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FSPMR BROADCAST October 17, 2006 

Next Meeting:  Save these dates!  FSPMR is scheduled to meet in conjunction with SSPMR, May 11 – 13, 2007, at the JW Marriott Buckhead Atlanta.  Room rate $179, call 800 228 9290, tell them you’re with the Southern Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  Cut off date is April 16, 2007.  10 hours of continuing ed, watch the website:  http://fspmr.org for further details. 

AAPMR:  November 9 – 12, 2006, Hawaii! 

FMA Annual Meeting:  Dr Robert Dehgan, VP, was the FSPMR Delegate to the FMA House during their annual meeting in Orlando last month.  Dr Dehgan reports that of particular interest was scope of practice issues relating to podiatrists, chiropractors, nerve conduction studies in upper and lower limbs with a dx of lumbar radiculopathy….Dr Dehgan began discussion with FMA staff and with other specialties with whom FSPMR can work in the future to formally address this issue. 

Dr Mark Rubenstein, Member at Large, also attended as the President of his county medical society:  “…the membership has clearly expressed a desire to see the focus of the FMA change from simply battling for liability protection to more pressing issues such as physician reimbursement. We all agree that the SGR (Sustainable Growth Rate) is unsustainable….It behooves all of us to understand the politicians, their stances, the issues, and to VOTE. Further, it is important that we fiscally support viable candidates. Like it or not, agree or not, politics is a game. The only way to have political influence is to ‘get in the game.’

William Plested, III, MD, President of the AMA, summarized Pay for Performance (P4P) as "a scheme to underpay physicians for their quality work." P4P is a proprietary process that is extremely secretive…Dr. Plested indicated that 80-85% of physicians contracted… will be listed as sub-standard.

The goal of P4P is not for insurance companies to identify outstanding physicians and increase their reimbursement ratio. It is to reduce their expenses and increase their profit. Though 15-20% of physicians may receive a bonus or increased reimbursement rate, it does NOT benefit physicians in this state. The "rewards" are not for those physicians who are practicing ethical, quality medicine. It is for those who are "efficient" as defined by standards of each individual insurer, and the markers for that include current charges, etc.

Another major issue is the 75% rule for physiatrists. Additionally, there are problems with fiscal intermediaries who locally affect admissions processes to in-patient rehabilition units. I thank Dr. Charles Graubert for providing me with extensive literature regarding this topic.”

FSPMR Executive Committee Teleconference:  September 21 – participating:  Dr Venerando Batas, President, Robert Dehgan MD, VP, John Muenz Jr MD, Secretary, Mitchell Freed MD, Member at Large, Mark Rubenstein MD, Member at Large, Lorry Davis, Executive Director 

Dr Batas summarized the results of the strategic planning survey: 

  1. The mission statement needs tweaking, not a total revision.  Dr Muenz will lead this endeavor.
  2. FSPMR has insufficient numbers (both in bodies and in dollars) to hold its own meetings.  We need to meet in conjunction with other organizations’ events due to fiscal restraints, just as we have in the past with both the SSPMR and the FL Academy of Pain Medicine.  Dr Muenz will investigate a PMR booth at the annual Family Practice meeting; Lorry will begin communication with Florida neurology and geriatric societies to see if there is any opportunity there for this type of cooperation.
  3.  AAPMR meet our needs? Tabled for further discussion.
  4.  Our communication meet member needs? Yes.
  5.  Strengths: well organized, communication/information dissemination, relationship w/ FMA for political purposes

7.      Weaknesses: member participation, few CME activities, large state – difficult to get everyone together, politically ineffective

8.      Opportunities: political activism/legislation*; education/teaching

9.      Threats: declining reimbursements, expansion of scope of practice by allied health professionals

10.  Vision in 3 Years: political/information source/resource for FL physiatrists; more CME; increase membership and increase member participation in political and educational activity

*Dr Muenz was appointed Chair, Legislative Liaison, to keep FSPMR abreast of issues and get them formally organized, when appropriate, into Resolutions for the FMA House, so that FMA staff and lobby resource can be allocated to our issues.

Dr Mark Rubenstein Won the 2006 Florida Choice Award for Workers’ Compensation in the Non-Surgical Specialist category, August, in Orlando.  Congratulations!

Job Op:  Medical facility in Orlando seeking BC, fellowship trained, Physiatrist skilled in epidural steroid injections, facet injections and EMG and NCSs.  Guaranteed salary.  Flexible hours and vacation schedule.  This center has a full time marketer on staff, alleviating the doctor from this responsibility.  Fax CV 407 207 3931, attn Barbara St Clair.

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net, http://fspmr.org
 

FLORIDA SOCIETY OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
MEETING MINUTES
May 18, 2003
Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort

PO Box 330298
Atlantic Beach FL  32233-0298
Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, Lorry4@earthlink.net
www.fspmr.org 

Presiding:  Enrique Monasterio, MD, Vice President

 Present:  Drs Enrique Monasterio, Oregon Hunter, Venerando Batas, John Muenz, Robert Dehgan, Colleen Zittel, Victoria Rabe-Tagala, Amy Clunn, Justine L Vaughen, Dorothea Glass, Craig Lichtblau, Anthony Dorto, and Jesse Lipnick.  Guests:  Drs Joan Watkins and Richard Fry, Mayelin Gomez ARNP, Atty Dorothy Sims, and AAPMR Deputy Executive Director, Lynda Leedy JD.  Executive Director Lorry S Davis, MEd.

 AAPMR and Foundation for PM&R Report:  Lynda Leedy gave a presentation on the current and future activities of the Academy, and the FFPMR.  In 2004, AAPMR will conduct another comprehensive survey to determine the needs of Academy members.  FFPMR’s mission is “To enhance health and function through education and research in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation.”  Contributions are appreciated.

 Old Business: 

  1. A motion was made and carried to accept the minutes of the Aug 20, 2002, Orlando meeting.

2.  Dr Vaughen gave the membership report:  We currently have 123 members, 8 of whom are retired.  We have l inactive member.  There are 114 dues-paying members.

Over this past year, we lost 10 members to nonpayment of dues.  We sent a certified letter in January to members who had not paid in 2002.   Of those , we retrieved 3.

The remainder are Drs George Bonis, Carolyn Geis, Eric Kerstman, Stuart Krost, Eric Kurtz, Thomas Murray, Alan Novick, Daniel Picard, Krystyna Pisarska, and Paul Schwartz.  Dr Dorto will contact Drs Novick and Krost.  Dr Lipnick will contact Dr Kerstman, and Lorry will contact Dr Kurtz.  If members know any of the others, please call them and encourage them to “return to the fold.”  Lorry will follow-up with them if you let her know you have spoken with them and they’d like to reinstate their membership (ph 904 270 8886, fax 904 246 9233,  Lorry4@earthlink.net).

 We employed AAPMR to send FSPMR member apps, along with AAPMR dues notices,  to those AAPMR members in FL who are not FSPMR members.  From this, we netted 6 new member applications.  The cost was $85.27, a reasonably small amount for the benefit of 6 new member applications.  We will engage in this process annually.

 Today we consider 7 candidates for membership:

 Amy E Clunn MD                     Ocala                           Oregon Hunter MD

Mohan S Gulati MD                 W Palm Beach             needs recommendation

Paul Kornberg MD                   Tampa                          Jairo Parada MD

Donna M Lanthier MD Ft Myers                      James P Weiner MD

Shahriar A Nabizadeh MD       Jacksonville                  John Muenz MD

Witiza Perez MD                      Lake City                     Justine Vaughen MD

Andrew L Sherman MD           Miami                           needs recommendation

Dr Monasterio to contact

Robert W Sury MD                  Jacksonville                  John Muenz MD

 A motion was made and carried to accept all with recommendations.  Dr Gulati needs a recommendation.  No one present at the meeting knew him to do this.  Any member out there know Dr Gulati?

 The following inquired about membership, were sent applications and have not yet completed them:

 Emmanule G Acosta MD

Lance Cassell MD

Raul Cardenas MD

Jon Erich MD (Collen Zittel MD)

David Ernstoff MD (Rodolfo Eichberg MD)

 Members who know these applicants are asked to contact these potential members and encourage them to complete the application process.

 3.  Dr Zittel gave the Treasurer’s Report:  *

*Details of the Treasury Reports can be obtained by members from Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, at Lorry4@earthlink.net.

 Hospitality Suite Discussion:  A motion was made and carried to release the hospitality suite at the work comp conference.  The FL Assoc of Oc/Env Medicine has done same.  Traffic in the last few years has not merited the expense, and sponsors are increasingly difficult to commit for this purpose.  Last year, we could find no sponsors and the suite cost us close to $2000, even with FAOEM paying 2/3 of the cost. 

  1. Dr Zittel, Carrier Advisory Council Representative for FSPMR, gave the following Medicare Report:  There was a policy on Speech Therapy which we reviewed and this was fine, no comments on it; it was presented at the 12/7/02 CAC which I attended.  Those interested should look it up on the website.  Dr Conlan reviewed the policy on "Greater Occipital Nerve Block" which was presented at the CAC on March 1 2003.  His one paragraph synopsis of it is in your FSPMR March 20 broadcast fax, but basically, we all thought the policy was fair and no changes were submitted by PM & R.

 

  1. Lorry Davis reported that PMR Jax had a meeting on Feb 19 at Brooks Rehab Hospital which Dr Muenz, Member-at-Large, organized, and Davis attended.

 

  1. Dr Hunter gave the Legislative/FMA Report:  As a participant in the FMA’s Advisory Committee to the Three Member Panel, Dr Hunter stated there was concensus on that Committee re hating attorneys and increasing work comp fee schedules, but little else among the various physician specialties as to what the new work comp law should look like.  Davis also participated in these phone conferences.   

 

Various expansion of Scope of Practice bills were killed.

 

Re PIP legislation, the FMA was successful in helping to prevent the new PIP law from including a fee schedule, similar or tied to the work comp fee schedule.

 

Re tort reform, Dr Muenz cited that in Jacksonville, the NE FL Surgeons were quitting practice if there was no reform.  This includes general surgeons, orthopaedics, neurosurgeons, and obstetricians (this also means no mammography).  The Mayo Clinic in Jax is not politically involved.  Dr Muenz stated that non-economic caps are not necessarily the cure. There should be a pool of doctors with no claims with one set of malpractice premiums, and a pool of doctors with claims with another (higher) set of malpractice premiums.  This is similar to auto insurance – good drivers and bad drivers are not in the same pool.

 

Dr Zittel cited that in Orlando, neurosurgeons agreed to continue to take call until September.  Without them, there will be no Level 1 Trauma Center.

 

  1. All members will be sent updated FSPMR Member Certificates.   

 

New Business:

 

  1. Our next meeting will be in conjunction with the FL Work Comp Conference, with FAOEM, Tuesday, Aug 19, 12 – 3 pm, in Crystal Ballrooms E and F of the Orlando World Marriott Center.  Luncheon will be served.  Please RSVP to Lorry Davis (904 270 8886, 904 246 9233, Lorry4@earthlink.net) if you plan to attend.

 

We are looking for a sponsor or sponsors for this event.  Sponsorship is $2500 for 15 min, or $5000 for an entire half hour of physician audience.

 

  1. Shall we meet again with the FL Academy of Pain Medicine?  We will address this question at the August meeting.

 

Respectfully submitted, 

Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed.
Executive Director

 

 

 

FSPMR BROADCAST August 2, 2006 

Next Meeting:  Although we are not meeting with the oc med docs at the work comp conference this year, we are again invited to attend their luncheon and business meeting on Tuesday, August 15, 12 pm, Anaheim Room (Orlando World Center Marriott).  Some of you attended last year.  RSVP to me, contact info below, if you will be at this luncheon. 

Talk has begun about possibly meeting in Tampa in February with some CME.  Venerando Batas MD, FSPMR President, is working on this.  Stay tuned for details…. 

Save these dates!  FSPMR is scheduled to meet in conjunction with SSPMR, May 11 – 13, 2007, at the JW Marriott Buckhead Atlanta.  Room rate $179, call 800 228 9290, tell them you’re with the Southern Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  Cut off date is April 16, 2007.  10 hours of continuing ed. 

Minutes of the FSPMR April Miami Meeting

AAPMR:  November 9 – 12, 2006, Hawaii! 

Mark Rubenstein MD, FSPMR Member-at-Large, met with others in Vancouver, and reports they have been “really working to vitalize the Board Exam for PM&R.  It has become a very fair, highly psychometrically researched, referenced, exam written by those who care.  It will likely be a model for other boards to follow.”  Thank you, Dr Rubenstein. 

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net, http://fspmr.org

 

FSPMR BROADCAST June 15, 2006 

April Meeting in Miami, PIP, FMA and the 2006 Florida Legislative Session, Seeking Job Op, Editor 

April Meeting in Miami:  The minutes of that meeting will be forthcoming shortly under separate cover.  CONGRATULATIONS! to our new officers elected at that time:  President – Venerando Batas MD, VP – Robert Dehgan MD, Secretary – John Muenz MD, Treasurer – Duby Avila MD, Members at Large – Rigoberto Puente MD, Mark Rubenstein MD, Mitchell Freed MD.  And thank you for a job-well-done by Enrique Monasterio MD, now our Immediate Past President. 

PIP:  Thank you to Nnamdi Nwaoqwuqwu MD, who was active in supporting efforts to stop PIP from being put on a fee schedule.  He later asked for clarification from the FMA about the sunsetting of the current fee-for-service statute being delayed for 18 months.  The expiration date is now pushed to January 1, 2009.   

However, as you may be aware from a recent communication that Mark Rubenstein MD sent us, the Governor will not sign the PIP bill which passed.  Dr Nwaoqwuqwu encourages us to remain active with this issue.   

Dr Rubenstein lobbied in Tallahassee in April with a Palm Beach Co contingent.  The FMA first presented the bills and issues, and then they went on to keep appointments they had made with Senators and Representatives (including but not limited to Ken Pruitt, Adam Hasner, Ron Klein, David Aronberg, Anne Gannon, Susan Bucher, Joe Negron, Mary Brandenburg, Jeff Atwater, Carl Domino).  The issues they discussed in addition to PIP are listed below in the FMA Legislative Summary.   

Dr Rubenstein writes, “Overall, the experience was productive.  We were successful at explaining some of the nuances of these issues from the physician perspective to the legislators who were willing to listen.  For those of you who haven’t partaken in this activity before, I do recommend it.  Of course it is a significant difficulty in terms of canceling a day of patients, traveling to Tallahassee, etc.  The future of our specialty and the practice of medicine must be preserved.” 

FMA and the 2006 Florida Legislative Session:  Here are some of the outcomes of the FMA’s efforts:  *stopped effort to allow repeal of Amendment 3 from the Constitution to statute, maintaining limited attorney contingency fees in medical liability cases – the result of which has been a significant stabilization of the medical liability insurance market

*stopped naturopathic licensure

*stopped ARNPs from prescribing controlled substances

*stopped pharmacists from administering flu shots

*stopped allowing of foreign trained physicians to practice as physicians without completion of an ACGME residency

*stopped making it more difficult for a physician to self-insure and stopped draconian penalties for minor offenses related to physician profiles.

*stopped physician offices from having to be licensed and regulated as clinics.

*stopped requiring licensure for hearing interpreters, decreasing their availability, increasing costs to physicians, making it more difficult to comply with ADA

*did away with joint and several liability

*now only have to take the HIV/AIDS CME course one time

*now only have to take the Domestic Violence CME course every 6 yrs instead of every 2

*created more difficulty for ARNPs and PAs to set up practices independent of physician supervision

*passed requirement for all healthcare practitioners to wear nametags identifying their licensure or orally inform patient of same

*increased funding for the Professionals Resource Network, providing substance abuse assistance to physicians and other health care licensees.

*PIP fee schedule defeated, sunsetting of current fee for service delayed for 18 months

*allow unused cancer drugs to be collected and prescribed to patients in need 

SEEKING JOB OP:  Currently completing residency at Baylor College of Medicine/University of Texas PM&R Alliance; interested in inpatient and outpatient settings, especially musculoskeletal issues, pain management, electrodiagnostic studies, trigger point/peripheral joint/botox/phenol injections; currently applying for FL license.  Please call Rita S Mezzatesta MD, 713 797 1993 (home) 832 443 4961 (cell).

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net, http://fspmr.org

 

FSPMR BROADCAST April 24, 2006

 NEXT MEETING:                 Hey Everyone!  LAST CALL!

 It’s getting close to meeting time,  April 28 – 30 (Friday – Sunday), Miami.  If we don’t have your registration yet, please consider coming.  It’s a good scientific program (10 hours), a beautiful location, and there’s a complimentary dinner cruise around Miami. 

Here are the topics: 

Acute Stroke Imaging

Drugs, Documentation, and the DEA:  A Proactive Approach to Using Controlled Substances to Treat Pain (this is a real workshop where you are asked to bring your forms, difficult cases, etc)

Current Concepts in Botulinum Toxin Type A

The Neuromusculare Examination

Mild TBI and Post-Concussive Disorders:  Fact or Fabrication?

Current Update on Hepatitis C Virus

Integrative Medicine and Pain Management

Life Expectancy for Cerebral Palsy Patients 

Come on and join the fun!  Please go to http://fspmr.org for all program, hotel, and registration details.  If you have any questions, please call Lorry Davis, contact info below.  For those of you who have taken the time to let us know that you can’t be there this year, please excuse this note.  It’s a blast email/fax and it goes to all members. 

For hotel reservations, call 800 445 8667, tell them you are with Conference Code SSM, for the rate of $139.  This conference rate is now available upon the hotel’s availability.  You do not need to attend the conference in order to attend the FSPMR business meeting/luncheon.   

PROPOSED SLATE OF CANDIDATES, FSPMR 2006 – 2008: 

President:  Venerando Batas MD

VP:  Robert Dehgan MD

Secretary:  John Muenz MD

Treasurer:  Duby Avila MD

Members-at-Large:

Rigoberto Puente MD

Mark Rubenstein MD

Mitchell Freed MD

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR BROADCAST April 4, 2006 

Next Meeting and Legislative Action 

NEXT MEETING:                 Hey Everyone! 

It’s getting close to meeting time,  April 28 – 30 (Friday – Sunday), Miami.  If we don’t have your registration yet, please consider coming.  It’s a good scientific program (10 hours), a beautiful location, and there’s a complimentary dinner cruise around Miami. 

Here are the topics: 

Acute Stroke Imaging

Drugs, Documentation, and the DEA:  A Proactive Approach to Using Controlled Substances to Treat Pain (this is a real workshop where you are asked to bring  your forms, difficult cases, etc)

Current Concepts in Botulinum Toxin Type A

The Neuromusculare Examination

Mild TBI and Post-Concussive Disorders:  Fact or Fabrication?

Current Update on Hepatitis C Virus

Integrative Medicine and Pain Management

Life Expectancy for Cerebral Palsy Patients 

Come on and join the fun!  Please go to http://fspmr.org for all program, hotel, and registration details.  If you have any questions, please call Lorry Davis, contact info below.  For those of you who have taken the time to let us know that you can’t be there this year, please excuse this note.  It’s a blast email/fax and it goes to all members. 

For hotel reservations, call 800 445 8667, tell them you are with Conference Code SSM, for the rate of $139.  This conference rate is now available upon the hotel’s availability.  You do not need to attend the conference in order to attend the FSPMR business meeting/luncheon.  PLEASE RSVP to Lorry Davis (contact info below) for attendance at the FSPMR Business Luncheon, Sunday, April 30, 12:30 0- 2 pm. 

FMA and the 2006 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION:   The FMA is providing online video of select committee meetings and physician testimony relating to priority bills.  These videos will be posted to the FMA website, www.fmaonine.org/legis.  You will need a compatible media player such as QuickTime, RealPlayer, etc. 

For all the bills below, PLEASE CONTINUE TO EMAIL/WRITE/CALL your legislators.  Go to http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=1011011&CFTOKEN=25419402, click on House or Senate, then enter the bill # you want to track.  When you find out what committee it’s in, you can click on Committees to see who is on what committee.  Then you can click on Senators or Representatives to get full contact info on that member. 

PIP – SB 2114 will be heard in the Senate Health Care Committee this afternoon.  We’ll keep you posted – we are against this bill!  It proposes a medical fee schedule for PIP benefits. 

HB 881 allowing foreign trained physicians to become licensed without completing a residency was stopped.  The sponsor, Rep Flores, was the only yes vote.  Voting no:  Reps Brandenburg, Cretul, Homan, Hukill, Rice. 

But this one was close! – ARNP prescribing HB 485 by Rep Farkas was stopped by a 5-5 vote.  Voting no, to stop the bill:  Reps Cretul, Homan, Sobel, Poppell, Henriquez.  Voting yes:  Reps Proctor, Roberson, Bendross-Midingall, Bowen, Garcia. 

Cutting back the scope of practice for podiatrists HB 575 by Rep Garcia, passed by an 8-2 vote in the House Health and Regulation Committee. 

Allowing pharmacists to administer flu shots, SB 570 by Sen Bennett, unfortunately passed out of the Banking and Insurance Committee, unanimously, and is now on the Senate floor. 

Increasing the supervision of ARNPs/PAs, HB 699/SB 1216, is favorably passing through Senate Committees, and is out of House Committees, onto the House floor. 

Joint & Several Liability, SB 2006 by Sen Webster,  allows for physicians to adequately defend themselves in medical liability cases, is headed to the Governor for signature. 

Expert Witness Bill, SB 2686 by Sen Webster requires out-of-state physicians to obtain an expert witness certificate prior to testifying in FL.  As of March 30, last posting online, this bill is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR BROADCAST March 7, 2006 

NEXT MEETING:  April 28-30, 2006, Fri – Sun, with the So Soc of PM&R Annual Meeting at the Doubletree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay, Miami.  The entire program and registration materials can be found at http://fspmr.org.  There will be 10 hours of scientific program on Sat and Sun.  On Sat evening, there will be a Water Fantaseas dinner cruise on the Miami Magic, hosted by this year’s SSPMR President, Dr Craig Lichtblau, also an FSPMR member.  The conference will end at noon on Sunday at which time FSPMR will have a business luncheon until 2 pm.  For hotel reservations, call 800 445 8667, tell them you are with Conference Code SSM, for the rate of $139.  That conference rate expires March 28 so call now!  Registration brochures have been mailed out and you have received yours by now.  You do not need to attend the conference in order to attend the FSPMR business meeting/luncheon.   

FMA and the 2006 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION:  The 2006 Legislative Session begins today, and adjourns Friday, May 5.  PA/ARNP Supervision Bill (HB 699 by Rep Joe Negron) is being heard tomorrow, March 8, in the House Health Care Regulation Committee.  Encourage these committee members to vote YES.  By having these standards addressed in a rulemaking setting, the Board of Medicine will have time to hear testimony from all interested parties and consider the many factors involved in this issue.  The specialty of the physician, the type of health care practitioner under supervision, and the practice setting will all be considered.  Here are the committee members that need to hear from you:  rene.garcia@myfloridahouse.gov, eleanor.sobel@myfloridahouse.gov, dorothy.bendrossmindingall@myfloridahouse.gov, gus.bilirakis@myfloridahouse.gov, marty.bowen@myfloridahouse.gov, larry.cretul@myfloridahouse.gov, bob.henriquez@myfloridahouse.gov, ed.homan@myflorida.gov, ralph.poppell@myfloridahouse.gov,

bill.proctor@myfloridahouse.gov, yolly.roberson@myfloridahouse.gov.

More info:  FMA Legislative Affairs, 850 762 0233

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORM BILL INTRODUCED IN U.S. CONGRESS:  This from FMA President, Dr Troy Tippett:  At the FMA's request, a great friend of medicine, Congressman Clay Shaw, filed a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 2 that includes all the provisions of California MICRA type reform just as HR 5 did last session.  HR 5 was passed last year by the House of Representatives but as you know, if passed into law this bill would unduly punish Florida and 18 other states by making them retain any cap on non-economic damages that they currently had whether it was more than or less than $250,000.  As you may recall, without a fix we could be stuck with our $500,000 cap on non-economic damages forever.  Congressman Shaw’s bill fixes the so-called flexicap provision of HR 5 and would allow us to have the same benefits the rest of the world receives once we pass this in the House and Senate. Please take the time to email him at http://shaw.house.gov/Contact/ to thank him. While you are at it please also call or email your own member of Congress and ask them to sign on as cosponsors of this new bill.  Now it is up to all of us to get this bill passed in the House and Senate.  With your help we will accomplish this goal as well.

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

2004 Continuing Education Schedule-at-a-Glance

2004 Sponsors/Exhibitors

FSPMR Broadcast January 24, 2006

NEXT MEETING:  April 28-30, 2006, Friday – Sunday, in conjunction with the Southern Society of PM&R 38th Annual Meeting at The Doubletree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay, Miami.  There will be a reception Friday evening, 10 hours of scientific program on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday evening will feature a Water Fantaseas dinner cruise on the Miami Magic hosted by Craig Lichtblau MD, an FSPMR member and this year’s SSPMR President.  The conference will end at noon on Sunday, at which time FSPMR will have a luncheon/business meeting.  For reservations, call 800 445 8667 and tell them you are with Conference Code SSM, for a rate of $139.  The program is now posted at http://fspmr.org.  Watch this side and your snailmail, and future email/fax broadcasts for registration information. 

FMA and the 2006 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION:  The 2006 Legislative Session begins Tuesday, March 7, and adjourns Friday, May 5.   

And this notice today from the FMA about the Doctor of the Day Program, which they have to stop coordinating effective immediately.  The FMA will be contacting those physicians who have already registered to be a Doctor of the Day.  From Sandra Mortham, FMA EVP/CEO:  Over the weekend we received the rules coming out of the House and Senate on the new gift law.  I was concerned about whether our Doctor of the Day program would be in violation of the new rules.   

Yesterday I spoke with the Speaker's Chief of Staff and he indicated he would have the legislature's General Counsel look at this.  After discussions between their General Counsel and John Knight (FMA Counsel), it was concluded that we would no longer be able to coordinate the Doctor of the Day program for the legislature. 

I want to take this opportunity to thank all those that have participated in the past as well as those that have signed up for this coming session.  (We) may also be getting a contact person in the clinic that may be coordinating a similar program in the future. 

Florida MD License Renewals:   To renew online, go to www.doh-mqaservices.com  and click on "Licensees" and then "Renew License." You will need an account/user ID number and password, which was included in your license renewal notice sent in October. If you do not have your notice, you may email licensure_services@doh.state.fl.us  or call 850.488.0595, and press menu option 3. If you are unsure if you are up for renewal this year, check your license or your profile, since both list your expiration date.  

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR Broadcast December 15, 2005 

NEXT MEETING:  April 28-30, 2006, Friday – Sunday, in conjunction with the Southern Society of PM&R 38th Annual Meeting at The Doubletree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay, Miami.  There will be a reception Friday evening, 10 hours of continuing education on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday evening will feature a Water Fantaseas dinner cruise on the Miami Magic hosted by Craig Lichtblau MD, an FSPMR member and this year’s SSPMR President.  The conference will end at noon on Sunday.  For reservations, call 800 445 8667 and tell them you are with Conference Code SSM, for a rate of $139.  Stay tuned to future broadcasts and our website, http://fspmr.org for program and other meeting details. 

EMG:  Thank you to Dr Jairo O Parada MD, FSPMR Past President, who represented FSPMR at the Quality Assurance Committee meeting of the Florida Board of Medicine.  He received this note from them on November 14:  “The Committee would like to extend its appreciation to you for participating in the discussion on EMG Needle Insertion.  The information you provided was very informative and helpful, and, it was used to assist the Committee in determining which health care practitioners should be performing EMG Needle Insertion….thank you for your service to the State of Florida.” 

JOB OPS:

Medical Director, PM&R at Mount Sinai Medical Center, one of the nation's most prestigious hospitals, and located in warm, sunny Miami Beach          

*        The Medical Center offers a continuum of orthopedic and rehabilitative care, including acute hospital services, a 60-bed acute comprehensive                              rehabilitation unit, and a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation program

*        The Medical Center is Florida’s largest private, independent, not-for-profit teaching hospital

If interested, contact Linda Farr, Farr Healthcare, Inc., 888-362-7200 

FMA DOCTOR OF THE DAY PROGRAM:  The 2006 Legislative Session begins Tuesday, March 7, 2006, and the FMA is looking for physicians to participate in the Doctor of the Day program. Physicians who are willing to spend a day in Tallahassee during the Legislative Session perform an invaluable service by providing health care for members of the Legislature and legislative employees. In addition, the program continues to be a vital component in improving and strengthening physician-legislator relations. The FMA will schedule two physicians for each day of the legislative session, one for the House of Representatives and one for the Senate. If you are interested in serving as Doctor of the Day, please contact Michelle Jacquis by email at mjacquis@medone.org or call her at 800.762.0233. The 2006 Legislative Session is scheduled to adjourn Friday, May 5, 2006. 

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

 

FSPMR Broadcast July 7, 2005 

NEXT MEETING:  July 29-31, at The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Kissimmee (Orlando), in conjunction with the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine.  FSPMR will have a dinner business meeting on Sat, July 30, 7 – 9 pm.  You can still attend the dinner and business meeting free, even if you don’t attend the conference. RSVP to Lorry Davis (contact info at bottom).  If you haven’t seen or can’t find the hard copy registration materials sent to you via regular mail, please go to http://fspmr.org and you’ll find program information, hotel information, and meeting registration information.  The summer edition of the PainInfo newsletter should just be coming your way and registration materials will be in that as well. 

 WORK COMP CONFERENCE:  If you are attending the work comp conference at the Orlando World Marriott Center, you are invited to attend FAOEM’s luncheon on Tues, Aug 23, 12 – 2 pm.  FSPMR is not meeting in conjunction with the comp conference this year.  RSVP to Lorry Davis. 

MEDICARE CAC MEETING UPDATE from Colleen Zittel MD, FSPMR Rep

Sat June 18th, Embassy Suites Hotel, Orlando 

1.  LCD on Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)-92548

CDP is currently non-covered my Florida Medicare.  A draft policy was looked at during this meeting, after multiple letters were sent to Florida Medicare in support of coverage, by multiple university movement disorder clinics, the APTA, local hospitals/ PT's, and other sources.  The policy looks fine except for the fact that it only allows testing once per beneficiary- we are working through the committee on changing it to at least two or three allowed tests per patient.  We will work on language to include in the policy to avoid overutilization, ie, to prevent nursing homes, CORF's and other entities from falling into the trap of testing every single patient with CDP, since almost all elderly have some balance deficit or occasionally fall, but not all of those need CDP.  The policy may be discussed again at the next meeting in 4 months, if not finalized.  To view policy, look up  www.floridamedicare.com, part B, medical policy, draft, pull up by policy #92548.  I'd like your comments on this before we submit it for finalization (comment period ends on 7-18-05). 

2.  Thanks to the persistence and hard work of Andrea Trescot, MD, (Anesthesiologist, on CAC representing the FMA), a change request has been finally approved, and now, Interventional Pain Management will have its own designated seat or position on the CAC.  This is in addition to a seat for FL Soc of Anesthesiologists.  Good work! 

3.  CMS Announces the National Provider Identifier (NPI)

This will be a new "health care identifier" for use in the HIPAA standard transactions, an identifier # for all health care providers, health care groups, etc.  You can begin to apply for your NPI beginning May 23, 2005..  Compliance date is May 2007.  For more info on this & how to apply, www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters, and look up letter titled SE0528, or, https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov 

4. James Corcoran, Contractor Medical Director, gave an update on Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.  Familiarize yourself with the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit- your patients will be turning to you for info on this. (partners web site:  www.cms.hhs.gov  , or ,www.medicare.gov as a beneficiary-friendly website.  Also, Medicare is going to restructure, from nationally, a large # of Fiscal Intermediaries and Carriers, into a much smaller # of entities, integrating Part A & Part B into a single authority, Medicare Administrative Contractor (MACs), arranged by region within the US.  CAC committee has not been commented on but will probably (?) stay. 

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR Broadcast June 14, 2005 

NEXT MEETING:  July 29-31, at The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Kissimmee (Orlando), in conjunction with the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine.  FSPMR will have a dinner business meeting on Sat, July 30, 7 – 9 pm.  You can still attend the dinner and business meeting free, even if you don’t attend the conference. RSVP to Lorry Davis (contact info at bottom).  If you haven’t seen or can’t find the hard copy registration materials sent to you via regular mail, please go to http://fspmr.org and you’ll find program information, hotel information, and meeting registration information.  A PainInfo newsletter will be coming your way within the next couple of weeks, and registration materials will be in that as well.  June 28 is the deadline for the roomblock rate of $149 at the hotel.

 WORK COMP CONFERENCE:  If you are attending the work comp conference at the Orlando World Marriott Center, you are invited to attend FAOEM’s luncheon on Tues, Aug 23, 12 – 2 pm.  FSPMR is not meeting in conjunction with the comp conference this year.  RSVP to Lorry Davis.

 FMA:  Mark Rubenstein MD, on FSPMR’s Board as a Member-at-Large, will represent us at the FMA’s Specialty Section and Council on Legislation next month at the Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables meeting.

Medicare In-Patient Rehabilitation:  Mitchell Freed MD, a past president of FSPMR, is leading the effort in teleconferencing with First Coast Service Options regarding the Draft AIRF Local Coverage Determinations.  Drs Ibiza Nevares, Alan Novick, Venerando Batas (FSPMR VP), and Colleen Zittel (FSPMR Medicare CAC Rep) are involved in the project as well.  Dr Freed can be reached at drfreed@att.net.

MEDICARE H.R. 2356 Proposes Increase in Pay:  On May 12, in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Clay Shaw (R-FL) introduced H.R. 2356, the Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005.  The bill has subsequently been referred to the House Energy & Commerce, and Ways & Means Committees.  In the Ways and Means Committee, it has been referred to the subcommittee on Health.  This important bill stops the impending Medicare physician payment cuts and replaces the flawed physician payment formula.  This bill also provides a permanent solution, so physicians can continue to give Medicare patients the care they deserve.  The bill text can be found by going to http://thomas.loc.gov/, entering the bill number, H.R. 2356, and hitting the search button

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR Broadcast May 6, 2005 

NEXT MEETING:  July 29-31, at The Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Kissimmee (Orlando), in conjunction with the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine.  FSPMR will have a dinner business meeting on Sat, July 30, 7 – 9 pm.  You will be receiving hard copy registration materials via regular mail within the next week or so.  Please go to http://fspmr.org and you’ll find program information, hotel information, and meeting registration information.

 WORK COMP CONFERENCE:  We are not meeting in conjunction with the comp conference this year, but for those of you attending the conference, you are invited to attend the luncheon meeting of the FL Assoc of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Tuesday, August 23, 12 – 2 pm, The comp conference will again be held at the Orlando World Marriott Center.  Please RSVP to Lorry Davis, contact information at the bottom.

 2005 Legislative Session:  Ends today!  A summary of what organized medicine accomplished with be forthcoming under separate cover in the near future.  Also under separate cover will be the report on last week’s FMA Work Comp Advisory Committee phone conference in which Lorry Davis participated.

 JOB OP AD:  Physiatrist – Florida

Outstanding opportunity for a full-time BC/BQ physiatrist to join a dynamic, growing PM&R outpatient private practice.  Our ideal candidate will be skilled in musculoskeletal evaluation and treatment, electrodiagnostic evaluations and interventional spinal procedures. Beautiful coastal location, excellent salary and benefits (including 401(K) and health plan) partnership potential. Serious inquiries only.  Please fax CV to (904) 620-9769.

Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR Broadcast April 4, 2005

 UPCOMING MEETING:  Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24:  The Southern Society of PMR will hold its annual meeting in New Orleans, on this JazzFest! weekend.  11 hours of scientific program.  An outing to JazzFest! incorporated into the weekend.  To be held at The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, on the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets.  All FSPMR/SSPMR members should have received a registration brochure via regular mail by now.  If you haven’t and you’re interested, contact Lorry Davis (contact info at bottom) and/or go to http://fspmr.org/sspmr, read all about it and print off a registration form.

 FMA 2005 Legislative Agenda:  Posted at http://www.fmaonline.org/legis/agenda05.asp Legislative Session, 2005:  March 8 – May 6.  Thank you to all participants of last week’s rally.  Attacks on medicine are going to continue.  HB 665 and SB 972 need to be stopped from becoming law.  What you can do:

1.      Contact your legislator and let them know how dangerous these bills are for the practice of medicine.  Go to http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm, click on Senate or House and you can find your legislators and all his/her contact information.

2.    Make sure you stay abreast of the latest news.

3.    Contact your fellow physicians and make sure they are FMA members.

4.    Join FLAMPAC to ensure we are ready for the 2006 election.

 HB 665 (Rep Farkas/SB 972 (Sen Jones)/FMA Contact Jeff Scott:  Financial Responsibility – This bill takes away a physician’s ability to self-insure (go bare) and almost doubles the professional liability insurance requirements for physicians.

 HB 1557 (Rep Lopez-Cantera)/SB 2296 (Sen Bennett)/FMA Contact Francie Plendl:  Pharmacists – Administration of Immunizations Scope of Practice Expansion – The FMA is opposed to legislation allowing pharmacists to administer immunizations.

 FL Workers’ Comp Reporter:  In the March, 2005, issue, the Judges of Compensation Claims Annual Report states that our work comp reforms show promise of reducing litigation.  This was one of the primary goals of the 2003 reform legislation.  “Given the absence of ‘hard’ statistics, for the most part, stakeholders initially appraise the effectiveness of the reforms based on anecdotal information, which reflects any changes in employer/carriers’ loss experience and benefit payouts….there are some early indications that the reforms may be having a positive impact on the system.”

 Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR Broadcast March 21, 2005 

UPCOMING MEETING:  Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24:  The Southern Society of PMR will hold its annual meeting in New Orleans, on this JazzFest! weekend.  11 hours of scientific program.  An outing to JazzFest! incorporated into the weekend.  To be held at The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, on the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets.  All FSPMR/SSPMR members should have received a registration brochure via regular mail by now.  If you haven’t and you’re interested, contact Lorry Davis (contact info at bottom) and/or go to http://fspmr.org/sspmr, read all about it and print off a registration form. 

FMA Days at the Capitol 2005:  Mar 30 – Apr 2.  We are two weeks into Florida’s Legislative Session.  For the Days at the Capitol agenda, go to http://www.fmaonline.org/news/days_agenda05.asp.  If nothing else, plan to make it Thursday, March 31, for the Physician Rally on the Old Capitol Steps.  Then afterward, go to your legislators and talk to them about what’s important to medicine and to you.  To quote Sandra Mortham, FMA EVP, “YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE…The reason legislators are listening to the trial lawyers is simply because they make the effort to come to Tallahassee to be seen and heard….These trial attorneys are motivated and willing to make the necessary compromises to win.  Florida physicians must join together to show our legislators just how much their legislation will affect their patients and practices….Mark your calendars, reserve your plane ticket, fuel your vehicles – whatever it takes – join your colleagues on March 31 at the front steps of the Capitol.” 

 FMA 2005 Legislative Agenda:  Posted at http://www.fmaonline.org/legis/agenda05.asp (fact sheets about Amendment 8 and other issues on this website).  Priority issue:  Three Strikes amendment (Amend 8):  On Wed, Mar 16, the House Judiciary Committee voted to pass a bill that includes many favorable provisions re the interpretation and implementation including providing for the Board of Medicine to determine if a civil judgment should count as a strike by finding clear and convincing evidence that the physician committed malpractice, before the judgment would count.  The trial bar failed to pass an amendment to remove this provision in the bill, and have all civil judgments count as a strike.  Thank you to those physicians who took the time to contact the Committee members. 

Members in the News:  Dr Brian Dowdell is VP of the Brevard Co Medical Society; Dr James Atchison is program co-chair of AAPM&R’s committee that put together the Academy’s 2005 pain courses, “Emerging Concepts in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pain, “ and “An Intensive and Comprehensive Review:  Preparing for the American Board of PMR Pain Subspecialty Board Examination.”

 Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR Broadcast February 10, 2005

 UPCOMING MEETINGS:  Thursday, March 10:  SPECIAL ATTENTION JACKSONVILLE/NORTH FL!  The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is running an EMG course Mar 9 – 13, Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte Vedra Beach.  Confirmed last night:  FSPMR will have a dinner meeting in conjunction with the Mayo event on Thurs, Mar 10, 6:30-8:30 pm in the Stadium Room.  The EMG course is filling up fast, so if you want to attend it, contact Sheila Newby, 904 953 2944, STAT!  If you plan to attend the dinner meeting, RSVP to Lorry Davis, contact info at bottom, and let her know if you’ll be bringing a guest/spouse.  

 Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24:  The Southern Society of PMR will hold its annual meeting in New Orleans, on this JazzFest! weekend.  11 hours of scientific program.  An outing to JazzFest! incorporated into the weekend.  To be held at The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, on the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets.  All FSPMR/SSPMR members should have received a registration brochure via regular mail by now.  If you haven’t and you’re interested, contact Lorry Davis (contact info at bottom) and/or go to http://fspmr.org/sspmr, read all about it and print off a registration form.

 FMA Days at the Capitol 2005:  Mar 30 – Apr 2, Doubletree Hotel (make reservations by calling 800 222 8733 – identify yourself as FMA Days at the Capitol Group – for the $159 rate, cut off date Feb 28.  For the agenda, go to http://www.fmaonline.org/news/days_agenda05.asp.

If nothing else, can you plan to make it for Thursday, March 31, for the Physician Rally on the Old Capitol Steps?  Then afterward, go to your legislators and talk to them about what’s important to medicine and to you.  If you plan to go to the Rally, let Lorry Davis know (contact info at bottom).  You’ll be mentioned in the next Broadcast.  Representing FSPMR at the Rally so far:  Drs Mark Rubenstein and John Muenz, Executive Director Lorry Davis.

 FMA 2005 Legislative Agenda:  Posted at http://www.fmaonline.org/legis/agenda05.asp

Top priority is ensuring that legislation is passed to keep the Three Strikes amendment (Amendment 8) from devastating access to health care in Florida.  The FMA is also extremely concerned about scope expansions, specifically licensure of naturopathic physicians and acupuncturists who want to be called acupuncture physicians.  The FMA will be working to pass a tort bill and a prompt pay bill.  There are fact sheets about each of these issues (and others like Amendment 7) on the website listed above.

 FSPMR has been asked to identify a physician who is willing to be educated about naturopathy (FMA staff will be able to assist with this) so that we can testify in opposition to the bill.  Anybody wanna step up?

 Editor:  Lorry S. Davis, M.Ed., Executive Director, PO Box 330298, Atlantic Beach, FL  32233-0298, Ph 904 270 8886, Fax 904 246 9233, lorry4@earthlink.net

FSPMR Broadcast January 27, 2005

 Happy New Year!

 UPCOMING MEETINGS: 

 Friday, March 11:  The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is running an EMG course Mar 9 – 13, Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte Vedra Beach.  FSPMR is working with the Mayo meeting planner to have an FSPMR dinner meeting, Fri, Mar 11, 6:30 – 8:30 pm.  Once this is finalized, details will be forthcoming.  In the meanwhile, if you are interested in the EMG course, contact Lorry Davis for info.

 Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24:  The Southern Society of PMR will hold its annual meeting in New Orleans, on this JazzFest! weekend.  11 hours of scientific program.  An outing to JazzFest! incorporated into the weekend.  To be held at The Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, on the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets.  All FSPMR members will receive a registration brochure via regular mail within the next week or so. 

 Friday – Sunday, July 29-31:  We meet again in conjunction with the FL Academy of Pain Medicine, this time at the Gaylord Palms and Resort in Kissimmee (Orlando).  The program is just about finalized.  Details about the hotel and event can be found on our website:  fspmr.org, or on the FAPM website:  http://fapm.med.new.net. 

 FSPMR TESTIFIES BEFORE BOARD OF PHARMACY RE THERAPEUTIC SUBSTITUTIONS BY PHARMACISTS:  A big thank you to Dr John Muenz, FSPMR Treasurer, who worked with the FMA and testified in December in Jacksonville.  Dr Muenz was one of seven physicians representing as many specialties.  Dr Muenz’ testimony was instrumental in getting the Board of Pharmacy to instruct their attorney to hold off on proceeding with the rule that would have allowed pharmacists