The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) just concluded its most successful convention that I can remember in Las Vegas. I am sitting here packed and ready for the airport and have a few minutes to reflect on what happened in the past week.
Over 5,000 D.O.s, 1,000 exhibitors and about 3,000 guests were in attendance, enjoying a revival of old acquaintances, good education and CME credits, entertainment all over the town, and great restaurants — what more could you ask for in a convention? The AOA really has its act together and many of the affiliated organizations are now gearing up for the next combined convention in 2010 in San Francisco. Next year we are all meeting in New Orleans.
Last Sunday, I spent the day with Sigma Sigma Phi, the only National Osteopathic Honorary Society. As immediate past president, I observed the fantastic community activities that each campus chapter is doing. It is incredible to see these young students who have enough to do with their studies, spend their own free time working for Habitat for Humanity, go on missions to underserved areas around the world, go to elementary and high schools representing the osteopathic profession, and “getting the word out.” What wonderful ambassadors they are! Any past members on campus who are no longer active are encouraged to go on the website www.SigmaSigmaPhi.org and contact the secretary, Debbie Brimelow, who will be thrilled to put you back in direct contact with the organization.
I also participated in several American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) activities, preparing for its convention in Washington, D.C., in March 2009. This convention will mark a first for the osteopathic profession in that D.O. Day on the Hill will actually be on the Thursday of the convention — March 5. Please put this date in your calendar and plan to come with us to Washington to meet your congressmen and senators face to face. Acquaint them with osteopathic medicine and how unique we are, and how our brand of medicine is more cost effective and provides for better overall care for the patient — after all, most of us are still delivering primary care to thousands of their constituents.
During the ACOFP meeting, the Awards Committee met and 21 new fellows were elected. They will be inducted in March at the next ACOFP convention. My committee, the Executive Council of the Conclave of Fellows, also met and conferred the Distinguished Fellow Award on two very deserving individuals, who will also be given their awards in March.
Most importantly, out of the ACOFP meeting, I sensed an urgency that we all need to stay on the forefront of e-medicine. The first step is to make sure that you carefully look into beginning e-prescribing by January 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will give a small bonus to each practitioner who prescribes medicines over the internet and contacts pharmacies directly in that manner. There are also many PQRI incentives built into the new model that may increase your income, as well as up to a 5 percent bonus. Doesn’t sound like much, but it all adds up to helping to cover skyrocketing overhead costs that as I see it have increased at least 20 percent just in the past three years. Keep reading your journals, go on the internet and learn how to keep up — the internet is here to stay and burying your head in the sand will not allow you to survive. Your organization, POMA, will also be there to help — just call the Central Office if you have any questions!
In the next few weeks, I look forward to visiting Districts 1, 5, 10, 11 and, of course, my home, District 14. I will also be lecturing at the District 1 meeting. I encourage you to come out for a night of friendship, CME credits, I am sure a good meal, and just a chance to hear what POMA is doing for you! I would love to hear also what you are doing for POMA. Remember, you recruit three new members for this year and your convention registration next year is FREE. Call the Central Office and find out who is not a member in your district or get the list from your district chairman and recruit three friends who may not realize what a bargain membership in the POMA really is.
On a final note, I attended the POMA convention committee meeting several weeks ago and it was decided that Thursday night at the POMA convention, April 30, will be “Casino Night,” sponsored by the Advocates for the POMA (APOMA), and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, who will begin the night with their usual alumni reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Afterward, the ballroom will open up into a casino — the chips, cards and die will be flying. The proceeds from Casino Night will benefit APOMA student scholarships. Please put this night in your calendar as well and come out and support this worthy cause. Much more about sponsorships and the logistics of this night will be forthcoming.
Once again, it is a privilege to serve you, and I hope you will contact me whenever you feel the need. I look forward to meeting you at the district meetings this year, and at the POMA Convention, April 29-May 2, 2009!!! Until next time, signing off....
Jeffry A. Lindenbaum, D.O., F.A.C.O.F.P. dist.
97th POMA President
The POMA is conducting a short outcomes survey regarding recent attendance at the Thirty-third Annual POFPS Convention. Physicians are asked to complete the survey by November 30, 2008. The results will give the educational program committee valuable information for planning next year’s event.
Physicians can complete the survey online by visiting the POMA Surveys page on the POMA website at www.poma.org. Alternatively, a copy can be downloaded from the POMA website and returned to the Central Office, 1330 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17111-2395, fax (717) 939-7255, or e-mail prc@poma.org.
If you have any questions, please contact the POMA Central Office at (717) 939-9318 or e-mail prc@poma.org.
Thank you for participating. Your input is invaluable to next year’s success!
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) welcomed the class of 2012 to the osteopathic profession during a White Coat Ceremony held on October 4, 2008.
The white coats, provided by the POMA Foundation, represent each student’s entrance into the osteopathic profession. POMA President Jeffry A. Lindenbum, D.O. (PCOM ’75), represented the association.
Among those who spoke during the ceremony were PCOM President and CEO Matthew Schure, Ph.D., and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean Kenneth J. Veit, D.O. Carol L. Henwood, D.O., a member of the PCOM class of 1983 and the POMA board of trustees, also provided remarks.
The White Coat Ceremony is designed to establish a psychological contract for beginning medical students that stresses the importance of caring for patients, as well as curing patients. The ceremony was initiated by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a public not-for-profit charity dedicated to fostering humanism in medicine.
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) recently received $10,000 from the Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NW PA AHEC) to implement a new course in tobacco prevention and smoking cessation. The curriculum will educate LECOM students about the unique risks of smoking and provide them with guidance in helping their future patients avoid diseases associated with smoking.
The NW PA AHEC helps communities meet their primary health care needs by bridging community and academic resources. The money presented to LECOM comes from a pool of national tobacco settlement funds through the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
As of October 1, 2008, physicians are required to use tamper-resistant pads for handwritten and/or computer-generated prescriptions when writing outpatient drug prescriptions for Medicaid patients. In order to be compliant, prescription pads must have features to prevent all of the following:
• unauthorized copying;
• erasure or modification of the prescriptions;
• use of counterfeit prescription forms.
For more information, please visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DeficitReductionAct/Downloads/MIPTRPFAQs9122007.pdf.
The American Osteopathic Association has published an “OMT Coding Hint” guide to help physicians and their staff bill and obtain fair reimbursement for OMT services. Please visit http://blogs.do-online.org/media/2/20081001-DR_10-1-08_OMTCodingHint.pdf to download the guide.
The National Institutes of Health is now accepting applications from osteopathic medical students and recent graduates for its extramural loan repayment program. The program repays up to $35,000 of educational loan debt annually for individuals who conduct two years of biomedical or behavioral research at a nonprofit institution of their choice. Qualified applicants must possess a doctoral degree, devote at least 20 hours per week to research, and be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident. Applications will be accepted through December 1, 2008. For more information, please visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-442.html.
POMA members can now keep track of their CME credits throught the POMA website. Be sure to register on the site to take advantage of this important new feature! Click here to view frequently asked questions for accessing CMEs online.
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First Time Registration Instructions
• Click the Register button on the upper right hand side of the page.
• Enter your AOA number in the box provided.
• Select your POMA membership status by clicking the appropriate button and click Continue.
• Select your osteopathic medical school and graduation year from the pull-down list to verify your identity and click Continue.
• Verify the information provided and complete the remaining fields.
• Once done, click Register. You will then be directed to the POMA home page.
• Click the Logout button on the upper right hand side of the page then click Login (this speeds up the process of the system completing your registration)
• Enter your login information and click Login. |
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Accessing Your CME Credits
• Only active POMA members are able to access the CME page on the new POMA website.
• Click Login on the upper right hand side of the page.
• Enter your AOA number and password then click Login.
• Select My Continuing Medical Education Credits from the POMA drop down menu, or click Go next to View CME Records in the POMA Membership box on the left side of the page.
• You will be redirected to the continuing medical education page, where your credits will appear.
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The POMA website allows active POMA members to access the 2008 POMA Membership Directory online. All of the pages of the print version are available, including the POMA membership listing and two addendums, the POMA district listing and the 2008-2009 POMA Committee Appointments.
Please note, your 2008-2009 dues must be paid in order to access the directory.
As a reminder, beginning with the 2009 issue, the POMA Membership Directory will only be available online. A disc will also be available to POMA members upon request.
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Instructions for Viewing the POMA Membership Directory Online
• Click Login on the upper right hand side of the page.
• Enter your AOA number (without the leading zero) and password.
• Click Login.
• Navigate to the POMA drop down menu.
• Click on POMA Membership Directory.
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You will need Adobe Reader to view the directory files. You can receive a free copy of the program at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
As always, if there are any questions, please contact the POMA Central Office at (717) 939-9318 or e-mail poma@poma.org.
District 1
Wednesday, November 12
Moonstruck Restaurant
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments
7:00 p.m. — Lecture/Dinner
"Advancing Our Understanding of Glycemic Control: Refocusing on Glucose Regulation in Type II Diabetes"
Jeffry A. Lindenbaum, D.O.
— educational support provided by Merck —
For more information and to RSVP, please fax Samuel Lizerbram, D.O., at (215) 673-1894.
District 3
Thursday, November 20
The Manor House
Center Valley, Pennsylvania
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments
7:00 p.m. — Lecture/Dinner
"Stopping the Progression of Atherosclerosis"
Irving Herling, M.D.
— educational support provided by AstraZeneca —
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Robert S. Dolansky, Jr., D.O., at (610) 628-8307 or fax (610) 628-8464.
District 4
Thursday, November 13
The Cafe
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments
7:00 p.m. — Lecture/Dinner
"Managing Cardiovascular Risks in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease"
Kirth W. Steele, D.O.
— educational support provided by Sanofi-Aventis, U.S., L.L.C. —
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Lauren P. Argenio, D.O., at (570) 655-4505 or fax (570) 654-3321.
District 5
Thursday, November 20
Outdoor Country Club
York, Pennsylvania
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments
7:00 p.m. — Lecture/Dinner
"Weight Loss Concerns When Initiating Insulin Therapy"
Robert Gabay, M.D.
— educational support provided by Novo Nordisk, Inc. —
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Daniel D. Dowd, Jr., D.O., at (717) 851-2450.
District 11
Wednesday, December 10
Oak Hill Inn
Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania
6:00 p.m. — Refreshments
6:30 p.m. — Lecture/Dinner
"Hypertension"
Glen R. Daughtry, D.O.
— educational support provided by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. —
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Kristie Fanelli at (570) 622-1887.
District 12
Thursday, November 13
Mary's Place
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments
7:00 p.m. — Lecture/Dinner
"Redefining Success: Improving LDL-C Goal Attainment and Slowing Atherosclerosis Progression with Statin Therapy"
Steven W. Graeca, D.O.
— educational support provided by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, L.P. —
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Lisa A. Witherite-Rieg, D.O., at (814) 938-3310, fax (814) 938-6804 or email lisawr64@gmail.com.
The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Inc. (NBOME), revised its policy for the administration of COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, at a meeting on March 12, 2008. Effective immediately, applicants who can provide proof to the Board that they have already successfully completed an osteopathic board certification examination that included an osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) component, or who already successfully completed an OMT examination as a requirement for another state license, would be deemed to have met the Board’s OMT examination requirement. The Board will review these requests on a case-by-case basis.
Physicians who have not completed an OMT examination are required to do so in order to be licensed in Pennsylvania. Physicians must obtain a testing application from Professional Credential Services, Inc. (PCS), P.O. Box 198689, Nashville, TN 37219-8689, phone (877) 887-9727. Completed applications should be submitted directly to PCS. The deadline for accepting completed applications is 60 days prior to date of exam. More information on testing requirements and dates are available at www.pcshq.com. Alternately, physicians may apply to take the COMLEXUSA Level 2-PE exam by calling the NBOME at (773) 714-0622.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania law, it is illegal for physicians to stop or withhold medical treatment unless a patient has an advance directive or do not resuscitate order. The patient must also meet several other criteria.
Under Pennsylvania law, it is assumed that an adult patient would want all medical treatment possible unless otherwise stated in a living will or health care power of attorney that allows another person to make decisions on the patient’s behalf. It is also assumed that a mentally competent patient has the right to make decisions on treatment and refuse those that would prolong dying.
Advance directives can only be honored when an adult patient has an end stage medical condition caused by illness or injury, or physicians have determined the adult patient is in an irreversible coma.
Physicians who do not feel they can honor the wishes of an adult patient as stated in a directive should transfer the case to a physician who can.
The law also states that medication may be administered to ease pain. The law does not condone mercy killing, euthanasia or assisted suicide.
For more information, please see the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website at www.health.state.pa.us.
As of January 1, 2008, the Workers’ Compensation (WC) fee has increased by 3.6 percent over last year. In order to get the maximum benefit out of the present WC system, the reimbursement should be calculated as follows:
First, take the original 113 percent from 1994 and add the 3.2 percent increase for 1995. Second, add the 3.5 percent increase for 1996 and the 2.8 percent increase for 1997. Add the 3.5 percent increase for 1998 and the 4.8 percent increase for 1999. Add the 4 percent increase for 2000 and the 5.3 percent increase for 2001. Add the 2.8 percent increase for 2002 and the 2.0 increase for 2003. Add the 2.2 percent increase for 2004 and the 3.8 percent increase for 2005. Then add the 4.05 increase for 2006 and the 4.6 increase for 2007. Finally, add the 3.6 percent increase for 2008. Figured this way, you should arrive at 184.85 percent, which is applied to the Medicare fee reimbursement.
On February 18, 1998, Governor Ridge signed a measure reducing the costs of copies of medical documents in Pennsylvania. Act 26 of 1998, which became effective on April 19, 1998, regulates the cost of copying and postage charges for medical and hospital records. The Secretary of Health is directed to adjust these rates based on the most recent changes in the consumer price index, reported annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.
The following are highlights of the law:
1. Effective January 1, 2008, charges for medical records may not exceed:
• $19.00 for search and retrieval;
• $1.28 per page for the first 20 pages;
• $.95 per page for pages 21 through 60;
• $.32 per page for pages 61 and thereafter;
• $1.88 per page for copies from microfilm;
• $24.08 flat fee for copies to support claims or appeals under the Social Security Act or claims under other Federal or State financial needs-based benefits programs; and
• $19.00 flat fee for supplying records requested by a district attorney
2. Only actual cost of postage or delivery may be charged.
3. Caps on charges apply to all health care providers (hospitals, doctors, therapists, etc.).
4. The limitation on charges applies regardless of whether the records are obtained by written medical authorization or by subpoena.
5. These charges do not apply to an X-ray film or any other portion of a medical record that is not susceptible to photostatic reproduction.
6. Delivery of records must be made within 30 days of payment.
7. An insurer shall not be required to pay for copies of medical records required to validate medical services for which reimbursement is sought under an insurance contract, except as provided in: (a) the Workers’ Compensation Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder; (b) 75 Pa. C.S. Chapter 17 (relating to financial responsibility) and the regulations promulgated thereunder; or (c) a contract between an insurer and any other party.
Note:
Federal regulations enacted under HIPAA in 45 CFR Parts 160-164 state that covered entities may charge a reasonable cost based fee that includes only the cost of copying, postage and summarizing the information (if the individual has agreed to receive a summary) when providing individuals access to their medical records. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has stated that the fees may not include costs associated with searching for and retrieving the requested information. For further clarification on this issues, please direct inquiries to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington, D.C. 20201 or visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa.
Gerald Scharf, D.O., editor-in-chief of The Journal of the POMA, is asking members to please voice their opinions on the articles published in The Journal through "Letters to the Editor." Your input is invaluable in helping us meet your needs. The Journal is an educational tool for all POMA members, so please let us know your thoughts on the articles we have published and what you would like to see in upcoming issues.
Dr. Scharf would also like to take this opportunity to ask all members, including students, interns and residents, to submit their articles for consideration in The Journal of the POMA.
Letters to the editor and professional manuscripts should be sent to The Journal Editor, POMA Central Office, 1330 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17111-2395. If you have any questions, please call the POMA Publications Department at (717) 939-9318, ext. 14, or, in Pa., (800) 544-POMA, ext. 14.
Noteworthy Reminders
Receive POMA updates faster! If you have an e-mail address, or if your email address has recently changed, please send it to the POMA Central Office at prc@poma.org.
Physicians are reminded that if they change their office address, they are required to report their new address to the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine within 10 days.
Osteopathic physicians are reminded that under the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine’s rules and regulations, as found in the Pennsylvania Code §25.212, “(b) Advertising, letterhead, publications or transmissions shall designate or indicate the licensee’s school of medical practice by the term ‘D.O.,’ ‘doctor of osteopathy,’ ‘osteopathic physician’ or ‘osteopathic physician and surgeon.’” These provisions were issued under section 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P.S. §271.16); and section 902(b) of the Health Care Services Malpractice Act (40 P. S. §1301.902(b)). The provisions of §25.212 were adopted January 10, 1992, and became effective on January 11, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 209.
The POMA Board of Trustees has approved a member benefit for physicians who receive notices of investigation or other inquiries from the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine (SBOM).
Either our general counsel, Lawrence J. Beaser, Esq., or his partner Christopher A. Lewis, Esq., will consult, at no charge, with any physician member of POMA who receives a notices of investigation or other inquiry from the SBOM, such as Mcare, CME, licensure, etc. Consultations will be limited to no more than one hour of an attorney’s time.
If additional legal services are required, the physician must make independent financial arrangements with the attorney or another law firm. The physician is under no obligation to utilize their services after the initial consultation.
Mr. Beaser served as counsel to the Governor of Pennsylvania and as a deputy attorney general. For many years, he has been the general counsel to POMA. Mr. Lewis served as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Commonwealth. Under his discretion, the Pennsylvania Department of State administered the work of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, which oversees the work of the SBOM. Mr. Lewis was also executive deputy general counsel to the Governor. Both Mr. Beaser and Mr. Lewis have many years of experience representing physicians.
This new service results from a concern that POMA members are becoming subject to additional scrutiny due to such legislation as the Pennsylvania Mcare Act. Under this statute, for example, a physician must report to the Board within 60 days of receipt of a complaint in a medical professional liability action. These reports are leading to investigations and, potentially, will results in disciplinary actions by the SBOM against physicians.
To access this service, please call POMA executive director Mario Lanni at (800) 544-POMA, ext 11.
The POMA has received more information on an article that appeared in the June 2002 issue of the D.O. Magazine. The article stated that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) was requiring physicians to report their patients to the Bureau of Licensing when they were placed on medication that could impair their driving ability. According to PENNDOT, physicians only need to report patients if they have a mental disorder or a condition, such as seizures or diabetes, that, if left uncontrolled, could cause impairment to driving. PENNDOT requires physicians to report any of their patients that are not taking medication to control these disorders. They also strongly suggest reporting them even if they are on medication.
The POMA Committee on Public Relations/Affairs is looking for physicians to submit original material for "HouseCalls," a statewide public education/awareness project aimed toward newspapers and their readers. This ongoing series of "medical tips" bulletins is mailed to all daily and weekly Pennsylvania newspapers.
"HouseCalls," which has been recognized by the American Osteopathic Association, can only be a success if POMA members are actively involved in sending in articles and facts!!! Send your articles/ideas to the POMA Committee on Public Relations/Affairs in care of the POMA Central Office, 1330 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17111-2395, fax (717) 939-7255 or e-mail publ@poma.org.