a ssoci at i on ha ppen i ngs | lacm a news
ceo’s letter
This spring se a son, LACMA is looking forward to seeing many blossoming opportunities. For one, we are pleased that a number of potentially very large and influential health groups and organizations plan to join our growing organization. LACMA is also steadily gaining stature in the LA community and far beyond as seen by the rising interest of members of the media calling on LACMA’s physician members for their expertise. With all the news surrounding healthcare changes, LACMA is becoming the “go to” source’ for physicians and advocacy. Most recently, we have seen Robert Bitonte, MD, provide his valuable insights for an article in the Los Angeles Times focusing on medical necessity. In another recent LA Times story focusing on the rate of early elective deliveries of babies in hospitals, Parissa Moradi, MD, also provided key commentary. We look forward to a rising crop of LACMA members lending their expertise to all the critical issues being discussed in the media and the wider community. But even during this time of awakening, challenges remain. Among the major issues is the deeply flawed dual-eligible demonstration program, Cal MediConnect, which continues to give rise to much confusion among patients. After expressing our concerns that opt-out forms would not be provided to patients (after reassurances that patients would have a choice), LACMA received the following email from Jane Ogle, deputy director of the Department of Health Care Services. “I have enjoyed working at the DHCS and I sincerely appreciate having had the chance to work with all of you on the Coordinated Care Initiative,” Ogle said in the email, referring to her unexpected retirement. Ogle opted out on finishing the job with Cal MediConnect; patients and physicians are trying to sort through the confusing issues remaining. In this age when thousands of newly insured are entering LA County’s health system, the challenges of how to address the shortage of primary care physicians is also a huge burden on our health system. There could be a shortage of up to 45,000 primary care doctors in the U.S. by 2020, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. But there is no solution to the crisis. Finally, the fight to preserve MICRA continues to take center stage. With certain groups pushing a measure that would raise the cap on pain and suffering damages from the current $250,000 to $1.1 million—as well as require doctors to be drug tested and to check a statewide database when prescribing certain medications to clamp down on prescription drug abuse—we need to fight for providers’ accessibility to MICRA and for patients’ rights to get the medical care they deserve. We will do our part and continue our efforts to solicit financial support to make sure that MICRA is preserved. This is the time for all physicians to get involved so we can tackle these critical issues together. Let’s strive to improve our yields during this time of change.
Rocky Delgadillo Chief Executive Officer
1 4 PHYSICIAN MA G A Z INE | A P R I L 2014