Dr. Anderson also gave the results of the recent online Western Caucus survey detailing “hot” issues for the members that are to be passed on to the ASA leaders to guide priorities. Two important issues that stood out were the favoring of immediate repeal of the ACA and having the ASA work on concepts of new payment models that are consistent with the changing delivery systems.
Dr. Jerry Cohen, ASA President convened a “special” Educational Meeting at 8:30 AM. He introduced Mr. John Thorner, Executive VP of the ASA Parkridge office, who discussed ongoing important ASA activities for 2011- 12. Dr. James Grant, ASA Treasurer gave a new “pre-emptive” Treasurer’s report that detailed the fiscal notes of items to be presented in the BOD reports. His intention was to help guide the consideration by the Board members of additional costs prior to the final voting on those action items adding to the annual budget.
Review Committees began at 9:00 AM and continued until 1:15PM. They consisted of reports from committees under each of the following divisions of the Board of Directors:
Committee on Administrative Affairs
Committee on Professional Affairs
Committee on Scientific Affairs
Committee on Finance
Following the final Review Committee, a second Educational Session was scheduled at 2:30 PM and included the following:
Dr. Cohen began by introducing Dr. Steven Sween, ASA Vice-Speaker and Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Headquarters Building Construction who presented an update and the tentative schedule of the construction of the new ASA headquarters in Schaumburg (another suburb of Chicago).
Dr. Joe Annis, AMA Board of Trustee Member followed with a speech to the Board which detailed his longstanding relationship with the ASA (and TSA) and his desire to have the endorsement of the ASA in preparation for his plans to run for AMA President. Of particular interest and the subject of the many questions was the AMA Board of Trustees support and endorsement of the ACA in 2010.
Mr. Ron Szabat, ASA VP for Washington and General Counsel gave a Legislative Update on the state of health care legislation in Washington. He described the various efforts that are being made by the Washington staff to impact issues such as the SGR, the Rural Pass-Through bills and the IPAB Repeal bills. He finished with his usual lively projections for the upcoming 2012 elections for Congress and President.
Ms. Lisa Albany, ASA State Legislative and Regulatory Issues Manager followed with a brief but comprehensive review of regulatory and legislative threats in various states around the country. Besides the ongoing litigation involving the “opt-outs” in California and Colorado, there are several new states that are at risk to drop the Medicare supervision requirement for nurse anesthetists as well.
Dr. Eugene Sinclair, ASA Past President was the final presenter and his remarks were limited to members of the Board (all guests were excused). He reviewed the process that will be utilized by the Ad Hoc Committee on the CEO search which he will chair. The stated timeline goal is for the Committee in collaboration with the external search firm (Spencer Stuart) to bring forth a single finalist in time for the August ASA Board Meeting.
The Board of Directors met at 8:00 AM on Sunday, March 4th.
Items of interest included:
260-1 Section on Board Administrative Affairs: Interim Report; the portion of this lengthy report that was contentious, dealt with ongoing issue of hiring of a new ASA CEO. The Administrative Procedures for the Society were required to be modified to delineate the role of the Board in the final selection and hiring (versus the Administrative Council).
356-1 Committee on Representation to the American Medical Association (AMA); due to dwindling membership in the AMA by anesthesiologists the size of the ASA delegation to the AMA House of Delegates was decreased by 3 members for the next Annual Meeting this June.
408-1 Committee on Performance and Outcomes Measurement: Interim Report; up to $20,000 was set aside to assist in the submission of “outcome” measures (in contrast to prior “performance” measures) to CMS to meet the March 15, 2012 deadline to prevent payment reductions for anesthesiologists in 2015.
529-1 Committee on Regional Anesthesia: Interim Report; there was approval for an Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia Education and Clinical Training Portfolio that provide a revenue stream going forward. But there was also an amendment from the floor by the ASA VP for Scientific Affairs to clarify that other non-ASA courses were not excluded or devalued by not being “ASA endorsed”.
645-1 Texas Society of Anesthesiologists: Interim Report; contained a recommendation (from Susan Curling but in my report) that changed the Administrative Procedures to allow “those component societies with annual meetings after the deadline for submission to ASA Annual Meeting” to continue to submit resolutions until October 1 of the same year and to have the Speaker post such submissions on the ASA webpage in a manner and time to be determined. This was approved without discussion.
687-2 Treasurer: Current Year Adjustments; at the time of the meeting the ASA balance sheet has the organization in the black by approximately $450,000.
Dr. Cohen adjourned the ASA Interim Board Meeting at 8:58 AM.
