Board Briefs
January 29, 2001
Mr. Phillip Waller, C.P.A., Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott, LLP, presented the independent auditor’s report of SBCMS’ financial position as of June 30, 2000, and the related statements of activities and cash flows for the year then ended. Mr. Waller reported that SBCMS’ cash flow has improved. The report also included a review of the financial statements for the year ended June 30, 1999.
Mr. Roy Lyons, Vice President, and Mark Donaldson, Client Executive, representing Marsh/Seabury & Smith, SBCMS endorsed group insurance, presented a new Personal Group Excess Liability Insurance program that will be offered as a value added benefit for SBCMS physician members and their medical groups. The program will offer protection for physicians against a financially devastating personal liability judgment.
Dr. Kenneth Lane presented the Nominating Committee Report and the slate of nominees for 2001/2002.
SBCMS Treasurer, Sam Wilson, M.D. presented the Quarterly Financial Report. SBCMS ended the six-month period with a favorable surplus of $7,589.
AMA Delegate Ron Bangasser, M.D. encouraged Board members to attend the AMA Leadership Conference March 3-6 in Washington DC. He attended hearings of the Department of Managed Care Insolvency Board and testified before the Assembly Health Committee’s insolvency hearing on the harsh economic forces that have pushed scores of physicians into insolvency.
Dr. Gnanadev gave an overview of the January 19 CMA Trustees meeting. The Trustees voted to support federal legislation giving the Centers for Disease Control the legal authority to oversee, prioritize, and enforce distribution of influenza vaccines. CMA Policy and Legal staff are encouraging physicians who have problems with a health plan to file a complaint with the Department of Managed Health Care and encourage their patients to file a complaint as well.
Mrs. Nancy Horstmann reported that 100 Medical Society members and guests attended the performance of The Lion King and fifty attended Day at the Races. The Holiday Card netted $3,000 for their new scholarship program.
Public Health Officer and SBCMS board member Thomas J. Prendergast, M.D. provided an update on the reorganization of the operational structure of the San Bernardino County administrative office. The Public Health Department is assisting the state to develop an HIV reporting system that will use no name identifiers. It will be 2002 before the system is implemented in the state, however, he anticipates that it will be implemented more quickly in San Bernardino County.
Board members discussed the current energy crisis in California. Dr. Conrad Salinas, Medical Director of Inland Counties Emergency Medical Authority (ICEMA) provided the Board members with a memo from Jeffery L. Rubin, Chief, Disaster Medical Services Division of the state’s Emergency Medical Services Authority. Mr. Rubin’s memo discusses the impact of energy shortages and inclement weather and strategies for the EMS system.
Board members also reviewed a letter from SBCMS member Charles Thompson, M.D. Dr. Thompson feels that organized medicine should take a position of concern regarding the long-term effects of not having a correct energy policy. Dr. Bangasser will take Dr. Thompson’s letter to CMA.
Board members also discussed the problem of saturation in the emergency rooms and an insufficient number of nurses to care for the patients. Dr. Linda Bosserman suggested that a study be made of nursing shortages versus bed shortages.
Drs. Peggy Fritzsche and Thelma Korpman were nominated for reappointment to their current seats on the CALPAC Board and Dr. Korpman for an At Large Seat on the CALPAC Executive Committee.
CMA is sponsoring new legislation that would avert the collapse of the emergency care system in California, which lost $400 million providing uncompensated care in fiscal 1999. Dr. Gnanadev reported that in the past two weeks, there has been considerable media coverage throughout the state of the crisis in California’s emergency and trauma services due to CMA’s press conference.
Dr. Irv Edwards, Emergency Medicine, requested the Board’s assistance in resolving a problem he is having with the AB75 program and Arrowhead Health Administrators. He has been unable to obtain reimbursement for services rendered to medically indigent patients who did not have social security numbers. This policy cannot be changed without a directive from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Board members agreed to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors urging them to create a policy that would reimburse any physician who provides services to the indigent population.
Ms. Stratton and AAHI Director Lisa Perry-Gilkes reported on the African American Health Initiative’s progress and activities. IWIN received a $25,000 grant for the AAHI. "Walk the Dream," a 1.5 mile walk on Saturday, January 13, went very well. The AAHI’s Hypertension Committee planned the walk as an effort to help reduce blood pressure in the target audience. Representatives from the San Bernardino City Council, including Mayor Judith Valles and Councilwoman Betty Dean Anderson attended in addition to representatives of several legislators. KVCR-TV filmed the event.
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