Legislation to clarify difference between M.D.s/D.O.s
and Ph.D.s

Newly introduced legislation, named the Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2006, aims to create more transparency among health care providers by clarifying the difference between M.D.s/D.O.s, Ph.D.s and other non-M.D. practitioners. Not only would the legislation limit the ability of non-physicians to portray themselves as physicians or the equivalent, but it also directs the Federal Trade Commission to conduct investigations if deception intended to mislead the public or potential patients is suspected. The gathered information is to be presented before Congress no later than July 15, 2007.

The bill’s authors, Reps. John Sullivan (R-OK) and Gene Green (D-TX) express that the bill is not meant as a direct attack on non-physician providers or their scope of practice. Rather, it is meant to protect the patient from undergoing a medical procedure performed by an untrained health care provider.

For more information, read a press release from Sullivan’s office.

Register now and beat the Annual Session early bird deadline

You have just a few more days to register for TAFP’s 57 th Annual Session and Scientific Assembly under the special early bird rate. Besides ensuring your spot at TAFP’s biggest CME and business event, you can save $50 by registering before July 2.

The TAFP room block at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco has sold out, though selected nights at the hotel may still be available under the regular rate. A list of alternate hotels in the Frisco area is available on TAFP’s Annual Session Web site. Call the Embassy Suites or an alternate hotel for specific rates and vacancy information outside of the sold-out group rate.

An updated CME schedule and driving directions to Frisco are also available on the Web. Please visit www.tafp.org often for up-to-date conference information. See you in Frisco!

Physician shortage expected by 2020

Medical group recommends a 30 percent med student increase

Enrollment in U.S. medical schools should be increased 30 percent by 2015 to ensure quality health care for an aging and growing population, according to a new report by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

AAMC bases the recommendation on a projected population growth of 25 million people each decade and a doubling in the number of people over 65 between 2000 and 2030. The next generation to hit their 60s, 70s and 80s are the aging Baby Boomers, and besides that group wanting quality care to stay active in their later years, the large batch of Baby Boomer physicians who currently make up 1 in 3 of health care providers are likely to retire by 2020.

“Given the extensive time it takes to educate and train tomorrow’s doctors, efforts to increase enrollment must get underway as soon as possible to ensure that the health care needs of the nation in 2015 and beyond are met,” said AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen in a press release.

To accommodate additional U.S. medical graduates in teaching hospital residency training programs, the AAMC calls for increased public support of graduate medical education, specifically removing the cap on the number of residency positions funded by Medicare.

For more information, read the official AAMC Statement on the Physician Workforce.

Primary care income down 10 percent

Average physician income dropped more than 7 percent between 1995 and 2003 after adjusting for inflation, according to a national study from the Center for Studying Health System Change. The decline in income stands in sharp contrast to the income of professional or technical workers who saw an increase of about 7 percent. Primary care providers took the biggest hit with an income drop of more than 10 percent over this period. The second largest drop, 8.2 percent, hit surgical specialists, though average income for this group still stands at about $272,000 or 86 percent higher than the average pay of primary care physicians.

Overall work hours for all specialties has decreased, but time spent in direct patient care has increased. Spending the majority of work time on these non-reimbursable patient education and administrative duties, such as face-to-face contact with patients, patient record-keeping and office work, travel time connected with seeing patients and communication with other health care providers, means lower income.

The study attributes physician income decline mostly to the flat or declining fees from private and public payers. The authors project that statistics like these cause growing physician unwillingness to contribute charity care or volunteer for hospital committees as well as a bleak outlook for primary care as more students choose the set hours and dependable income of other specialties.

Read the study, “Losing Ground: Physician Income 1995-2003,” from the Center for Studying Health System Change for more information.

Interested in upcoming AAFP elections?

You can ask questions directly to candidates

At the 2006 Congress of Delegates meeting, taking place from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 in Washington, D.C., AAFP will elect new officers and members to the AAFP Board of Directors, the policy making body of the national Academy.

TAFP is proud to support the candidacy of two of its members, Leah Raye Mabry, M.D., who is running unopposed for her second term as vice speaker, and Roland A. Goertz, M.D., who is running for a 3-year term on the Board of Directors. As vice speaker, Mabry has a vote on the board. Should the Congress of Delegates elect Goertz, TAFP would have two voting members on the board.

This is a very important election and the Academy has a method by which members can submit questions to all Board candidates. Visit the candidate information section of AAFP’s Web site to access this feature.

Reimbursement available for Hurricane Rita evacuee care

Health care providers who cared for evacuees of Hurricane Rita are eligible for reimbursement through the Texas Medicaid office and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In accordance with Texas’ Medicaid State plan, reimbursement has been authorized for health care provided to Hurricane Rita evacuees who reside in one of the covered counties and did not have other health insurance coverage. This period extends from Sept. 23, 2005 to Jan. 31, 2006.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the overseer of the Medicaid program, will coordinate physician reimbursement for health care, long-term care, prescription medicines and medical transportation. Services that are not eligible for reimbursement include hearing aids, eyeglasses and contact lenses and services provided by podiatrists, chiropractors, licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed psychologists and licensed professional counselors.

Claims can be filed retroactively for up to one year after the date of service. To receive payment for services, providers need to file claims through HHSC. The commission will send providers specific instructions for filing claims and has asked that the following information be included on all claims covered under this provision: client name, Social Security number (if available), date of birth, sex, age and ZIP code. The client’s ZIP code must be in a declared disaster area for the claim to be eligible for payment. The claims submitted must also include services provided and dates of service.

Providers are asked not to submit claims for services for which they have received payment from an individual or organization as part of a public or private hurricane relief effort.

More information and updates, as well as a list of counties designated as a declared disaster area, is available through the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership Web site.

Copyright 2006, Texas Academy of Family Physicians