APMA News - October 2011 - (Page 59)

APMAPAC Update APMAPAC Champion: John Doe, DPM, and Jane Doe, DPM It is with unusual and extraordinary excitement that the APMAPAC Board recognizes APMAPAC contributors John and Jane Doe, DPM (that’s you), as its APMAPAC champions. I am sure you are surprised, humbled, and mystified at this great honor and wonder: Why me? Why now? First and foremost, without your support we would not have achieved the level of success, nor accomplished as many of the items on our legislative to-do list, as we have. As a result of the persistent pressure applied to Congress through our PAC contributions and through your constituent lobbying, there is not a single member of Congress who is not aware of APMAPAC. Thanks to the support of John and Jane Doe, DPM, APMAPAC was able to contribute more than $800,000 to support our congressional allies in the last election cycle alone. This accomplishment ranks us among the top 10 health-care-professional PACs in the country. Yes, I said APMAPAC is one of the top 10 health-care PACs in the nation. You, the member, are to be commended for your extraordinary and loyal support, so thank you. In Washington, DC, there will always be a battle to protect our profession, and with your help, there will always be friends to support who will fight those battles alongside us. Our job of protecting this great profession will never end, which means you must continue to be vigilant in efforts to raise the level of understanding, both at the congressional and professional levels. Drs. John and Jane Doe can take credit for the following achievements in the last two years: • • Tort reform Safeguards for our provider nondiscrimination provision Here are the top 10 reasons why members like you give to APMAPAC: 10. My member of Congress knows who I am, and my concerns are now his or her concerns. He or she knows who we are because of APMAPAC. I can call him or her at any time. I contribute to APMAPAC and my representative. 9. Our future depends on our support of APMAPAC. 8. It’s the most important investment I make every year. 7. I have a sense of responsibility and duty to the profession. 6. Federal legislation and regulation are the major components in the success and/or failure of our profession. 5. My contributions protect our profession so we may practice to the highest level of our training. 4. I have to give a little more each year for those podiatrists who are not APMA members but continue to benefit by riding our coattails. 3. Vision 2015 cannot be achieved without federal advocacy. 2. Medicare, SGR, DME, ACOs, and discrimination are only a few of the ongoing issues we face. 1. It’s a no-brainer! If the federal government does not recognize us and pay us as physicians, why would anyone else? After all, federal advocacy is the number-one priority of our profession. Here is what those who work with Drs. John and Jane Doe on a regular basis had to say about them: “Our contributing membership stands head and shoulders above other health-care organizations. Our percentage of participation is unequaled and envied by all of them. I can only say a heartfelt thank you for what John and Jane Doe, DPM, do for our profession. I hope that those who have not contributed to APMAPAC will follow their example.” —Gerald Peterson, DPM, APMAPAC chair “The good news is that we have made enormous strides in educating Congress [about] the importance of our profession. The bad news is that only 30 percent of our members choose APMAPAC Champion continued on page 62 APMA News October 2011 • • • • • • Exemption from DMEPOS accreditation requirements Exemption from DMEPOS surety bond requirements Inclusion in health information technology adoption incentives Eligibility for e-prescribing bonuses Eligibility for PQRI/PQRS bonuses Inclusion of provider non-discrimination provision in health-reform legislation The priority list for the Drs. Doe includes the following tasks still to be accomplished: • • • Permanent solution for physician reimbursements under Medicare Safeguards for DPM involvement in ACOs Recognition of podiatrists employed at VA facilities 59

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