It has been my pleasure to have served as your president for the past year. My duties have been extremely gratifying and rewarding, especially my travels to the various component organizations around the state. You should be proud that your Missouri State Medical Association is widely recognized as the voice of medicine in Missouri.
It would be appropriate, at this time, to give you the headlines from the Missouri State Medical Association.
MSMA is involved in more legislative issues than any other organization in the state; everything from scope of practice to tobacco, and tort reform to Medicaid expansion. Keep yourself updated by reading the weekly Legislative Report, which members receive during the legislative session.
MSMA is also involved in a wide range of federal government issues, including lobbying federal authorities on the proposed Anthem/Cigna and Aetna/Humana mergers, brand and generic drug prices, the Department of Veterans Affairs APRN rule, the new non-discrimination/language translation services rule, meaningful use hardship exemptions, MACRA, and many others.
I, along with MSMA staff, attended a number of local component society meetings across the state. From Maryville to Poplar Bluff, and from Hannibal to Joplin, your leadership and staff make themselves available to every component society, no matter how large or small.
MSMA boasts an outstanding group of member physicians who represent you and your patients in the AMA House of Delegates.
In AMA-related news, we are excited and extremely proud that one of our very own, David Barbe, MD, a past MSMA President, was chosen as President-Elect of the AMA in June of 2016. He will take office in June of 2017. This is an extraordinary accomplishment and a blessing, knowing that we will all be so well represented at the upper tier of the AMA’s leadership.
Your MSMA staff and leadership are constantly striving to bring more value to your membership. I want to highlight a few items.
In addition to its regular duties, your MSMA staff also provides top-rate administrative services for several statewide medical specialty societies, and maintains liaison with a large number of external governmental and private-sector committees, task forces, boards and commissions.
Missouri Medicine, MSMA’s outstanding scientific journal, is free to you with your membership. Many of you know it has won awards and it now published in digital format that you can download from MSMA’s website.
In addition to the honors the journal has won, last year the University of Missouri Press offered to publish as a book a series of Missouri Medicine articles on near-death experiences. We signed a contract for that, and the book is available for purchase outside at our Membership station.
MSMA also offers you free CME at this meeting every year, and we are glad you are here to advantage of that. We also accredit 28 entities to offer CME, many of which participate in joint providerships across the state.
Other membership benefits you enjoy is our partnership with:
Moneta, an outstanding financial services firm.
Resolve Physician Agency, which offers a wide range of career services, all at a discount to MSMA members.
CCPA Purchasing Partners gives you access to up-front discounts on a variety of medical and office supplies.
DocbookMD offers you a secure, HIPAA-compliant tool to send messages, patient information, images, and more to your MSMA colleagues through an application on your smart phone.
Medical Waste Services offers MSMA members significant savings on medical and biohazard waste removal and treatment services.
Our most recent partners include LifeLock, a leading provider of identity theft protection; Officite, a medical practice website development and internet marketing provider; and MedJet Assist, a medical transport service.
Other great offers include the Missouri Drug Card, PQRS Registry services, collection services, coding and billing resources, and even travel arrangements, all with special rates and savings for MSMA members. You can see MSMA membership saves you far more than your membership dues.
Other outstanding programs affiliated with the MSMA include the Missouri State Medical Foundation. You will hear that report later.
David Barbe, MD, President Elect to the American Medical Associati on, addressed the Sunday house of Delegates session.
Your Missouri Physicians Health Program is widely considered one of the most successful of its kind in the nation. Last year the program served more than 100 physicians who are dealing with chemical, emotional, or behavioral issues.
Your Missouri Medical Political Action Committee is one of the most respected and effective PACs in the state. Your membership and participation is essential to our political effectiveness.
Your MSMA Insurance Agency was formed by MSMA and is directed by physicians to serve you and your practice.
The MSMA Alliance boasts 250-plus dedicated and enthusiastic physician spouses who work tirelessly to promote a health Missouri.
The Center for Patient Safety is dedicated to being the leader in providing solutions and resources to reduce medical errors and improve patient safety.
The MSMA is YOUR organization, and your officers and staff welcome your thoughts on how best to serve you and your fellow members.
On behalf of the staff and the entire MSMA membership, I want to express undying gratitude for your officers, councilors, committee members, and other leaders who give so much of their time and resources for the betterment of the Association and patient care in Missouri. They are nothing short of extraordinary.
Dr. Johar stands with the 2016–2017 MSMA Alliance President Jana Wolfe.
MSMA Past Presidents Jeff Copeland, MD, (left ), and John Stanley, MD, (right) enjoy the Presidenti al Inauguration.