Meeting of April 17, 2021 – Via Videoconference
Your MSMA Council met virtually April 17, 2021, due to the pandemic. Lancer Gates, DO, Kansas City, was elected Chair of Council; David Pohl, MD, was elected Vice Chair of Council; Brian Biggers, MD, Springfield, was elected Secretary; Elie Azrak, MD, St. Louis, was elected Treasurer.
Meeting of July 17, 2022 – Via Videoconference
Your MSMA Council met virtually for its July Council Meeting and approved the following actions:
Approved the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee regarding the 2022 dues structure.
Elected Barbara White, DO, Hannibal, to serve as District 2 Vice-Councilor.
Elected Amy Patel, MD, Kansas City, to serve as Organized Medical Staff Section Vice-Councilor.
Approved the Report of the Committee Constitution and Bylaws, which included changing the Honor member category to Retired member: Members must have attained the age of 68, be re-tired from the practice of medicine and other healthcare-related employment, and members must request Retired status. MSMA officers, councilors, and other leaders may not hold Retired membership status.
Approved the recommendation of the Committee on Legislative Affairs, that MSMA oppose the title change from Physician Assistant to Physician Associate.
Approved the recommendation of the Committee on Legislative Affairs, that MSMA not adopt Resolution 16 – Medical Malpractice Cases Involving Cerebral Palsy, and Resolution 9 – Support for No-Excuse Vote by Mail.
Referred Resolution 6 - Insurance Coverage Regarding Fertility back to the Legislative Committee for further consideration.
The MSMA Council has approved a dues reduction in some membership categories for the 2022 dues year.
Retired members' dues will lie reduced to $75.
Members who are in their first four years of practice will also see a reduction. Physicians in their first year out of training will see their dues reduced to $50, and won’t pay full active dues until their fifth year of practice.
Affiliate (non-physician) dues will increase to $175.
Student and resident membership will continue to be free
Active dues will remain unchanged at $395.
MSMA dues are all one of the lowest state medical association dues in the nation.
The MSMA Council has approved a bylaw change regarding the Honor membership category that was referred to them by the 2021 House of Delegates.
This category of membership will now be referred to as Retired membership. To qualify for this category – which will be charged $75 for membership next year – a physician must be 68 years of age and be fully retired from healthcare-related employment. This bylaw had not been amended since 1918 and was in need of some clarification. Current MSMA Honor members will be grandfathered into the new Retired category.
Meeting of October 17, 2021 – Jefferson City
The MSMA Council met in-person for the first time in two years on October 17, 2021, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jefferson City. Several participants opted to join the meeting virtually via ZOOM.
MSMA President Alexander Hover. MD. offered an overview of current issues, including MSMA’s public messaging regarding COVID mitigation, the organization’s new website and database, and preparations being made for the upcoming legislative session. He also updated the group on his recent travels and activities.
Dr. Hover reported that MSMA's Executive Committee approved a public statement regarding lawsuits being brought against school boards over the safe re-opening of schools. MSMA’s posi-tion was that local governance, public health officials, and members of the school board should look at their individual data and make decisions within their communities as to what would be appropriate to reduce the risk of COVID.
Dr. Hover reported that MSMA filed an amicus brief in the Velasquez case, which sought to over-turn noneconomic damage caps. The brief was reviewed by the Missouri Supreme Court, who sided with MSMA and ruled that the damage caps were legal. The Court has also upheld the referendum on Medicaid expansion.
Ravi Johar, .MD. offered the report of the Committee on Legislative Affairs, and presented the recommendations on three resolutions:
Resolution 14 – Assistant Physicians: this was placed back on the table for discussion ahead of the 2022 legislative session.
The Council approved the proposed substitute language for Resolution 6 – Insurance Coverage Regarding Fertility:
RESOLVED, that our Missouri State Medical Association support state legislation to re-quire payment for standard fertility preservation by all payers when infertility may be caused, directly or indirectly, by necessary medical treatments as determined by a licensed physician; and be it further,
RESOLVED, that our Missouri State Medical Association encourage health insurers to pro-vide insurance coverage for fertility treatments.
The Council approved the proposed substitute Resolution 7 – Elimination of Seasonal Time Change:
RESOLVED, that our Missouri State Medical Association support a resolution to remain in a consistent standardized time zone year-round, contingent upon the adoption of a similar resolution by the 48 contiguous states in the United States; and be it further,
RESOLVED, that our Missouri State Medical Association bring this issue to the American Medical Association House of Delegates both to get other state medical associations to work with their states’ legislatures to enact similar legislation, and to get the American Medical Association to urge Congress to repeal the federal law establishing the annual advancement of time known as “Daylight Saving Time” and leave the U.S. in a consistent standardized time zone year-round.
MSMA Immediate Past President, George Hruza, MD, reviewed current membership numbers, and cited the advantages of MSMA’s new website and database as related to dues billing, communications, and other member benefits.
William Woods, MD, Chair of the MPH Foundation Board, reported to the Council information on MPHP finances and client participation, and updated the group on efforts to work with the Board of Healing Arts to establish a safe haven law in Missouri by modifying the verbiage on initial/renewal license applications. Proposed changes would allow a physician to check “no” on the box that indicates whether they have had a substance use or mental health disorder since last renewal or another time frame, provided they are currently participating in the MPHP.
Edmond Cabbabe, MD, Chair of the AMA Delegation, announced that the 2021 AMA Interim meeting will be held virtually. Watch for the review of the meeting in the November/December Missouri Medicine.
Barbara Hover, MSMA Alliance President, reported that in concert with the new two-day format for MSMA’s Annual Convention, the Alliance will include a Friday program on “Stop the Bleed,” presented by Washington University. Saturday’s events will include the general assembly meeting, presentations, and the installation of officers. She also encouraged everyone to participate in the Alliance’s Holiday Sharing Card campaign, which raises funds to help provide medical student scholarships via the Missouri State Medical Foundation. Donors will be recognized in Missouri Medicine, on the website, and in the Alliance newsletter.
The Council heard and approved reports from the Budget and Finance Committee, the Commission on Continuing Education, and the MSMA Insurance Agency, as well as an update on Actions and Recommendations on Resolutions from the 2021 Annual Meeting (see above).
Warren Lovinger, Jr., MD, will finish his ten-year term on the AMA Delegation during the upcoming AMA meeting. His service on the MSMA Council spanned twelve years, including his term as MSMA President from 2017–2018.
District 7 Councilor Michael O’Dell, MD, is retiring from practice; the Council accepted the nomination of Fariha Shafi, MD, to move into the District 7 Councilor position. Dr. Shafi previously served as District 7 Vice Councilor.
Meeting January 22, 2022 – Via Videoconference
Early advocacy efforts for this legislative session include following nearly 750 bills related to the House of Medicine. We encourage you to check your email on Monday mornings for 5 Things You Need to Know and Thursdays for MSMA’s Legislative Report.
After a lengthy discussion of the Assistant Physician Resolution #14 introduced at the 2021 Annual Convention, the Council recommended the following amended resolution be adopted:
RESOLVED, that MSMA oppose an alternative pathway to a medical license without post graduate training; and be it further
RESOLVED, that MSMA support legislation to limit the term of an assistant physician license to seven years; and be it further
RESOLVED, that MSMA support efforts to increase the number of primary care physicians in the state.
MSMA Alliance Past Presidents: standing, from left: Sandra Murdock, Kathy Weigand, Donna Corrado, Diana Corzine, Allene Wright, Mary Shuman, Gill Waltman, Jana Wolfe, and Anne Turnbaugh. Seated, from left: Sue Ann Greco, Heather Rifkin, Barbara Hover, and Sana Saleh.
Many enjoyed the Presidential Reception, from left: Betty Drees, MD, Joanne Loethan, MD, Rania Atra, Bill Drees, and Fariha Shafi, MD.
In other organizational matters, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee has spent a number of months evaluating and updating the MSMA bylaws to align with current practices. The MSMA Council reviewed the changes proposed by the Committee and approved a resolution to be presented to the House of Delegates, which, if adopted, would finalize the changes. Also, an MSMA Council ad hoc committee was formed to discuss Councilor representation by district. The current bylaws tie Council representatives to the number of physicians in MSMA districts. The changing MSMA membership numbers will require a bylaws change to bring everything into alignment.
Barbara Hover, MSMA Alliance President, reported that more than $4,700 had been raised through the Alliance’s Holiday Sharing Card campaign. The Alliance directs these funds to the Missouri State Medical Foundation to provide medical student scholarships.
The Council heard and approved reports from the MSMA Executive Committee, Legislative Affairs, Membership, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, and the Missouri Physicians Health Program.
General Session: COVID-19 in Missouri - Show Me Pandemic, presented by George Turabelidze, MD, Epidemiologist for State of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (left). Standing with Dr. Truabelidze is Alex Garza, MD, Chief Community Health Officer, SSM Health, St. Louis, Missouri.
Lisa Thomas, MD, Lake of the Ozarks, and a state Representative for that area, provides testimony during the Reference Committee discussion on the Assistant Physician (AP) program in Missouri. The Committee recommended MSMA ask the Board of Healing Arts to provide data on the AP program with the aim of better understanding the impact on patient access, expansion of primary care in underserved areas, and outcomes of those holding an AP license in the state of Missouri.
General Session: Adult and Teen Vaping - Public Health Risks and Practical Management in the Clinic, presented by Paul E. A. Glaser, MD, (left), Professor of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Moderator is Dr. Hover (right).
General Session: No Surprises Act - What Physicians Need to Know, presented by Dan Clark, (right), BKD National Health Care Group, Akron, Ohio and Noreen Vergara, JD, (center), Husch Blackwell, Kansas City, Missouri. Moderator is Lancer Gates, MD, (left).
General Session: Advances in the Treatment of the Diabetic Patient with Obesity, presented by Peminda Cabandugama, MD (left). Moderator is David Pohl, MD (right).