A Message from the ASSH President
- A column from President Robert M. Szabo, MD, MPH
Did You Know?
- You can choose to utilize ASSH paperless communications
ASSH News
- JHS Editor-in-Chief Application Materials due February 28, 2010
- Foundation Announcements
- Upcoming Research Grant and Award Deadlines
- Call for 2010 ASSH Volunteer Committee Applications
ASSH Courses and Meetings
- Self-Assessment Exam Registration - Deadline April 2, 2010
- 2010 Master Skills Series: Trauma of the Elbow, Forearm and Wrist
- General Orthopaedic Review
- Comprehensive Review in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Haiti and Healthcare Reform News
- Obama Calls for Bipartisan Public Meeting on Healthcare Reform - From AAOS
- AAOS Haiti Update: A Call for Coordination - From AAOS
A Message from the ASSH President
We can’t go a day without being concerned about what’s going on in Washington with health care reform that will affect all of us and our patients. I have asked Andy Gurman, our very own representative and Vice Speaker to the AMA House of Delegates to give us his update. Thanks, Andy, for all the work you do on our behalf.
Bob Szabo
The Current Status of Health System Reform
During the first year of the Obama presidency, health system reform was a high priority. The Democrats had a majority in the House and 60 votes in the Senate, a sufficient number to invoke closure, which prevented the possibility of a Republican filibuster. With the election of Scott Brown to fill the Senate seat vacated by the death of Edward Kennedy, the dynamics of the legislative process have changed. As of this point, it is unclear how the legislative process will play out. The President continued to call for health system reform in his State of the Union address, but did not offer specifics. The House and Senate have both passed bills, but the bills need to be melded in a conference committee, and the product of that process would need to be passed by both houses, which seems unlikely at this time. There do not appear to be sufficient votes in the House to pass the version that the Senate already passed. The reconciliation process, also know as the “nuclear option, would allow passage in the Senate by 51 votes, but it is subject to strict procedural rules, and would certainly be challenged.
Finally, we are in an election year, so the dynamics of who will vote for what are more influenced by the calculus of the upcoming campaigns. Balanced against these considerations are the factors that gave impetus to the call for reform to begin with: 46 million people are uninsured. They live sicker and die younger. Health care costs are burdensome to patients, employers, and governments. Even families with good insurance can be one serious illness or one pink slip away from financial ruin.
The AMA has outlined eight critical elements of health reform, based on long-standing AMA policy, including:
- Provide health coverage to all Americans;
- Enact market reforms that eliminate denials for pre-existing conditions;
- Assure that health care decisions are made by patients and their physicians and allow them to privately contract without penalty;
- Provide for quality improvement, prevention, and wellness;
- Implement medical liability reforms to reduce the cost of defensive medicine;
- Streamline and standardize insurance claims to eliminate unnecessary costs and administrative burdens;
- Modify antitrust enforcement policies to empower physicians to improve quality and integration;
- Repeal the Medicare physician payment formula.
This last item, the Medicare payment formula, also known as the SGR, is vitally important to ensure continued access for seniors and military personnel. For the last five years, Congress has averted the legislatively mandated Medicare cuts, and has approved a temporary fix which did not keep up with inflation, as measured by a formula called the MEI, but did not address the underlying budgetary shortfall. In 2005, the cost of this fix was $48.6 billion. Last year, the cost rose to $210 billion. Current legislation in the Senate would allocate $82 billion to keep Medicare reimbursement flat for 5 years, and would raise the price for a permanent fix to over $300 billion.
The AMA continues to advocate on behalf of doctors and patients for a permanent fix. It is important to let your legislators know that this is a high priority, and to ask them to support a permanent SGR fix. To contact your legislators, use this link.
It’s going to be a busy, and interesting political year. Stay tuned to this space, and to the ASSH web site. Information can also be had at www.hsreform.org, an AMA-sponsored site with lots of up-to-date information.
Andrew W. Gurman, MD
Vice Speaker, AMA House of Delegates
Did You Know?
Did you know … that you can let us know if you’d prefer paperless communications for the Annual Meeting as well as ASSH courses and products? Simply login to the ASSH website at www.assh.org, and go to the Members section. Click on My Profile. Scroll down to the bottom of your profile and click edit. Click on the "Supplementary Information" tab at the top and then enter your preference in the Communication Information – Communications Preferences section.
Login now to go paperless!
ASSH News
Extended Deadline for JHS Editor-in-Chief Application!
Materials Now Due February 28, 2010
The ASSH Journal Advisory Group (JAG) is now accepting applications for the Journal of Hand Surgery Editor-in-Chief. The position would begin on January 1, 2011 at the close of the current editor's contract.
The Editor-in-Chief should have dedication and vision, and will be responsible for soliciting, reviewing and selecting articles for publication, in addition to various other responsibilities. If you are interested, download a PDF of the application or contact Tara Havenga (thavenga@assh.org). Applications are due on February 28, 2010.
Foundation Announcements
Future In Hand pledge payments due – Visit www.afsh.org and click the Check My Pledge icon to be sure your installments are paid. Reminders will be mailed in the coming weeks.
Order of Complus Manus - Candidate Members and Active Members who have joined the ASSH during the last three years - You are the future of upper extremity surgery and research. Consider increasing your commitment to that future by becoming a part of the Order of Complus Manus.
Upcoming Research Grants and Awards Deadlines
OMeGA Fellowship and Residency Grants - Deadline March 24
2010 Clinician Scientist Development Program - Deadline March 31
AFSH-HVO Young Surgeon Overseas Program - Deadline March 31
Basic Science and Clinical Research Grants - Deadline April 1
The Weiland Medal - Deadline April 1
Military Research Grant - Deadline April 1
Hand Surgeon-Scientist Award - Deadline December 1
Call for 2010 ASSH Volunteer Committee Application
Deadline February 26, 2010 (March 18th for Affiliate Members)
Applications are now being accepted for membership to ASSH Committees for 2010-2011. The volunteer leadership, along with the Central Office, are crucial to the success of our organization. To learn more about the wide breadth of volunteer opportunities please visit the ASSH website for information on volunteer committees and their charges. Please review the charges carefully. Members are expected to commit to the charges as listed.
Apply for an ASSH Committee here.
*Please contact Alexzandra Wallace at awallace@assh.org with any questions.*
ASSH Courses and Meetings
Self-Assessment Exam
Registration Deadline: April 2, 2010
REGISTER NOW
This examination is offered as a convenient self-education exercise by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and is available to the health care professionals focusing on the care of the hand and upper extremity. Designed to assist the physician in reviewing basic principles of hand care, the exam also helps to keep the physician abreast of new developments and concepts within the specialty. Cost for members is $155 and cost for nonmembers is $195.
The ASSH designates this educational activity for a maximum of 20.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits (TM). Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. NOTE: Only those who return a completed answer sheet for computer scoring by June 11, 2010 (postmarked) will be eligible for CME.
Registration Deadline April 2, 2010
Examination book (Book 1) mailed to registrants April 19, 2010
Answer Sheet Deadline June 11, 2010
Discussion book (Book 2) mailed to registrants July 30, 2010
All registrants are confirmed by email. If you have not received email confirmation by April 5, 2010 please contact the ASSH Office via telephone at (847)384-8300 or email ddecker@assh.org.
2010 Master Skills Series: Trauma of the Elbow, Forearm and Wrist
May 21 - 22, 2010
Orthopaedic Learning Center - Rosemont, IL
Registration Deadline: May 6, 2010
The Trauma of the Elbow, Forearm and Wrist course is designed with an emphasis on adult learning with a case-based format, along with a hands-on cadaver workshop to provide you with the most current trends and techniques in trauma. Learn more about this program and review the registration fees by visiting the Trauma of the Elbow, Forearm and Wrist webpage. Or, register now.
General Orthopaedic Review
July 15, 2010
Renaissance Downtown Hotel - Chicago, IL
Registration Deadline: June 21, 2010
Co-Sponsored by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)
This one-day review course, brought to you by the AAOS and ASSH, prepares you for the general orthopaedic questions on the combined CAQ exam in Hand Surgery. Held just one day prior to the ASSH Comprehensive Review in Hand Surgery course, this is a convenient opportunity to review generally accepted principles of orthopaedics across the specialties and to prepare you to maintain your certification. A skilled faculty of experienced clinicians will focus on what you need to know in all the other specialty areas of orthopaedics for the exam. Review registration fees and program details on the General Orthopaedic Review webpage. Get started by registering online today.
Comprehensive Review in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
July 16-18, 2010
Renaissance Downtown Hotel - Chicago, IL
Registration Deadline: June 21, 2010
The ASSH Comprehensive Review Course is designed as an advanced review course and update for practicing hand surgeons. The course will review the topical concepts of anatomy, biomechanics and pathology as well as diagnostic and treatment methods relating to hand and elbow surgery. The faculty are recognized experts in hand surgery and have been selected for their knowledge, expertise and contributions relating to the subject matter they present. Learn more about this program and review the registration fees by visiting the Comprehensive Review Course webpage. Or register online today.
Haiti and Healthcare Reform News
Obama Calls for Bipartisan Public Meeting on Healthcare Reform - From AAOS
The New York Times reports that President Obama plans to meet with both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders in a televised meeting to discuss healthcare reform. The meeting, which will take place on Feb. 25, is part of a White House strategy to engage Republicans in policy negotiations. Republican leadership has indicated a willingness to take part in the meeting, although some have called for the two healthcare bills previously approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate to be scrapped in favor of a "fresh start"—an idea the president opposes. Read more...
AAOS Haiti Update: A Call for Coordination - From AAOS
According to a group of trauma surgeons writing online for the British Medical Journal, the international response to humanitarian disasters such as the eathquake in Haiti remains fragmented and must be improved. Because an uncoordinated push to get people and equipment into the affected zone can possibly worsen the situation and reduce the effectiveness of relief efforts, they advise those who want to volunteer to join an established group and get appropriate training. The authors also note that medical volunteers should understand field and trauma medicine, be able to treat wounds and fractures with limited equipment and in non-sterile conditions, and know basic field sanitation and water purification technqiues. They call for international dialogue to explore ways to improve the response to these events. Read more...