| WSOA Leadership | |
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John
Adkison MD
President &
AAOS Councilor
Lyle
Sorensen
MD
First Vice President
Patrick
J. Halpin MD
Second Vice President, AAOS Councilor
Brian
Wicks MD
Secretary/Treasurer
Walter
F. Krengel MD
Immediate Past President
Robert
Yancey MD
Director
Chris
Kontogianis
MD
Director
Tom
Degan MD
Director
Michael
Thorpe,
MD
Director
Doug
Musgrave, MD
Director
Ash
Patel,
MD
Director
Robert
Winquist, MD
Director
Alan
Greenwald,
MD
Director
Pat
Lynch, MD
Director
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Residents |
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Did you know your WSOA membership is complimentary?
You'll receive complimentary registration to all WSOA CME/Annual meetings.
Call our office for more information 206-956-3642
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WSOA Offices
2033 6th Ave
Suite 1100
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 956-3642
Fax: (206) 441-5863
Association Executive,
Darla White
Email: ddw@wsma.org |
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Letter from the Board
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Balance Billing
Are you aware that your ability to
charge your usual and customary fee for services provided in the emergency room
is in jeopardy?
As laws are currently written, a
physician providing medical care in a hospital emergency room who is not a
provider for the patient's insurance network may bill the patient his usual and
customary fees for provided services. If the patient's insurance company does
not pay the full amount, the physician may bill the patient for the remainder
of the bill.
In the last State Legislative
Session, Representative Ilene Cody sponsored HB2779-2009-10. The bill died in
committee, but at the spring meeting of the WSMA Interdisciplinary Council,
Representative Cody stated her intent to reintroduce the bill in the up-coming
Legislative Session. The bill states
that a non-participating provider must accept 140% of Medicare or the listed
contracted provider rate for emergency room services as
Payment-in-full. This means the provider
cannot balance bill. It also extends the State law to include hospital
departments other than the emergency room; i.e., the operating room, etc.
Testifying in committee in support of the bill were representatives of Premera
Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield. Testifying in opposition were representatives of emergency room
physicians, and Proliance Surgeons.
It doesn't require much imagination
to consider the negative consequences to physician providers if this
legislation is allowed to pass as written. This bill will clearly give insurance companies the upper hand when
negotiating with physicians. Payments of 140% of Medicare or other similar
rates will continue to drive providers away from hospital call, exacerbate the
already serious problem of patient access to competent providers, and diminish
the ability for orthopaedic surgeons in private practice to negotiate with
insurance companies for a fair fee. It will allow insurance companies to reduce
their panel of providers, squeeze those providers for a lower rate with
promises of higher volume, and have emergency room services done at the same
low rate by non-contracted providers. Insurance companies will be able to drop
all trauma rates to 140% of Medicare, raise rates for elective surgery to contracted
providers to make up the difference, and then leave non-contracted providers at
the 140% Medicare rate.
As you can see this legislation takes
an already unlevel playing field and tilts it even further in favor of the
insurance companies. The real solution is for the legislature to force
insurance companies to pay the usual and customary fee to non-contracted
providers. This is the only way to incentivize the insurance company to
contract with providers which then allows the patient to choose among all
willing providers. This would allow physicians to continue to subsidize the
anemic fees paid by the State for basic health care.
I strongly encourage each of you to
contact your legislators to express your concern about HB2779-2009-10.
Patrick Halpin, MD
WSOA 2nd Vice President
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AAOS News |
Call for volunteers: Medical Liability Committee,
Evidence-Based Practice Committee.
July 28 is the deadline for submitting your application for a
member position on the Medical Liability Committee. This committee monitors
trends regarding professional liability and tort reform, and serves as a
support and policy-making resource for the AAOS Office of Government Relations
and the Council on Advocacy. Applicants for this position should have an
interest in legal issues involved in orthopaedic practice, such as tort reform
advocacy, expert witness testimony, medical liability insurance, and risk
management.
July
29 is the last day to submit your application for a member position on the
Evidence-Based Practice Committee. This committee serves as the Academy's
expert panel on matters pertaining to evidence-based practice and
evidence-based guidelines and performance measurement. Applicants for this
position should have knowledge of evidence-based practice principles and methodologies
in either private practice or academic setting. All committee members must
complete CME course training in evidence-based practice before participating in
any committee projects.
Openings
also exist on a number of other committees, subcommittees, councils, and
cabinets. Visit the Committee Appointment Program Web site regularly to view
new openings and find one that interests you.
Learn more and submit your application...(member login required)
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| Electronic Dues Renewal | | WSOA 2011 dues renewal will be all electronic
for 2011. If you require special billing
needs, please contact our office at 206-956-3642. You can renew your 2011 dues on line at
www.wsoa.org |
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SAVE THE DATE | Please join the WSOA this year at our 2010
Annual Meeting!
November 19-20
The Hyatt Regency Bellevue
All members, Residents, and Practice
Managers/Administrators attend at no cost!
Physician Assistants just $50!
Military Orthopaedics just $75
(includes WSOA membership for 2011!)
Friday, Nov. 19, 4-8pm
Grand Rounds, Resident Paper Presentation followed by a
hosted reception!
Download the Full Schedule
Sunday, Nov. 21 8a-11a
Open Board Meeting
RSVP please!
Register on line at www.wsoa.org
Or click here to download a registration form.
For more information contact Darla White at ddw@wsma.org or 206-956-3642.
Reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency today! Special meeting rate of just $109!
Close to shopping and many restaurants!
Call 1-888-421-1442 to reserve your room today!
(Discount rate ends 11/1/2010)
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CONTRIBUTE TO THE WSOA NEWSLETTER
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If you'd like to contribute to the WSOA Newsletter, please
contact Darla White at 206-956-3642 or email your submission to ddw@wsma.org.
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Supplier Sponsorships Available
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As
an ongoing effort to offer our members value added benefits, the WSOA is in the
process of creating an on-line directory of medical suppliers. We will also be offering sponsorship
opportunities in our monthly newsletter.
Each monthly sponsor will receive article space to draw attention to
their goods or services. Please feel
free to pass this information on to suppliers you think might have an interest
in this opportunity. For information
contact Darla White at 206-956-3642 or email at ddw@wsma.org
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Contact Information
| | The WSOA feels it is critical to be able to keep its members up to date on important issues affecting your practice and patient care. Please be sure your contact information is current with our office. You may email contact information updates to Darla White, WSOA Association Executive at ddw@WSMA.org. |
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In Memoriam |
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Please forward
information regarding the passing of any WSOA members to Darla White at
ddw@wsma.org so that we may share the information with your fellow colleagues.
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Physicians Assistants Join WSOA today!
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| The WSOA Board of Directors has approved the membership of physician assistants in the WSOA. Please encourage your PA staff members to join. Go to www.wsoa.org and download the application. Fax completed applications to 206-441-5863 or mail to WSOA, 2033 6th Ave. Suite 1100, Seattle, WA 98121 | |
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