Carmela Del Savio, MD
Michael J. Dunn, MD
Thomas P. Ferlic, MD
Kenneth A. Hieke, MD
Amy L. Ladd, MD
John D. Lubahn, MD, FACS
Steven L. Peterson, MD
Diane C. Riley, MD
James K. Sobeski, MD
Richard K. Thomas, MD
Peter F. Townsend, MD
Did you know you can now support the Foundation (AFSH) through automated monthly payments? Visit www.afsh.org/donate to complete an auto-pay form, or contact afsh@assh.org.
Congress Acts to Extend 2011 Medicare Rates Through February 29, 2012 - from AMA
Physicians got a brief reprieve from a 27.4 percent Medicare pay cut today when the US Senate and House of Representatives each passed a two-month extension of several important policies that expire on January 1.
The US Senate last week voted to extend current Medicare payment rates for two months. After the House first balked at the two-month extension earlier in the week, the two chambers reached an agreement to extend the physician payment rates as well as the two percentage point Social Security payroll tax cut, and to extend unemployment benefits. A House-Senate conference committee will convene in January to work on a longer-term agreement.
At a press conference, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the goal is to extend all the expiring programs for a full year, except for the physician payment cut reprieve,which is to be extended for two years.
AMA President Peter W. Carmel, MD, called on Congress to “enact a real and fiscally responsible solution to this sorry cycle of scheduled cuts and short-term patches that compromises access to care for patients and drives up costs for taxpayers. Members of Congress need to use this time to work in a bipartisan manner to provide long-term stability for seniors, military families and the physicians who care for them."
CMS Releases Proposed Physician Payment Sunshine Rule
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its proposed rule for the Physician Payment Sunshine provision passed as part of the Affordable Care Act. CMS will be accepting comments on the proposed rule until February 17, 2012.
An overview of the rule and a link to the full text of the proposed rule can be found on the blog Policy and Medicine.
Bill Includes $30 Million for Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program - from AAOS
ABC News reports that Congress has passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 2055), and President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.
The bill includes $30 million in funding for the Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP) — an increase of 25% over the previous year. PRORP was established by the US Congress during 2009 to support military-relevant, peer-reviewed orthopaedic research to aid wounded warriors. AAOS dedicated considerable advocacy efforts to convince Congress to adequately fund PRORP. Read more.