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AAMA
Newsletter
Serving the American Academy of Medical
Acupuncture
August 2002
Colorado
Rocky Mountain Chapter members are researching and planning remedies to
deal with unfair compensation by insurers and government entities in Colorado.
This year, they saw a significant decrease in reimbursement by workers
compensation and auto insurance carriers in the form of changes in the
application of the system of relative values and related CPT codes, which
do not provide for differences in acupuncture treatment approaches and
practitioners.
A major problem in the application of relative values is that they are based on surveys of practitioners, which are returned by physicians typically at 5% or less. That means the majority of returned surveys going into the national database are from non-physician acupuncturists. Since this data determines relative values that account for differences in time, skill, risk to patient and provider, and severity of the problem, it's imperative that physicians understand these scales and participate in the surveys.
This Chapter is planning a
seminar in September that will feature a representative from Relative
Value Studies, Inc. They will explain how relative value scales are not
only important to government entities and private insurers, but also to
practitioners to establish reasonable fees, manage practice finances and
negotiate fair contracts with managed care organizations.
For details, contact Chapter President Craig S. Anderson, MD (csandersonmd@totalspeed.net,
303/915-9283).
Georgia
This Chapter has a new president, Anna C. Kelly, MD. Members can reach
her at: anna@metroacupuncture.com,
404/255-8388.
Illinois
Welcome, Illinois Chapter, with President David Bilstrom, MD, President-Elect
Tony Lu, MD, Treasurer/Secretary Manuel (John) Rosario, DO, and 35 members.
A Chapter website is being built.
This Chapter is sponsoring two workshops in Chicago: Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine and Oriental Medical Theory by Anastacia White Sept. 20-22; and Yamamota New Scalp Acupuncture by Toshikatsu Yamamota, MD, Oct. 31 for beginners followed by intermediate to advanced theory practice Nov. 1. For further information, call Dr. Bilstrom (630/434-7640).
New York
This Chapter will host its first seminar on Advanced Auricular Therapy
on Sept. 28 and 29. This highly popular course will be presented by Bryan
L. Frank, MD, DABMA. The seminar will be held at Garden City Hotel on
the South Shore of Long Island (16 hours credit). The $450 registration
fee includes a course syllabus, textbook, continental breakfast and lunch.
To register, contact Chapter President Joseph Sciammarella, MD, DABMA,
at 516/594-1057. Registration can also be done online at the Chapter's
website: AAMA-NYstate.com.
North Carolina
This Chapter has been taking its meetings on-the-road. Given the shape
of North Carolina, like a moxa stick on steroids, members have had difficulty
making it regularly to meetings in Charlotte. In May, Drs. Christine Hughes,
president, and Michael Sharp, president-elect, co-led a meeting at Dr.
Sharp's office in Chapel Hill. There was terrific attendance. Members,
many of whom had never met one another, energetically networked. There
are plans to hold similar meetings in other parts of the state throughout
2002.
Oregon
This Chapter met at AAMA's Symposium in Los Angeles. Attendance included
Drs. Lowell Kobrin, Robert Gross, Gene Hong, Peter Hanfileti, Richard
Evans and Thomas Peterson.
Members discussed issues including the rising cost of malpractice insurance for medical acupuncture and possible speakers for 2002 and 2003 educational meetings. They hope to put on at least one (hopefully two) meeting each year. Agatha Colbert, MD, conducted a meeting for the Oregon Chapter in March. They are in the process of planning for the Fall-Winter 2002 educational meeting.
Barbara Gilbertson, DO, is now on the MARF Board. Louisa Silva, MD, DABMA, recently submitted a research proposal to the NIH research center at Oregon Health and Science University for the study of neurological diseases.
Virginia
Members in Virginia need to be aware that the state law may prevent them
from calling themselves an "acupuncturist" or a "physician
acupuncturist." There has been opposition by non-physician acupuncturists
to the term Medical Acupuncture. However, President Marie Steinmetz, MD,
successfully argued at the state level their position as a board specialty
within medicine and the effort many of them have put forth to raise the
bar. The L.Ac will have their own advisory group at the state medical
board level, which Dr. Steinmetz thinks is good. She would need some members
who would sit in on these meetings every year or two as observers to be
sure their interests are not compromised by legislative action. Contact
Dr. Steinmetz via e-mail at: acuneedles@erols.com
to volunteer. Your right to practice may be at stake.
Several members are half way through a Chinese herbal medicine course,
which has enhanced their acupuncture skills as well.
Washington State
This Chapter is in the planning stages for fall educational activity (topic
to be announced). Chapter officers will meet with representatives from
Washington State Physicians Insurance Exchange (WSPIE), the state's largest
liability insurer, to discuss liability coverage for acupuncture, educate
the board of WSPIE about risks of acupuncture, and hopefully correct misconceptions
the WSPIE board has regarding physicians who perform acupuncture.
There are approximately 20 dues-paying members. They hope that by doubling
this number during the next few years that they will qualify for a seat
as a delegate to the Washington State Medical Association's assembly of
delegates. If you are an AAMA member and reside in Washington, please
contact this Chapter through President Paul J. Allen MD (PJAllen@callatg.com).
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Chapters may now apply to Academy for CME
The Academy has forwarded to all Chapter presidents the application package they can use to apply for AAMA sponsorship of Chapter educational events.
As an organization accredited to provide medical education for physicians, the Academy must adhere to certain standards and procedures in the accreditation process, and, chapters, in turn, that want to have AAMA sponsor their educational activities, will have to observe the same standards and procedures. The Academy Board, the CME Committee and the staff are committed to helping the Chapters through this process.
There are a few requirements that apply to all interested groups:
- The CME Committee must receive
completed applications a minimum of 90 days before the scheduled event.
- There may be no promotion of the event prior to receiving approval from the Academy CME committee. The proposed promotion piece and the language in it regarding CME and the Academy's sponsorship must have approval from the Academy prior to publication. "CME credit applied for" or similar wording should not be used in reference to an activity.
At this time, the AAMA Board has directed that the CME Committee give priority to the review and sponsorship of Chapter educational activities. Chapter leaders who need another copy of the application package should contact the Academy offices.
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Members earn Board certification
These AAMA members recently met all qualifications, passed the ABMA exam and had their applications approved to be Board Certified in acupuncture. They have earned the designation DABMA (Diplomate, American Board of Medical Acupuncture):
Juan R. Alicea, MD, Naranjito, PR; David Bilstrom, MD, Downers Grove, IL; Myung J. Cho, MD, Sioux Falls, SD; Tae-Uk Cho, MD, Sierra Vista, AZ; Alan J. Conrad, MD, Poway, CA; Mitchell Goldbaum, MD, Colorado Springs, CO; Kevin Scott Hill, MD, Pocatello, ID; Gerald H. Jahng, MD, Flushing, NY; Grace Kajiwara, MD, Martinez, CA; Yoon-Hang Kim, MD, Oceanside CA; Seth Koss, MD, Pauma Valley, CA; Mitchell Krause, DO, Upper Darby, PA; Joseph Kuhn, DO, Payne, OH; Paula Lyons, MD, San Antonio, TX; Palmer Mackie, MD , Indianapolis, IN; Charanjit Mann, MD, Stockton, CA; William Mora, MD, Grass Valley, CA; Amoy A. Ng, MD, Seattle, WA; Noel C. Nowicki, MD, East Orange, NJ; Eric Petterson, MD, Shenandoah, PA; Scott Sanitate, MD, Cary, NC; Joseph Sciammarella, MD, Rockville Centre, NY, and Edmund F. Shaheen, Jr., MD, Woodland Hills, CA
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