ASA Annual Meeting - Report from Your Director

Organized medicine is facing some very challenging times. Between a Medicare program that threatens over 40% cuts in physician payments over the next several years, an economy in turmoil, and a new administration promising significant changes to health care financing, physicians understandably feel themselves under siege. Despite this environment, anesthesiology has had several notable and significant successes over the past few years. A nearly 25% improvement in the Medicare anesthesia conversion factor in the beginning of 2008, correction of the flawed anesthesia teaching rule policy via the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act passed this past summer over a Presidential veto, and a nearly 5% positive update in our conversion factor effective January 2009 are examples of the value of our professional organization and the rewards of an effective and focused advocacy agenda. These efforts have put about an additional $30,000 a year in the wallet of each member. These successes require strong grassroots efforts. Each of us needs to do our part, responding to "calls to action" by writing or calling our members of Congress and by contributing to the ASA's political action committee, ASAPAC. Despite this having been a game changing election and despite these recent successes, our members' level of participation in ASAPAC was not nearly as good as it has been in year's past. This must change as we face unprecedented threats to our specialty and to medicine in general. If you have not contributed, consider doing so. It's easy, requiring only a visit to the Member's Only area of ASA's website at http://www.asahq.org.

The ASA has long prided itself on its efficiency and dependence on the exceptional efforts of its volunteers; however, the missions of the ASA have become increasingly complex and numerous. Over the past several years, our professional society has undergone massive changes in its organization. Member value, the number of services offered and the quality of our professional staff have improved dramatically. ASA dues have not changed since the beginning of the decade. After much debate, the ASA House of Delegates approved a dues increase to $600/year to account for inflationary changes over that period. To help prevent further dues increases in the future, a task force led by Assistant Treasurer James Grant from Detroit, Michigan is exploring ways to enhance non-dues revenue, thus reducing ASA's dependence on member dues to fund continuing operations. Everything is on the table from leveraging ASA intellectual property in new and novel ways to improving the financial status of our annual meeting.

The elections for ASA officers found only one race contested, that for First Vice President. ASA Speaker of the House Candace Keller faced Mark Warner, Dean at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. After a spirited race, Dr. Warner prevailed. I am delighted to announce that Dr. Warner will be visiting our state in May to give the ASA update at our spring meeting in Salishan.

Finally, both peer and self-nominations for ASA committees are now being accepted at the ASA website. Nominations close on January 15. If you have an interest in serving on an ASA committee, please do not hesitate to contact me at director@osaonline.org. I can provide you information about the process and help you identify committees that might be a good fit for your interests.