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The Legislature Week 5 –
Still No Budget; Many Bills Move
We are now five weeks into the session without resolution of
the '08 budget, which is now extended to have a revenue shortfall
of over $1 billion compared to the $870 million when the session
began. On one hand, you could point out that if the legislators
had passed an '08 fix in January, they would have to reopen it
now. On the other hand, we seem to be no closer to a solution
while revenue shortfall estimates climb and time available
dwindles. This is an almost impossible conundrum for legislators
and they deserve some sympathy for the difficulty of their task.
In the meantime, bills continue to move through the process,
although most of the controversial issues are being deferred to
later in the session – no real surprise there. S1123, Homeopathic
Medical Examiners Board; Continuation, passed the Senate Health
Committee without a hitch Thursday and we hope that the love fest
continues through the Senate and into the House. Of particular
concern at the moment is the absence of Senator Carolyn Allen, who
is recovering from a successful surgery. She is missed, not only
as Chairman of the Health Committee, but also as a critical
negotiator and vote on any budget bills. That's it for now. If you
have questions, please call David Landrith or Carol Wagner at
(602) 246-8901 or 1(800) 482-3480.
*If you are interested in observing the
workings of our state legislature, please consider serving as the
"Doctor of the Day." Complete the registration form, found at www.azmedassn.org/publications/2008_Physician_for_the_Day.pdf,
indicating your availability, and return to ArMA via fax at (602)
242-6283.
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Heavy criticism and
scrutiny for insurers
Insurers on both coasts came under heavy fire from physicians,
regulators, and elected officials this week. On Tuesday, as New
York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced an investigation into
the validity of reimbursement systems used by insurers in New
York, Blue Cross of California faced the rebukes of physicians,
patients, and officials regarding its practice of requesting
information on patients' pre-existing medical conditions from
physicians. Blue Cross of California quickly issued a statement of
its intention to discontinue the dissemination of the letters.
California insurers have faced heavy criticism recently from state
regulators, lawmakers and courts for the practice of rescission,
and a Los Angeles' city attorney task force is currently focusing
on the financial and medical effects of insurance industry
practices on patients. In New York, Cuomo alleged that
UnitedHealth Group, parent company to a market data group,
Ingenix, has used Ingenix data "to create convoluted and dishonest
systems" of reimbursement rates. Article details are available at
www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-insure14feb14,0,7219655.story.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has released a statement
commending NY Attorney General Cuomo's investigation, available at
www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/18316.html.
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UA College of Medicine
Phoenix seeks physician mentors
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix in
partnership with Arizona State University seeks physician mentors
for a two-year commitment in working with a medical student.
Medical school curriculum includes the Longitudinal Clinical
Experience (LCE), requiring all first- and second-year medical
students to spend one half-day, every other week, in a primary
care setting with a physician mentor. Mentor benefits include
faculty titles allowing full electronic access to Arizona Health
Sciences Library. Physicians interested in being a mentor or
learning more about the program should contact Douglas
Campos-Outcalt, MD, MPA, at dougco@u.arizona.edu, or (602) 827-2014.
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MD primary care physician
decline is balanced by DO, international physicians
Earlier this week, the U.S. Government Accountability Office
released a report on primary care titled "Primary Care
Professionals: Recent Supply Trends, Projections, and Valuation of
Services." The report found that a decline in the number of
allopathic (MD) residents in primary care residencies has been
offset by the increased enrollment of doctor of osteopathy (DO)
graduates and international medical graduates (IMG). The report
also highlights the interest and recalibration of primary care
importance by physician organizations that promote the
establishment of medical homes for patients. Stated objectives for
this focus includes ensuring continuity in patient care and
reimbursement for the time physicians spend on coordinating care.
The full report is available at www.gao.gov/new.items/d08472t.pdf.
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TAPI seeks nominations for
Annual Big Shots for Arizona Awards
In order to recognize the tireless and innovative efforts of
many individuals and organizations to improve immunization
coverage levels throughout the state, The Arizona Partnership for
Immunization (TAPI) is currently seeking nominations for its
Annual Big Shots for Arizona Awards. Awards will be presented at
TAPI's annual awards banquet to publicly recognize these efforts.
Award categories include recognizing the efforts of individuals in
some of the following; producing mediums of communication for
providers (Buck Shot Award), pursuing initiatives in public policy
(Long Shot Award), and those who have gone "above and beyond the
call of duty" (Hot Shot Award. TAPI also seeks nominations for the
Dr. Daniel T. Cloud Outstanding Practice Award, presented to
practices and clinics that have achieved 90 percent immunization
coverage for their two-year-olds. Nominations may be submitted
online at www.whyimmunize.org, or contact TAPI at (602)
288-7567 with any questions about the awards or the nomination
process.
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ArMA announces public
health newsletter collaboration with ADHS
The Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) and the Arizona
Department of Health Services (ADHS) announce a collaborative
effort to increase the availability of public health updates,
advisories, and alerts to ArMA membership. The agreement is
designed to augment the current ADHS system of notification
regarding public health notices by providing a weekly link to
ADHS' public health information website in "Medicine This Week."
In addition, ArMA will send out STATs to members on ADHS' behalf
in the event of a serious Health Alert. Information on public
health notices for providers are updated at www.azdhs.gov/phs/azhan/alerts/index.htm.
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