January 2011 - American College of Osteopathic Surgeons

January 2011
ACOS NEWS
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons®
Vol. 49, No. 3
WASHINGTON WATCH:
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON CAPITOL HILL!
Attend 2011 JSAC in Washington
and become a surgeon advocate
s the 112th Congress convenes with a host of new
members in place, the ACOS and 20 other surgical
organizations are working together to educate
members of Congress about issues that are important
to surgeons and their patients. Representing more
than 250,000 surgeons nationwide, the coalition is
undertaking advocacy efforts to amplify
surgery’s voice on Capitol Hill.
The Joint Surgical Advocacy
Conference (JSAC) in Washington,
D.C., has been the most successful of
these efforts. Join your colleagues as a
surgeon advocate at the 2011 JSAC, March 27–29, at the JW Marriott Hotel near the
U.S. Capitol and the White House. The 2011 JSAC will provide:
A
I In-depth beginner, advanced, and resident-specific advocacy training to prepare you
for meetings on Capitol Hill with your members of Congress;
I Presentations by speakers representing Congress and the administration, updates by
surgical society staff on current legislation that directly affects you and your patients,
and tips for lobbying House and Senate offices; and
I Opportunities for you to meet on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and their
health policy staff to share your personal experiences to illustrate how the decisions
they make affect the surgeons and surgical patients who live in their states and
districts. This activity provides a face for the issues that legislators hear about yearround from the ACOS and other surgical organization advocates.
Attend the 2011 JSAC and gain the skills and tools necessary to effect change during
the conference in Washington and at home. Congress needs our direction to determine
what must be accomplished to keep the American healthcare system running.
The American College of Surgeons Leadership Conference, sponsored by the Young
Fellows Association for Young Surgeons and Chapter Leaders, will be held on March 27
in conjunction with the 2011 JSAC. This full-day program will focus on leadership topics.
Go online to http://www.facs.org/grassroots/index.html for details about these events
and to https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_uid=475 to register. You can make
room reservations at the JW Marriott Hotel by going online to https://resweb.passkey.
com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=3103131.
Federal legislative,
regulatory update
Health reform targeted for repeal
After months of waiting to
respond to the healthcare overhaul law—Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act
(P.L. 111-148) and Health Care
and Education Reconciliation Act
(P.L. 111-152)—House Republicans, emboldened by a new majority, prepared for a vote on
a two-page bill (H.R. 2) to repeal the law.
The first battle occurred in the House Rules
Committee, with Democrats raising concerns
about the cost of a repeal, the loss of insurance
for those to be covered by the law, and the lack
of an open process, a complaint common to
every minority in the House. The House
passed the rules governing its floor debate on
Jan. 10, to be followed by a vote on the measure currently projected for Jan. 12. Lawmakers
also passed a resolution (H. Res. 9) instructing
relevant House committees to prepare a replacement version of the current healthcare
law. The procedural rules allow no amendments to the repeal bill but will allow an
amendment by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah)
that would add instructions to provide a permanent adjustment in Medicare physician payments. This proposal is one that Republicans
have been rumored to address later this year.
While the measure to repeal the health
reform laws faces a Senate agenda controlled
by Democrats and an unsympathetic White
House, the vote is the first step in what projects to be a long legislative battle over various
See WASHINGTON WATCH, page 2
3 4 4 5 5 5 6 7
Legislative,
regulatory
issues
In
Memoriam
Member
News
OGME
Corner
New
Resident
Members
New Life
Members
College
financial
statements
Trust
Fund
donors
January 2011
ACOS NEWS
Vol. 49, No. 3
The ACOS is committed to assuring
excellence in osteopathic surgical care
through education, advocacy, leadership
development, and the fostering of professional
and personal relationships.
Board of Governors
Officers
President:
James H. McQuiston, D.O., FACOS
President-elect:
Eric A. Goldsmith, D.O., FACOS
Past President:
K. Michael Hughes Jr., D.O., FACOS
Secretary-Treasurer:
Adam B. Smith, D.O., FACOS
Governors
Scott A. Blickensderfer, D.O., FACOS
Joseph P. Cardinale, D.O., FACOS
Jon R. Henwood, D.O., FACOS
Richard D. Kimmel, D.O., FACOS
Sherman N. Leis, D.O., FACOS
Joseph F. Looby, D.O.
Ryan P. Marshall, D.O.
Ray L. Morrison, D.O., FACOS
Christopher P. Moyer, D.O., FACOS
Rodney T. Routsong, D.O., FACOS
Valerie L. Sheridan, D.O., FACOS
Dawn R. Tartaglione, D.O., FACOS
Staff
Executive Director:
Guy D. Beaumont Jr., FACOS
Director of CME Program Development:
Eileen M. Bailey
Director of Continuing Education and Meetings:
Kendra E. Smith
Director of Membership
Recruitment and Retention:
Sonjya Johnson
Director of Postdoctoral Training
Standards and Evaluation:
Donald B. Kaveny
Assistant Director of Postdoctoral Training
Standards and Evaluation:
Susan L. Rall
Director of Finance and Administration:
Judith T. Mangum
Office Administrator/Website Administrator:
Allison L. Hamrick
Editorial Coordination
Sharon L. Cool, New Leaf Publications, LLC
ACOS is an affiliate of the
American Osteopathic Association.
ACOS News is published monthly by:
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
123 North Henry St.
Alexandria, VA 22314-2903
703-684-0416; 800-888-1312
e-mail: info@facos.org
Website: www.facos.org
©2011 by American College of
Osteopathic Surgeons
Views and opinions expressed in ACOS News
are not necessarily endorsed by the ACOS.
2
ACOS NEWS | January 2011
Federal legislative and regulatory update
From WASHINGTON WATCH, page 1
elements of the law. House
Republicans bolstered the
repeal measure with a report
by House Budget Committee
Republicans on the economic
consequences of the law, indicating that the law would cost
$2.6 trillion when fully implemented and
would add $701 billion to the deficit in its
first 10 years and result in job loss.
The administration on Jan. 5 countered
Republican antipathy toward the healthcare
reform laws with a letter to new Speaker of the
House John Boehner (R-Ohio) extolling the
virtues of the legislation. Democrats promoted
a report from the nonpartisan Congressional
Budget Office that estimated that repealing the
health reform laws would increase the deficit
by approximately $230 billion over 10 years.
Despite the pledges and acute rhetoric from
both sides, it is widely expected that Republican efforts to repeal the law as a whole will
fail in the Senate, and if not certainly will meet
a veto from President Obama. This is only the
opening salvo in what is expected to be at least
a two-year effort to repeal the health reform
laws, in whole or in part, as part of the run-up
to the 2012 presidential election.
CMS issues new 2011 physician payment rates
The December ACOS News reported on the
passage of the Medicare and Medicaid
Extenders Act of 2010, which averted the
scheduled 25 percent reduction in Medicare
payments to physicians due to the sustainable
growth rate (SGR) formula, and extended
certain other Medicare physician payment
policies through 2011. As a result of the new
law, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) has recalculated the conversion factor for 2011 and made a number
of other adjustments to the physician fee
schedule, including changes to the relative
value units (RVUs) for some services.
The new conversion factor for 2011 is
$33.9764. This is approximately 8 percent
lower than the conversion factor that took
effect on June 1, 2010. However, this does
not mean that payment rates are being cut.
Rather, the 8 percent reduction is a budget
neutrality adjustment necessitated by the
reweighting of the Medicare Economic Index
(MEI), which increased the practice expense
and malpractice components of the relative
value scale. This resulted in a net increase in
RVUs that had to be offset by a decrease in
the conversion factor to maintain budget
neutrality. The 2011 impact of the MEI
reweighting on Medicare revenue for surgical
specialties is estimated by CMS as follows:
0.0 percent for cardiac surgery; +3 percent for
general surgery; +1 percent for neurosurgery;
+1 percent for orthopedic surgery; +1 percent
for plastic surgery; +1 percent for urology;
and 0.0 percent for vascular surgery.
FTC stays enforcement of rule against physicians
As reported in December ACOS News, the
Red Flag Program Clarification Act of 2010
(S. 3987) amends the Fair Credit Reporting
Act regarding the applicability of the identity
theft (Red Flags Rule) guidelines to creditors.
It limits the type of “creditor” that must comply with the Red Flags Rule. While the legislation does not specifically exclude physicians,
it more clearly defines the term “creditor” so
that physicians generally would not be classified as creditors for purposes of the Red Flags
Rule. However, there may be some practices
that would still qualify as creditors under the
new definition. And the law gives the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) broad discretion
to apply the rule to other types of creditors.
Partly because of this uncertainty, the
FTC issued a Dec. 21 letter agreeing to stay
enforcement of the Red Flags Rule against
all physicians for at least 90 days after a
final decision is issued in a challenge by the
American Bar Association (ABA) to the
application of the law to attorneys. A final
decision is not expected in the ABA case
until the first quarter of 2011 or later. The
American Medical Association (AMA) and
American Osteopathic Association have filed
a similar case on behalf of their members.
Other societies have intervened to seek relief
for all physicians. The ACOS will provide
further guidance on this issue if the ABA or
AMA case develops in a way that suggests
that the FTC stipulation not to enforce the
rule against physicians will be lifted. I
Author Adam Renfro Chrisney, senior legislative director for the law firm of POWERS
PYLES SUTTER & VERVILLE PC (PPSV) in
Washington, D.C., is part of the PPSV team retained by ACOS as government affairs consultants.
Other Legislative and Regulatory Issues Affecting Surgeons
Changes to PQRI program for 2011
The CMS announced that it is changing the
name of the Physician Quality Reporting
Initiative (PQRI) to the Physician Quality
Reporting System (PQRS). The 2011 PQRS
comprises 200 quality measures, including
both individual measures and measures that
are part of a 2011 measures group. While
2010 PQRI quality measures may be continued in the 2011 PQRS program, measures
specifications may have been updated for the
new program year. Surgeons who currently
are reporting in the 2010 PQRI are encouraged to review the 2011 PQRS measure specifications manual online at http://www.cms.
gov/PQRI/15_MeasuresCodes.asp#TopOfPage
for updates and changes.
e-prescribing penalties
Physicians should be aware that their
e-prescribing (e-Rx) activity in 2011 will
determine whether they face a payment
penalty in 2012 and 2013 under Medicare.
According to the CMS, physicians may face
payment adjustments in 2012 and 2013
for not being successful e-prescribers. The
adjustment applies whether or not an eligible
professional is planning to participate in
the e-Rx incentive program.
The 2012 penalty will be determined by
e-Rx activity during the Jan. 1, 2011, to
June 30, 2011, reporting period; and the 2013
penalty will be determined by e-Rx activity for
the entire 2011 calendar year. The physician
fee schedule amount for covered professional
services furnished by an eligible professional
(or group practice) who is not a successful
e-prescriber will be reduced by 1 percent in
2012 and 1.5 percent in 2013.
However, earning an EHR incentive (must
have 25 unique e-Rx events between Jan. 1
and Dec. 31, 2011) for 2011 will not exempt
an eligible professional or group practice from
the payment adjustment in 2012 (must have
10 unique e-Rx events between Jan. 1 and
June 30, 2011). If a physician meets the 25
unique e-Rx-events threshold for the entire
year, he or she will be exempt from the
penalty in 2013.
The payment adjustment does not
apply if less than 10 percent of an eligible
professional’s (or group practice’s) allowed
charges for the Jan. 1 to June 30, 2011,
reporting period is composed of codes included in the 2011 e-Rx measure.
The CMS may, on a case-by-case basis,
exempt an eligible professional from the
application of the e-Rx payment adjustment
if compliance with the requirement for being
a successful e-prescriber would result in a significant hardship. This exemption is subject
to annual renewal. For the 2012 e-Rx payment adjustment, the following circumstances would constitute a hardship: An eligible
professional who practices in a rural area with
limited high-speed Internet access; or an
eligible professional who practices in an area
with limited pharmacies available for e-Rx.
EHR incentive programs
Under the Health Information Technology
for Economic and Clinical Health Act—part
of the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 (ARRA)—Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments are available to eligible professionals who adopt certified electronic health record (EHR) technology and
successfully demonstrate “meaningful use” of
the technology to improve the quality, safety,
and effectiveness of patient-centered care.
The CMS and the Office of the National
Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) have announced that registration for the Medicare EHR incentive program
opened on Jan. 3, 2011; and that registration
for the Medicaid EHR incentive program
opened on Jan. 3, 2011, in Alaska, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Michigan,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, and Texas. Registration for the
Medicaid EHR incentive program will open
in California, Missouri, and North Dakota
in February 2011, and in other states in the
spring and summer of 2011.
Eligible professionals must register to
participate in the Medicare and Medicaid
incentive programs. Information about program requirements, including payment,
eligibility, “meaningful use,” and certified
EHR technology, is available online at
https://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/.
Physicians who meet the eligibility
requirements for the Medicare and Medicaid
EHR incentive programs cannot participate
in both programs and must select the program they wish to participate in when they
register. However, after receiving payment,
they may change their program selection one
time before 2015. Under the EHR incentive
programs, eligible professionals can receive up
to $44,000 over a five-year period through
Medicare, and up to $63,750 over six years
through Medicaid. Physicians who choose to
participate in the Medicaid incentive program
must initiate registration at the CMS registration site and complete eligibility verification
with their state Medicaid agency.
Resources are available to assist physicians:
I Online tutorial—http://browserspring.com/
widgets/cms/test.html—to help them determine if they are eligible to participate in
the EHR incentive programs.
I Online document—http://capwiz.com/aoaaoia/utr/1/OCERODRYBJ/MQJMODRYD
T/6316138581—with information about
the incentives available in the Physician
Quality Reporting System, e-Prescribing,
and Electronic Health Records Incentive
Programs; how physicians can increase
Medicare payments through participation
in available programs; and how the incentive programs interact with each other.
CCHIT certification of EHR products
On Oct. 1, the Certification Commission
for Health Information Technology (CCHIT)
announced that it has tested and certified
33 EHR products as capable of meeting the
2011–2012 criteria for Stage 1 meaningful
use. The certifications include 19 complete
EHRs that meet all Stage 1 meaningful-use
criteria for 2011–2012, and 14 EHR modules
that meet some of the criteria. The list of
certified EHR products is available online at
http://www.cchit.org/media/news/2010/10/
commission-announces-first-onc-atcb-2011
2012-certifications.
Under ARRA, healthcare providers who
demonstrate meaningful use of certified
EHRs will qualify for Medicare and Medicaid
incentive payments. The CMS and ONC
issued final rules on July 13 setting forth the
definition of meaningful use and the initial
standards, implementation specifications, and
certification criteria for meaningful use. The
CCHIT was among the first organizations
that the ONC recognized as authorized
testing and certification bodies.
See LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY ISSUES, page 8
January 2011 | ACOS NEWS
3
In Memoriam
Donn Charles Colyer, D.O., FACOS, FACOOG—Sept. 9, 2010
Dr. Colyer, of Pittsburg, Kan., was a 1979 graduate of the Kansas City
University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
in Kansas City, Mo., and he completed an internship and a residency
at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. He served a
three-year tour of duty with the U.S. Army and received the Meritorious
Service Award for outstanding patient care.
AOA and ABMS certified in obstetrics and gynecology, he practiced in
the Pittsburg area for more than two decades. He was the first osteopathic
physician granted surgical privileges at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical
Center in Pittsburg and was the first in the area to use epidural anesthesia.
He also introduced 3D ultrasound and his patented Fetal Weight Estimate.
An ACOS member since 1992, he was a Fellow of the College.
Anthony M. Congello, D.O.—Oct. 22, 2010
Dr. Congello, of Lancaster, Pa., was a 1944 graduate
of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
(PCOM) in Philadelphia, Pa., and he completed an
internship and a surgical fellowship at the Lancaster
Osteopathic Hospital. A general practitioner in Lancaster
for 50 years, he was honored by the Lancaster Osteopathic Health Foundation with a physician scholarship in his name
that will be presented to future physicians who attend PCOM.
He had been a member of the ACOS since 1962.
Sarkis Derderian, D.O., FACOS—March 8, 2009
Dr. Derderian, of Grand Blanc, Mich., was a 1945
graduate of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic
Medicine in Kirksville, Mo. He completed an internship
at the Art Centre Hospital in Detroit, Mich., and a
residency at Flint Osteopathic Hospital in Flint, Mich.
He was AOA board certified in general surgery.
A member of the surgical department at Flint Osteopathic Hospital
from 1947 to 1983, he was instrumental in establishing the hospital’s
surgical training program.
An ACOS member since 1953, he was a Fellow of the College.
Gary P. Jelinek, D.O.—May 29, 2010
Dr. Jelinek, of West Bloomfield, Mich., was a 1972
graduate of Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
in Kirksville, Mo. He completed an internship at Mount
Clemens Regional Medical Center in Mount Clemens,
Mich., a residency at Garden City Osteopathic Hospital
in Garden City, Mich., and a surgical oncology fellowship at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.
An AOA board certified general surgeon, he served on the surgical
staff at the Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center and several other
hospitals in Michigan.
He had been a member of the ACOS since 1981.
Laszlo Posevitz, D.O., FACOS—Nov. 28, 2010
A native of Hungary, Dr. Posevitz came to Dayton,
Ohio, in 1957. He graduated in 1968 from Midwestern
University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in
Downers Grove, Ill., and completed an internship and a
residency at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton. He
completed training in thoracic-cardiovascular surgery in
Budapest, Hungary, and at The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, and
in vascular surgery in Montpellier, France.
AOA board certified in thoracic and general vascular surgery, he
served as a clinical professor of surgery at the Boonshoft School of
Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton and at Ohio University
College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens.
During his years at Grandview Medical Center, he served as chief
of staff and chaired the thoracic-cardiovascular and general surgery
departments. He established the first vascular laboratory in Ohio at
Grandview and was instrumental in establishing Grandview’s vascular
surgery fellowship program; Grandview honored him by naming its
vascular surgery fellowship after him. He also received the hospital’s
Distinguished Service Award for his many contributions to Grandview
and Southview Medical Centers and the osteopathic profession, and the
Legacy Award for his contributions to graduate medical education.
An ACOS member since 1979, he was a Fellow of the College. I
Member News
Peter B. Ajluni, D.O., FACOS, FAOAO, a past president of the AOA
and a past ACOS governor, was one of two AOA leaders to receive the
2010 Riland Medal of Public Service from the New York College of
Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology. Dr. Ajluni
was selected for the award for his commitment to health and wellness
and his support of osteopathic medicine in global health.
Aaron M. Fritz, D.O., FACOS, FAOAO, an orthopedic surgeon in
Marion, Ohio, has earned the designation of Fellow of the American
Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO) for his outstanding contributions to the osteopathic profession. He has served as an examiner
for the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery, a member of the Marion
General Hospital Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and
team physician for the Ohio High School Athletic Association football,
basketball, and wrestling state playoffs.
Harlen C. Hunter, D.O., FACOS, of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., was
inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Lindenwood University in St.
Charles, Mo., for his service and financial support of the university. He
volunteered as team physician and orthopedic surgeon for Lindenwood
4
ACOS NEWS | January 2011
athletes from 1988 to 1999, and his generous contributions led to significant renovations of the school’s stadium, which is named in his honor.
James E. Laughlin, D.O., FACOS, FAOAO, an orthopedic surgeon
in Grand Prairie, Texas, authored a paper that was published in 2010
in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, one of the few journals
posted online by the World Health Organization. He also presented the
paper at the EPS Global International Trauma Forum in China; he was
one of only two Americans invited to the forum.
The late Morton J. Morris, D.O., JD, FACOS, FAOAO, who served
as the executive director of the AOAO for 17 years, was honored posthumously in August 2010 with the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine’s Board Chairman’s Award for his outstanding contributions to the
osteopathic profession. Carl Mogil, D.O., FACOS, FAOAO, an orthopedic surgeon in Stratford, N.J., was one of two AOAO members honored in 2010 with the association’s first Morton J. Morris, D.O., JD,
Osteopathic Orthopedic Education Award for exemplifying Dr. Morris’
love for the academy and for furthering the education of its members. I
O GM E C or ne r
Medical residents subject to FICA tax
On Jan. 11, the U.S. Supreme Court
unanimously upheld an IRS requirement
that medical residents pay Social Security
taxes. The ruling, which appears to settle
a long fight between the IRS and teaching
hospitals including the Mayo Clinic,
upholds the IRS regulation that medical
residents who work more than 40 hours
per week do not qualify for the student
exception under Section 3121(b)(10) of
the Internal Revenue Code. Full-time
students generally are exempt from Social
Security taxes, but law clerks and tradesman apprentices are not.
Summary Manual for Directors of Medical
Education, OGME Program Directors, and
OGME Program Coordinators
In December 2010, the AOA Division of
Postdoctoral Training published a revision
to its Summary Manual for Directors of
Medical Education, OGME Program Directors, and OGME Program Coordinators.
Developed to assist OGME staff in the
osteopathic postdoctoral training programs, the manual provides a basic
overview of the interactions between
program/training institutions and the
AOA, including various mandatory reports and registrations. The manual is
available online at http://www.osteopathic.
org/inside-aoa/Education/postdoctoraltraining/Documents/summary-manualdirectors-of-medical-education.pdf.
Social networking for surgery residents
OsteoBook—a new social networking site
that has been launched to foster dialogue
among osteopathic residents, interns, and
medical students—provides a forum for
discussion as well as information about
residency programs, institutions, and
rotations. If you are interested in
participating in this site, go online to
www.osteobook.net and sign up.
General Surgery In-service Examination
The General Surgery In-service Examination was administered online on Jan. 8
to almost 500 general surgery residents at
more than 40 training sites. This is the
second year the exam was administered
online. Results of the 300-item, diagnosisoriented, criterion-referenced achievement
test will be distributed to program directors for discussion with their residents no
later than March 31.
New Resident Members
The ACOS welcomes the following surgeons in training who have become resident members of the
College since August 2010:
Anthony Abraham, D.O.
Joy D. Acklin, D.O.
Barrett G. Anderson, D.O.
Peter Andrade, D.O.
Kelly A. Arblaster, D.O.
Saeid E. Aryan, D.O.
Justin D. Atherton, D.O.
Vadim Avulov, D.O.
Victor M. Awuor, D.O.
Leah M. Bair, D.O.
Jordan N. Baker, D.O.
Stephanie L. Bakey, D.O.
Nazia Bandukwaia, D.O.
Dabanjan Bandyopadhyay, D.O.
Scott A. Barnes, D.O.
Apram A. Basra, D.O.
Ukana O. Bassey, D.O.
Jackie Battista, D.O.
Zachary M. Bauman, D.O.
Lindsay B. Berbiglia, D.O.
Frederick I. Berg, D.O.
Blake W. Berman, D.O.
Matthew J. Bond, D.O.
Jerel J. Brandt, D.O.
Renata Brodsky, D.O.
Daniel A. Bryden, D.O.
Larry P. Buglino III, D.O.
Cynthia A. Buono, D.O.
Michael J. Butcher, D.O.
Julie Ann Caffrey, D.O.
Edward H. Caldwell, D.O.
Thomas J. Cartolano, D.O.
Michael A. Casey, D.O.
Joseph D. Chabot, D.O.
David Chen, D.O.
Gregory T. Clabeaux, D.O.
Christopher E. Clark, D.O.
Jill L. Collins, D.O.
Jeremy H. Conklin, D.O.
Dawood Dalaly, D.O.
Matthew D'Alessandro, D.O.
Aaron P. Danison, D.O.
Dene W. Daugherty, D.O.
Nicole F. DeSimone, D.O.
Suzanne M. Detrick, D.O.
Salvatore Docimo, D.O.
Vikrant Donthamsetti, D.O.
Nicholas J. Draeger, D.O.
Karissa M. DunkleyShurts, D.O.
Igor G. Elyash, D.O.
Christopher R. Falcon, D.O.
Candida Ferguson, D.O.
Devin C. Flaherty, D.O., PhD
Marika Y. Gassner, D.O.
Daniel P. Gay, D.O.
Leonardo A. Geraci, D.O.
Paul J. Ghattas, D.O.
Daniel R. Gilbert, D.O.
Lawrence W. Gooss IV, D.O.
Lisa M. Gray, D.O.
Narinder P. Grewal, D.O.
Marat V. Grigorov, D.O.
Jacqueline M. Guerriero, D.O.
John M. Gunselman, D.O.
DeGail J. Hadley, D.O.
Michael I. Hanzly, D.O.
Melhem Harp, D.O.
Wesley A. Hendricks, D.O.
Scott A. Hewitt, D.O.
Matthew E. Hiesterman, D.O.
Laura J. Holsey, D.O.
Shawn L. Horwitz, D.O.
Brian K. Hudson, D.O.
Andrea R. Hufford, D.O.
Craig B. Hunter, D.O.
Stephanie J. Ingham, D.O.
Daniel J. Inglish, D.O.
Sajid Ismail, D.O.
Kevin N. Jensen, D.O.
Brandon L. Jenson, D.O.
Jacob D. Johnson, D.O.
Marta S. Johnson, D.O.
Brandt D. Jones, D.O.
Sallee Eckler Jones, D.O.
Jeremy T. Jubach, D.O.
Leiloni H. Kaluhiokalani, D.O.
Justin M. Karush, D.O.
Christopher J. Keeler, D.O.
Sadia Khan, D.O.
Joseph Kidd, D.O.
Elise M. Kuykendal, D.O.
Mark Kuzich, D.O.
Dustin Lash, D.O.
Seth D. Levine, D.O.
Diana L. Livingston, D.O.
Tanner A. Long, D.O.
Nisreen M. Madhoun, D.O.
Sohail H. Mamdani, D.O.
Stephanie D. Markle, D.O.
Jose A. Martin, D.O.
Shane D. Martin, D.O.
Miguel A. Matos, D.O.
Cory B. Maughan, D.O.
Noah R. May, D.O.
Andrew D. McAllister, D.O.
Michael J. McAllister, D.O.
Katherine E. McKenzie, D.O.
Daniel F. Miller, D.O.
Jordan D. Miller, D.O.
Matthew Miller, D.O.
Stephanie A. Morbeck, D.O.
Andrew B. Morris, D.O.
Ryan P. Murphy, D.O.
Jay B. Nastav, D.O.
Ryan J. Nelson, D.O.
Anh-thy Nguyen, D.O.
Brian J. Obrochta, D.O.
Lauren N. Oliver, D.O.
Violet N. Onkoba, D.O.
Megan C. O'Toole, D.O.
Lynn J. Paik, D.O.
Sarath K. Palakodeti, D.O.
Ksenia Pavlova, D.O.
Austin D. Payor, D.O.
Nhan V. Pham, D.O.
Daniel P. Pischl, D.O.
Louella Pritchette, D.O.
Michelle L. Ramirez, D.O.
Benjamin H. Rebein, D.O.
Mark Rivkin, D.O.
Daniel J. Rizzo, D.O.
Aaron M. Roberts, D.O.
Christopher Chadwick
Roberts, D.O.
Jay W. Roberts, D.O.
Nathan S. Roberts, D.O.
Jed C. Robinson, D.O.
Gabriel Rose, D.O.
Todd C. Ruiter, D.O.
Isami Sakai, D.O.
Scott A. Salmon, D.O.
Christina Sanders, D.O.
Lee Sandquist, D.O.
Jennifer Scagliola, D.O.
Aislinn M. Scarbinsky, D.O.
Amanda M. Schell, D.O.
James R. Shurlow, D.O.
Eric E. Simpson, D.O.
Andrew C. Skattum, D.O.
Jennifer A. Snow, D.O.
Young Song, D.O.
Sebastian Tas, D.O.
Kristina M. Thornburg, D.O.
Chiu Yuen To, D.O.
Samer K. Totonchi, D.O.
Elena E. Vega, D.O.
Austin J. Wagner, D.O.
Jasmine Weaver, D.O.
Richard H. Wikiera, D.O.
Matthew A. Williams, D.O.
Abralena De Jesus Wilson, D.O.
Kristoffer R. Wong, D.O.
Jason D. Wright, D.O.
Ehssan Zare, D.O.
Amanda M. Zucker, D.O.
New Life Members
Congratulations to the following members who achieved ACOS life member status (effective July 1,
2010) and were recognized at the 2010 Ceremonial Conclave. This designation is granted only to
members who are 60 years of age or more and have been a College member in good standing for
20 continuous years.
John Howard Bergseng, D.O., FACOS
Timothy R. Borman, D.O., FACOS
John A. Galante, D.O., FACOS
Steven D. Ham, D.O.
Richard A. Hoefer Jr., D.O., FACOS
Ronald E. Jackson, D.O., FACOS
Walter F. Keller, D.O.
Gary D. Kresge, D.O.
Jon Irvin Levin, D.O.
Robert I. Lewis, D.O., FACOS
Lou Elizabeth MacManus, D.O., FACOS
Timothy M. McKenna, D.O., FACOS
Bradford E. Murphy, D.O.
Thomas A. Noonan, D.O.
Ronald J. Pedalino, D.O.
Bruce H. Rank, D.O., FACOS
Jeffrey D. Russell, D.O.
James R. Siefer, D.O., FACOS
Michael K. Smith, D.O., FACOS
Pat Toselli, D.O., FACOS
Gary W. Welch, D.O., FACOS
Michael H. Whitworth, D.O., FACOS
Edward L. Wiener, D.O., FACOS
Arthur C. Wittich, D.O., FACOS
January 2011 | ACOS NEWS
5
Summary of auditor’s financial statements for 2009–2010
The following are the financial statements for the ACOS for the 2009–2010 fiscal year
as presented in the College auditor’s report to the Board of Governors.
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as of June 30, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $401,263
Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,076,022
Accounts receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92,129
Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,860
Prepaid expense:
Annual Clinical Assembly . . . . . . . . . .65,519
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,623
Total prepaid expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110,142
Property and equipment, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320,723
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
for the year ended June 30, 2010
UNRESTRICTED REVENUE AND SUPPORT
Dues and application fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$820,216
Annual Clinical Assembly (Chicago) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .536,073
Other educational programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209,200
Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147,193
ACA exhibitor fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45,470
Interest and dividends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32,993
Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,039
Other revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114,498
Total Revenue and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,908,682
TOTAL ASSETS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,004,139
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . $124,144
Deferred revenue:
Membership dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525,471
Annual Clinical Assembly . . . . . . . . . 48,290
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84,354
Total deferred revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .658,115
Total Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $782,259
EXPENSES
Program services:
Educational programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458,055
Leadership and policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311,073
Educational standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262,935
Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,774
Member recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,325
Member programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,601
Total Program Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,184,763
Supporting services:
General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469,672
Member recruitment/retention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136,487
Total Supporting Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 606,159
NET ASSETS
Unrestricted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,221,880
Total Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,790,922
TOTAL NET ASSETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,221,880
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS . . .$117,760
TOTAL LIABILITIES
AND NET ASSETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,004,139
Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . 88,257
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206,017
Net Assets, beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,015,863
NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,221,880
Financial summary of ACOS Trust Fund
UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES
as of June 30, 2010, as prepared by staff
Fund balance as of June 30, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$519,226
REVENUES
Member contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$87,209
Interest and capital gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,217
Unrealized gains (losses) on stock . . . . . . . . . . . .(1,832)
Unrealized gains (losses) on mutual fund . . . . . . .32,193
Total Revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$131,787
EXPENSES
Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$21,910
SOSA scholarship grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,500
Administrative expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18,635
Update training standards/curriculum . . . . . . . . . .7,287
ACA keynote speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .899
Focus groups and member survey . . . . . . . . . . . .29,300
CME consultant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52,500
ACA poster boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,187
6
ACOS NEWS | January 2011
Total Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$134,218
Loss (expense in excess of revenue)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2,431)
Fund balance on June 30, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $516,795
General Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$471,364
Designated funds:
Sherman Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35,014
Humanitarian Award Fund . . . . . . . . . . . .5,659
SOSA Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,757
45,431
Total Funds of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$516,795
AC O S Tr us t Fund D onor s
The ACOS Trust Fund sponsors awards for outstanding scientific exhibits and posters at the Annual
Clinical Assembly; resident literary awards to recognize outstanding manuscripts by residents; achievement awards to recognize outstanding residents; humanitarian awards to recognize members’ voluntary
service; and the Orel F. Martin Medal to recognize distinguished service to the osteopathic profession.
A Trust Fund grant was provided to the College to employ a Director of CME Program Development
to assist CME program committees and program chairs in the planning, development, implementation,
evaluation, and assessment of their continuing education programs in accordance with AOA
Category 1-A CME requirements.
The fund supported the revision, update, and reformatting of the AOA/ACOS surgical training standards, as required by the AOA every three years; and the materials utilized in training program site inspections, including creation of a “crosswalk” to assist programs in documenting compliance with the standards.
The Trust Fund also supports studies of the opinions, attitudes, and needs of osteopathic surgeons by
outside consultants to assess current ACOS member programs and services and to develop new ACOS
programs and services.
The ACOS is grateful to the members who donated a total of $46,384 to the Trust Fund from
July 1, 2010, through Jan. 5, 2011. See Trust Fund giving options below.
President’s Roundtable: $1,000 or more
Gordon C. Knight, D.O., FACOS
Allan D. Lamb, D.O., FACOS
Milena Diana Lambie, D.O.
John R. Lanesky, D.O., FACOS
Tiffany M. Lasky, D.O., FACOS
James D. Lawrence, D.O.
Jay A. Lawrence, D.O., FACOS
Diane L. Light, D.O.
Jung J. Lim, D.O.
Nancy Jean Lobby, D.O., FACOS
Edward A. Loniewski, D.O., FACOS, FAOAO
Jay M. Lonsway, D.O., FACOS
Lou Elizabeth MacManus, D.O., FACOS
Carolyn C. Majors, D.O.
Francesco T. Mangano, D.O., FACOS
Mitchell F. Matez, D.O.
Gregory Z. Mavian, D.O., FACOS
William J. Meis, D.O., FACOS
Matthew P. Mené, D.O., FACOS
Albert F. Milford III, D.O., FACOS
Gregory C. Nacopoulos, D.O., FACOS
Huy T. Nguyen, D.O., FACOS
Khanghy Duy Nguyen, D.O.
Michael A. Nizzi, D.O., FACOS
Vincent U. Ohaju Jr., D.O., FACOS
Jan A. Olenginski, D.O.
Albert H. Olivencia-Yurvati, D.O., FACOS
Henry Parcinski Jr., D.O., FACOS
Robert M. Patacsil, D.O., FACOS
Douglas G. Paulk, D.O., FACOS
Ronald J. Pedalino, D.O.
Claudia B. Perez, D.O.
Laszlo Posevitz, D.O., FACOS
Hamid R. Pourshojae, D.O.
Ivan Darrell Pugh Jr., D.O.
Ruth A. Rassel, D.O.
Lee A. Rea, D.O., FACOS
Darryl R. Reaume, D.O., FACOS
Howard L. Reeves, D.O., FACOS
Edgar J. Rennoe, D.O., FACOS
David R. Rittenhouse, D.O., FACOS
Laurence H. Belkoff, D.O., FACOS
Wayne A. Hey, D.O., FACOS
Les M. Landau, D.O., FACOS
Sherman N. Leis, D.O., FACOS
Robert J. Marx, D.O., FACOS
Jim Greg Melton, D.O.
Barry Sachs, D.O., FACOS
Leadership Circle: $500–$999
Allan M. Arkush, D.O., FACOS
Diane C. Bigham, D.O.
Joseph P. Cardinale, D.O., FACOS
William A. Cline, D.O., FACOS
Robert J. Cotter Jr., D.O., FACOS
Brian P. DeFade, D.O.
Sarkis Derderian, D.O., FACOS
Luciano A. DiMarco, D.O., FACOS
Neil W. Fisher, D.O., FACOS
John A. Galante, D.O., FACOS
Deborah G. Harris, D.O.
Richard D. Hart Jr., D.O., FACOS
William R. Henwood, D.O., FACOS
Richard D. Kimmel, D.O., FACOS
Eric A. Kivisto, D.O.
Robert I. Lewis, D.O., FACOS
Christopher F. Lucchese, D.O., FACOS
Thomas J. Maatman, D.O., FACOS
Robert H. Mashioff, D.O., FACOS
Alan L. Meshekow, D.O., FACOS
Ian E. Parker, D.O.
Ryan Jeffrey Roe, D.O.
Stanley J. Rosol, D.O., FACOS
Anthony Schwartz, D.O., FACOS
Valerie L. Sheridan, D.O., FACOS
Adam B. Smith, D.O., FACOS
Qualls E. J. Stevens, D.O.
Richard H. Still III, D.O., FACOS
Elizabeth M. Tucker, D.O., FACOS
Wayne R. Waterman, D.O.
Benefactors: $250–$499
Michael I. Abraham, D.O., FACOS
Roger Gustavo Amigo, D.O., FACOS
Mandip S. Atwal, D.O., FACOS
Robert Love Baker II, D.O., FACOS
Susan Marie Baro, D.O., FACOS
Joseph C. Benedetto, D.O., FACOS
Lee M. Blatstein, D.O., FACOS
Brian R. Drabik, D.O., FACOS
John A. Fetzer, D.O., FACOS
Jerry G. Gaston, D.O., FACOS
B. Douglas Harris, D.O.
Raymond Vincent Harron, D.O.
Francis A. Kralick, D.O., FACOS
Michael A. Kulungowski, D.O., FACOS
Mark S. Maxwell, D.O., FACOS
Christopher P. Moyer, D.O., FACOS
William H. Phillips, D.O., FACOS
Joseph A. Racanelli, D.O.
Ofer Rodriguez, D.O.
F. Kenneth Shockley, D.O., FACOS
Michael K. Smith, D.O., FACOS
David Andrew Southwick, D.O.
Patrons: $100–$249
William S. Agent Jr., D.O., FACOS
Isidro A. Amigo, D.O., FACOS
William G. Anderson, D.O., FACOS
Robert L. Archer, D.O., FACOS
Nazareth V. Asorian, D.O., FACOS
Christopher M. Bariana, D.O.
Robert I. Barsky, D.O., FACOS
Jim D. Bates, D.O., FACOS
John C. Baumann, D.O., FACOS
Jaret A. Beane, D.O.
Dawn M. Bodell, D.O., FACOS
John P. Bollins, D.O.
Otto B. Brdlik, D.O., FACOS
Robert A. Brock, D.O., FACOS
Mark W. Byrge, D.O.
Michael A. Campanelli, D.O., FACOS
Daniel Keith Cantwell, D.O.
Marie J. Carter, D.O.
Ralph S. Carungi, D.O., FACOS
Thomas A. Castillenti, D.O.
John D. Clayton, D.O., FACOS
Andrew C. Clemmons, D.O.
Charles R. Conklin, D.O., FACOS
John H. Cooper, D.O., FACOS
Wan-Tzy Cooper, D.O.
Dennis E. Cramer, D.O.
Norman D. Crecelius, D.O., FACOS
Sang Won Dacri-Kim, D.O.
David John Dargis, D.O., FACOS
William Davidson, D.O.
David Daniel Davila, D.O., FACOS
Willard P. DeBraber, D.O.
Arthur J. DeMarsico, D.O., FACOS
Charles L. Dietzek, D.O., FACOS
Darius A. Divina, D.O.
Ronald J. Dorbish Jr., D.O.
John H. Drabing, D.O., FACOS, FAOAO
Laurie Ann Duckett-Simmons, D.O.
Leonard L. Dunworth, D.O., FACOS
Ted S. Eisenberg, D.O., FACOS
Craig M. Eyman, D.O., FACOS
Anthony G. Fabaz, D.O., FACOS
Michael L. Farrell, D.O.
Jarad Scott Fingerman, D.O., FACOS
Lisa Jo Finkelstein, D.O., FACOS
Robert Louis Fiorelli, D.O.
Mary E. Freyvogel, D.O.
Speros A. Gabriel, D.O., FACOS
William K. Garretson, D.O., FACOS
Julius W. Gee, D.O.
Elvita Genelus-Dominique, D.O.
Phillip C. Ginsberg, D.O., JD, FACOS
Tammy Lynn Gleeson, D.O.
Brian Gluck, D.O., FACOS, FASMBS
Andrea J. Goethals, D.O.
Mark L. Goldberger, D.O.
John C. Green, D.O., FACOS
Bryan T. Grischow, D.O., FACOS
Salvador Guerrero, D.O.
Dong Hoang Ha, D.O.
Brian Scott Hanna, D.O., FACOS
Khoren Hekimian, D.O., FACOS
Rafael C. Hernandez, D.O.
Albert S. Heyman, D.O., FACOS
Andrew J. Hutchinson, D.O.
C. Michael Johnson, D.O., FACOS
J. Harris Joseph, D.O., FACOS
Robert F. Joyce, D.O.
Ronnie L. Keith, D.O., FACOS
Ahmed M. Khan, D.O.
Bruce I. Kilstein, D.O., FACOS
Forrest D. Robart, D.O.
Rodney T. Routsong, D.O., FACOS
James C. Schiefen, D.O., FACOS
Roger H. Schoenfeld, D.O., FACOS
G. Philip Scott, D.O., FACOS
Jason M. Seibly, D.O.
Moses K. Shieh, D.O., FACOS
Alexander Shiferson, D.O.
William R.C. Shillinglaw, D.O., FACOS
Kenneth F. Shockley, D.O., FACOS
Harry W. Simmons, D.O., FACOS
Marc L. Simon, D.O.
Frank L. Simoncini, D.O., FACOS
Aaron Christopher Smith, D.O.
Aaron Mitchell Smith, D.O.
Neal R. Sokol, D.O., FACOS
Aleksandr Sokolovsky, D.O.
Thomas E. Steffens, D.O., FACOS
Robert G. Stroud, D.O., FACOS
David P. Sufian, D.O., FACOS
David O. Sussman, D.O., FACOS
Harold A. Tabaie, D.O., FACOS
Douglas Adam Taranow, D.O., FACOS
Jeffrey P. Tenner, D.O., FACOS
Mark B. Vance, D.O.
Giacomo Vinces, D.O.
Ronald W. Wadle, D.O., FACOS
Jeremy L. Weiss, D.O.
Scott N. Welle, D.O.
Betty Jo White, D.O., FACOS
James R. White, D.O., FACOS
Gregory Lynn Wilson, D.O., FACOS
Frank A. Wojciechowski, D.O.
Richard J. Worel, D.O., FACOS
Allen J. Zagoren, D.O., FACOS
Vincent J. Zizza III, D.O., FACOS
Paul F. Zubel, D.O.
Honor Roll: Up to $99
Robert E. Henson, D.O., FACOS
Martin J. Loscalzo, D.O.
Trust Fund Giving Options
You can make contributions to the ACOS Trust Fund In memory of... a deceased
ACOS member; or In honor of... an ACOS member, a member of your family,
or a significant friend. Please send your contributions to the ACOS Trust Fund,
123 North Henry Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2903. The following individuals
were remembered with donations from July 1, 2010, through Jan. 5, 2011.
In memory of ...
I Helen Catherine Brdlik—from Otto B. Brdlik, D.O., FACOS
I Sarkis Derderian, D.O., FACOS—from Helen Derderian
I Ellis Siefer, D.O., FACOS—from Anthony Schwartz, D.O., FACOS
I Louis J. Spagnuolo, D.O., FACOS—from Anthony Schwartz, D.O., FACOS
Have you moved? Keep us updated!
If you have made any recent changes in your practice or home address,
phone numbers, or e-mail address, please notify the College at info@facos.org.
Thanks for your help in keeping our records up-to-date!
January 2011 | ACOS NEWS
7
ACOS NEWS
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
123 North Henry Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2903
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Hagerstown, MD
Permit No. 28
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRINTED ON
RECYCLED PAPER
Other Legislative and Regulatory
Issues Affecting Surgeons
From LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY ISSUES, page 3
CMS proposed rule on Medicaid RAC program
The ACOS and 80 other national and state
medical organizations submitted comments to
the CMS on Jan. 10 about the agency’s proposed rule concerning the Medicaid Recovery
Audit Contractors (RAC) Program. The
organizations expressed concern that the proposed rule does not provide sufficient guidance to states in establishing and implementing their Medicaid RAC programs, and they
urged the CMS to review the improvements
already instituted in the Medicare RAC program and require that similar safeguards be
put in place for the Medicaid RAC program.
They reminded the CMS of the challenges
facing physicians as a result of health system
reform, in addition to implementation of
health information technology and the transition to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes,
and requested that CMS set forth streamlined,
straightforward requirements for the Medicaid
RAC program to ensure the delivery of
efficient and high-quality care. The organizations’ comments are available online at
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/
mm/399/rac-letter-10jan2011.pdf.
Physician compliance with HIPAA 5010
A new version of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
standards will go into effect in 2012. Physicians and others in the healthcare industry are
required to upgrade and begin using HIPAA
version 5010 starting on Jan. 1, 2012. Version
4010 has been in use for HIPAA transactions
since 2003. To avoid claims-processing and
cash-flow interruptions, physicians are urged
to talk to their vendors about upgrades to
version 5010 and to begin testing with their
largest payers and clearinghouses to work out
transmission problems in advance. For more
information about compliance with HIPAA
version 5010, go online to http://www.amaassn.org/go/5010.
Future Programs
Feb. 10–12, 2011
2011 General Surgery
In-depth Review Seminar
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort
Orlando, Fla.
March 27–29, 2011
Joint Surgical Advocacy
Conference (JSAC)
JW Marriott Hotel, Washington, D.C.
(To register for the JSAC, go online to
http://facs.org/ahp/jsac2011.html.)
Sept. 15–18, 2011
2011 Annual Clinical Assembly
of Osteopathic Surgeons
Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.
Call 800-888-1312 or visit the ACOS website at
www.facos.org for more information about these
and other upcoming educational programs.
Success in post-health-reform world
A new educational resource—ACOs, CO-OPs
and Other Options: A How-to Manual for
Physicians Navigating a Post-health Reform
World—is available online at www.amaassn.org/go/ACO to help physicians succeed,
regardless of how they choose to navigate the
new post-health-reform world. This manual
provides an overview of accountable care
organizations (ACOs) and addresses such
issues as governance, partnerships with hospitals or health insurers, and managing
antitrust risks. It also discusses opportunities
for consumer operated and oriented plans
(CO-OPs) and provides guidance on earning
EHR incentive payments. I
Classifieds
Classified advertising is available to ACOS members
at the rate of $50 per column inch; the cost to
nonmembers is $75 per column inch. Classified
advertising or professional notices should be sent to:
Editor, ACOS News, 123 N. Henry St., Alexandria,
VA 22314-2903. Fax: 703-684-3280.
Advertisements are accepted by ACOS News
when they conform to the College’s ethical standards.
ACOS News does not verify the accuracy of claims
made in advertisements, and acceptance does not
imply endorsement by the College. The ACOS
assumes no liability for errors or missing ads beyond
a refund for any amounts paid.