APMA News - May 2011 - (Page 69)

APMAPAC Update Message from the Chair Help Us to Help Us All By Gerald D. Peterson, DPM Great news! Thanks to APMA members’ increasing awareness of the importance of political involvement, and to ongoing efforts of our dedicated coordinators and their ambassadors, we have raised $380,000 for APMAPAC as of May 1, 2011. These contributions will allow us to support candidates at the federal level who realize the true value of podiatric medicine on the health-care team, which is especially important during this time of rapid changes in health care. The APMA House of Delegates demonstrated true leadership with 83 percent participation, totaling more than $35,000 in support for APMAPAC. Glenn B. Gastwirth, DPM, APMA executive director and CEO, was recognized for his inspiration and leadership in fostering participation in APMAPAC and was presented with the 2011 Chairman’s Award. Despite the outstanding strides we have made, we must not grow complacent. We must continue to expand the involvement of our fellow members. Last year, 30 percent of this association contributed to APMAPAC. We must make more voices heard in Washington if we are to move our profession forward or even maintain our position as the premier providers of foot and ankle care for Americans. If we don’t fight the good fight, we will be left in the dust of our folly. We must continue to be forward thinkers and planners. Our legislative agenda requires congressional support. Therefore, we must elect the ones we have educated about the value we bring to the health-care team. APMA member contributions give us the tool to support those candidates. You must contribute now and every year and treat it as a cost of doing business just like buying copy paper or gauze for the office. Those of you who contribute must encourage other members to donate to APMAPAC. Help us get them involved and aware of both their responsibility and their benefits by collectively furthering our chances for success. If each donating member got just one non-contributor to give to APMAPAC, we would have 60 percent participation. Much is being forced upon us by government regulation, and we must ensure we have a say in what ultimately happens. We can achieve this voice in the political process through your contributions and your personal communications with your congressional representatives. They will listen to what you have to say. Our efforts with the Medicaid program continue as APMA works to secure physician definition in Title XIX, but even entitlement programs like Medicare are on the legislative chopping block. Now is no time to pull back and hope for the best. We must pick up a sword and start fighting even harder. Support from APMAPAC will continue to help elect representatives who hear and act on our messages. This is why it is so important to get more members to contribute. We have had phenomenal successes with the 30 percent of you who give regularly. You already “get it” and contribute. The members who duck this article every month are the ones Our legislative agenda requires congressional support. Therefore, we must elect the ones we have educated about the value we bring to the health-care team. APMA member contributions give us the tool to support those candidates. who should be reading it. They need to be educated about what you and APMAPAC do and how much you and APMAPAC have saved them in actual income over the last few years with the prevention of reimbursement cuts, exemption from regulations on medical equipment suppliers, security bonding, etc. These accomplishments resulted from your contributions and the hard work of your APMA Legislative Committee and Legislative Advocacy team. The non-contributors must step up and buy in. They must contribute too and supplement your personal PAC efforts. Get a noncontributing APMA member to donate to APMAPAC this year. Your state APMAPAC coordinator can give you a name or two. Your coordinator always aims for 100 percent participation, as does your APMAPAC Board. Think you can do it? I know you can. Help us to help us all. n Contact Dr. Peterson at pac@apma.org. APMA News May 2011 69

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - May 2011

APMA News - May 2011
President’s Message
Contents
APMA Educational Foundation Annual Giving Campaign
91st House of Delegates: Focused on the Future
Roth: To Convert or Not to Convert?
Surgical Workshops at The National Offer Hands-on Instruction
Annual Scientific Meeting Preliminary Program
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
PICA and Podiatric Medicine: Family Ties Run Deep
Attaining Parity in California
Affordable Care Act, One Year Later: Part One
Reimbursement
Members Who Know Media
Technofile
Young Voices
Small Business 101
In Short
APMA Out and About
Worthy of Note
APMAPAC Update
Affiliates Corner
Insurance Advisor
Development Update
New and Deceased Members
2011 Call for Awards Nominations
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index

APMA News - May 2011