APMA News - October 2011 - (Page 42)

Report from the APMAPAC Chair By Gerald D. Peterson, DPM Keep the Wave Alive While writing this month’s article, I had to stop and reflect on the APMA Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, including the APMAPAC Board’s outstanding efforts to raise awareness among members, and the even more outstanding response. We raised more than $20,000 for political action in just two days from members attending the meeting in Boston. This response is a testimony to the increasing understanding of our members about the importance of political involvement. Obviously, the majority of members attending this meeting are close to Washington, DC, and maybe that is the reason they recognize the necessity of their contributions. But I prefer to believe there is an awakening to the importance of political involvement spreading across our profession, especially to the members who previously had not responded to APMAPAC solicitations but who are now contributing. It is this awareness that excites me about the potential we have when the entire membership comes together and works on our important issues. Our profession’s legislative endeavors have been very successful in the past with inclusion in health information technology incentives, retention of antidiscrimination provisions in health reform, exclusion from DME bidding and surety bond requirements, and many others, despite only having a third of our members participating in legislative and political advocacy. With health-care issues continuing to be square in the crosshairs of Congress and in the forefront of potential restructuring, we must also be at the forefront of involvement. Now is not the time to be complacent or get frustrated and give up. We must be aggressive, responsive, and vigilant in It is this awareness that excites me about the potential we have when the entire membership comes together and works on our important issues. finding ways to ensure our rightful position (and appropriate reimbursements) in the health-care market. This effort can only be accomplished with the increased participation of membership at all levels. I hope our success at the annual meeting is indeed a sign of your response to our ongoing call for your participation. If we all supported APMAPAC with our contributions, just think what we could achieve. Look for your name in the APMAPAC contributors’ column in each issue of APMA News and follow our success with the increasing percentage of participation shown on our “Monument to Success.” You need to go to the APMA website today and write your congressional representatives and senators and ensure their awareness of your concerns as a constituent. You also need to contribute to APMAPAC consistently every year, regardless of your financial conditions. No donation is too small or unneeded. We must be at the table during the discussions and must be extremely visible as a profession to ensure that we do not get left behind or omitted. Ask your APMAPAC state coordinator for a donation card, fill it out and mail it today, or go to the website (www.apma.org/pacdonate) and contribute directly. Mail your donation in care of APMAPAC to APMA’s offices in Bethesda. You can even make monthly or quarterly credit card donations online, over the phone (800275-2762, ext. 231), or by mail. But contribute! Keep the wave of excitement and membership awareness alive. n montana MPMA Ski Conference Sports Medicine & Surgery Under the Big Sky January 12–15, 2012 17 Hours of Superb CPME Featuring Richard Bouché, DPM • David Caldarella, DPM Michael J. Coughlin, MD • Jason Hanft, DPM Alan Ng, DPM • Cadaver Lab & Others Downhill and Cross-Country Skiing • Dinner Sleigh Rides Snowmobiling/Sno-Coach in Yellowstone Park Dogsledding & More For more information contact Montana Podiatric Medical Association 406/443.1160 • fax: 406/443.4614 Register online: www.mtfootandankle.com e-mail: mwangen@rmsmanagement.com Contact Dr. Peterson at pac@apma.org. 42 APMA News October 2011 http://www.mtfootandankle.com http://www.apma.org/Donate/vocus.cfm http://www.mtfootandankle.com

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

APMA News - October 2011
President’s Message
Contents
ICD-10 in Practice: Coding for Fifth Metatarsal Injury
ICD-10 Benchmarks and Timeline
Team APMA Runs Away with the Show
Medical Mission to Costa Rica: Identifying Fungal Infections of the Foot
Federal Advocacy Forum
Resolutions Submissions
IT Consultant
Can They Really Do That?
Reimbursement
Members Who Know Media
Technofile
Young Voices
Small Business 101
APMAPAC Chair Report
APMA All Stars
In Short
Worthy of Note
Affiliates Corner
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
New Members
Death Notices
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions

APMA News - October 2011