VIRGINIA MEDICAL NEWSJUNE 2015

Health care. Medicine. Majority. Minority. Unity. House of Medicine. House of

Physicians. Direct. Tangible. Recognition. Leadership. These are some of the words I heard over and over from members and stakeholders as I have visited with them over the last six months. As a newcomer, I found myself asking leadership and staff what these terms have meant historically to MSV and whether they each believed there was a shared view of the definitions and importance of each term. My visits had certainly indicated that we needed some clarity. The answers I garnered from those I asked also seemed to support this idea.

There also seemed to be consensus that coming up with common terms like House of Medicine vs. House of Physicians

was important to developing commonality and directionality for our organization as well as for determining the best future member services and operating priorities. Thus, during the Board meeting held earlier this month, the members devoted a considerable portion of our time together to discuss the differences between three key

strategic concepts and their meaning and value to MSV’s future.

We broke out into smaller work groups and considered a summary and questions relative to the following:

• House of Medicine vs. House of Physicians

• Health Care vs. Medicine

• The 10th Man

The discussions were vibrant and thoughtful. It was so inspiring to me to see the passion and energy that our leaders have for our profession and for MSV. The members challenged, debated and then reported out their thoughts to the larger group for further discussion. We are developing a summary of the discussion as

well as a tool for garnering your input to add to the resulting summary. The documents, in combination with the strategic planning documents that are currently in development, will be used to provide guidance about priorities and the focus of services in the future. If you’d like to share your thoughts on these questions before we share the summary

and survey tool, please feel free to write me at mdavis-martin@msv.org.

Strategic planningAdditionally, a great deal of interesting work is now underway in our strategic planning process and in positioning of MSV and physicians. We’ve developed several key documents in the process so far. These include:

• True North – designed to provide aspirational directionality for the organization over the next 36 months

• Draft SWOT – summary of internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats identified by 100+ internal and external stakeholders

• Draft Objectives & Strategies – subject to change and which have been approved in draft form by the Board in support of goal setting and tactical and operational planning taking place over the summer

EVP message:Changing the conversation

IN THIS ISSUE

04 Virginia workers’ comp committee update

05 Oct. 1: Will you be liable for credit card fraud?

12 President’s message:A seat at the table

15(RE)member - (RE)charge. (RE)fresh. (RE)new.MSV Annual Meeting

continued on page 3

Health care. Medicine. Majority. Minority. Unity. House of Medicine. House of Physicians. Direct. Tangible. Recognition. Leadership.

2 www.msv.org

MSV leadership

Medical Society of Virginia2924 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, VA 23059

804 | 422-3100 * 877 | 226-0357 toll free • www.msv.org

Officers, Board Members and AMA Delegates

PresidentWilliam C. Reha,

M.D., M.B.A.

President ElectEdward G. Koch,

M.D.

Immediate Former PresidentSterling N. Ransone Jr.,

M.D., FAAFP

Secretary - TreasurerBhushan H. Pandya,

M.D.

Speaker of the HouseKurtis S. Elward,

M.D.

Vice SpeakerArthur J. Vayer Jr.,

M.D.

DirectorsJohn F. Butterworth IV, M.D. Sandy L. Chung, M.D. Sheela R. Damle Clifford L. Deal III, M.D., FACS Byrd S. Leavell, Jr., M.D.Stuart F. Mackler, M.D., FACS Ibe O. Mbanu, M.D., MBA, MPH

Larry G. Mitchell, M.D. Patricia Pletke, M.D.Pradeep K. Pradhan, M.D.William S. Prominski, M.D. Timothy L. Raines, M.D.T. Joey Tiwari, M.D. Alan L. Wagner, M.D., FACSJohn D. Ward, M.D.

George L. Weidig, M.D. Alan H. Wynn, M.D.

Associate DirectorsMichael S. Amster, M.D.Teresa W. Babineau, M.D. Joel T. Bundy, M.D.

Trevar O. Chapmon, M.D.James R. Dudley, M.D. Jacqueline M. Fogarty, M.D. Michael S. Martin, M.D. S. Hughes Melton, M.D. Jonathan T. Schaaf Richard A. Szucs, M.D. Chi Young, M.D.

AMA delegation

ChairCarol S. Shapiro, M.D., M.B.A.

Vice ChairRandolph J. Gould, M.D.

DelegatesClaudette E. Dalton, M.D. Edward G. Koch, M.D. Hazle S. Konerding, M.D. Mitchell B. Miller, M.D. Lawrence K. Monahan, M.D.

Alternate DelegatesDavid A. Ellington, M.D. Thomas W. Eppes Jr., M.D. Russell C. Libby, M.D. Bhushan H. Pandya, M.D. Sterling N. Ransone Jr., M.D. William C. Reha, M.D., M.B.A. Cynthia C. Romero, M.D., FAAFP

2 www.msv.org June 2015 3

Advocate for my profession

Will you be the next Clarence A. Holland Award winner?

EVP message - continued from page 1

We’re gearing up for a busy summer ahead where we can take our ideas out to our stakeholders and start sharing where MSV is heading. I think we have captured the wishes of our members and provided a strategy for moving forward with strength and I’m looking forward to sharing it with all of you. In addition to the regional meetings we will hold over the summer, a good place to get a preview will be at our Annual Meeting this year, from Oct. 22 to 25 at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly.

Annual MeetingOur Annual Meeting will be getting a face lift this year. While it has traditionally been a gathering primarily focused on the governance of the society with some networking included, members have told us it felt like it only pertained to a select few. We’re tweaking things a bit and we’re working hard to make this time more memorable—and most of all, more meaningful.

We will of course cover policymaking, but this year’s event will truly be unlike any even held by us before. Improvements include a unifying theme for the entire event—one that I hope

will inspire you to attend. We’ll also feature an inspirational keynote speaker, several engaging and informative educational opportunities, as well as a track with sessions on physician burnout and well-being.

Details are being finalized, but please mark your calendars to join us on Oct. 22 to 25 in Chantilly.

If these additions are well received, we’d like to consider adding a larger membership meeting to the annual calendar in the future. Any thoughts or feedback you have about the additions or membership event ideas are welcome and encouraged. Please share your thoughts with our new VP of Marketing Tiffany Keaton at tkeaton@msv.org.

Melina Davis-MartinExecutive Vice President, Medical Society of Virginia

Will you be the next Clarence A. Holland Award winner?

The Medical Society of Virginia Political Action Committee (MSVPAC) is hosting a reception to thank its 2015 donors on Fri., Oct. 23, in conjunction with the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) Annual Meeting. During this reception, one especially notable contributor will be announced as the winner of the Clarence A. Holland Award.

The Holland Award is presented annually to a Virginia physician for outstanding contributions promoting the art and science of medicine and the advancement of public health through political service. The next winner will join

the ranks of other recent Holland Award winners, including Cynthia C. Romero, M.D., FAAFP, Randolph J. Gould, M.D., FACS, Carol Shapiro, M.D., M.B.A., Karsten Konerding, M.D. and Hazle Konerding, M.D. Click here to view previous Holland Award winners.

Nominations for the Holland Award will be accepted at www.msv.org/hollandaward until Sept. 15. Nominees for the award must be MSV member physicians who have high personal integrity and have been outstanding leaders in their fields. Nominees should embody one or more of the following award criteria:

• Has made an outstanding contribution

to the community for citizenship and public service, beyond the call of duty, as a practicing physician.

• Has provided outstanding leadership in the field of political advocacy.

• Has promoted the art and science of medicine in or through government service.

MSVPAC will also present awards to its Advocacy in Action Award winner and to the district that raises the highest total amount for MSVPAC.

Please contact govtaffairs@msv.org with questions or to discuss these awards in further detail.

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During the 2014 General Assembly

session, there continued to be debate over payment for workers’ compensation care in the commonwealth. For years, insurers’

and employers’ groups urged the General Assembly to modify the statute governing payment of workers’ compensation medical care, claiming that the cost of medical care for workers’ compensation in Virginia is too high and spiraling ever higher.

It is important to understand that the cost of workers’ compensation in Virginia is the third lowest among the 50 states. In bi-annual surveys done for all 50 states, Virginia was the second, third or fourth lowest cost state in the last five surveys—which helps it attract business. Parties disagree over why our costs are so low but clearly the cost of medical care is a significant contributor to this superb statistic, of which we should be proud. Nevertheless, insurers and employers have repeatedly gone to the General Assembly seeking statutory regulation to decrease their costs for medical care by reducing payment to the very medical providers that contribute to our already enviable position of being the third lowest cost state for workers’ compensation in the nation.

Statute requires that the employer’s liability for medical care is the prevailing community rate (“PCR”) for those services. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) is the appropriate jurisdiction to resolve any payment issues for workers’ compensation care. If a physician, hospital or other medical provider charges a rate greater than the PCR, the insurer may choose not to pay it, and if the case reaches

adjudication at the WCC, it will presumably find that the insurer needs to pay no more than the PCR. Similarly, if a medical provider feels that they have been underpaid for medical services delivered for a compensable injury, they too may seek redress at the WCC. If the WCC finds that the rate paid was less than the PCR, it may order the insurer to pay more for the services delivered.

Defining the PCR is not always easy. Statistical arguments have been used both by insurers and medical providers to make their case regarding appropriate payment(s). Statistical argument is based upon appropriate data, and it is not always clear that the data are available to support the argument. It is difficult for medical providers to obtain statistical data, as they typically do not have access to large amounts of charge data. Insurers do have access to lots of data, as they receive claims from medical providers across the state.

Last year’s General Assembly, after considering the debate surrounding payment for workers’ compensation medical services, modified Va. Code 65.2-605 to codify that:

• All coding, and in particular coding for multiple surgical procedures, will follow current CPT rules and will be paid according to National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) rules. In addition, ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis coding will be used as appropriate.

• Payment for services of a nurse practitioner or physician assistant assisting at surgery will be paid at no more than 20 percent of the appropriate surgeon’s fee:

• Payment for an assistant surgeon shall be paid at no more than 50 percent of the appropriate surgeon’s fee.

In addition, this year General Assembly ordered the Virginia WCC to set up a

“committee of stakeholders” consisting of representatives from insurers, employers, claimant’s lawyers, hospitals and physicians, in order to explore ways to define the PCR for the purposes of workers’ compensation medical care payments. I am the physician representative of this committee and take part in its meetings. At our first meeting we were briefed on the Virginia All Claims Payer Database (APCD). This is a database set up to administer health care data reporting initiatives in Virginia. They collect data on many quality issues and outcomes issues, and also some data on charges and payments. Currently the APCD operates under legal guidelines that may make it impossible for it to provide the charge data that our committee is charged with obtaining. Del. Peter Farrell (R-Henrico) and other lawmakers are looking into whether that legal framework can be modified. In addition, the APCD was not set up specifically to aggregate charge data and its systems may not be streamlined to provide this data. If you have any questions, please e-mail govtaffairs@msv.org.

At the last meeting, I introduced the fairhealth.org database to the committee because I am currently working with fairhealth.org to further investigate the data that they have available and see whether it may be appropriate to help determine PCR in Virginia localities. Fairhealth has a much more defined mission than the APCD, and it is much more closely aligned with the mission of our committee: to define the PCR and codify it. I intend to report on my preliminary findings at our next meeting, which is going to be in House Room D in the General Assembly Building on July 1 at 10 a.m. The meetings are open to the public and I welcome all those who are interested in this topic.

Virginia workers’ comp committee to define prevailing community rateThis article was submitted by Stephen Leibovic, M.D., Virginia Hand Center.

Advocate for my profession

4 www.msv.org June 2015 5

Many major retailers are starting to implement a new technology to handle credit cards transactions. These

changes are being made because of new credit card technology called EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) smart cards, which are improved credit cards equipped with computer chips and technology to encrypt and authenticate individual transactions to better protect consumers from fraud. This technology begins a multi-year transition away from the magnetic strips traditionally found on credit and debit cards.

Why is there a move toward smart cards?The ability to encrypt each individual transaction using chip card technology is an effective way to address the problem of magnetic-strip card-related fraud that has recently plagued US retailers and consumers. Because each transaction is assigned a unique code, it is more difficult for hackers to duplicate the information. U.S. card companies began to roll out chip-based cards in January 2015.

• MasterCard

• American Express

• Visa

How will smart cards impact me? As of Oct. 1, 2015, businesses, including medical practices, that do not employ an EMV-compliant system may be held liable for fraudulent activity by the major credit card issuers. Current merchant services billing statements often include a monthly “non-compliance” fee that can reach up to $40 per month for a single location along with annual fees. By implementing a smart card based terminal in your practice, these non-compliance type fees will be eliminated entirely.

Many businesses may elect to postpone the transition to a smart card technology system, thus initial rounds of the smart cards will be equipped with both the chip and magnetic strip functions so that consumer spending is not disrupted and business can proceed as usual.

How is MSV helping?The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) has partnered with Total Merchant Services (TMS) to offer exclusive benefits to our members and help prepare for the move toward smart cards. MSV members will enjoy the following benefits for signing up with TMS:

• TMS will reimburse $125.00 of your MSV annual dues each year

• Guaranteed lowest rate—MSV members receive special pricing and we will lower your current rates a minimum of 10 percent

• No equipment cost ($795.00 value) TMS will pay up to $300.00 toward any termination fee with current providers

• TMS does not require any type of monthly, annual or multi-year contract

• Terminals operate using high speed or dial up, are secure and smart card ready

• Turn-key: installation, training and excellent, ongoing customer support!

Additional informationContact Susan Bobo, your TMS representative, for a complementary analysis of your current processing fees at sboboTMS@msv.org or 919 | 345-5042.

Click here to view the FAQs that MSV put together on this new member benefit.

Manage my practice

Oct. 1: Will you be liable for credit card fraud?

June 2015 7

Manage my practice

Telemedicine has come a long way in the 40 years since it was first used to provide care to patients in remote areas, according

to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). The ATA keeps track of telemedicine use and adoption by physician practices within the various states—click here for some of its recent study results.

In the latest ATA study, Virginia ranked high in its telemedicine efforts compared to other states. In response to the growing interest in telemedicine and the growing number of inquiries on how telemedicine care should be covered in professional liability policies, the Medical Society of Virginia Insurance Agency (MSVIA) provided some questions that practices should consider when deciding to use telemedicine.

• Will you have your IT person set up the technical process in house?

• Who will be using it?

• What it will be used for?

• How will it be used – expand on this?

• Will it be used for patients in state or out of state?

Insurance carriers want to know the answers to the questions above to find out how physicians are using telemedicine and to make sure that telemedicine care is being covered appropriately. The important thing to keep in mind regarding malpractice insurance, is to notify your insurance agent and be sure they contact your insurance carrier underwriter to confirm coverage on your policy. If you have any questions, please contact MSVIA at 877 | 226-9357.

Additional resourcesBefore getting started with using telemedicine services, get familiar with guidance provided by the Virginia Board of Medicine by clicking here to learn about the application of current laws to telemedicine service practices. In addition, click here to view the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site, which provides information regarding how to begin to set up telehealth services.

The top question that the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) gets on

ICD-10 is this: “Is it really happening?” The simple answer is: yes.Now, what can you do to make

sure your practice is in shape during the transition to ICD-10? As the clock ticks down to the Oct. 1 deadline, start prepping your offices if you haven’t already. It’s already June and there is no time to waste.

• Contact practice management system and electronic health record (EHR) vendors to make sure they are able to complete system updates to support the new code set.

• Test your practice’s ICD-10 readiness by assessing the content and trying documentation and coding a clinical scenario in the new code set. It’s

important to do both internal and external testing to identify any gaps you may have in your ICD-10 updates.

• Get familiar with the basic nuances of the new codes. With 68,000 diagnostic codes, compared to the 14,000 in ICD-9, there will be several things that you will need to note now that you did not have to before.

• Run trend reports and review your practice’s key metrics to see the activities that have the greatest impact on revenue. This will help you build an awareness of the history for ICD-9 that will help your practice streamline a process for tracking similar activities in ICD-10. If you are familiar with the codes you use most frequently, you will be better prepared for what’s ahead.

• Evaluate the financial health and get familiar with the cash flow of your practice and make sure you have enough savings to survive financially in case there are problems with reimbursements after Oct. 1.

MSV has many resources to help you prepare, including:• Free ICD-10 webinar from MSV

and AHIMA - Click here for more information or to register.

• Two-day boot camps - Click here to register for a class in your area

• One-day refresher course - Click here to register for a class in your area.

• Online training - Click here to register.

Telemedicine: How to get started

ICD-10—Is it really happening?

8 www.msv.org

Manage my practice

The subject of employee benefits is one of the most challenging issues affecting

Virginia businesses. Substantial costs of providing benefits affect company profitability, yet reducing or eliminating benefits can hinder a company’s ability to attract, recruit and retain the best talent.

Employers with more than 100 employees needed to determine whether they would offer health insurance or pay a penalty and send their workers to public exchanges, but as the year progresses, some may find they are unhappy with their choice. Before 2016 hits, businesses with 50 to 100 employees will have to be prepared to make the same decision. Two alternative solutions that are currently gaining traction include self-insurance and private marketplaces. What are these options and what do they mean to you?

Self-insurance. The label “self-insurance” may alarm business owners, because they often incorrectly presume that the company has to assume more risk and administrative responsibilities. If structured properly, however, this strategy effectively provides appropriate protection and allows for various levels of stop-loss policies and reinsurance to mitigate liability. Self-funding was an option traditionally reserved for larger employers, but is now an attractive option for smaller businesses with as few as 25 employees with the right demographics and benefits strategy.

Advantages• Organization decides and specifies the degree of risk it is willing

to assume.

• Employers contract with an insurance carrier or third-party administrator to handle administration and claims.

• Organizations often experience savings over traditional fully insured plans because they pay only for claims actually incurred, saving the difference between premium payments and claims expenses.

• In the event that claims exceed expectations, expenditures stop, and risk coverage begins—which is appealing to some because it can save money, increase cash flow and reduce premium taxes.

• Self-funding offers flexibility in plan design, allowing employers to be more selective in designing their benefits options versus plans that are available through more traditional routes. Self-insurance can be an optimal arrangement for employers with a young, healthy workforce who are likely to pay more for premiums on the open market.

• Self funding can be coupled with a wellness program to help employees become better health care consumers and provide organizations maximum savings.

Private marketplace/defined contribution. Private marketplaces are a good option for companies in all industry sectors with 50 or more employees in any income range. This approach reverses the typical benefits approach—the employee selects the benefits they need rather than signing up for a benefits package that the employer chooses.

Advantages• Private marketplaces enable businesses to control costs by

assigning a specific amount of money for each employee to spend on benefits—a defined contribution—which offers cost predictability each year with annual increases tied to inflation or other market indicators.

• Employees can spend their employer allotment in an online “store” where they are able to custom-design packages that best meet individual and family needs.

• Many private marketplace options provide a call center and online chat support to help educate and guide employees through the selection process. Additional features to look for include a transparent pricing model, as well as a robust platform for communication, benefits administration and customer support.

Private marketplaces and self-insurance are only two of the emerging approaches to employee benefits that will become more popular during 2015 and beyond. With an industry continuously evolving to meet the changing needs of employers, we can expect additional ideas to emerge.

Employee benefits – Two new approachesThis article was submitted by Nancy Grasso, principal, Digital Benefit Advisors.

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Care for my patients

Patients moaned and screamed as they came in following overturned cars, active shooters, a high-rise fire and explosives. Firefighters, paramedics and police were the

first responders at the scene, preparing for the worst as medical students rushed in to try to save their patients—yet none of this was real.

Each of the victims in this scenario wore special “cut suits”—simulators developed by a company called Strategic Operations to replicate real injuries and afford a more realistic educational experience. These realistic exercises were designed to teach medical students how to deliver quality care under high levels of stress. During these exercises, students from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) performed 26 surgeries on volunteer patients in a unique emergency room set up on the back lot of Stu Segall Productions TV/film studio.

“Cut suits”, explosives and first responders add realism to trauma training

continued on page 10

Photography by Michael Czekajlo, M.D., Ph.D.

10 www.msv.org

Care for my patients

This training was part of the Fourth Annual Hyper-Realistic™ Intensive Surgical Skills Week (ISSC) conducted from May 4 to 7. Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) member Michael S. Czekajlo, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of the Simulation Center for the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center and associate professor of anesthesiology for the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, served as an instructor for this simulation and helped medical students immerse themselves in realistic trauma training from the point of injury all the way through the emergency room and the operating room. Twenty-five second-year medical students, as well as many teaching faculty and visiting surgeons and physicians, surgical and ER residents and staff from Balboa Naval Hospital participated.

“The training involving the cut suit is 21st century education that will lead to more competent physicians and health care systems,” Dr. Czekajlo said.

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) is the first medical school to use the cut suit, a human-worn surgical simulator, as an integrated part of medical school education to provide hands-on experience prior to clinical clerkships by presenting real-life scenarios to medical students in a flexible, safe, efficient and cost-conscious manner.

Dr. Czekajlo is a Fulbright scholar who previously worked in Poland to implement a medical simulation education program. In his work, he identified a need for medical simulation education in the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate curriculums and designed a curriculum that teaches and prepares faculty to teach medical simulation.

“Cut suits”, explosives and first responders - continued from page 9

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The Medical Society of Virginia Foundation (MSVF) through a grant from the Physicians Institute for Excellence in Medicine

and in partnership with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center will host an educational seminar entitled Extended release (ER)/long acting (LA) opioid risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS)—Achieving safe use while improving patient care in an attempt to tackle the growing opioid addiction problem.

This seminar will be held on:

Sat., Sept. 12, 20158:30 a.m. –11:30 a.m. Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Hylton Education CenterConference Rooms ABEF

This is a free seminar and open to any interested participant.Led by Mary McMasters, M.D., FASAM and Sarah Melton,

PharmD, BCPP, CGP, FASCP, this educational session offers (3) credits of continuing medical education (CME) for physicians and continuing education (CE) for nursing and dental participants. It covers the appropriate prescribing and safe use of ER/LA opioid analgesics as specified in the US Food & Drug Administration’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) blueprint and offers informational tools for patient assessment, risk evaluation, prescribing best practices, ongoing therapy management, patient and caregiver counseling methods and general and product-specific drug information concerning ER/LA opioid analgesics including identification of adverse effects.

Seating is limited and registration is required. Register at www.etsu.edu/com/cme/REMS2.aspx or contact Krista Cole at 423 | 439-8027. Other questions can be directed at the MSV Foundation office at 804 | 377-1053.

Safe prescribing of opioids seminar – Free CME!

MSV news

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The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) is giving you another chance to show off

their talent in photography with its member photo contest. Please send us your photos at webmanager@msv.org or on MSV’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MedicalSocietyofVirginia by Aug. 30. We will post all photos to our Facebook wall and

the photo that receives the most “likes” will be the winner.

Who is eligible? All MSV members.

What photos can be entered? Any fun, educational or artistic images. We will accept images of favorite landscape, animals, personal interests, locations or abstract images, etc. Each participant may submit three photos. Photos that have been digitally altered will be disqualified.

How can I enter? Simply send the jpg files to webmanager@msv.org as attachments or visit www.facebook.com/MedicalSocietyofVirginia,

click on the “Photo/Video” button and attach a photo. Once you are done, simply click on the “Post” button and all the information will be available on the MSV Facebook page. Include a brief caption of who the photograph was taken by and a description of what is in the photograph. The MSV photo contest will run through Aug. 30.

Prizes All winning photos will be featured in MSV’s Facebook page as well as in an upcoming issue of Virginia Medical News.

Show your creative side

12 www.msv.org

I’ve had the honor of serving with the

Virginia delegation to the AMA since 2011. As I’ve mentioned in a previous message, it is important to be involved in several

different organizations to capture the entire scope of our profession. While MSV focuses on state issues, the AMA deals with issues that have national implications. Our Virginia delegation to the AMA is highly regarded and respected both locally and nationally.

The AMA House of Delegates is comprised of representatives from all fifty states, numerous specialty societies, and other constituents. This month, our delegation traveled to Chicago for the AMA annual meeting. We will convene in Atlanta for the Interim Meeting this November.

The Virginia Delegation members include:

ChairCarol S. Shapiro, M.D., M.B.A.

Vice ChairRandolph J. Gould, M.D.

DelegatesClaudette E. Dalton, M.D. Edward G. Koch, M.D. Hazle S. Konerding, M.D. Mitchell B. Miller, M.D. Lawrence K. Monahan, M.D. Alternate DelegatesDavid A. Ellington, M.D. Thomas W. Eppes Jr., M.D.

Russell C. Libby, M.D. Bhushan H. Pandya, M.D. Sterling N. Ransone Jr., M.D. William C. Reha, M.D., M.B.A. Cynthia C. Romero, M.D., FAAFP

The AMA’s House of Delegates, reference committees and resolution processes are very similar to MSV’s. Just like at our Annual Meeting, the AMA uses reference committee reports, consent calendars, caucus meetings, etc. at their meetings. The democratic principles of parliamentary procedure allow the House to give direction to the Board and leadership of the AMA, which is analogous to how we function at MSV—allowing physicians a significant voice into their professional organization.

Often at our Annual Meeting, members request that resolutions be forwarded to the AMA for national consideration. Our Virginia Delegation brings these forward as our voice in this House of Medicine. Additionally, ideas conceived by the Virginia delegation and the AMA benefit not only Virginia physicians, but those nationwide. For example, recently the Virginia delegation authored some notable resolutions that positively impact how we practice, including:

• EHR STARK exemption for EHR adoption, 2013 interim meeting. The federal government extended the deadline from 2013 to 2021 for physician subsidies for EHR adoption.

• E-prescribing and meaningful use, 2014 annual meeting. Military pharmacies started to accept e-prescribing instead of requiring handwritten prescriptions.

• Physician credit card payments by health insurance companies, 2014 interim meeting. To stop charging physician fees when insurers issue virtual credit card payments, the adopted resolution wants insurers to pay these fees, not the physicians. Model state legislation was created by the AMA and this was the first issue discussed at our recent Legislative Summit for possible action in the 2016 General Assembly.

• Student debt reduction, 2014 Annual Meeting. The AMA adopted our resolution, which advised the development of an affinity program, if feasible, which would grant access for student, resident, and fellow members of the AMA to reduced loan rates (below existing government sponsored rates) through private financial institutions willing to partner with the AMA. This would apply to new loans as well as the consolidation of existing loans. Such a program would potentially grant relief to some of the crushing educational debt incurred by physicians in training.

• Tricare Reimbursement Reform, 2014 Annual Meeting, This asked the AMA to work with Tricare on improving reimbursement issues in several areas and was adopted by the AMA. These discussions are now underway.

Also, this year, our Virginia Delegation submitted two resolutions for discussion at this year’s AMA annual meeting. One resolution deals with Physician determination for appropriate medication refills, while the other concerns studying the development of Model state legislation eliminating restrictive covenants in physician contracts.

MSV news

President’s message: A seat at the table

12 www.msv.org June 2015 13

MSV news

Regards,

William C. Reha, M.D., M.B.A.President, Medical Society of Virginia

The AMA has provided wonderful opportunities to members of our medical student section. Twenty-one Virginia students attend the AMA MSS meeting, with 14 as first time attendees. Please click here to see the full list of students in attendance. Our students strive to strategically position themselves in leadership positions to maintain Virginia’s strength in the AMA. Four Virginia students were elected by their peers to serve on the Region 6 leadership board:

• Carl Rudebusch, Virginia Commonwealth University, Secretary/Treasurer

• Lee Ouyang, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Advocacy Chair

• Courtney Knill, Virginia Tech Carilion, Membership Chair

• Ambika Babbar, University of Virginia, Community Service Chair

We also extend our appreciation to

Josh Lesko, M.D. and Chris Li, both who completed their leadership term within the medical student section during the meeting. Dr. Lesko served as the AMA medical student section vice chair and Chris served as the Region 6 chair. It was inspiring to see so many students benefiting from the experience of organized medicine in such an enriching way.

Additionally, we have many notable leaders serve both the AMA and MSV. Dr. Percy Wootton has served as president of both organizations; Dr. Robert Wah is the Immediate Past President of the AMA and a member of MSV; Dr. Thomas Eppes currently serves as Chair of the Integrated Physician Practice Section; Dr. Bhushan Pandya was recently elected Chair-Elect of the International Medical Graduate Governing Council; Dr. Lawrence Monahan is our representative to the Organized Medical Staff Section; and Dr. Randolph Gould serves as Chair of the Council on Legislation.

Finally, I would like to thank our Executive Vice President Melina Davis-Martin, our Chief Operating Officer Cort Kirkley, our Meeting and Project Specialist Suzanne Welsh-Agnew and our Membership Coordinator Jenny Young for helping to make all of this possible.

As physicians, it’s important for us to participate in organizations like the AMA so that we can have a presence and seat at the table when important decisions regarding the future of our profession are at stake. Please join me in thanking all these individuals above who have taken the time and effort to do this for all of us.

2015 PHYSICIANS’ GALA

To purchase tickets call MSV Foundation804 | 377-1053

Presented by:

June 2015 15

MSV news

This year’s Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) Annual Meeting from Oct.

22 to 25 at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly will be unlike any event held by us before. With a theme of: (RE)member – (RE)charge. (RE)fresh. (RE)new we will provide opportunities to help you feel renewed energy for your work as well as activities encouraged to promote work-life balance and professional satisfaction. We appreciate our members and understand the things you face in your profession and are here to keep moving you forward so you can succeed.

This year’s Annual Meeting will still provide ample opportunity to network with

colleagues and share the future of health care in the commonwealth—but along with the usual activities, we are adding a keynote speaker, an educational session that is being provided in partnership with the Psychiatric Society of Virginia, open forums and much more.

New this yearFor the first time, we’re inviting medical practice management and personnel to our Annual Meeting. These key business leaders will join us at some of our events to join us in networking and building stronger relationships.

Sponsorship opportunitiesMSV is currently seeking sponsors for the Annual Meeting and Physicians’ Gala. If your organization wants to reach our members, please consider booking a premier sponsorship to promote to physicians from across the state and from multiple specialties. Our sponsorship packages vary in offerings but all provide added visibility. Contact Lynne Hughes at 804 | 377-1047 or lhughes@msv.org for additional information.

Look out for additional information on our Annual Meeting in coming months. We look forward to seeing you in October!

Help the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation (MSVF) honor exceptional colleagues who have impact on the profession at

our annual Salute to Service Awards. For more than 10 years, we’ve recognized individuals who provide extraordinary patient care in Virginia and abroad and represent our profession so well.

We know there are more deserving physicians out there to honor this year! Who do you know who “wows” you with their efforts in the international, patient safety and quality improvement, uninsured and underserved communities as well as outstanding volunteerism and

leadership by a medical student? Share their stories and help MSVF salute them. Nominate them!

It’s easy. Simply complete the online form by clicking here. MSVF staff is also available to help guide you through completing the form or answer any questions. For additional information, call 804 | 377-1053 or e-mail foundation@msv.org.

Winners will be recognized with a wonderful tribute at this year’s Physicians’ Gala during the Annual Meeting at the Westfields Mariott in Chantilly on Oct. 24. Nominate someone today!

Help us honor your exceptional colleagues

RE MEMBERMSV 2015 Annua l Meet ing

RE CHARGE RE FRESH RE NEW

RE MEMBERMSV 2015 Annua l Meet ing

RE CHARGE RE FRESH RE NEW

16 www.msv.org

MSV news

Welcome new membersAlexandriaNana Osei Amoah, M.D. Augusto C. Corella, M.D. Eddie Alejandro Fernandez, M.D.Sanjiv Lakhanpal, M.D. Jaime Marquez, M.D. Khanh Quoc Nguyen, DO Michelle Chau Nguyen, M.D. Khoa Quang Tran, M.D.

AltavistaJames David Danner, DO

AnnandaleLouis A. Dainty, M.D.

ArlingtonCecily Dvorak Havert, M.D.

BedfordStephen Claburn Ausband, M.D.Jaime Michele Bamford, M.D. Cesar Evaristo Caballero, M.D.Alan M. Denekas, M.D. Samir G. Ghobrial, M.D.

BlacksburgGregory C. Beato, DO

BroadlandsYliana Acevedo Santana, M.D., MPH

BurkeAshley K. Miller, M.D. Allison E. Tweedie, M.D.

BurkevilleMeredith S. Quarles, PA

CharlottesvilleGregory S. Gelburd, DO Danielle Alyse Moses, PA-C

ChesapeakeKristin Ramsey, DO

ChesterfieldParham Jaberi, M.D.

ChristiansburgMoises Eladio Quinones, M.D.

Colonial HeightsVamsi Mohan Singaraju, M.D.

CumberlandGlenn I. Meadows, M.D.

FairfaxGina D. Coons, PA-C Adina Maniu, M.D.

Falls ChurchSuneetha D. Jagarlamudi, M.D.David N. Schrier, M.D.

FredericksburgReshma Sunil Parab, M.D.

GretnaChristine Nichol Parsons, PA

HenricoMelanie Ann DeHart, M.D.

HuddlestonJeffrey Edwin Goode, M.D.

LeesburgBarbra Jill McCabe, M.D.

Locust GroveRobert Hart Prasse, II, M.D.

LynchburgMaria L.G. Almond, M.D. Linda Sue Beahm, M.D. Stephen E. Chester, DO

John Newton Clore, M.D. Emily C. Hawkins, PA Laura B. Huff, PA Jennifer S. McCurley, PA-C Harrell L. Reed, II, M.D.Valerie Romanick Renninger, M.D. Heather L. Schaubach, PA-C Rhonda Nicole Sims, M.D. Andrew L. Tucker, PA

ManassasEmily Bergman, M.D. Jennifer Hayes Jacobs, M.D.

McLeanAntonette Felicia Brown, M.D.Hoang-Anh Dang, DO Christopher Stanton Edwards, M.D. Andrei Marconescu, M.D. Sean Owens, DO Bahareh Soroori Rad, M.D.

MidlothianCharles Anthony Miller, M.D. William Waschler, M.D. Isca Rochelle Wilms, M.D.

MonetaLeonard J. Cohen, M.D.

Mount JacksonJennifer Denise Cunningham, M.D.

Newport NewsIfeanyichukwu Jude Ani, M.D. Eric Craig Darby, M.D. David M. Hartke, M.D.

NorfolkPatricia Ann Ransel Jennings, PA Kent Lee Reifschneider, M.D. Felix Wang Tsai, M.D.

RichmondRenee Yvonne Carter, M.D., MPH, FACP

Christopher D. Cox, PA-C Karla Dorothy Gayer, M.D. Kathryn K. Niederer, PA-C, MMSC William H. Young, III, M.D. Barbara K. Zedler, M.D.

RoanokeBruce Everett Johnson, M.D. David Andrew Kagey, M.D. Ashutosh Kaushal, M.D. Natalie Kate Klawonn, M.D. Daniel Marc Podeschi, M.D.George Crane Wagner, M.D.

Rockville, MDScott Russell Backus, M.D.

SpringfieldSamreen Arif Ansari, M.D.

StaffordAbla Abed Awadh, M.D.Kathlene Horsley, PA-C George A. Joseph, M.D.

SuffolkJennifer Lauren English, PA-C

Virginia BeachVivek Kumar Jain, M.D. George Peyton Neatrour, M.D.

WinchesterAriel S. McGarry, PA-C

WoodbridgeKathleen Christine Bekhit, M.D. Sowjanya Bhagavatula, M.D. Dieu-Thi Thi Nguyen, M.D.

WythevilleRonald William Benfield, M.D.

16 www.msv.org June 2015 17

Member resourcesGet the most out of your involvement with MSV by taking advantage of our many valuable resources, publications, educational

opportunities, professional services and practice management tools. Most of these services are available to only MSV members so please join today to enjoy these exclusive benefits.

Free resources• Member helpline

800 | 746-6768, EXT 1060

• Member information center 800 | 746-6768, EXT. 1050 for questions regarding membership

• Regional staff

• JobBoard www.msv.org/jobboard

• Physician Directory www.msv.org/directory

• Health plan hassles www.msv.org/hasslefactor

Leadership• Committees and task forces

• House of Delegates and Board of Directors

• State leadership opportunities

Information• Grassroots action center

www.msv.org/grassrootstoolkit

• MSV Legislative Updates, MSV E-News, Virginia Medical News, Practice Services Updates www.msv.org/publications

• Issue backgrounders

• Knowledgebase www.msv.org/knowledgebase

Events• White Coats on Call lobby days

• Advocacy boot camps

• MSV Annual Meeting

• Medical student section events

Education• evolve™

• Free CME/Opioid education

Discounted• Coding webinars and classes

www.msv.org/classes

• Local consultation

• Discounted coding manuals

Additional services• Property & casualty insurance

• Life & health insurance

• DOC Rx Relief

Vendor partners• Total Merchant Services

• Digital Benefit Advisors

• 1752 Financial

Member resources

Who better to help you?

Each day thousands of physicians treat their patients with confidence in knowing that MSVIA is their insurance partner. Building on the Medical Society

of Virginia’s legacy of caring about Virginia physicians, our team stands ready to support you with unbiased guidance and exceptional service.

Request a quote at www.msvia.org/RequestQuote.

ANNIVERSARY