Weekly Member Update - November 5th, 2010

November 5th, 2010

Renew Online and Avoid Paper Reminders

Hand Surgeon-Scientist Award – Deadline December 1, 2010

AFSH Annual Appeal

Republicans Take Control of House; Make Gains in Senate - From AAOS

AMA Executive Vice President and CEO to Leave the AMA on June 30, 2011 - From AMA

Case Report, Commentary Discuss Adverse Effects of Cobalt Toxicity Linked to MOM Hip Replacement - From AAOS

2011 Physician Fee Schedule Rule

AMA Helps States Prepare for ACA Implementation

2011 Self-Assessment Examination 

Registration for the 2011 Self-Assessment Examination is now open.  Learn about the newly-required minimum passing score and other exam details.  Or, register now.

Renew Online and Avoid Paper Reminders

The fastest and easiset way to pay your 2011 ASSH Membership dues is to login to www.assh.org and use the PAY MY DUES link to complete your membership renewal before the paper reminder even makes it to your mailbox.

Prefer not to pay online?  You can also go online to print a paper copy of the invoice by using the PRINT option.  2011 ASSH Membership Dues Invoices will be mailing out the week of November 15th – Go green, and pay online now. 

Applications are now being accepted for the Hand Surgeon-Scientist Award.  This award is intended to recognize a young orthopaedic or plastic hand surgeon who has demonstrated success as both a clinician and a researcher to have sufficient protected time to develop a long and productive career in academic surgery. 

The award is designed to support young faculty members at teaching institutions with accredited programs in orthopaedic or plastic surgery who have demonstrated success in research by receiving extramural research funding - K08 or K23 awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The total amount of the award is up to $75,000 per year for up to five years subject to annual review. Visit the ASSH website for more information.

AFSH Annual Appeal

The Foundation Trustees and AFSH Member to Member volunteers are encouraging ASSH members and colleagues to make a donation to the 2010 Annual Campaign before the year is out.  Don’t wait until December 31st to make a contribution this year.  Add a donation to your membership renewal or make a donation now.  This year, we are tracking which states have the highest amounts of donors.  How does your area measure up?  Take a look:

The Foundation also thanks these donors who made contributions this week on their pledged giving commitments:

Robert L. Bass, MD
Richard H. Gelberman, MD
Ginard I. Henry, MD

A donation of any amount to the Annual Campaign ensures the continuation of the research, education and outreach in the form of the Bunnell Traveling Fellowship, Young Surgeons Overseas and Health Volunteers Overseas, basic science and clinical research grants, patient education on the ASSH website and much more.

Republicans Take Control of House; Make Gains in Senate - From AAOS

Republican lawmakers gained control of the US House of Representatives yesterday, taking a 239 to 185 advantage over Democrats, with the outcomes of 11 races still undetermined.  Republican lawmakers also narrowed the gap in the Senate, picking up at least six seats, with three races as yet undecided. 

A key platform component for many Republican candidates is repeal and replacement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).  In addition, the issue of how to address a 23 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursement scheduled for December 1, 2010, and mandated under the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Formula will now be addressed by a so-called "lame duck" Congress.  Observers say another short-term fix is likely. 

 Read more about the election outcomes and the Physicians News Digest summary of the Republican proposals for fixing the healthcare system.

AMA Executive Vice President and CEO to Leave the AMA on June 30, 2011 - From AMA

The AMA Board of Trustees and AMA Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Maves, MD, MBA, have mutually decided that Dr. Maves will complete his successful leadership of the AMA when his current contract ends on June 30, 2011.  Dr. Maves has served in this role since 2001.

During his tenure, Dr. Maves personally led important multi-association efforts such as the “Scope of Practice Partnership,” a coalition of national medical specialty organizations and state medical societies established by the AMA to clarify the roles and capabilities of non-physician health care providers.  The AMA's House of Delegates also took a number of positions related to various aspects of health system reform. Working under the direction of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Maves ably led the management team in carrying out those directives.

“I have proudly served the AMA and its members for nearly nine years,” Dr. Maves said.  “I am tremendously thankful for the opportunity to have worked alongside such an exceptional team of professionals.  They are unwavering in their commitment to helping doctors help patients, and I intend to remain fully engaged in our shared mission.”

Read an AMA news release about Dr. Maves leaving the AMA.

Case Report, Commentary Discuss Adverse Effects of Cobalt Toxicity Linked to MOM Hip Replacement - From AAOS

The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery—American has published an online case report and commentary on adverse effects of cobalt toxicity in two patients after metal-on-metal (MOM) hip arthroplasty.  Although at least six reports of cobalt toxicity have been related to arthroplasty implants, only these two occurred in patients with MOM hip replacements.  The commentary reviews the reasons for the development of MOM implants, the issue of wear debris shared by all implants, and the lack of a threshold for toxic levels of cobalt or chromium in the bloodstream, and suggests some lessons to be learned from this case report.

Read the case report.

Read the commentary.

The AAOS has issued a media advisory on the case reports and commentary, noting the generally successful record of MOM implants and advising patients with MOM implants to discuss any concerns with their orthopaedic surgeons.  Read more.

2011 Physician Fee Schedule Rule

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has posted the final 2011 Physician Fee Schedule Rule.

"Heal that Claim”™ Month is Here - From AMA

Show your commitment to reduce the cost of claims processing this November by joining the third annual “Heal that Claim”™ month.  During this month, physicians are being urged to take a stand against flawed and inefficient claims processing.  The AMA is supplying physicians with tools to bolster their efforts to review and appeal inaccurate claim payments.
 
One in five medical claims is processed inaccurately by commercial health insurers, according to the AMA’s National Health Insurer Report Card. A 20 percent error rate represents an intolerable level of inefficiency that wastes an estimated $15.5 billion annually.  To ensure proper payments from insurers, physicians incur administrative costs of up to 14 percent of the revenue they earn.  The AMA’s goal is to reduce the administrative costs of processing claims to as little as one percent, and allow physicians to focus on caring for patients, instead of battling health insurers over delayed, denied or shortchanged medical claims.

Physicians can pledge their support, access free claims processing resources, report any unfair health insurer practices, share their successes or sign up for the AMA’s free e-mail alerts to help stay up to date on unfair payer practices by taking part in the AMA's “Heal that Claim”™ month.

AMA Helps States Prepare for ACA Implementation

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) establishes a major role for states in implementing many of its key provisions, drawing on the lead role that states have played historically in regulating health insurance and health care.  Since the ACA was enacted, state policymakers have worked at a frenzied pace to provide input to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as it promulgates the myriad regulations emanating from the law.

Through its Advocacy Resource Center (ARC), the AMA is working to influence these efforts positively and prepare state medical associations to engage proactively in implementation activities at the state level.  Read more about the important responsibilities that fall on states.