APMA News - February 2011 - (Page 57)

I APMAPAC Update I Report from the Chair By gErald d. PEtErSon, dPM Are you an advocate for podiatric medicine? Responses to this question are always interesting. I recently heard an APMA member respond, “Yes, I try to be the best podiatrist I can be and give podiatric medicine a good image. That’s enough. I don’t need to contribute to APMAPAC.” While we all practice medicine every day to the best of our ability and project a good image for the profession, is that really advocacy? Perhaps, but I think the scope of this kind of “advocacy” is very limited. It benefits you and your practice and maybe a very small sphere of your immediate community. Does your practice of podiatry benefit me in Oregon or a podiatric physician in New York or Iowa? I doubt it has much effect. We need advocacy on a large scale if we are to move forward with our podiatric legislative agenda: medical parity in reimbursement, education, military medical corps status, and many other areas. Advocacy starts at the ground level. We had 30 percent participation in APMAPAC in 2010. Let me tell you, participating in APMAPAC is one of the easiest ways to be an advocate for our profession on a grand scale, yet two-thirds of APMA members do not participate. Contributions to APMAPAC affect the entire country and every podiatric physician. Your contribution goes to educating the nation’s leaders about our profession. APMA’s legislative advocacy staff works tirelessly every day (and many nights and weekends, too) to get our message across to Congress. But we have to do our part, too. We complain about Congress passing the buck, but it is time for 70 percent of our members to stop passing the buck. We must hold Congress accountable: Fix the sustainable growth rate and Title XIX! But we must also hold ourselves accountable. The buck stops with us! Each and every member of APMA must be an advocate on a grander scale than just in the office or hospital. Stop thinking that the American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association or APMA will get it done without your involvement. What you do for the profession as an advocate at the national level will have a much greater impact than what you can do individually by just “being a good podiatrist.” As a good friend reminded me the other day: “It is better to light a single candle than curse the darkness.” Come out of the darkness and into the light; contribute to APMAPAC! In the 112th Congress that convened earlier this month, there are more than 100 brand new congressional representatives and senators who need to be educated about podiatric issues and what exactly our profession is and what we do. We have a great opportunity to get them on track early and make them podiatric champions. Maybe you met some of them earlier this year when they In Need of an Advocacy Tsunami were running for office. Maybe you even supported a candidate who was sworn into Congress on January 4. Follow up with them to solidify a relationship. Direct relationships are the strongest tool we have in our national advocacy program. These relationships are vital to us when it is time to round up support for our legislative agenda. If members of Congress know you and our profession well, it is easy to get them to support us come vote time. I have read blog posts from cynics who say they are tired of hearing they should write to Congress on this issue or another. I don’t understand this attitude. Writing to Congress is how concerned citizens advocate for their cause. We live in a democracy. That means we are the government. Members of Congress want to hear from us. They want us to support them when it comes time for re-election. We need an advocacy tsunami. Every member of this profession must get involved and do something and do it over and over and over again! So, contribute to APMAPAC today! n SAVE THE DATES! Boston, Massachusetts Visit www.apma.org/thenational APMA News l February 2011 57 Hynes Convention Center http://www.apma.org/thenational http://www.apma.org/thenational

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

APMA News - February 2011
Contents
In Short
President’s Message
A New Era in APMA Communications
Model Fee-Parity Law Now Available
Looking Forward to 2011 with ASPS
Nadia Sadeghi: A Long Road to Podiatric Medicine
Destination Boston: 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Insurance Advisor
2011 Call for Awards Nominations
Members Who Know Media
CPME Update
Federal Advocacy Forum
Young Members Update
Coding Update
Talking Practice Enhancement
IT Consultant
New Members
Death Notices
In Memoriam: John Carson
Worthy of Note
Resolutions Submissions
Development Update
APMAPAC Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index

APMA News - February 2011