APMA News - February 2012 - (Page 28)

Federal Advocacy Forum By Phillip E. Ward, DPM A Little Civics and an Important Legislative Conference As APMA continues its 100th Anniversary celebration, it is a fitting exercise to consider the many pivotal issues that define and affect our profession. At the end of the day, we all are members of a preeminent association because of our common interest in protecting and enhancing our ability to practice medicine. Our Legislative Advocacy department plays a key role because legislation and regulation are so pervasive in today’s health-care delivery system. Such was not the case in 1912 when APMA was founded. In fact, there was relatively little government involvement in health care early in the 20th century. The beginning of the government–health-care relationship in the US may well have been “An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen,” enacted into law in 1798. It authorized the plans offered was less like true insurance and more like what we have today: prepaid health care. This arrangement was popular during the Great Depression and obviously popular with the providers who owned the Blues. Legislation governing nonprofit organizations—including Blue Cross and Blue Shield—mandated that they charge the same fees to all customers; those who consumed little health care would subsidize those who consumed a great deal of health care. The Blues also paid hospitals on a cost-plus basis rather than market-determined prices. These practices were all incorporated into Medicare and Medicaid (both enacted in 1965), and they persist in many respects today. Including the Affordable Care Act of 2010, there are now hundreds of federal health-care laws and many more regulations. APMA has come a long way since 1912, and so has the complexity of practicing medicine. It is crucial for members to participate in the political process in order to bring about influence on behalf of podiatrists. Our Legislative Advocacy department plays a key role because legislation and regulation are so pervasive in today’s health-care delivery system. Such was not the case in 1912 when APMA was founded. deduction of 20 cents per month from seamen’s wages to fund medical care for sick and disabled seamen, as well as build more hospitals for their treatment. The act is widely viewed as the beginning of the creation of the US Public Health Service. Between that time and the early 1900s, several relatively minor health-care laws and regulations were passed, mainly dealing with special benefits for veterans and Native Americans, or grants to states to provide special health services. There were many attempts in political campaigns and legislation to introduce a national health-care program, but these efforts never came to pass. In the 1935 Social Security Act, national health insurance was left out of the final bill because of the opposition of organized medicine and its allies. Before World War II, Americans paid cash for doctor visits, which were largely house calls. If people had any insurance coverage, it was hospital indemnity or sickness insurance against disability. Hospital insurance and sickness insurance functioned as true insurance: Policyholders hedged their bets against their health risks. Employers didn’t factor into the equation. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, thanks to special advantages many state and federal government officials gave the insurance company, began to dominate the market, and what the Blues 28 APMA News February 2012 Important Legislative Conference in March APMA will host its 27th Annual Legislative Conference March 19–21, and there is no better opportunity for members to help advance our causes. This event allows members to meet with key legislators and learn from government and private sector experts about important policy matters affecting health-care delivery. You can begin relationships or strengthen existing ones with members of Congress and their staff. You can lend your voice to the chorus of health professionals who are part of an elite group of dedicated citizen lobbyists. In politics, there is strength in numbers. We need as many APMA members as possible to take part in our Legislative Conference to help continue laying the groundwork for advocacy in Washington, DC. Members can preregister at www.apma.org/legconf. Remember, there are scores of other health-care advocacy groups vying for the attention and influence of members of Congress. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 100th Anniversary than to descend on Capitol Hill to lobby for the profession. I sincerely hope to see many hundreds of colleagues at the Legislative Conference. APMA Trustee Phillip E. Ward, DPM, can be reached at peward@apma.org. http://www.apma.org/WorkingForYou/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1382

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - February 2012

APMA News - February 2012
President’s Message
Contents
APMA Social Media: 2011 Success and 2012 Stategy
The National in 2012: Celebrating 100 Years Advancing Podiatric Medicine
APMA By the Decade: 1922–1931
Profiles in Progress: Student Recruitment
2011 Podiatric Practice Survey: Sources for Patient Referrals
Confronting the Residency Shortage
Reimbursement
Federal Advocacy Forum
APMAPAC Chair Report
IT Consultant
Website Wisdom
Technofile
Young Voices
Small Business 101
APMA All Stars
Awards Nominations
In Short
Worthy of Note
Resolutions Submissions
Affiliates Corner
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
New Members
Death Notices
Annual Scientifi c Meeting Registration Form
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions

APMA News - February 2012