The five newly created OAPA committees held conference calls earlier this month. As a result, all the committees have tasks that they will be working on before the January conference calls.
Take a minute to look at the minutes of the committee calls and see if you would like to be involved. We can always use more volunteers! Contact the OAPA office (800/292-4997 or oapa@ohiopa.com) if you are interested.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND RELATIONS COMMITTEE
The Professional Practice and Relations Committee met on a conference call on December 3, 2008. Present were committee members Alana Brewer, Sandy Casacchia, Kay Ericson, Doug Eulberg, Barbie Goosmann, Laurie Hanson, Patrick Huck, Cindy Koutz, Dan McDermott, Kenzi Schafer, Gloria Stewart and Stephanie Whitling. Also on the call was Beth Adamson, OAPA Executive Director.
The group discussed the liaison relations subcommittee objectives noting that OAPA only has one liaison currently and that is to the emergency medicine group. Sandy Casacchia and Cindy Koutz volunteered to work on this subcommittee. They will develop a list of physician and specialty organizations, develop guidelines and help identify volunteers to act as liaisons. OAPA staff will provide information to assist them.
Next they discussed the diversity subcommittee objectives and Stephanie Whitling volunteered to work on this subcommittee. Ms. Adamson will forward information to her from AAPA and help identify other subcommittee members.
A majority of the people on the call were interested in the student affairs subcommittee. OAPA Student Representative Kenzi Schafer advised that she has established a Face Book page for Ohio PA students. This led to discussion of the OAPA website. The website subcommittee is currently working on changes that include adding a forum and student areas. Ms. Schafer volunteered to be on that subcommittee.
One of the objectives is to reinstate the scholarship program. Doug Eulberg, Gloria Stewart, Dan McDermott and Alana Brewer will work on developing a new program. Ms. Brewer will poll the students to get their input.
Mr. Eulberg asked that the subcommittee make a recommendation to the OAPA Board of Directors for a new student dues structure. Dan McDermott and Barbie Goosmann volunteered to work on this. Several suggestions included offering the first year after graduation for free, putting student dues in the scholarship fund and offering a flat rate for both years.
OAPA would like to make conferences more student friendly and perhaps organize a challenge bowl. Kenzi Schafer and Barbie Goosmann will work on this along with representatives from the OAPA Conference Committee. It was suggested that each program assign a student to work on this.
The dates of future conference calls will be determined.
MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
The Membership and Communication Committee met on a conference call on December 2, 2008. Present were committee members Albert Etheart, Jeff Fisher, Kent Kulow, Karen Storer and Kathy Wilhelm. Also on the call was Beth Adamson, OAPA Executive Director.
The group discussed the membership subcommittee objectives and Kathy Wilhelm and Albert Etheart volunteered to begin outlining member benefits in preparation for drafting a membership brochure. Beth Adamson will forward information to them to begin the project. The membership subcommittee will hold its next conference call on January 7, 2009 at 7:00 PM.
The group next discussed the newsletter and website subcommittee objectives and Jeff Fisher, Kent Kulow and Karen Storer volunteered to review the OAPA website and other Chapter websites and compile a list of suggested revisions to the current OAPA site. Some suggestions included a redesign of the Professional Issues page, better access to state laws and other important information and a CME section. It was suggested that the membership be surveyed for their input on site improvements. The website subcommittee will hold its next conference call on January 6, 2009 at 7:00 PM.
There were no volunteers on the call for the Public Education subcommittee.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND REIMBURSEMENT COMMITTEE
The Government Affairs and Reimbursement Committee met on a conference call on December 4, 2008. Present were committee members Doug Eulberg, Ken Herbold, Amie Rinaldi, Van Roberts, Deb Sommers and Amy Trolley. Also on the call was Beth Adamson, OAPA Executive Director.
Amie Rinaldi, Chair of the Committee, reviewed current activities including the ODJFS Medicaid rules and SB279. The rules still reflect some disparity in reimbursement with regard to the APNs but the agency has advised they will deal with this in the state budget. SB279 has been voted out of committee but a contentious amendment by the Hospital Association may stall the bill as the Governor has been approached to veto it.
Ms. Sommers brought up the subject of indirect billing to get higher reimbursement rates for PAs and Ms. Rinaldi will ask for guidance on this from AAPA.
Ms. Rinaldi advised that as of this week the DEA now recognizes Ohio and PAs may start applying for their numbers.
One of the committee objectives is to start a library of sample special services plans and hospital bylaws. The committee was asked to collect samples and bring them to the March committee meeting in Cuyahoga Falls. The samples will then be compiled into guidelines for distribution to the membership.
Reimbursement guidelines also need to be developed and Ms. Rinaldi will get fact sheets from AAPA to use as a template for developing the guidelines.
Ms. Rinaldi, Mr. Eulberg, Ms. Sommers and Mr. Herbold offered to be contacts for reimbursement questions.
The dates of future conference calls will be determined as needed.
CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Conference Planning Committee met on a conference call on December 9, 2008. Present was committee member Scott Cordell. Also on the call was Beth Adamson, OAPA Executive Director.
As there were so few committee members on the call, not much could be accomplished. Scott has identified two potential speakers for the annual conference in fall 2009. Student involvement in the conference was discussed and Scott thought that they would be more interested in disease state topics rather than pharmacology.
The call adjourned but was continued after another committee conference call on December 10 when Sue Miller was available. The group decided to hold the 2009 conference in the fall in Columbus. They also suggested considering a third conference that would address board preparation and recertification.
The next conference call of the Conference Planning Committee will be on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 8:00 PM.
JUDICIAL AND ETHICAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
The Judicial and Ethical Affairs Committee met on a conference call on December 10, 2008. Present were committee members Scott Cordell, Sue Miller, Ciprian Plesca and Robert Zaayer. Also on the call was Beth Adamson, OAPA Executive Director.
The group reviewed the responsibilities of the committee and Mr. Zaayer volunteered to review the current OAPA bylaws and make suggestions for revisions, if any.
Development of a student society was discussed any Ms. Miller volunteered to review information the AAPA website. A representative from each PA program should be involved.
This committee is charged with PA Effectiveness and Ms. Adamson advised that OAPA refers inquiries to OPEP. A link needs to be added to the OAPA website and the Liaison Committee needs to add this to their list when talking to physician associations.
The Ways and Means subcommittee should be reviewing annual budgets. Ms. Adamson will send the proposed 2009 budget to them for review and comment prior to the January 10, 2009 board meeting.
Now that OAPA has some money, investment policies need to be developed. Ciprian and Scott volunteered to look at sample policies and make recommendations for development of one for OAPA. Ciprian will also investigate possible financial groups.
The next conference call of the Judicial and Ethical Affairs Committee will be on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 8:00 PM.