The Southern California Physician, September, 2001

• BCMS President Jay E. Shankar, M.D. called the meeting to order and introduced the following new Board and Delegation members: Dennis Flynn, M.D. (District 5); Ruchir Sehra, M.D. (Member at Large); Theresa Siefken, D.O. (House Officer Representative from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center); Shelley Caltharp (Student representative from Loma Linda University Medical Center); and Jonathan Horstmann, M.D. (CMA Alternate Delegate District 3). The Board also welcomed Dr. Rebecca Patchin, Chairman, CMA Council on Legislation.

• Dr. Shankar presented the Medical Society's 2001 Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award to Thomas J. Prendergast, M.D. Dr. Prendergast was unable to attend the June 27 Installation of Officer meeting where the award recipients were honored. Dr. Prendergast also received certificates of commendation from Assemblyman John Longville, Representative Joe Baca, and Senator Nell Soto.

• The Board extended their congratulations In honor of Dr. Bangasser's recent election to the AMA Council on Medical Services.

• In recognition of her 20 years of continuous employment and dedicated service to the Medical Society, the Board of Directors presented a gift to Sue Bradshaw, SBCMS' Director of Communications.

• San Bernardino County Public Health Officer Thomas J. Prendergast, M.D. reported that a temporary national shortage exists for Td toxoids, the product used for tetanus and diphtheria immunization of adults and children aged seven years and older. The shortage is expected to last through the early months of 2002. In May the CDC issued guidelines to providers for prioritizing the usage of available vaccine, and Aventis Pasteur stated that they would distribute only to urgent care centers (emergency rooms, burn units, etc.) and local health departments. The County Health Department currently has an estimated 1700 doses of vaccine, which should be sufficient unless there is a significant increase in need. The distribution protocol is that any patient needing a routine vaccination should be delayed to next year. However, Dr. Prendergast said that the Health Department will provide vaccine to patients whose physicians send them to the Health Department with a prescription. Aventis Pasteur: 1-800-822-2463.

• The Board reviewed a written report from IEHP Medical Director Bradley Gilbert, M.D. Total membership for June 2001 is 205,921 with Medi-Cal enrollment at 188,789 and Healthy Families at 17,132. The auto assignment percentage in June was approximately 20 percent. Included in his report was a status report on the Physicians Incentive Program (PIP).

• Doctor Ron Bangasser, AMA Delegate and Victor Ching, AMA Alternate Delegate, reported on the AMA House of Delegates meeting June 17-21 in Chicago. The HOD addressed 265 resolutions. The California Delegation spent much time and effort on resolutions stressing MEDePass and the security of electronic medical records. The AMA affirmed its existing policy regarding the increased availability of generic drugs and the cost difference between drugs in the U.S. and abroad. The HOD also referred to the Board of Trustees, for study and report back, a California resolution that, among other things, asks the AMA to take immediate steps to ensure that all licensing of physician identity data in the AMA MasterFile protects the privacy and confidentiality interests of member and non-member physicians. Dr. Bangasser also discussed the progress of the McCain-Kennedy-Edwards Patient Bill of Rights; it passed the U.S. Senate June 30 and now moves to the House of Representatives. Most major provisions of the Senate version are already law in California and likely should have minimal effect on our health care system. It will not affect MICRA.

• Dr. Gnanadev reported on the July 20th meeting of the CMA Board of Trustees. He announced that the Board appointed John M. Whitelaw, M.D. president-elect to fill the position left empty by the death of Dr. Gary Krieger. CMA bylaws require the board to fill by appointment any office vacated between House of Delegates meetings. The board's decision was unanimous, but they also voted to seek House ratification. Each delegate will receive a mail ballot that they must return by October 1. Dr. Whitelaw will remain chair of the Trustees until the appointment is ratified.

• Dr. Bangasser announced his intention to declare his candidacy for the position of 2002/2003 CMA President-Elect. The elections will be held at the House of Delegates in February 2002.He will send out announcements declaring his candidacy in mid-August. Because the House of Delegates meeting will be held earlier than usual in February, he will send out the note cards early so the candidates for Speaker and Vice Speaker can have more time to campaign. The Board of Directors unanimously agreed to vigorously support Dr. Bangasser's candidacy.

• Board members also unanimously agreed to support Dr. Rebecca Patchin's candidacy for 2002/2003 CMA Vice Speaker.

• Secretary/Treasurer Edward Hess, M.D. presented the fourth quarter financial report for the period ending June 30, 2001. SBCMS' total revenue is $30,022 over budget. Total expenses before depreciation are $3,349 under budget. Dr. Hess was pleased to report that SBCMS ends the fiscal year in the black with a net surplus after depreciation of $888.20.

• Dr. Lane reported that the County Board of Supervisors have decided that of the one million dollars of tobacco settlement funds earmarked for healthcare in the county (one million is also allotted for education), $750,000 (three-fourths) will go to reimburse hospitals and $250,000 (one-fourth) to repay uncompensated care for physicians. He asked the Board's support for a physician indigent care reimbursement schedule proposed by the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on 2000-2001 Tobacco Settlement Proceeds. Physicians will send their bills to the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and will be reimbursed from the settlement proceeds designated for San Bernardino County.

• The Board discussed the proposal and agreed to support the use of the Tobacco Settlement funds for outpatient services and inpatient services not covered by SB612 and AB75, maximum $5,000 single diagnosis, fee schedule 80 percent of the RBRVS, qualification two months billing - no payment.. They also agreed to inform SBCMS members only of the reimbursement schedule since the funds are limited.

• In other action, the Board voted to designate Paul Godfrey, M.D. as SBCMS Representative to the SOCAP Board of Directors for the 2001/2002 term of office and approved the nominations of Drs. Lisa Perry-Gilkes and Randy Schnell for the League of Women Voters' 2001 Citizens of Achievement Award and Dr. Ron Bangasser for the AMA's Pride in the Profession Award. They also nominated the following SBCMS members for positions on CMA Councils and Committees: Dennis De Leon, MD, Council on Medical Affairs; Y. Joe Kwon, MD, Council on Judicial Affairs; Dev Gnanadev, MD and Ron Bangasser, MD, Council on Legislation; Ruchir Sehra, MD, Committee on Medical Services; Ron Bangasser, MD, Committee on Quality Care; Samuel Wilson, MD, Committee on Professional Liability; Charles Thompson, MD, Committee on Workers' Comp; and Mona Khanna, MD, Communications Center Editorial Advisory Board.
  

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