It's time to support anesthesiology residency programs!!!

[toughlife]

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As some of you may remember, the center for medicare services (CMS) failed to address the anesthesiology teaching reimbursement rule last year. This is issue is coming up again as House Bill H.R 5246.

Remember this is a KEY issue in ensuring all anesthesiology depts are appropriately funded. We need to get in touch with our representatives and ask them to support this bill.

May 9, 2006

URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CO-SPONSOR H.R.5246

Legislation would restore full funding to anesthesiology teaching programs

Representatives Clay Shaw (R-FL) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) have introduced legislation, H.R. 5246, that would restore full funding to anesthesiology teaching programs. Please ask your Representative to co-sponsor this important legislation.

Since 1994, CMS has unfairly penalized anesthesiology teaching programs. If a teaching anesthesiologist works with two residents on cases that overlap--even for a minute--CMS cuts payment 50% per case. This misguided policy costs academic programs an average of $400,000 each year. Some programs lose more than $1 million.

This funding must be reinstated so teaching anesthesiology programs can recruit and retrain high-caliber teaching anesthesiologists, and continue advancing important research initiatives.

Click HERE to contact your Representative through the ASA Legislative Action Center.

http://www.asahq.org/news/hr5246.htm

 

[UTSouthwestern]

May 9, 2006

URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CO-SPONSOR H.R.5246

Legislation would restore full funding to anesthesiology teaching programs

Representatives Clay Shaw (R-FL) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) have introduced legislation, H.R. 5246, that would restore full funding to anesthesiology teaching programs. Please ask your Representative to co-sponsor this important legislation.

Since 1994, CMS has unfairly penalized anesthesiology teaching programs. If a teaching anesthesiologist works with two residents on cases that overlap--even for a minute--CMS cuts payment 50% per case. This misguided policy costs academic programs an average of $400,000 each year. Some programs lose more than $1 million.

This funding must be reinstated so teaching anesthesiology programs can recruit and retrain high-caliber teaching anesthesiologists, and continue advancing important research initiatives.

Click HERE to contact your Representative through the ASA Legislative Action Center.

http://www.asahq.org/news/hr5246.htm

Outstanding! First contact letter is done.

 

[SleepIsGood]

Outstanding! First contact letter is done.

beat ya to it

 

[aredoubleyou]

That was easy!

 

[driverabu]

Thanks for the link, that was easy and hopefully will make a difference! Vato locos forever!

 

[eagle26]

Done

 

[Idiopathic]

excellent...done for my current ZIP code and my future ZIP code 😉

 

[usnavdoc]

done for my current ZIP code and my future ZIP code

 

[SleepIsGood]

Just got my fiancee to do it too

Ladies/Gents...lol ask the wifey/hubby to send one in too

 

[Sammich81]

done and done. First letter I've written. Hope it doesn't sound too dumb.

 

[cfdavid]

cfdavid here, exercising my civic responsibilities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👍

good job toughlife. if we all remain politically active to advance our profession, we'll ensure success.

 

[lvspro]

Done
I also mailed it to my residency program, and asked them to distribute it to the rest of the anesthesia residents, faculty, and staff. I recommend everyone do the same... Strength in numbers!!!

 

[ultm8frisbee]

Excellent Tough, took 2 minutes to complete and email to others!

 

[Gimlet]

Stick a fork in that e-mail, 'cause it's DONE! Thanks for the heads-up, Toughie.

 

[Carm]

Sent it, and gave a heads up to the entire department.

 

[Arsenic]

i'm not even thinking of going into anesthesia but i sent it. docs/future docs gotta stick together. 😀

 

[UTSouthwestern]

i'm not even thinking of going into anesthesia but i sent it. docs/future docs gotta stick together. 😀

Now that rocks, but your icon is really disturbing. Hopefully not a self-portrait.

 

[Monty Python]

Since 1994, CMS has unfairly penalized anesthesiology teaching programs. If a teaching anesthesiologist works with two residents on cases that overlap--even for a minute--CMS cuts payment 50% per case. This misguided policy costs academic programs an average of $400,000 each year. Some programs lose more than $1 million.

]

What could possibly have been the "logic" behind the original reimbursement penalty, mentioned above? That's ludicrous.

 

[toughlife]

What could possibly have been the "logic" behind the original reimbursement penalty, mentioned above? That's ludicrous.

Great question. I am not sure as to why this occurred but I will research it and let you know what I find.

 

[lvspro]

i'm not even thinking of going into anesthesia but i sent it. docs/future docs gotta stick together. 😀

👍

 

[Stillinscrubs]

Current and future, and forwarded to all my friends and entire medical school via email. 👍

 

[Arsenic]

Now that rocks, but your icon is really disturbing. Hopefully not a self-portrait.

nope, stole it from one of my GI lecture powerpoints.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

nope, stole it from one of my GI lecture powerpoints.

The important question I have to ask is Bud or Bud Light?

 

[ultm8frisbee]

nope, stole it from one of my GI lecture powerpoints.

I think it's a BUTT light.

 

[cloud9]

The important question I have to ask is Bud or Bud Light?

Bud light is supposed to be the "less filling" one, so i guess it depends on how full you want to feel.....and I leave it at that.

 

[MacGyver]

What could possibly have been the "logic" behind the original reimbursement penalty, mentioned above? That's ludicrous.

Welcome to socialized medicine, where government bureaucrats make arbitrary spending decisions.

YOu think its bad now, wait till these govt bureaucrats get to dictate overall doctor incomes.

Government bureaucrat thinking:

"MDAs earn on average 250k per year. Lets save some money by cutting their reimbursement. They will still be in the top 1% of income earners"

This is what the future holds:

"Doctors on average earn more than 100k! Thats in the top 5% of income earners. We can save this socialized healthcare system a lot of money by cutting them down to 70k per year"

 

[cfdavid]

Welcome to socialized medicine, where government bureaucrats make arbitrary spending decisions.

YOu think its bad now, wait till these govt bureaucrats get to dictate overall doctor incomes.

Government bureaucrat thinking:

"MDAs earn on average 250k per year. Lets save some money by cutting their reimbursement. They will still be in the top 1% of income earners"

This is what the future holds:

"Doctors on average earn more than 100k! Thats in the top 5% of income earners. We can save this socialized healthcare system a lot of money by cutting them down to 70k per year"

Fortunately, there seems to be a reasonable amount of public awareness of the amount of time and cost doctors must endure before getting to those income levels. However, I do worry about the baby boomers that are sure to bitch up a storm about their medical costs. They'll lobby for "reforms" that suit their benefit, and will probably get their way given the sheer numbers of their constituency. We shall see, I guess.

 

[FlacoFlo]

Just send mine out for my current zip and future! Way to help us all get involved!!

 

[aredoubleyou]

Fortunately, there seems to be a reasonable amount of public awareness of the amount of time and cost doctors must endure before getting to those income levels. However, I do worry about the baby boomers that are sure to bitch up a storm about their medical costs. They'll lobby for "reforms" that suit their benefit, and will probably get their way given the sheer numbers of their constituency. We shall see, I guess.

The public doesn't care that a doctor is making less and won't lobby for MDs to make more. They want cheaper insurance premiums, cheaper healthcare - and if the government and insurance companies convince them that they can save a couple bucks by lower md reimbursements - they'll support it. Just like people will endure poor and unknowledgeable service to get all their goods at walmart or target instead of the local shops where people were far more knowledgeable for a discounted price...or buy products made in china or south asia by exploited workers instead of the more expensive alternatives made in the US - which has driven down compensation for these jobs...I'm not trying to overstate this, but as (if) we move towards socialized medicine we will have to fight for our own benefit, no one will do it for us.

 

[Monty Python]

Welcome to socialized medicine, where government bureaucrats make arbitrary spending decisions.

YOu think its bad now, wait till these govt bureaucrats get to dictate overall doctor incomes.

Government bureaucrat thinking:

"MDAs earn on average 250k per year. Lets save some money by cutting their reimbursement. They will still be in the top 1% of income earners"

This is what the future holds:

"Doctors on average earn more than 100k! Thats in the top 5% of income earners. We can save this socialized healthcare system a lot of money by cutting them down to 70k per year"

Two comments:

1. I read lately that the socialized system in Germany pays their physicians the equivalent of $75K/yr. I don't know how that relates to German society as a whole, or what their cost of living is over there.

2. The proposal to change teaching reimbursement was discussed at a conference I attended today. Even if the legislation passes, the Center for Medicare Services can still refuse to implement it. They don't have the funding for it. The estimated cost is ~$34 million. Same reason why CMS went against the proposal three times in recent years.

 

[cfdavid]

The public doesn't care that a doctor is making less and won't lobby for MDs to make more. They want cheaper insurance premiums, cheaper healthcare - and if the government and insurance companies convince them that they can save a couple bucks by lower md reimbursements - they'll support it. Just like people will endure poor and unknowledgeable service to get all their goods at walmart or target instead of the local shops where people were far more knowledgeable for a discounted price...or buy products made in china or south asia by exploited workers instead of the more expensive alternatives made in the US - which has driven down compensation for these jobs...I'm not trying to overstate this, but as (if) we move towards socialized medicine we will have to fight for our own benefit, no one will do it for us.

You misunderstood part of my post. I was suggesting that the AARP will soon be lobbying strongly for healthcare cuts, to our detriment. I think we're more in agreement than not.

 

[cfdavid]

Two comments:

1. I read lately that the socialized system in Germany pays their physicians the equivalent of $75K/yr. I don't know how that relates to German society as a whole, or what their cost of living is over there.

2. The proposal to change teaching reimbursement was discussed at a conference I attended today. Even if the legislation passes, the Center for Medicare Services can still refuse to implement it. They don't have the funding for it. The estimated cost is ~$34 million. Same reason why CMS went against the proposal three times in recent years.

German doctors are on the verge of striking. And many have taken to "the streets" to raise awareness of their rather bleak situation. There was an article in one of the major weekly news publications that articulated this. (forgot where I read the article)

 

[UTSouthwestern]

If you think that this effort is going unopposed by the AANA, think again. The AANA is once again soliciting its members to campaign against HR 5246 by claiming that it would make it more desirable to train residents, less desirable to train srna's.

As I have stated before, no program can suddenly double its residency numbers and just drop srna's. It took UTSW more than year to get approved to just add two spots. Either the AANA is shortsighted or is just using it as an excuse to keep academic programs underfunded.

I'm sending the ASA link to everyone I know and I advise you to do the same.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2989033#post2989033

 

[SleepIsGood]

If you think that this effort is going unopposed by the AANA, think again. The AANA is once again soliciting its members to campaign against HR 5246 by claiming that it would make it more desirable to train residents, less desirable to train srna's.

As I have stated before, no program can suddenly double its residency numbers and just drop srna's. It took UTSW more than year to get approved to just add two spots. Either the AANA is shortsighted or is just using it as an excuse to keep academic programs underfunded.

I'm sending the ASA link to everyone I know and I advise you to do the same.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2989033#post2989033

Ditto.

Folks. I sent the HR 5246 link to my residency's secretary to disseminate to all residents/attendings. I urge each and everyone to do the same!

👍

 

[jwk]

If you think that this effort is going unopposed by the AANA, think again. The AANA is once again soliciting its members to campaign against HR 5246 by claiming that it would make it more desirable to train residents, less desirable to train srna's.

As I have stated before, no program can suddenly double its residency numbers and just drop srna's. It took UTSW more than year to get approved to just add two spots. Either the AANA is shortsighted or is just using it as an excuse to keep academic programs underfunded.

Absolutely correct UT. This same thread is going on the "other board", of course asking the CRNA's to write their reps opposing HR5246. In addition, the AANA has sent out a blanket email to all it's members asking them to do the same.

CRNA's STILL don't understand the issues around this (funding for residencies and nurse anesthesia programs are two entirely different issues), and they STILL don't understand why the ASA walked away from ThoughtBridge, and in general, they STILL JUST DON'T GET IT!!!