From: AMC/NOMA Staff
SUBJECT: AMC/NOMA Notables
Date: December 1, 2001
AMC/NOMA provides print materials through fax blasts, our magazine
– The Cleveland Physician, fact sheets, mailers and through our Web site at www.amcnoma.org. Periodically
the physician members with email addresses will receive the AMC/NOMA Notables.
The AMC/NOMA legislative committee and the board of directors have been reviewing the proposed APN formulary. The AMC/NOMA legislative committee provided comments and input on the content of the formulary to the Committee on Prescriptive Governance. A member of the CPG committee attended the AMC/NOMA board meeting in November to provide the board with additional background information. The AMC/NOMA legislative committee will be meeting in December to further evaluate the formulary and determine if additional comments are needed. Physicians interested in obtaining background information regarding this issue may contact the AMC/NOMA staff.
The CDC is providing a series of live distance learning programs to assist physicians and other health care workers get the latest information on bioterrorism issues. The programs are to be broadcast each week on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. EST and rebroadcast on Mondays at 5:00 p.m. EST. Participants can view the program live through satellite at viewing locations; subscriber networks, Internet through live Webcast, or phone through an audio bridge. The programs also can be viewed on demand at http://webcasts.sph.unc.edu, or physicians can order free videotapes. For more information go to the following site: http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/seriesann.pdf
The conversion factor for physician services in 2002 will be $36.1992, as compared to the 2001 figure of $38.2581. The 2002 anesthesia conversion factor will be $16.90. These changes result from a mandated formula for updating payments to physicians for Medicare services. The medical community is giving its strong support to the Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001. The legislation will allow Congress, in conjunction with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), to reconsider the flawed physician payment update formula that will result in the 5.4 percent Medicare payment cut.
An updated projection of influenza vaccine supply shows that the total number of doses has increased to about 87 million. Much of the vaccine will be distributed by the end of November, with the final 15 percent expected to be distributed in December. The bulletin from the CDC also provides information about a flyer developed by the CDC to assist physicians in determining the differences in signs and symptoms caused by influenza, inhalational anthrax and influenza-like illness from other causes. Physicians may view the bulletin at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu/Bulletins/bulletin_10.htm.
Several AMC/NOMA members have contacted the Academy regarding problems they have been experiencing in obtaining professional liability coverage. The AMC/NOMA has been providing our members with articles and background on the malpractice issue in our magazine and on our web site. The most recent article indicated that effective October 1, 2001; Clarendon National Insurance Company, a major carrier in this area is no longer renewing any existing policies, nor are they writing any new business in Ohio. In addition, two other major carriers in Ohio have stopped accepting new business during the last quarter of 2001. PHICO was recently taken over by the Pennsylvania Commissioner of Insurance, and another carrier, Frontier, recently declared bankruptcy. The letter to the governor raised these issues as well as noting that the situation in Cuyahoga County illustrates what we believe is a problem that will spread throughout the state of Ohio. The AMC/NOMA has asked the governor to evaluate this situation and include the AMC/NOMA in any discussions on this issue. The AMC/NOMA has also sent out information regarding our concerns to the media. For a copy of the letter, see our Web site or click here.
The AMC/NOMA Web site has a section dedicated to bioterrorism/disaster resources. To view this portion of the site go to www.amcnoma.org and click on the bioterrorism link.
Note: “AMC/NOMA Notables”
includes links that provide direct access to Internet sites other than the AMC/NOMA site,
the AMC/NOMA takes no responsibility for the content or information obtained on those
other web sites, and we do not have any editorial or other control over those web sites. Additional information on these topics may be
available on our web site at www.amcnoma.org.