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Feb. 20, 2006
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IN
THIS ISSUE
Executive
Director's Column: Resolutions, What's The Point?
Editor's Column: Positioning
Physicians And Physicians' Positioning
Seeking
Emergency Volunteers
Ultimed
Update
Call
For Articles On Your Membership Experience
Maternal
Health Conference
Remembering James
Gallagher
Meet
Sandy Levin
Medical
Legal Committee: Bluesman Addresses HSAs
Women
Physician Conference
Are
You Presidential Material?
Searching
For Authors
March
4 Section Meeting
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Click
Here To Contact Us
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Executive
Director's Column:
Resolutions, What's The Point?
By ADAM JABLONOWSKI
Why spend the time to write a resolution for introduction into the
MSMS House of Delegates? Well, at this time, the House sets policy
for the MSMS and if you, one of the members, wishes to establish
new policy or change existing policy, that is the way to do it.
The
structure of organized medicine at our county, the state
and at the national level allows the most democratic means
of expression of any organization that I know. Sure
it's not always efficient or even speedy but the job gets
done every year, year after year. Could we find a
better way? Probably. But, right now there does
not seem to be the will to make any drastic change to this
long established process.
Of
course if you don't like it, write a resolution for introduction
at the MSMS House of Delegates meeting in Grand Rapids,
April 28-30. If you are interested in being a WCMSSM
delegate, contact me at arj@msms.org for
more information. If you are not satisfied with the
way things are, you need only resolve to change them, although
that will require a good deal of support from other physicians
of like mind.
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Editor's
Column:
Positioning Physicians And Physicians' Positioning
BY JOSEPH WEISS,
MD
The Wayne County Medical Society heard a talk by Frank DeLaura, COO
of United Physicians last month. His presentation and the discussion
that followed brought out the following:
(1) Physicians
need protection. We have few friends. The hospitals will
not look after us, the health insurers certainly will
not. The contracts that come in front of us are complex
and bargaining as single doctors is impossible. If we
don’t like what that health insurer offers, the representative
closes his briefcase and take his contract to the physician
across the street.
In
matters of contracting we need to be part of a group,
such as a physician organization. We need to pay for
the services of a person who represents us.
(2) Health
care is an industry. We cannot look upon ourselves as
being indispensable. Nurse practitioners and physician
assistants can provide services that satisfy the public
and make if feasible for the health care industry to
rely less on physician manpower.
(3) Pay-for-performance
or its equivalent will prevail. Whoever the insurer is,
Medicare, Medicaid, BCBS, Aetna, United HealthCare, Care
Choices, etc., payment for our services will be tied
to evidence we are providing a specified standard of
care. Either insurers will set those standards with claims
data, or we will do it through our physician organizations.
If we do the surveillance, we can set up the methods
of monitoring and the panels to whom we appeal when we
feel it’s needed.
(4) Technology
for small practices is in flux. Cost, training, the specific
equipment that is appropriate, and the best way to achieve
connectivity between offices, hospitals and medical centers,
remains unanswered. Despite these unknowns, physicians
should expect to implement the computer-competent office
and pay for its cost and maintenance.
(5) We
must accept lower reimbursements. Unjustly, the medical
community is blamed for spiraling health care costs.
Expect no help from insurance carriers or government.
We
face a serious future. But by carrying through the above
agenda we will place ourselves in a position to absorb
the shocks to come in the finance and philosophy of health
care in America.
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Seeking
Emergency Volunteers
The
Michigan Department of Community Health Office of Public
Health Preparedness is pleased to announce that the Web-based
Michigan Volunteer Registry is now live and ready to
accept volunteers!
Through
the Michigan Volunteer Registry, residents can offer
whatever skills they may have in the event of a large-scale
emergency. The site divides volunteers into licensed
and unlicensed health professionals, food industry workers,
and general support volunteers. The system automatically
registers volunteers for events in their home county,
but allows them to offer services in other counties,
as well as in Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. This site
will be used as an initial database by the eight Biodefense
Networks in Michigan (Michigan’s Emergency Preparedness
Regions) to track individuals who are willing to provide
assistance in a disaster.
Key
Points:
· This
site will send email alerts to volunteers to let them
know when they are needed
· Signing
up does not obligate you to respond to any events, but
will streamline the process if you want to respond
· Hospital
and EMS agency employees should register, as they can
volunteer for emergencies outside their own areas
· Registration
takes less than 10 minutes
To
register, visit www.mivolunteerregistry.org.
Each individual must register himself or herself on the
site to become a volunteer. The individual is responsible
for maintaining his or her own contact information on
the site to keep it current.
For
additional information about the Registry, visit www.michigan.gov/ophp or
contact Ann Maher, Region 2 South BT Coordinator
at 734-727-8001 or amaher@waynecountyemd.com.
Also,
be sure to visit the MSMS Biodefense Resource Center
at www.msms.org/biodefense.
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Ultimed
Enters State Rehabilitation
By PAUL NATINSKY
Yet another Michigan HMO has landed in state rehabilitation. Ultimed
HMO of Michigan, Inc. was placed in rehabilitation status in
late January for failing to pay more than $2.44 million in claims.
Ultimed has 1,900 members, most of whom live in southeast Michigan.
The Michigan Office of Financial
and Insurance Services (OFIS) examined the HMO last fall,
found it was short of assets and ordered Ultimed to secure
$3.5 million and pay all unpaid claims by Nov. 14. The
HMO failed to comply, reported OFIS.
"As the regulator for
HMOs, I have responsibility to ensure that consumers receive
the health care services they are promised," said
OFIS Commissioner Linda Watters in a statement. "Failure
to pay claims is a violation of the basic contract between
Ultimed, its members, providers and employers. Management
left me no choice given the large number of unpaid claims
and lack of cash to support the operations of the company."
The Order of Rehabilitation
suspends the authority of Ultimed's Board of Directors
and transfers full power to direct and manage the company
in the court-appointed rehabilitator. The rehabilitator
oversees payment to providers for health services on a "going-forward
basis to the extent possible," according to OFIS.
OFIS reported last month that "it
is too early to know when or if all outstanding claims
at Ultimed can be paid."
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Please
Tell Us In 250 Words Or Less
What Membership Has Meant To You
By ADAM JABLONOWSKI
We are preparing the March issue of the Detroit Medical News. It
will be mostly about membership, with a focus on IMG members
and their important role in the delivery of medical care in southeast
Michigan. We intend to use this as a springboard to conduct our
Membership Recruitment Campaign in March. This will consist of
a multi pronged approach which will include columns in the Detroit
Medical News written by prominent IMG members and non-IMG members,
I hope that you can be on of those contributors. We need about
250 words about your experience with organized medicine at the
local state and/or national level; the impact it has made on
you, your practice and life in southeast Michigan. The deadline
for receipt of your comments is February 27th. We really need
your help with this. Please let me know that you will be able
to help out on this very important recruiting effort. Thanks
in advance. Click the link that follows to send your contribution, arj@msms.org
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45th
Annual Conference On Maternal & Perinatal Health:
Maternal & Perinatal Care: A Continuum
March 23, 2006
The Inn At St. John's, Plymouth
The Michigan State Medical
Society Foundation Maternal and Perinatal Health Conference
Planning Committee (chaired by WCMSSM President Federico
Mariona, MD) worked with representatives of hospital departments,
specialty societies and medical schools to develop this
statewide conference. The purpose of the conference is
to provide quality continuing medical education to physicians,
nurses and other health care professionals in Michigan.
The conference is intended for physicians of all specialties,
nurses and others who are engaged in health care, with
special emphasis on improving care for mothers and their
children.
The conference fee is $140
for MSMS members and $185 for non-members and provides
six Category I CME credits. To register online, visit http://msmsnet.msms.org/general/ or
e-mail abatten@msms.org.
You can also call the registrar at (517) 336-7581.
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Obituary:
Dr. James Patrick Gallagher
Dr. James Patrick
Gallagher died February 15, 2006. He was 73 years old and
lived in Dearborn Heights. Beloved husband of Patricia.
Dear father of Barry Gallagher, Daphne (Paul) Betley. Dear
stepfather of Jeffrey (Kristen) Skutnick. Dear brother
of Moira (Stanley) Conroy, Alice Hines, Annie Gallagher,
Kate (Jackie) McConnell, Eilish Gallagher, Liam (Jane)
Gallagher, the late Sean (Annie) Gallagher, and the late
Michael Gallagher. Loving grandfather of Kelsey, Erik,
Grace and Jack. Also survived by many nieces, nephews,
grand-nieces and grand-nephews in Ireland, England and
Australia. Visitation Monday 2-9 p.m. at Voran Funeral
Home (Dearborn Chapel) 23701 Ford Rd. with a Rosary at
7 p.m. Funeral Mass Tuesday 10 a.m. at St. Anselm Church
(17650 W. Outer Drive Dearborn Heights, MI 48127) with
visitation Tuesday at Church 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass.
Family suggests memorials to Wayne County Medical Society
Foundation or Angela Hospice. Editor's note: A full remembrance
of Dr. Gallagher will be published in the March DMN magazine.
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The
Michigan State Medical Society would like to invite you
to a meet and greet Congressman Sandy Levin. The meeting
is scheduled for Monday,
March 20, 2006, beginning at 8:00 a.m. This meeting will
take place:
March
20, 2006
Westin Southfield
Board of Regents Room
1500 Town Center
Southfield, Michigan 48075
(248) 827-4000
This
will be an informal meeting that will provide the opportunity
to discuss congressional issues pertinent to Michigan physicians.
Should
you have any questions or need additional information,
please contact Kevin A. Kelly, Executive Director, at
(517) 336-5742 or by e-mail at kkelly@msms.org. You
may also contact Laura Mercer, Executive Office Intern,
at (517) 336-5738 or via email at lmercer@msms.org.
Please
RSVP to Joyce Crum, Executive Assistant, at (517) 336-5742,
via email at jcrum@msms.org or
by fax at (517) 337-2490 or Laura Mercer, Executive Office
Intern, at lmercer@msms.org
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Medical
Legal Committee:
Presentation On HSAs
Speaker: Donald
Whitford
Director, Product Development & Management
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan
Date/Time:
Thursday, March 9, 7:30 a.m.
3031 W. Grand Blvd, Ste. 410 (two floors down from WCMSSM headquarters
and the opposite direction from the elevators)
Call (313)
874-1360 to RSVP as space is limited, or e-mail info@wcmssm.org
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WCMS
Foundation 13th Annual
Golf Classic
Monday, May
8, 2006
Lochmoor Country Club
Grosse Pointe Woods
To Register:
Call (313) 874-1360, ext. 23 or e-mail info@wcmssm.org
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MSMS
Women Physicians Conference Offers Unique Experience
The MSMS Foundation is proud to announce the 2006 Conference for
Women Physicians, an event focused on the needs and interests unique
to women physicians. The event will take place on Saturday, March
25, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Somerset Inn in Troy. Designed
by a planning committee of women physicians, residents and medical
students, the conference will feature an impressive line-up of thought-provoking,
inspirational speakers with various areas of expertise. Presentations
and breakout sessions will include
• Preserving the Beauty of the Female Heart
• Advances in Breast Cancer
• Improve Your Communication Style
• Better Health and Nutrition for Women
• Yoga: Balance of Body, Mind and Spirit
• Strategies for Efficient and Effective Practice Management
• Financial Planning for the Woman Physician (Basic and Advanced)
• Communication Barriers: Clinical Case Presentations
A maximum of five credits of Category I CME credit may be earned.
Childcare is available with advance arrangements. A Friday, pre-conference
dinner also is available. For more information, visit www.msms.org/eo/index.html or
contact Melinda Sandford at (517) 336-7575. To register, visit http://msmsnet.msms.org/general/ or
contact the MSMS Registrar at (517) 336-7581 or abatten@msms.org.
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Are
You Presidential Material?
If you are a WCMSSM member and serve as president of a national medical
specialty society or any service organizations, please let us know
at info@wcmssm.org so
we can recognize you at the MSMS Annual Meeting.
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Searching
For Authors
If you are a WCMSSM member who has written a book on anything (wines,
hunting, fiction, non-fiction, medicine) please let us know. We can
help you publicize your work. Contact us at info@wcmssm.org
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March
4 Section Meeting
Time: 9:00am
- 3:30pm
Location: MSMS
Headquarters - East Lansing
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Members
of MSMS membership sections will gather for the annual
Joint Section Meeting on Saturday, March 4, at MSMS
headquarters in East Lansing. The event brings together
International Medical Graduates, Medical Students,
Organized Medical Staffs, Resident & Fellow Physicians,
and Young Physicians to promote mentoring among physician
groups and to discuss resolutions for the upcoming
House of Delegates meeting at the end of April.
Agenda:
10:00 - 10:20 a.m.
Registration and Networking Breakfast - Dining Room
10:20 - 10:30 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Daniel B. Michael, MD, Speaker of the House
Rose M. Ramirez, MD, Vice Speaker of the House
10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Avian Flu and Pandemic
Eden Wells, MD
Michigan Department of Community Health, Bureau of Epidemiology
11:00 - 11:35 a.m.
Under the Dome
Tim Skubick
Capital Correspondent, WILX TV-10
11:35 - 11:55 a.m.
Future of Medicine
John M. MacKeigan, MD
Immediate Past President, Michigan State Medical Society
11:55 - 12:05 p.m.
MSMS Alliance Report
Marilyn Milko or Dee Wacker
President, MSMS Alliance
12:05 - 12:15 p.m.
President-Elect Candidate Speech
AppaRao Mukkamala, MD
12:15 - 1:00 p.m.
Joint Section Luncheon
Dining Room
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Section Meetings
OMSS - Directors Room
YPS - Atrium
IMGs - Board Room
RFS - PSG Conference Room
MSS - PROM Conference Room
For more information, contact Rebecca Blake at 517-336-5729 or rblake@msms.org. |
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Wayne County Medical Society
of Southeast Michigan.
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