San Bernardino County Public Health Officer Thomas J. Prendergast, M.D. reported that the Public Health Department has completed a draft of the comprehensive bioterrorism preparedness plan for San Bernardino County, and the final document will be submitted to the State by October 14. Dr. Prendergast previously met with the Executive Committee and gave a full report on the status of the plan. Board members accepted the Executive Committee’s recommendation to send a letter of support for the Public Health Department to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors stating the Medical Society’s willingness to participate in the Public Health Department’s advisory committee and to assist in the development of communication strategies to increase the effectiveness of the county’s bioterrorism response.

IEHP Medical Director Bradley Gilbert, M.D. reported that total IEHP membership is 244,223. Medi-Cal enrollment is 218,770 with 25,453 enrolled in the Healthy Families program. The auto assignment percentage in August was approximately 29 percent. IPA enrollment as of August 1, 2002 is 240,729.

Dr. Gilbert reported that IEHP’s IPA rate reductions went into effect September 1 and have been already implemented. IEHP reduced their administrative costs but did not alter the physician incentive program, and they tried to keep the impact on physicians as little as possible. AB 3006, which would rescind the Governor’s proposed reduction of Medi-Cal provider rates and maintain the 16.7% average increase that was enacted last year, awaits Governor Davis’s signature. Dr. Gilbert said IEHP would reimburse the IPAs if the Governor signs AB 3006.

CMA Trustee Dev Gnanadev, M.D. announced that HR 4600 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 217-203 with twelve members not voting. HR 4600 would safeguard patients’ access to care by enacting reforms that provide a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages and place a reasonable limit on punitive damages without preempting existing state law. The legislation now moves to the Senate where it is faces stiff opposition.

Dr. Gnanadev referenced a CMA press release announcing that on September 26, Federal Judge Federico Moreno certified the doctors’ class action status in the RICO lawsuit, which was filed to combat widespread and chronic abuses by some of the nation’s largest for-profit HMOs. The suit identifies Aetna, United Healthcare, CIGNA, Coventry, Wellpoint, Humana Health Plan, Inc., Pacificare Health Systems, Inc. and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as co-conspirators who have violated contracts and defrauded doctors in violation of the RICO Act. The CMA and individual physicians originally filed the lawsuit in May 2000 with other state medical societies joining in as plaintiffs. It is a victory for HMO patients and doctors but we still have a long way to go.

Dr. Randolph thanked Board members for pledging $1,800 to sponsor house officer memberships. As a result of the sponsorships, SBCMS submitted 24 house officers’ memberships to CMA prior to the September 15 deadline. SBCMS retained ten CMA Delegates for the 2003 CMA House of Delegates.

Board members approved the modified SBCMS/CMA 2003 dues statement. At the August 26th Board meeting, members approved a proposal by CALPAC Chair Robert Hertzka, M.D. to modify the 2003 SBCMS/CMA dues statement by including a separate $50 MICRA Defense line (mandatory) followed by a separate line for CALPAC ($100 voluntary). The dues statements will be mailed the first week of October. Dr. Randolph will discuss the modified dues statement in his November president’s page in the Southern California Physician.

Board members were requested to review the hospital medical staff meeting schedule for November and December and to volunteer to make presentations at their local hospitals. Also provided was a copy of a letter sent to non-member physicians who attended the September 17th Community Hospital of San Bernardino staff meeting where Dr. Ron Bangasser was the presenter. Several board members volunteered to make presentations at their medical staff meetings.

On September 26, SBCMS and CMA sent a letter to the 162 physicians impacted by the Inland Global Medical Group (IGMG) insolvency. IGMG announced they would close no later than November 1, 2002. 48,000 covered lives are involved. The letter included legal information, a contact list for each of the health plans, and a payment assistance form so that CMA can assess how much money physicians are owed by IGMG. SBCMS and CMA is committed to helping physicians maintain existing patient relationships, ensure payment during the transition, and help them obtain payment for any unpaid services provided prior to IGMG’s closure announcement. CMA’s Elizabeth McNeil is working aggressively to seek payment for the physicians and help them maintain their patients as the health plans reassign patients to new physician groups and plans. Board members agreed that this is an extremely unfortunate situation.

Board members reviewed correspondence from Robert C. Vanzant, M.D., President of the Houston Academy of Medicine calling for entries for the 2003 John P. McGovern Physician Award, which will be presented on January 14, 2003. Board members agreed to nominate Dr. Ron Bangasser. The award recognizes a physician who has made extraordinary contributions to medicine and humanity and has shown unique dedication to serving mankind.

Ms. Stratton reminded members to attend the HIPAA compliance workshop hosted by SBCMS and CMA on Wednesday morning, October 23. CMA members pay $525 and $175 for each additional staff/colleague, and nonmembers pay $825 and $275 for each additional staff/colleague of a nonmember. The fee includes the CD-ROM Toolkit. Ms. Stratton explained that CMA is providing the CD at their cost ($325) and CMA Legal Counsel, Catherine Hansen, has devoted hundreds of hours preparing the workshop, tailoring forms, policies and procedures.

The Sixth Annual CMA Leadership Academy will meet November 22-24 in La Quinta. Dr. Randolph reminded Board members to register by October 10th with Linda Sue Myers for the early bird/group discount offered to SBCMS members.

The SBCMS Board discussed RCMA's invitation for SBCMS to participate on the University of California Riverside Task Force to explore a four-year Medical School at UCR. Three SBCMS members indicated their interest in serving: Drs. Ernest Levister, Guillermo Valenzuela, and Clifford Walters.

The Board of Directors voted to endorse KVCR-TV Channel 24's new Live Call In Health Education Program "Doctor on Call." SBCMS Vice President, Edward Hess, MD, announced that he was scheduled to appear on the first program, which will air October 1st. Ms. Stratton will contact Erlinda Patterson at KVCR to coordinate which physicians will appear on specific days and their topics.