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AOA President Peter B. Ajluni, DO, wrote to the Editors of the New England Journal of Medicine on 4/22/08 in reference to John K. Igelhart’s article, “Grassroots Activism and the Pursuit of an Expanded Physician Supply.” President Ajluni thanked Igelhart for drawing more attention to the medical community’s collective pursuit of an expanded physician supply, and further noted the benefit that new medical schools can have on a community’s economy, not to mention providing greater access to much needed health care. Read President Ajluni’s letter on Osteopathic.org.

The AOA, in collaboration with Merck Pharmaceuticals, has published and distributed part one of the “DOs Against Diabetes” 2008 series of Health Watch, the AOA’s continuing medical education newsletter. This special diabetes educational publication is offered in four-parts, with the April 2008 issue comprising the first part of the series and focusing on prevention strategies, dispelling of myths associated with diabetes, and the role of OMT and osteopathic philosophy in managing diabetic patients. DOs who read Health Watch and take a CME quiz are eligible for one hour of AOA Category 1-B CME credit. Learn more online.

Osteopathic affiliate organizations are also focused on education this weekend, holding several valuable meetings across the country. The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine presented two CME seminars in Lansing, MI, today, a Sports Medicine Update and an Advanced Muscle Energy with Clinical Correlation seminar. The American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine hosted an AOAAM Office-Based Opioid Treatment Seminar today in Phoenix, AZ. In addition, the American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery continued its 92nd Annual Clinical Assembly today in Scottsdale, AZ, at which President Ajluni and President-elect Carlo J. DiMarco, DO, made a joint presentation regarding the Greatness Campaign.

Registration and housing are now open for the AOA's 113th Annual Convention and Scientific Seminar, which is taking place on 10/26-30/08 in Las Vegas, NV. Please click on the link below to register for the Convention and to reserve your room at the Palazzo Hotel Resort Casino (part of the Venetian Hotel). Advance registration online, mail, or fax, must be completed by 9/5/08; registrations received after this date will be held for pickup onsite. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas. Register today!

Thomas Valuck, MD, of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, gave a briefing last week regarding the Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC) payment provision in the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System’s proposed rule, which states that CMS will no longer pay for some HACs. The HAC payment provision aims to move CMS toward value-based purchasing for hospitals as called for in the CMS Quality Improvement Roadmap. The public is invited to comment on this rule by 6/13/08.

Did you know…that the AOA Daily Report reaches 29,414 AOA members every day? If you know of a DO who does not receive the Daily Report, but should, let me know!

The 5/2/08 Philadelphia Inquirer reported that a recent study of the follow-up care received by Iraq veterans who have traumatic brain injury found that up to 25% of them were not receiving the needed help for health care, vocational rehabilitation, family support, or housing.

A data analysis of joint replacements found that primary hip replacements increased 48% between 1997 and 2004, while first-time knee replacements grew by 63% during the same time frame, the 5/5/08 American Medical News reported.

A US House Committee surveyed 34 hospitals in 7 major US cities to assess their preparedness for a terrorist attack, finding that none had adequate space in their trauma centers to treat a sudden surge of victims, according to the 5/6/08 USA Today.

AOA President Peter B. Ajluni, DO, and President-elect Carlo J. DiMarco, DO, are in the “Grand Canyon State” today to attend the American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AOCOOHNS) 92nd Annual Clinical Assembly, which is taking place 5/7-11/08 in Scottsdale, AZ. President Ajluni provided the A.B. Crites Lecture, named in honor of the founder of the AOCOOHNS, speaking on the importance of working together in the osteopathic family to address common issues like osteopathic graduate medical education, certification, and advocacy efforts. He thanked the AOCOOHNS for its commitment to his “Fit for Life” Initiative and expressed his confidence that our collaboration will continue under the leadership of President-elect DiMarco, who is an ophthalmologist.

The AOA, along with almost 40 other osteopathic and allopathic medical associations, sent a joint letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, MD, on 5/1/08 regarding the expiration of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) contingency plan. The letter requests that physician practices and others be allowed to continue to submit transactions that contain both legacy and NPI numbers for a minimum of six additional months after the current 5/23/08 expiration date. Industry-wide feedback indicates that many entities are still resolving NPI implementation issues, and the joint letter asks HHS to extend the deadline by six months to avoid disruption in claims procession.

At its recent meeting, the AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) reviewed several requests that address responsible growth of the osteopathic medical profession and help DOs meet our country’s projected future physician workforce needs. The COCA reviewed a class size increase for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and an additional location at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA; a class size increase for the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and two additional locations at Macomb College in Clinton Township, MI, and at Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, MI; and a class size increase for the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP) is proud to announce its new 2008-2009 Executive Board. The Executive Board of the COSGP, the official council of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine representing osteopathic medical student leaderss, works with osteopathic college presidents to enhance students’ experiences and communicates the osteopathic medical student perspective to professional and educational organizations. Newly elected executive Board Members are: Brad Landry, OMSIV, NYCOM, National Chair; Cory Maughan, OMSIII, AZCOM, National 1st Vice Chair; Sonbol Shahid-Salles, OMSIII, PCSOM, National 2nd Vice Chair; Lindsay Marshall, OMSIII, OSU-COM, National Secretary; Nathan Hall, OMSIII, KCUMB-COM, National Treasurer; and Michael Paddock, OMSIII, ATSU-KCOM, National Parliamentarian. Please go to www.cosgp.aacom.org for more information.

The AOA attended a meeting of the American Health Information Community (AHIC) last month to participate with key stakeholders concerning the development and implementation of health information technology. AHIC approved a recommendation that HHS and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in coordination with AHIC and the Ambulatory Care Quality Alliance Steering Committee (of which the AOA is a member), should convene forums throughout 2008 to facilitate the alignment of quality improvement and HIT initiatives, in particular those initiatives supporting quality measure development and implementation. The group also recommended collaboration with key private sector stakeholders to define a quality data set that would support quality measurement with the goal of improving care delivery and outcomes.

Did you know…that the 2007 AOA Mentor of the Year, John Pham, DO, has encouraged or assisted more than 70 students to enroll in osteopathic medical school? Dr. Pham organizes a monthly “Pre-Med Awareness Night” at the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon facility to teach college students about osteopathic principles and the realities of practicing osteopathic medicine. Wouldn’t it be great if every state conducted programs like this?

The 5/2/08 Texas Weekly reported that the state’s tort reform efforts have resulted in 499,000 jobs, a $2.6 billion increase in state revenue, and a 21.3% drop in medical liability insurance costs, based on an economic study conduced by Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

The Economist reported on 4/26/08 that life expectancies for 4% of American men and 19% of American women have either stagnated or fallen due to diseases linked to smoking or obesity, such as lung cancer and diabetes.

Families USA recently conducted an analysis of uninsured Americans’ death rates, finding that uninsured people between 25 and 64 are 25% more likely to die than their same age insured counterparts, according to the 5/5/08 American Medical News.