Blogged Arteries

Impact of 2010 Medicare Fee Schedule

How will the planned cuts in Medicare payments to physicians affect your practice if Congress doesn't act before Jan. 1? The estimated average effect by physician specialty is posted on the TMA Web site. You'll find the Impact of Medicare 2010 Fee Schedule Changes by Specialty and the Estimated Impact on Physicians of Medicare Change in Consult Billing.

Exciting, well-known speakers and some top-notch programs are among the reasons you should plan to attend the 2010 TMA Winter Conference, Jan. 29-30 in Austin. Gov. Rick Perry, American Medical Association President Jim Rohack, MD, National Medical Association President Willarda V. Edwards, MD, MBA, are among the scheduled speakers. U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD, also is invited to speak.

The Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR) has merged with the Health Care Notification Network (HCNN), the only service that delivers Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-required drug alerts to physicians electronically. TMA works with the HCNN to help physicians enroll in the network.

Physicians scored a patient safety and scope of practice victory against chiropractors Nov. 24 when Austin State District Judge Stephen Yelenosky said state law prevents chiropractors from performing clinical needle electromyography (EMG) or spinal manipulation under anesthesia (MUA). He granted a Texas Medical Association and Texas Medical Board request for a partial summary judgment against the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Texas Chiropractic Association.

Texas Doctors: “Senate Health Plan Bad Medicine for Our Patients”

After careful analysis of both the good and bad provisions of the U.S. Senate health system reform bill (HR 3590), the Texas Medical Association has determined that it will not support the bill until it undergoes some necessary and significant changes. “We know that our patients – insured and uninsured, elderly and poor – need a much more efficient, effective, and accountable health care system,” said TMA President William H. Fleming III, MD. “But, on the whole, the Senate health plan is bad medicine for our patients.”

Peers, old friends, coworkers, physicians, and others from the "family of medicine" gathered in Houston to celebrate Lou Goodman, the CEO and executive vice president of the Texas Medical Association. The American Medical Association presented Lou with its 2009 Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award for his 12 years at the helm of "America's Best Medical Society."

House of Delegates debate on other matters appears to be stretching on. We will not begin debate of health system reform issues at 3 pm, CT. My best guess right now is 3:45 pm, but stay tuned.

So far, four resolutions have been submitted directing AMA action or policy on health system reform. There are six other items on the reference committee agenda, but we will live blog only the debate on the four health system reform resolutions.

And, finally, congratulations to Erin Dunnigan, MD, a fellow in endocrinology at Parkland Hosptial in Dallas. She was just elected alternate delegate to the AMA House of Delegates from the Residents and Fellows Section.

Here is the text of Late Resolution that may be considered by AMA House of Delegates later today: "Resolved, that the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association rescinds the action taken by the AMA Board of Trustees supporting HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act." If this comes up, language regarding "AMA Board of Trustees" should come out. Not certain on timetable for consideration at this point.

Another Texan has won an election at the interim meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in Houston. Travis Bias, DO, who is in the second year at the Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in Houston, was elected as one of two residents to sit in the AMA House. Way to continue your contributions to organized medicine, Travis.

Texas delegates to the American Medical Association House of Delegates Interim Meeting in Houston spent hours this morning discussing the AMA's position on health system reform and whether or how TMA should work to influence it.

Congratulations to Meredith Williams, medical student at Baylor College of Medicine. She just won election as the student member of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. Her term on the board will begin in June. Way to go Meredith!

Blogged Arteries will provide frequent updates, and some live coverage, of the health system reform discussion at debates from the interim meeting of the American Medical Association House of Delegates, Nov. 7-10, in Houston. Live blogging events we know of so far (all times CST):

• Forum on Health System Reform, 4-5:30 pm, Sat., Nov. 7, featuring AMA President Jim Rohack, MD, and U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-Texas)
• Reference Committee on Legislation, 8:30-12 noon, Sun., Nov. 8. So far, four resolutions have been submitted directing AMA action or policy on health system reform. There are six other items on the reference committee agenda, but we will love blog only the debate on the four health system reform resolutions.

Visit our coveritlive events on the links above to enter a reminder to tune in for the live coverage.

You can also follow TMA's coverage of the meeting on Twitter. Follow @texmed. Use hash tag #AMAmeeting.