Category Archives: Uncategorized

July 16, 2016 – Quarterly Chapter Meeting

Please bring your appetite and your interest in state policies!!

TIME: Meeting starting at 12:30 PM (meet and greet starting at 12 NOON).
Note: Restaurant does not open until noon.

LOCATION: Hereford House, 19721 East Jackson Drive, Independence, MO. North of I-70 between Blue Springs & Independence Center, take Little Blue Parkway Exit to the north. It is just east of Hilton Garden Inn motel.

ENJOY: Meal provided by AAPS. Update on AAPS political actions and news and the fellowship of your colleagues!

RSVP: email nancy@nancyrussellmd.com

January Meeting Minutes and Officer Nominations for April 23

Please find below a copy of the meeting minutes from the Missouri Chapter of the AAPS meeting from Saturday, January 23, 2016.  You’ll note that the floor was opened at that meeting for nominations of officers, which will remain open until the April 23 meeting in Columbia, MO (meeting place to be determined).

Email nominations are welcomed and requested. I made the offer of a slate of nominations at the January meeting, which I have changed and updated via email, and none of the nominees have declined.  My slate stands as follows:

President, Jenny Powell (present Secretary)
Vice President, Phil Dean (present Vice President)
Secretary, Nancy Russell
Treasurer, Todd Rice (present Treasurer)
Director (Immediate Past President), Helen Gelhot (present President)

A complete slate may be nominated, or nominations for any of the above five offices may be made from our membership (be a member of the AAPS and a Missourian). Please send these to Secretary Jenny Powell MD at drjpowell@dpcareclinics.com.

UPDATE: Our citizen lobbyist, Wes Powell, has been to Jefferson City once or twice weekly for the last 3 or 4 weeks. He has attended hearings and witnessed on our behalf. Please keep your finger on the pulse of several bills which will be impacting YOUR practice! There are a handful of bills which extend the scope of practice for APRNs, there anti-MOC/MOL bills, and the push for the PDMP is again the topic of several bills. Wes wants to hear from you, so let him know what is important to YOU and your practice!  See his contact information in the meeting minutes below.

Thank you!
~Jenny Powell MD

MO Chapter AAPS meeting

January 23, 2016
The Missouri Chapter of the AAPS met on Saturday, 1/23/16, at The Order restaurant in the Hotel Vandivort, Springfield, MO.  There were 9 in attendance, and one attendee via GoToMeeting. President Helen Gelhot MD opened the meeting at 12:00 pm with a prayer.
Helen provided an overview of legislation in the Missouri Congress and resolutions in the Missouri State Medical Association (MSMA) in 2015 which the MO AAPS Chapter pursued, including anti-MOC/MOL, DPC practice legislation, and anti-Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. She touched briefly on upcoming legislation in the Missouri Congress.  She turned the meeting over to Wes Powell, spouse member of the AAPS, who is serving as our citizen lobbyist in Jefferson City.  Wes went thru a few of the pre-filed bills, and discussed hearing protocol.  He also then shared his contact information and encouraged those present to contact him regarding their desires on different bills as there are far too many bills for him to be relaying to the members without a group forum. His email address is:
wespowell@qualitygoatmeat.com  and his cell phone number is (417)322-3383.
President Helen then discussed AAPS, and what membership in the organization provides, encouraging all present to join if they have not already done so.
Upcoming dates:

  • AAPS Regional Meeting and “Thrive Not Just Survive” workshop Friday Jan 29 and 30 in Orlando FL; Secretary Jenny Powell will be giving a presentation at this workshop which helps physicians of all specialties to transition to cash-pay practices.
  • Next MO Chapter AAPS meeting – Saturday, April 23, in Columbia MO, noon.  We will hold election of officers. Location of meeting to be announced.
  • May or June AAPS Regional meeting, location TBA
  • Sept 22-24, AAPS Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City, OK.

The floor was opened for nomination of officers. Secretary Jenny Powell nominated a slate of officers: Todd Rice, President; Nancy Russell, Vice President; Phil Dean, Treasurer; Jenny Powell, Secretary; Helen Gelhot as Immediate Past- President Director.  Todd declined the nomination. Todd Rice nominated Jenny Powell as President and Todd Rice as Treasurer.
Nominations shall remain open until the April meeting.
As there was no further business, President Helen Gelhot closed the meeting at 1:07 pm. We enjoyed fellowship together afterwards.

~submitted by Jenny Powell MD, Secretary

January 23: AAPS Missouri Chapter Meeting!

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons will meet Saturday, January 23, 2016, at the Hotel Vandivort in Springfield,Missouri, at noon.  Appetizers will be provided.

Among the agenda items for this meeting will be the meeting schedule for 2016 and preparing for officer elections at the Spring meeting.

RSVP to Jenny Powell, Secretary MO AAPS,
drjpowell@dpcareclinics.com or (573)933-0872
OR to Jeremy Snavely of AAPS National
jeremy@aapsonline.org.

Hope to see you there!

Hotel Vandivort
305 E. Walnut Street
Springfield MO  65806
(417)832-1515
Map  http://www.yelp.com/map/the-order-springfield-2

Three Important Missouri Events You Won’t Want to Miss!

Dear Missouri AAPS Members and Friends: There is an exciting lineup of events surrounding our 72nd Annual Meeting taking place in St. Louis. Please take a look and consider attending any or all of them:

1) Wednesday Evening Sept. 30. The Saint Louis Metropolitan Medical Society’s Annual Hippocrates Lecture will feature AAPS Director Paul Kempen, MD, PhD giving another powerful talk on what’s new in the battle to stop MOC. Social hour at 6pm, dinner at 7pm. The event is free for SLMMS members and $40 for spouses, guests, and non-members.  RSVP required to SLMMS at 314-989-1014. CLICK here for the event address and other details.

2) Oct. 1-3. The 72nd Annual Meeting of AAPS will be held at the Hilton Frontenac St. Louis! The agenda is packed with a full slate of top speakers on issues that impact physicians and their patients.  Remarks from Senator Ted Cruz will kick off the event and we’re honored that SLMMS President Michael Stadnyk, MD will participate in our Friday banquet.  Can’t attend the entire meeting?  Partial registration options are available. See http://aapsonline.org/2015am for additional information.

3) Sunday Afternoon Oct. 4.  A first-of-its-kind debate between two physician organizations on polar opposite sides of the healthcare debate. Is a single payer system the answer for American medicine? The Physicians for A National Health Program (PNHP) will argue it is while AAPS will counter with facts in favor of true free market solutions. The debate will run from 2pm to 3:30pm in the Frontenac Room at the Hilton Frontenac St. Louis.  CLICK here for details and for RSVP info.

Questions?  Email aaps@aapsonline.org or call AAPS Business Manager Jeremy Snavely at 520-270-0761

MO AAPS Chapter Meeting August 1

You won’t want to miss out on the third meeting of 2015 of the Missouri Chapter of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons which will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 11:30am in Kansas City, MO.

The agenda will be packed with important topics impacting ALL Missouri patients and their physicians.

  • MOC on the ropes?  As pressure continues to mount against Maintenance of Certification, proponents continue to lobby for laws that require MOC like the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. We are pressing forward with efforts to support anti-Compact legislation in Jeff City and resolutions via the MSMA. Learn how you can help be a part of this movement to STOP MOC.
  • SCOTUS upholds ObamaCare in King vs. Burwell — NOW WHAT? AAPS General Counsel Andrew Schlafly will join the meeting remotely to discuss the disappointing outcome of this case and look at ongoing and future strategy to combat ObamaCare and other attacks on physicians and their patients.
  • YOUR IDEAS for legislation and action to preserve the independent practice of medicine and protect patient-physician relationship.
  • Preview of AAPS Annual Meeting which will be held in Missouri October 1-3, 2015.

August 1st LOCATION:
Smoke House BBQ
8451 NW Prairie View Rd
Kansas City MO 64153

AGENDA:

11:30 – Meet and Greet
NOON to 2pm – Lunch and Presentations

COST:
No Charge, Lunch provided by AAPS

RSVP:
Online: at https://aaps.wufoo.com/forms/mb9mqot1afv6kc/

or call/text: AAPS Business Manager Jeremy Snavely at 520-270-0761

or email: aaps@aapsonline.org

Action Alert: Help STOP FSMB Compact

Dear Missouri AAPS members and friends,

We are writing today to alert you to upcoming legislation that must be STOPPED! It is extremely likely that in 2015 legislation will be introduced that will hand control of aspects of the practice of medicine in Missouri over to unelected bureaucrats in Texas!  You read that right: the Federation of State Medical Boards, based near Dallas, is pushing legislatures across the country to adopt their “Interstate Medical Licensing Compact.”

Please call your state legislators TODAY and tell them to oppose any attempt to adopt this compact in Missouri. [find your House member | find your Senator].  In addition, contact the Missouri Medical Board to voice your opposition.

This compact will lead to reduced patient access to physicians by creating an entire new bureaucracy full of additional rules, regulations, and costs for physicians that have no proven connection to improved patient care.  This compact risks harming rather than helping Missouri patients and physicians.

One shocking part of the proposed compact:

The FSMB would require physicians seeking a license via the compact to participate in Maintenance of Certification (MOC). In fact, the compact defines “physician” as one who holds specialty certification recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association’s Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. NO STATE currently defines a physician in this manner.

The adoption of such a definition of “physician” in the compact could open the floodgates to regulations requiring MOC for ALL physicians in order to keep their medical license; it appears  to be yet another shameless attempt to force this counterproductive money-making scheme on physicians. Mandatory MOC would harm patient access to medical care from independent physicians of their choosing.

Here is a list of additional  important reasons why it must be opposed:

  • The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact will supersede Missouri’s autonomy and control over the practice of medicine;
  • The out-of-state, unelected, Interstate Commission will likely cause changes to Missouri’s Medical Practice Act, without oversight by Missouri voters;
  • There will be significant financial costs to states joining such an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact;
  • It will be difficult and expensive for Missouri to extricate itself from the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact;
  • The cost of obtaining medical licenses will be dramatically increased, and Missouri must protect its citizens from regulatory excesses;
  • The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact would require physicians to participate in onerous and counter-productive Maintenance of Certification to be licensed under this compact, reducing patient access to care.

For more background and a model resolution that the Missouri legislature can pass to oppose this compact CLICK HERE.

Please contact your legislator today and stay-tuned.  We are tracking this important issue and will update you as more details become available.

November 22: Stop MOC

Will MOC be required to keep your license?

Is it already required by your hospital or insurance company?

Join us in St. Louis
On Nov. 22 to Learn How You Can
Fight Back!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP TODAY

Stopping MOC, MOL and medical practice interference by insurance/hospital CEOs, legislators, and other non-physicians! 

Keynote Speaker Paul Martin Kempen, MD, PhD has been a leader in exposing the American Board of Medical Specialties and Federation of State Medical Boards since he helped stop attempts in Ohio to require Maintenance of Certifcation (MOC) for licensure.

He uses the term “regulatory capture” (the use of laws to force compliance with corporate self-serving programs) to describe the successful lobbying of Congress creating the tax MOC will impose on non-participating physicians. Dr. Kempen is an anesthesiologist in private community practice after leaving decades of academic practice.His presentation on Nov. 22 will expose the regulatory capture that is being imposed on physicians to subjugate them under the powers of hospital/insurance executives as “cogs in the machine.”

Dr. Kempen will outline what physicians can and must do to regain control.

2015 is THE year for every state medical organization to resist MOC and MOL!

When: Saturday, November 22, 2014, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pmWhere: BRAVO! Cucina Italiana 15 W County Center Dr, Des Peres, MO 63131, http://www.bravoitalian.com/

Parking: Convenient front door valet or free adjacent garage

Cost: FREE (includes lunch)

RSVP:  CLICK HERE or call/text AAPS Business Manager Jeremy Snavely at 520-270-0761

Questions? Email aaps@aapsonline.org or call AAPS Business Manager Jeremy Snavely at 520-270-0761.

Additional Resources:

Update on State-Based Advocacy in Opposition to MOC: http:/aapsonline.org/mocres

Watch Dr. Kempen’s presentation from Sept. 2014 AAPS 71st Annual Meeting:

July 10 & 12, 2014: Important Events

MO AAPS Physicians address problem and identify Immediate Action required

PROBLEM: Missouri physicians are having ever increasing difficulty surviving and thriving as physicians. Most physicians are at the mercy of employers with approximately one third of physicians now in private practice.

CONCEPT: It is time to learn to PUSH two bills in Jeff City for our OWN sake. It is crunch time. Surprisingly, Self Governance training is the most important training I and other physicians have discovered since residency. NO ONE ELSE WILL SEE THIS THROUGH THE MO STATEHOUSE EXCEPT US, with the help of Center for Self Governance (CSG) people of Missouri. They have the experience and inside information. CSG’s only agenda is to train people to realize and exert their civic authority. CSG has trained people, including fellow physicians in approximately 24 states and are requested to train in 11 more.

There are now two pieces of key legislation for MO physicians. Links to prototypes of both of these bills are below.

The Patient Access Expansion Act is approved by MO CSG and the Physician Volunteer Act is being discussed.

The first piece of legislation needed for MO physicians is the Patient Access Bill which passed the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and at our MO AAPS chapter in May. If passed in our MO Statehouse, it frees-up physician time to see patients rather than be on a treadmill of recertification (MOC/MOL)!!! If we do not get this bill passed even those of us “grandfathered” in will be mandated to comply with MOC (Maintenance of Certification and MOL (Maintenance of Licensure)! This is the published plan of the ABMS.

The second piece needed, gives physicians immunity from malpractice providing they volunteer approximately four hours weekly to charity care. We can get this bill passed as well. It is already in the NJ, PA and VA statehouses as a bipartisan bill.

Physicians are starting to work on these types of bills in different states, including Arizona. It would behoove MO physicians to use the tools provided by CSG to implement the changes we need to survive and thrive in practice.

IMMEDIATE ACTION: CSG is flying in its founder Mark Herr this week to help us. He is a highly prized national speaker and trainer and expert on Self Governance. He will train us in Self governance, enabling us to DRIVE LEGISLATION WHICH WE PHYSICIANS NEED AND DESERVE.

Please join us in learning HOW to PUSH this bill. We will do this through Self Governance Training in St. Louis (western suburbs) on July 12, 2014 at 10am. CLICK HERE to register. Also be sure to watch the 57second video clip on the home page. 

THERE IS A ONE HOUR TRAINING PREVIEW ON JULY 10th at the same location in Ellisville, MO. Click here for details about the preview.

For a printable flyer about the July 10 and July 12 event CLICK HERE.

Our Mission

The new AAPS Missouri Chapter finds California Physician Dr. Tom LaGrelius’ message applicable to our goal for patient healtcare in the State of Missouri:

Health care is different from other critical human needs like food, housing and shelter, which are actually more expensive. Illness is unexpected, confusing, terrifying. It strikes randomly and unevenly. Only recently have we found effective tools to battle and prevent it. We naturally want all humanity to have equal access to those new and effective tools, and in our zeal to accomplish that we forgot that free markets are the best way, the only way, to achieve that goal.”  Dr. Tom LaGrelius