VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2
The Plan is based on four themes that are: “responding to the changing environment of medicine, increasing capacity for the organization, promoting relationships and increasing strategic alignments”. Major activities will be concentrated on development of alternative payment models as well as different practice models (such as the PSH). The ASA will develop responses to practice consolidations, hospital acquisitions and further concentration of our members in new, different entities.
Dr. Linda Mason gave an update on membership that demonstrated somewhat slower growth than in the recent past that equated with lower than expected dues revenues. The ASA Schaumburg Office has begun a program of “unified billing” that combines the dues collection for the ASA itself and currently for 22 state components that have signed on. Five additional states (including California) are coming online this spring/summer— initially this program was expected to be mostly for small states with small office staffs. It does facilitate coordination and verification that members are current in both societies and therefore eligible for rights and benefits concurrently. Surprisingly, many members and large groups prefer this option and have not resisted the need for the one large payment per renewal.
Dr. Mason presented data about the new Members Only section of the “improved” webpage that includes an “online value calculator” allowing members to tabulate eligible benefits and see the value each is receiving relative to CME, meetings, advocacy, etc.
Next was a presentation by Dr. Beverly Philip (MA), Vice President of Scientific Affairs detailing the breadth of educational opportunities available to the members as well as upcoming changes and opportunities. Particularly, every member will soon have the ability to configure their own “Dashboard” on the webpage to track CME and MOCA. Also, soon there will a mobile device (Apple & Android) App for online learning tailored to each member’s preferences and needs.
The sequence continued with Dr. Kenneth Elmassian (Director, MI), Chair of the Committee on Communications explaining ASA “branding initiatives” and social media activities.
Manuel Bonilla, ASA Chief Advocacy Officer updated plans for the VA Nursing Handbook rollout, which is currently expected in May or June. Besides the engagement of various private firms to help with our efforts, most likely there will be a need for as many members as possible to respond with comments in the Federal Register once this document is “published”. Most likely, the Board Members and every state component will be tasked over a very short time period, with engaging a maximum number of our members to get our message to the Federal Government that this change in policy will represent a degradation of care for our veterans.
The presentations continued with Mr. Jason Hansen, ASA Director of State Affairs providing an update on the recent Supreme Court Decision in Dental Examiners of N.C. vs. the Federal Trade Commission. The case denied the Dental Board the ability to prevent dental hygienists from providing dental whitening procedures in an unsupervised manner. Interesting, the dissent by Justice Samuel Alito details many concerns that exist currently with the FTC involving itself in the activities of state regulatory boards utilizing anti-trust and anti-competition issues. The majority opinion called into question whether it is proper for such boards to be constructed of members of the particular profession who have an “active financial interest” in protecting it from competitors. Justice Alito raises the specter that if this premise prevails, boards may need to be precleared by the FTC or constructed of members of other professions to prevent these financial concerns!
Lastly, the presentation portion concluded with Dr. Stan Stead providing information on the status of the Perioperative Surgical Home with plans for meetings, webinars, manuals, certification, standards and guidelines.
