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of value to medical society members.
Medicare Update - July 11, 2008
Fortunately, the U.S. Senate passed HR 6331 that retroactively halted Medicare’s devastating mid-year payment cut and increased payments for 2009 by 1.1%. Unfortunately, President Bush announced July 10 that he would veto HR 6331. Congress can override his veto by achieving 2/3 majorities on re-votes on HR 6331, securing seniors’ access to health care for the short term.
Per the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS), the U.S. Senate and House may or may not re-approve HR 6331, therefore the pressure is now aptly put on the President to not veto this important legislation. To that end, ISMS Chair Peter E. Eupierre, M.D., sent a letter (click here to see the letter) to President Bush July 11 imploring him not to veto it and “to make the right decision for physicians and seniors.”
Congress could re-vote on HR 6331 as early as next week. Please watch your inbox for updates and alerts. Click this link to read the AMA’s highlights on HR 6331 as passed by the U.S. Senate on July 9.
Long Time SCMS Executive Director
L.R. "Bud" Brosi Passed Away at Age 94
L.R. "Bud" Brosi, SCMS Executive Director for 18 years passed away June 29, 2008 at the age of 94 (click here to view his obituary). The longest serving Executive Director, Mr. Brosi began his service to the Sangamon County Medical Society in 1968 and retired in 1986. We honor his commitment and loyalty to our members with the following excerpt about Mr. Brosi from SCMS' history entitled "Sangamon County Medical Society: Cultivating the Science and Art of Medicine, 1899-2001":
A search committee, including Doctors Paul LaFata and Fred Fleury, located the ideal candidate. L.R. "Bud" Brosi was introduced as the half-time executive secretary on November 12, 1968. A graduate of Quincy College and Gem City College (also in Quincy), Brosi had 20 years experience in personnel and public relations. He had left the Stewart-Warner Corporation to form L.R. Brosi and Associates. He and his business partners performed a variety of functions for their clients, including training and executive searches. The Society Board signed a three-year contract with Mr. Brosi, who retired 18 years later.
Brosi joked that he received more titles than pay raises and Society records confirm that he was called executive secretary, executive director and staff consultant. His salary was raised several times, notable in 1976, when his hours were increased to three-quarters time. Brosi's duties were varied and he recalled carefully screening membership applicants by calling county societies and hospitals where doctors had affiliations. He quickly learned that doctors "would not do anything that would be injurious too other doctors." Nevertheless, Brosi observed that some of the so-called ethical issues raised were actually interpersonal disagreement among members.
The Society experienced significant changes during Brosi's tenure; established programs ended and ambitious new ventures emerged.
Upon retirement, the Society designated him an honorary member in recognition of years of devoted service.
Physician Locator Service:
Is Your Doctor A Society Member?
One key service that the Sangamon County Medical Society (SCMS) provides to the general public is our Physician Locator tool. Physician Locator is a directory search tool providing valuable information on more than 580 SCMS member physicians, which includes doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO). Information such as educational backgrounds and board certifications has been verified for accuracy and authenticated by accrediting agencies, medical schools, residency training programs, licensing boards, and other data sources.
In short, we have taken the guesswork out of evaluating a physician's credentials. SCMS also provides referral information for primary care and specialty physicians. Information may be obtained by accessing the Physician Locator on this Web site or by calling us at 217-525-0765.
And the Winners of our Photo Contests...
are Dr. Donald Ross, for identifying who is pictured in the photo: "It is undoubtedly Dr. Donald Graham inspecting his time machine in 1954." Dr. Ross will receive a $25 gift certificate to Darcy's Pint.
And Adam Houghton, Class of 2010, for submitting this clever description: "Gerald was determined to build the world's largest telephone, even if it did take him one piece at a time." Adam will receive a $25 gift certificate to Ross Isaac Restaurant.
Congratulations, and thanks to all who submitted entries.
President's Message
By Eric Bleyer, M.D.
As we await summer's slow arrival, the political climate in Washington, D.C. and Springfield will likely remain unchanged. While in Washington attending the AMA's President's Forum and National Advocacy Conference March 31-April 2, we learned yet again just how dysfunctional Congress is, particularly in a Presidential election year. Given that each Presidential candidate's current healthcare plan is vague and non-specific, the AMA will not likely support one candidate over another, but will instead disseminate information to members and let them decide.
Pictured left to right: Eric Bleyer, M.D., President, Sangamon County Medical Society, U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood (R-18, Peoria), Tanya DeSanto, D.D.S., President, SCMS Alliance, and Renee Oreshkov, President Elect, SCMS Alliance, on Capitol Hill in conjunction with the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference March 31-April 2, in Washington, D.C.
2008 Mini-Internship Program
On April 16, invited community leaders experienced first-hand what the practice of medicine is all about.
Area physicians participated in the Sangamon County Medical Society and Alliance's restructured, members-only Mini-Internship program this spring. Previously, participation in this program was limited to the SCMS Board of Directors with only a handful of doctors participating. This year was the first time it was made available to our general membership, and to a wide array of business and civic leaders. We had strong response from both invited sectors.
Pictured left to right: Donald R. Graham, M.D., ISMS District V Trustee and Infectious Disease specialist, Springfield Clinic, LLP, pictured with Mini-Intern Mike Boer, President, Mid-Illinois Medical District, as they prepare to enter a patient's room at St. John's Hospital.
"It is my goal to educate others about the challenges faced by our physicians so that they, too, appreciate the contributions the local health care providers make to the quality of life and economy of Springfield and Central Illinois."
— Michael Boer, President, Mid-Illinois Medical District
Induction of ISMS 50 Year Club Members
On May 6 at the SCMS general membership meeting held in conjunction with Memorial Medical Center's and St. John's Hospital's medical staff meetings, the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) recognized distinguished senior colleagues who were celebrating 50 years since graduating from medical school. Three of the six honored graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. [Story continues...]
Pictured left to right are ISMS 50-Year Club inductees: Alan G. Birtch, M.D., J. Roland Folse, M.D., David S. Sumner, M.D., and A. David Beck, M.D., at Memorial Medical Center, May 6, 2008, at the SCMS General Membership Meeting.
ISMS District V Trustees' Report
Drs. Craig Backs and Donald Graham attended the annual House of Delegates (HOD) of the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) in Oak Brook, April 11-13, 2008, along with the Board of Trustees meeting on April 10. The meetings were very busy, but full of good productive activity for ISMS and the Sangamon County Medical Society. Read their complete report online in Sangamon Medical News.
Cover The Uninsured
Week 2008
More than 47 million Americans — one in six — live without health insurance. More than 9 million of them are children. In Illinois, 13.4 percent (over 1,685,000) of our population is uninsured.
The SIU School of Medicine, Memorial Medical Center, St. John's Hospital, and the Sangamon County Medical Society & Alliance again in 2008 joined the national campaign and offered a series of local activities to raise awareness for Cover The Uninsured Week (CTUW), April 27 - May 3. A volunteer committee, chaired by Janet R. Albers, M.D., chair of SCMS' Community Health Committee, organized this year's events. See more photos of some of the week's activities online in Sangamon Medical News.
THURSDAY, MAY 1 - Pictured first row, left to right: Kazus Ando, visiting medical student from Aichi Medical University, Nagoya, Aichi in Japan; Kerri Lockhart, MSII; Katie Avery, MSII; second row, left to right: Sameer Vohra, MSII; Virginia Hernandez, M.D.; Rebecca Baggett, University of Illinois-Peoria, in front of the Illinois State Capitol after their legislative visits on CTUW Policy Day.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 - Pictured left to right: Ben Manley, M.A., L.P.C., Pharmaceutical Coordinator, Sangamon County Department of Public Health; J. Kevin Dorsey, M.D., Ph.D., Dean - SIU School of Medicine; and Sameer Vohra, MSII, SIU School of Medicine & Law Dual Degree Candidate, featured speakers at the annual CTUW luncheon for Safety-Net Providers held this year at Memorial Medical Center's Wedeberg Conference Center.
ISMS Releases New Medicaid Billing Guide
The Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) has released their fourth Medicaid guide for physicians, Medicaid Billing Basics, Resources and Tools, (click here for this guide). It's designed to help physicians and billing staffs submit clean claims to reduce turnaround time and expedite payments.
AMA Action Alert:
Medicare Physician Payment Reform -
Congress Needs to Hear from You!
Without congressional action Medicare physician payment rates will be reduced 10.6 percent in July 1, 2008, and an additional 5 percent on January 1, 2009. The 2007 Medicare Trustees report predicts total cuts of about 40 percent by 2016.
It is critical that Congress take action to replace the next 18 months of cuts with positive updates based on practice cost increases. An AMA survey revealed that 60 percent of physicians reported that they would have to limit the number of new Medicare patients they treat if payments are cut 10 percent in 2008. More than half of physicians report that they cannot meet their payroll and will have to reduce their practice staff.
The Medicare physician payment update formula is producing disastrous effects. In addition to generating the pending steep pay cuts, the formula:
Has kept average 2008 Medicare physician payment rates about the same as they were in 2001
Prevents physicians from making needed investments in staff and health information technology to support quality measurement
Punishes physicians for participating in initiatives that encourage greater use of preventive care in order to reduce hospitalizations
Has led to a severe shortfalls in Medicare's budget for physician services that have driven Congress to enact short-term interventions with funding methods that have increased the duration of cuts, as well as the cost of a long-term solution
Hurts access to care for America's military families, as payment rates in the Department of Defense's TRICARE program are tied to Medicare rates
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: S. 2785: The Save Medicare Act of 2008, has been introduced in the Senate. This bill would stop the Medicare physician payment cuts for 18 months, long enough to begin working on a long-term solution to the broken payment system. In addition, the bill will not increase the cost of permanently fixing the fatally flawed Medicare physician payment system. Urge your U.S. Senators to co-sponsor this legislation.
Get On The SCMS
Or SCMS Alliance Group Email Lists!
If you have an email address, and would like to receive updates and action alerts from either the Sangamon County Medical Society or our Alliance, please let us know. More and more of our communications in the near future will be sent electronically. You can get newsletters faster and eliminate paper clutter on your desk. Don't worry, we won't inundate your inbox!
Your email address is safe with us. We do not share, sell or distribute email addresses to anyone. SCMS also sends periodic news by email to office managers of our members.
Send us your information to join either of our group email lists. Include your full name, which organization's email list you are joining, your email address, mailing address, phone number, office manager, and manager's email. Note: SCMS will promptly forward Alliance information to them upon receipt.
L.R. "Bud" Brosi, SCMS Executive Director for 18 years passed away June 29, 2008 at the age of 94 (
directory search tool providing valuable information on more than 580 SCMS member physicians, which includes doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO). Information such as educational backgrounds and board certifications has been verified for accuracy and authenticated by accrediting agencies, medical schools, residency training programs, licensing boards, and other data sources.
[Read more about our 2008 Mini-Internship Program plus view photos and comments by participants in our June printed Sangamon Medical News and 
On May 6 at the SCMS general membership meeting held in conjunction with Memorial Medical Center's and St. John's Hospital's medical staff meetings, the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) recognized distinguished senior colleagues who were celebrating 50 years since graduating from medical school. Three of the six honored graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. [
Pictured left to right: Ben Manley, M.A., L.P.C., Pharmaceutical Coordinator, Sangamon County Department of Public Health; J. Kevin Dorsey, M.D., Ph.D., Dean - SIU School of Medicine; and Sameer Vohra, MSII, SIU School of Medicine & Law Dual Degree Candidate, featured speakers at the annual CTUW luncheon for Safety-Net Providers held this year at Memorial Medical Center's Wedeberg Conference Center.
Without congressional action Medicare physician payment rates will be reduced 10.6 percent in July 1, 2008, and an additional 5 percent on January 1, 2009. The 2007 Medicare Trustees report predicts total cuts of about 40 percent by 2016.