2020-2021 MSMA Council Meeting Highlights
Contact Jeff Howell, Executive Vice President, or call 573-691-4505.
Meeting of January 2021 - Via Teleconference
Your MSMA Council met by videoconference on Saturday, January 16. The Council took several actions:
Your MSMA Council met by videoconference on Saturday, January 16. The Council took several actions:
- Approved that the 2021 Annual Convention be held virtually (see pages 2 and 3 for details).
- Approved the Legislative Committee’s recommendations regarding two substitute resolutions from the 2020 Annual Convention regarding surprise billing and network adequacy for MO HealthNet patients.
- Approved two resolutions to the 163rd House of Delegates: 1) requiring members reach the age of 68 before being eligible for the Retired membership category; and 2) removing the requirement that $3 of each member’s dues be earmarked for the MSMA journal. Members can comment on the resolutions online at www.msma.org/proposed-resolutions.
- The Council heard reports from the Executive Vice President, the committees of Budget and Finance, Legislative Affairs, Membership, Dues Ad Hoc, and the Physicians Health Program, AMA Delegation, and Alliance. Councilors offered district and section reports, mainly focusing on the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- The next MSMA Council meeting will be via videoconference on April 8 at 6:00 p.m.
Meeting of October 2020 - Via Teleconference
Your MSMA Council met by videoconference for the October 2020 meeting due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your MSMA Council met by videoconference for the October 2020 meeting due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Council welcomes new members: Jennifer Conley, MD, of Nevada, who will fill the seat of Vice Councilor for District 6, previously held by Amanda Turner, MD; Dorothy Munch, DO, of Poplar Bluff, and Rachel Kyllo, MD, St. Louis, who will fill the Councilor and Vice Councilor positions, respectively, for District 10. They replace Sharon Wallace, MD, and Douglas Wallace, MD, who have relocated out of state.
- MSMA’s David Barbe, MD, will become president of the World Medical Association later this month. Dr. Barbe has served in several leadership positions with MSMA and was president of the American Medical Association in 2017-18.
- Virtual Advocacy Meetings (VAMs) offer groups the opportunity to get the latest news from our legislative team. This year, 22 VAMs have been held throughout the state. Contact Shantel Dooling (shantel@msma.org) to schedule a VAM for your group.
- Mark your calendars for MSMA’s White Coat Day, scheduled for March 2, 2021.
- Discussions are taking place regarding the 2021 Annual Convention, scheduled for April 10-11 in Kansas City. The Council will make a recommendation to the Speaker of the MSMA House of Delegates at its January meeting as to whether the Convention should take place in-person or virtually. Stay tuned!
- MSMA has seen significant increases in medical student and resident membership since dues were eliminated in April 2020. It is our hope that the younger audience will continue with MSMA membership when they become active practicing physicians.
- The Commission on Continuing Education reviewed Boone Hospital for reaccreditation, and approved a motion to place it on probation for two years. If the probationary process report is accepted, Boone Hospital will receive an additional two year accreditation.
- The next Council meeting will be held by videoconference on January 16, 2021.
Meeting of July 2020 - Via Teleconference
Your MSMA Council met by videoconference for the July 2020 meeting due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your MSMA Council met by videoconference for the July 2020 meeting due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Advocacy and membership are MSMA’s priorities. Advocacy outreach, accomplished with virtual meetings across the state, will inform members and nonmembers how MSMA is representing physicians, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. See schedule on page 1. The MSMA lobby team is also available to present to local societies, medical staffs, and other physician groups. Contact Shantel Dooling (shantel@msma.org) to schedule a meeting.
- We also continue to offer advocacy meetings by communicating directly with chief medical officers at hospitals since they employ about half of the physicians in the state.
- MSMA was one of more than 260 supporting organizations in favor of Medicaid expansion, voted on and passed on August 4.
- MSMA has signed on with ActionPPE, which offers physicians a reliable source of personal protective equipment.
- Your Association is continuing to conduct informational calls with Randall Williams, MD, Director of Missouri DHSS on Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m.
- #MaskUpMO is a social media campaign initiated by MSMA. MSMA has sent a letter to Governor Parson, co-signed by the Missouri Nurses Association, asking him to consider a mask requirement. A downloadable #MaskUpMO poster is available on MSMA’s website.
- MSMA continues to work with Arizona and Wisconsin in developing an Association Health Plan to be in place by January.
- Mark your calendars for MSMA’s White Coat Day, scheduled for March 2, 2021.
- George Hruza, MD, stated that this is an unusual year to be MSMA President, as his travel has been limited. He is optimistic that he will be able to travel in his role as MSMA President before his year is over. With MSMA’s support, Dr. Hruza has been working with the IMG section to support federal visa legislation that would help bring physicians to underserved areas in Missouri.
- New websites have been created for promoting free membership to residents and students. There is also a new member-to-member forum, which utilizes slack.com.
- MSMA personnel and members have delivered lunch for frontline COVID workers through our DocPlates program on a request basis.
- Membership dues for Active Members ($395) and Young Physician Members ($100, $200 and $300 in the first, second and third years of practice, respectively) will be maintained for 2021. The Council approved increasing Honor Member dues to $100 and Affiliate Member dues to $150.
- Resolutions #2 through #12 were referred to Council due to the cancellation of the 2020 Annual Convention. You can find them at www.msma.org/resolution-actions.
- The next Council meeting will be October 17, 2020.
