APMA News - March/April 2018 - 18

President Frisch's Inaugural Speech
There's an old fable about Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done.
Everybody thought Somebody would do it. Anybody could
specialties within our profession. Those organizations help us
have done it. But Nobody did. The moral of the story: We
to advance our education, training, and experience throughout
each have a responsibility to the greater good. And our memour careers. But the only organization that protects everyone
bership matters.
who holds that DPM degree is APMA. Your first dollars should
Those of you assembled
be spent with the organizahere today are the best of
tion that protects your right
the best-passionate, comto practice.
mitted members who give
We are all stronger toof your time, resources, and
gether. Some of you may
as
we
face
the
challenges
of
energy to make the profesknow that I play rugby. In
providing health care in today's
sion better. I recognize that
rugby, there is a formation
you understand the value of
called a scrum, in which
environment. We cannot allow the
your membership. Share
players link arms and move
few to support the many. Every
your passion. Explain APMA
forward as one unit against
voice,
every
individual
counts
when
and what it does and the inthe opponent. That formacredible value of having a
tion depends on the prinit comes to protecting our patients'
strong national association.
ciple that unity creates
access to the highest quality care.
You can do that by being a
strength. We must be strong
part of the final two months
and move forward together
of our nationwide membership recruitment campaign. I enas we face the challenges of providing health care in today's
courage you to visit www.apma.org/grow for information and
environment. We cannot allow the few to support the many.
materials that will help you speak to other podiatrists about
Every voice, every individual counts when it comes to protectthe value of APMA membership. Speak from your heart about
ing our patients' access to the highest quality care.
the benefits that are important to you. Whether you're excited
APMA works every day to advance our ability to provide
about the potential of the new APMA Registry to deliver
that care. But some people question the value of their investmuch-needed data about the work we do or you are passionment in dues. They believe there are too few tangible beneate about APMA's advocacy efforts, or you appreciate the Anfits. But let's take a closer look. If you consider just a few of
nual Scientific Meeting and the education and networking
APMA's successes, you realize that there is a very real return
available there, share your excitement about APMA with someon investment.
one else. We are very close to meeting our goals for that camFor example, podiatrists originally were left out of elecpaign, and I thank all of you who have participated, particutronic health record incentive programs. APMA fought for us,
larly our state executives and staff, who have championed this
and as a result, we had access to a program that rewarded us
effort. If each of us would spend some time reaching out to
with up to $44,000 in incentives. Just last month, we achieved
just one or two non-members, we could make a significant
a huge success in collaboration with the California Podiatric
Medical Association and APMA member Dr. Frank Kase. Anfinal push to ensure we grow stronger together.
them BCBS, a major payer with influence in many markets naTalk to non-members, especially young physicians, about
tionwide, proposed decreasing payments by 50 percent whenthe recommendations from our brand audit. As you know,
ever a 25 modifier was used. After much negotiation by APMA
APMA engaged last year in a significant brand audit after this
and its partner organizations, Anthem countered with a 25-perbody encouraged us to consider how representative our brand
cent reduction of fees. But through continued hard work and
was. The recommendations emanating from that audit and
activity on multiple fronts, we succeeded in persuading Anthe significant research we conducted among our memberthem to completely rescind this onerous policy. This victory,
ship demonstrated that we need to undertake particular efforts
which by our calculations saved the members of this profession
to ensure our benefits are even more relevant to residents and
well over $100 million annually, could not have been accomother young physicians-and we're doing that.
plished without incredible teamwork. The savings to every poThe bylaws changes we've discussed today also have the
diatrist more than covers the cost of annual dues.
potential to effect significant changes in the makeup of our
continued from page 17

WE MUST BE STRONG AND
MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER

18 APMA News March/April 2018

http://www.apma.org/grow

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