What's New: May 2008
Physician Medicare Payment Bill Introduced in the Senate
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced S. 2785, the “Save Medicare Act of 2008” on March 13.
The legislation replaces a 10.6% cut in Medicare fees for the final six months of 2008 with a 0.5% payment increase. The legislation also provides a 1.8% increase for 2009 rather than the currently scheduled 5% cut. A 1.8% increase corresponds to the 2008 Medicare Economic Index (MEI), which is the government’s measure of annual medical practice inflation.
ASPS and other physician organizations have endorsed the “Save Medicare Act of 2008.” ASPS supports replacing the current sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula with a system in which payment updates reflect increases in the cost of practicing medicine. ASPS will continue to work with organized medicine to pass legislation that averts the pending reductions.
All ASPS members are urged to contact your Senators and ask them to cosponsor this legislation. Visit the following website to send a message to your Senator:
Back to Top
Join ASPS and OAC for the Walk for Obesity on Capitol Hill
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has partnered with the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) for a historic awareness event that will be held in Washington, DC, on June 17, 2008.
The Walk on the Capitol will bring together all individuals who are directly affected by obesity and those who care for them to walk and raise awareness for this growing health concern.
This event is a first of its kind, as individuals will be gathering at the National Mall in Washington, DC, to walk and spread a powerful message to government for the need for expanded efforts to manage the rising obesity epidemic.
When: June 17, 2008, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
Where: National Mall, Washington, DC
Who Should Attend: Everyone impacted by obesity
Cost to Attend: FREE, open to the public
Why: Raising awareness of obesity, its consequences and treatments
For more information, visit .
We hope to see YOU in Washington, DC!
Back to Top
TOPS: How Do You Measure Up…?
Begin entering cases today into TOPS 2.0 to find out!
To register for a TOPS Training Session contact the new TOPS vendor, Outcome Sciences:
View the current Training Schedule 
.
Go to to visit the new TOPS website.
Back to Top
Regional Advocacy Program 2008
Plastic surgeons are faced with a growing number of challenges at the federal level in the second session of the 110th Congress, including reductions in Medicare payment/reimbursement, regulation of physician-owned hospitals and ASCs, children’s access to life-changing reconstructive care, and anti-trust relief. Make your voice known by meeting with your Members of Congress in Washington, DC to discuss the legislative issues important to the specialty.
The program is open to all ASPS members. For more information about the program or to register, please contact Miranda Franco, ASPS Government Affairs Associate, at (202) 672-1519 or email her at mfranco@plasticsurgery.org.
Locate your state/region and mark your calendar for the 2008 program.
Back to Top
ASPS and AMA Conducting Physician Practice Information Survey
For the first time in nearly a decade, ASPS, the American Medical Association (AMA), and more than 70 other medical specialty societies, have worked together to coordinate a comprehensive multi-specialty survey of America’s physician practices. The purpose of the survey is to collect up-to-date information on physician practice characteristics in order to positively influence national decision makers.
Thousands of practices will be surveyed in 2007 and 2008, from virtually all physician specialties to ensure accurate and fair representation for all physicians and their patients. Learn more about the survey.
Back to Top
Print this page