News

AMA efforts vital in blocking health insurers' merger plan

Last month's news that the two largest health insurers in Pennsylvania abandoned their plans to consolidate is a considerable victory for patients and physicians that made headlines across the state. What didn't make it into those stories is the active and instrumental role the AMA played in the outcome.

First, a little background: Health insurers Highmark and Independence Blue Cross (IBC) withdrew their merger proposal Jan. 21. Had they merged, they would have created the country's sixth largest health insurer, one that would have had a stranglehold on the Pennsylvania market, further inhibiting competition and hurting patients.

As it turns out, Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario was preparing to block the merger proposal Jan. 27 based on the Pennsylvania Insurance Department's concerns that the merger would be "anticompetitive," in large part because it would grant the new, merged health insurer undue leverage over physicians and other health care providers. Ario said the merger would have lessened competition and disadvantaged providers, resulting in fewer choices for consumers and weaker provider networks for consumers who depend on those networks for access to care. I couldn't agree more.

Mergers such as the one Highmark and IBC had proposed are a grave threat to health care delivery systems across the country. Contrary to claims of greater efficiencies and lower costs, patients are not benefiting from health insurance market consolidation. Dominant health insurers have posted historically high profit margins, yet patients see their premiums continually rising without an expansion of benefits.

The state insurance department's conclusions, based on a thorough 21-month review process, are remarkable and deserve national respect. The department held three public hearings, in which 101 interested parties offered comments, and compiled a Web site that hosted nearly 50,000 pages of commentary before reaching its verdict.

Chief among those offering comments were the AMA and the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PaMS), both of which strongly advocated against the proposed merger. Last year the AMA testified against this consolidation in hearings before both the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee and the state insurance department. The AMA also answered separate questions from the insurance department about this matter.

The efforts of the AMA and PaMS had a significant impact; the insurance department quoted several portions of AMA testimony and written submissions in its rationale. In particular, the insurance department relied on the AMA's comments regarding the issue of buyer power. As part of that testimony, the AMA said the evidence from mergers throughout the country "strongly suggests that the creation of buyer power from health insurance consolidation has not benefited competition or consumers."

The state insurance department's exhaustive consideration of the market ramifications that would result from a Highmark-IBC merger validated the AMA's monopsony concerns. Typically when reviewing insurance mergers, regulators have concluded that allowing insurers to grow larger is good for consumers because they will drive down costs and thus lead to reduced premiums. IBC's chief executive officer tried to make this exact point, testifying that competition was bad because the "payment for providers goes up. And that's not healthy for our customers."

I credit the Pennsylvania Insurance Department for seeing through that flawed argument, one that's wrong as a matter of both fact and theory. Relying on expert testimony, the insurance department observed that it was an economic fallacy to believe that using market leverage to reduce provider reimbursements below competitive levels will translate into lower premiums.

Economic theory clearly demonstrates that consumers are better off when there is a competitive market for purchasing provider services. Moreover, Highmark's earlier expansion into central Pennsylvania, where it competes with Capitol Blue Cross, demonstrates that consumers are better off when there is head-to-head competition for providers.

The AMA makes similar points in the newly updated edition of Competition in Health Insurance: A Comprehensive Study of U.S. Markets,a study showing that health insurance markets nationally have become highly concentrated and thus are contributing to rising insurance rates. Released late last month with 2008 data, this edition shows evidence that, in nearly all 314 metropolitan areas studied, patients and physicians have fewer options and are left vulnerable to the demands of health insurers.

The study finds that the vast majority of markets are highly concentrated and are dominated by one or two health insurers. These findings, coupled with higher insurance premiums, higher profits, lower scope of benefits and high barriers to entry, leads to the conclusion that health insurers are exercising market power in many parts of the country. Thankfully, a combined Highmark-IBC will not be able to lay claim to such market power in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The AMA will continue to work with state insurance regulators to help them recognize how health insurer mergers harm both providers and consumers and to help identify insurance company practices that keep the free market from working.

Big victories such as this aren't possible without the support of the nation's physicians, so please review the status of your AMA membership. If your membership is not active for this year, I urge you to act today to become a member.

E-mail comments, questions and replies to Dr. Nielsen

1) Physicians, AMA triumph in privacy court case
Physicians—and the AMA—won a major victory last week when a federal appeals court rejected a consumer group's attempt to use Medicare billing records to rate doctors.

In Consumers' Checkbook v. United States, the nonprofit Consumers' Checkbook group won a lower-court ruling in 2007 that directed the government to release Medicare physician payment records under the federal Freedom of Information Act. The AMA urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to challenge the decision, and the Litigation Center of the AMA and State Medical Societies joined the HHS in an appeal. The AMA argued that the use of raw Medicare claims data would not only have almost no bearing on the quality of medical services but would tend to mislead patients.

In a judgment issued Jan. 30, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the AMA and the HHS. In its decision, the court noted the significant right to privacy physicians have and concluded that the release of personal physician payment data does not meet the standard of the Freedom of Information Act.

"Every physician who works with Medicare will benefit from the AMA's legal victory to preserve physicians' privacy," AMA Trustee Jeremy Lazarus, MD, said. "Transparency is important for both patients and physicians, and the AMA supports sharing appropriate quality data to help with health care decision-making. The release of raw data that shows nothing more than how many times a physician performs a procedure—as opposed to how well the procedure is done—can potentially harm an existing patient-physician relationship and may in fact lead to poor health care decisions."

View more from Dr. Lazarus.

2) AMA cheers new law providing health insurance coverage for more children
A new law that extends health care coverage to more American children drew high praise from the AMA. President Barack Obama signed legislation Feb. 4 that reauthorizes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through 2013 and is expected to increase enrollment in SCHIP by 5.7 million people.

The new law will enable states to extend health care coverage to more children whose parents cannot afford it but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Costs of the program will be offset by an increase in the federal tobacco tax. And the new law does not include any restrictions on physician ownership of hospitals.

The AMA lauded the new law, with AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, calling it a first step in reducing the ranks of the nation's 46 million uninsured.

"Now millions more American children will be able to get the health care they need to have the best chance to learn, develop and succeed in life," Dr. Nielsen said.

View more from Dr. Nielsen.

4) New AMA Web site offers more for you
A more engaging and interactive AMA Web site has been designed around its most important audience—you!

Offering a fresh look and expanded content, the AMA's newly redesigned Web site presents a wealth of information and resources in a more dynamic and timely fashion. The new Web site features:

• More content and resources accessible directly from the home page which means fewer clicks for the information you need.
• Dedicated sections—for physicians, residents and fellows, students and patients—that give you quick and easy access to the content most important to you.
• News pages updated daily so you know what is happening.
• Related links that direct you to other information and resources that may be of interest to you.

As we learn about how you use the new site, we'll continue to enhance it, make it even more user-friendly and add value as your needs evolve.

5) FDA offers advice on recall of peanut-containing products
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking physicians to remind patients who have bought peanut-containing products that are on the federal recall list to discard those products in a manner that prevents others from eating them. So far the federal government has announced recalls covering hundreds of peanut-containing products related to an outbreak of salmonella in states across the country.

Physicians can point their patients to the FDA Web site for details from the FDA about the recalls, including a list of recalled products.

Some pet foods and pet treats may contain contaminated peanut butter, including dog biscuits and bird food. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has developed a fact sheet to inform people how this outbreak might affect their pets.

6) AMA Foundation awards Health Care Recovery Fund grants
Seven medical practices in Texas received $20,000 in disaster relief grants through the AMA Foundation's Health Care Recovery Fund. The grants are intended for assistance in rebuilding and restoring practices following the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in September.

The fund is made possible through collaborative work with the Texas Medical Association and through contributions from the AMA and individual donations to the AMA Foundation. To provide as many relief grants as possible for future disasters, the AMA Foundation is accepting donations to the fund.

Donate to the fund.

7) Ethics in brief: Washington Death with Dignity Act includes rules for physicians
The Washington Department of Health is considering rules for carrying out the state's new Death with Dignity Act, which would require physicians to submit information to the agency on patients' requests for prescriptions of lethal medication, physician's evaluations of patients and drugs dispensed under the statute.

The law, which would take effect March 5, allows competent adults with terminal diseases to request lethal medication to end life "in a human and dignified manner." Under the law, an attending physician must determine whether a patient has a terminal illness. The health department is accepting comments on the proposed rules until Feb. 10.

The AMA strongly believes that physician-assisted suicide, which occurs when a physician facilitates a patient's death by providing the necessary means or information to enable the patient to perform a life-ending act, is fundamentally incompatible with a physician's role as a healer.

Rather than participate in assisted suicide, physicians must aggressively respond to the needs of patients at the end of life and support such multidisciplinary interventions as specialty consultation and hospice care. It is because of these and other ethical considerations that physicians must abstain from participation in physician-assisted suicide, regardless of the law of the state.

8) Don't miss the 2009 AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards
Prior to the National Advocacy Conference, the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medicine Awards dinner will take place March 9 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. This event honors a select group of physicians and medical students who exemplify the medical profession's highest values of altruism, compassion and dedication to patient care. The cost per person to attend is $150, and the cost for table sponsorship is $1,350.

This year's Excellence in Medicine Award winners are:

• Randi Abramson, MD, Pride in the Profession Award
• Regina Benjamin, MD, Pride in Profession Award
• David Muller, MD, Pride in Profession Award
• Nancy Oriol, MD, Pride in Profession Award
• AppaRao Mukkamala, MD, Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine
• Richard Baylor, MD, Jack B. McConnell, MD, Award for Excellence in Volunteerism

Please call (312) 464-4200 by Feb. 20 to confirm your attendance and/or table sponsorship.

9) In JAMA: Cardiac imaging method may expose patients to high radiation dose
Use of the imaging technique known as cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography (CCTA) has the potential to expose patients to high doses of radiation, and methods available to reduce radiation dose are not frequently used, according to a study in the Feb. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

According to the accompanying editorial, interest in the use of computer tomography has increased rapidly since the introduction of 64-slice scanners.

Preview an editorial on this topic.

1) Visit new CME page on AMA Web site
The AMA's newly redesigned Web site includes a page that lists all continuing medical education (CME) programs offered by the AMA. Programs are listed by topic, format, webcasts and webinars, journal credits and AMA CME courses.

View the new CME Web page.

2) Middle-class consumers increasingly turn to health clinics for poor
According to a report in the New York Times, clinics in some parts of New York are seeing a trend in middle-class professionals, small-scale businesspersons, artisans or young people just out of college—all without health insurance—seeking care in clinics designed for the poor.

The clinics believe this trend is sign of a breakdown in the nation's health care system and a testimony to the strain placed on many middle-class people. The clinic's middle-class patients are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, and while many work, they do not have employer-based health insurance or the means to afford private health insurance.

Read about the AMA's "Voice for the Uninsured" campaign and learn how to get involved.

1) Study: Differences in health care access for gay, lesbian and bisexual population
A report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reviews health disparities based specifically on sexual orientation in hopes of stimulating further study on ways to reduce and eliminate health disparities faced by gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

The statewide, population-based report looks at disparities among people who identified themselves as homosexual or bisexual in the areas of anxiety, depression, suicide and other areas of concern. Researchers found that in many cases the disparities were even greater for bisexuals than for gays or lesbians when compared with their heterosexual counterparts.

1) AMA announces new disaster preparedness course
The AMA and National Disaster Life Support Foundation Inc. recently announced the release of a new Electronic Core Disaster Life Support™ course (eCDLS™). The course is designed to increase emergency responder awareness of basic skills, competencies, knowledge and resources that are critical for a coordinated and effective local emergency response effort.

Funded by the Department of Homeland Security, eCDLS is an awareness-level, all-hazards course for all potential health system responders. The four-hour course comprises nine modules, a pre-test and a post-test and is available at no charge.

Those who complete the course by Sept. 30 will receive a course completion certificate, a CDLS course manual, a wallet-card and the AMA virtual library CD-ROM, Management of Public Health Emergencies.

Send an e-mail with questions.

Visit the Web site for a list and description of all the National Disaster Life Support™ courses.

2) Improve the health of your practice by performing a claims process checkup
Ensure your practice's financial health and create a supportive environment for enhanced patient care by using Prescription for a healthier practice: Physicians claims process check-up (PDF). This AMA resource helps physicians examine their practice's ability to analyze health insurer payments for accuracy and effectively address delays, denials and reductions in payment.

1) Review the latest AMA-IMG work force report
A newly updated discussion paper (PDF) that addresses physician shortages and misdistribution as well as statistics on IMGs is now available. The paper, International Medical Graduates in the U.S. Physician Workforce, offers information on international medical schools and recommendations for better use of the IMG work force. It is intended to spark open dialogue among IMGs and between IMGs and non-IMGs.

Contact Carolyn Carter-Ellis at (312) 464-5397 or send an e-mail with any questions.

2) Apply for a position on the AMA-IMG Section Governing Council
Candidates interested in a position on the 2009–2012 AMA-IMG Section Governing Council are encouraged to submit materials by Feb. 20. Qualified candidates must be current AMA members who are IMGs with relevant organized medicine leadership experience as well as plenty of time to commit to the group for three years.

E-mail materials for consideration. Materials should be sent no later than Feb. 20. Online elections will take place in April.

Call J. Mori Johnson at (312) 464-5678 for more information.

3) Participate in new AMA-IMG Section virtual congress
As part of the AMA-IMG Section's new virtual congress format, resolutions submitted by April 3 for consideration during the section's annual congress will be placed on the AMA-IMG Section Web site for review and online testimony submissions. This new format should increase the participation of AMA-IMG Section members and will allow the section's resolutions to be included in the AMA House of Delegates handbook.

The AMA-IMG Section Governing Council and resolutions committee will review all submitted testimony and finalize resolutions by April 27. AMA-IMG Section members will vote between April 30 and May 7 to approve or not approve each resolution in its final form.

E-mail resolutions for consideration. Resolutions are due no later than April 3.

Visit the AMA-IMG Web site to view resolution writing guidelines. Call (312) 464-5397 with questions.

Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools

1) Tune in for CME webinars
New online programs hosted by the AMA Division of Continuing Physician Professional Development will discuss PI CME, or performance improvement continuing medical education, in medical schools and hospital settings, and the AMA Physician's Recognition Award (AMA PRA) credit system.

Physicians might not be aware of the many types of activities that qualify for AMA PRA credit or when credit may be awarded or claimed. To clarify this, an article, What Physicians Should Know about the AMA PRA Credit System (PDF), describes different ways that physicians can earn AMA PRA credit either through accredited providers or directly through the AMA.

Visit the Web site to see the first of the PI CME webinars, scheduled for Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. EST.

2) Review the latest AMA-IMG work force report
A newly updated discussion paper (PDF) that addresses physician shortages and misdistribution as well as statistics on IMGs is now available. The paper, International Medical Graduates in the U.S. Physician Workforce, offers information on international medical schools and recommendations for better use of the IMG work force. It is intended to spark open dialogue among IMGs and between IMGs and non-IMGs.

E-mail J. Mori Johnson with any questions.

3) Apply for AMA Foundation scholarships
Medical school faculty are encouraged to apply for several scholarships available through the AMA Foundation.

The Minority Scholars Award, presented in association with the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium, offers $10,000 awards for students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in the medical profession. Two first- or second-year medical students from each medical school may be nominated to receive one of 12 scholarships available. Nominations are due April 15.

Physicians of Tomorrow scholarships in the amount of $10,000 are available to third-year medical students based on academic excellence and financial need. Medical schools may submit one student for each of the three different scholarship categories. Nominations are due May 29.

Visit the Web site for application instructions and materials.

4) In AMNews: TV doctors' flaws become bioethics teaching moments
According to a story in the Feb. 2 issue of American Medical News, medical dramas have big followings among medical students, and professors say the shows can highlight ethical dilemmas.

1) Take advantage of AMA health policy opportunities for medical students
Through the Government Relations Internship Program (GRIP), the AMA Department of Medical Student Services offers assistance to students seeking to increase their involvement and education in national health policy and in the national legislative activities of organized medicine.

The GRIP is an opportunity for medical student members of the AMA to enhance their medical education through work in health care policy. Students must arrange their own six- to eight-week internships in advance, between June and August. The deadline to apply for the GRIP is Feb. 15.

2) Mark your calendars for upcoming AMA-MSS Region meetings
AMA-MSS Regions 2, 5, 6 and 7 have upcoming meetings, and you're invited to attend.

• The AMA-MSS Region 2 meeting, "Forensics in medicine," will be held Apr. 3–4 at the Kansas City University of Medicine in Kansas City, Mo.
• The AMA-MSS Region 5 meeting, "Together toward tomorrow," will be held Feb. 27 at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
• The AMA-MSS Region 6 meeting, "Understanding how actions of lawmakers and policymakers will impact our lives as physicians," will be held March 7–8 at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.
• The AMA-MSS Region 7 meeting, "Surviving and thriving during medical school and residency," will be held Feb. 7 at the Massachusetts Medical Society in Waltham, Mass.

Visit the Web site for more information about these meetings, a list of states in each region and to learn more about organizing a region meeting.

3) Get ready for Cover the Uninsured Week
The AMA-MSS will join a number of influential organizations as a national supporter of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's seventh annual Cover the Uninsured Week, March 22–28.

This involvement is part of the AMA-MSS's National Service Project and its ongoing dedication to covering the uninsured and protecting access to care. Last year more than 40 AMA-MSS chapters participated in Cover the Uninsured Week events, and local chapters are encouraged to participate this year.

Chapter involvement grants (CIGs) are available to AMA-MSS chapters to offset the costs of Cover the Uninsured Week events and to help pay for other student projects and recruitment events. Chapters are eligible for up to $1,000 per academic year, with a maximum of $500 per event.

Visit the Web site to apply for a CIG at least 30 days before your event.

Visit the Web site to read about last year's events and to learn how to get involved this year.

4) Register for the American Physician Scientists Association Annual Meeting
The American Physician Scientists Association will hold its annual meeting in conjunction with the Association of American Physicians and the American Society for Clinical Investigation. Held April 24–26 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, the meeting will enable interactions between students at all levels of training, including clinical and research faculty, public health advocates and leaders in industry. The deadline to register is April 10.

The meeting will include forums about funding and career development, panel discussions and a poster session during which students and residents can present their work. The deadline to submit abstracts for the poster session is Feb. 13.

5) Multi-physician families make it work
A recent article (PDF) in AMA Alliance Today offers insight into the multi-physician family and tips for balancing family life with the demands of medical practice.

Visit Web site for more pertinent information on the AMA Alliance as it relates to medical students and residents.

Brought to you by the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium

1) Join Doctors Back to School visit for special African American History Month program
A special Doctors Back to School (DBTS) program is planned at Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine in Chicago on Feb. 18 as part of African American History month.

DBTS visits show kids of all ages, particularly those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, that medicine is an attainable career option for everyone. In an effort to demonstrate the importance of increasing diversity in medicine, residents and medical students are encouraged to participate by conducting DBTS program visits in their own communities.

Send an e-mail to volunteer.

Visit the Web site for the AMA's DBTS resources, including an action kit that can be downloaded.

1) Save the date: 2009 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting in Chicago
The AMA-OMSS assembly meeting will be held June 11–13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Look for more information to come shortly in regard to this meeting.

Visit the AMA-OMSS Web site to view the full 2008 AMA-OMSS Interim Assembly Meeting summary and PowerPoint presentation for the AMA 2008 Interim meeting, as well as its disposition of actions.

2) Download free copy of AMA-OMSS presentation for medical staffs, hospital boards
The AMA-OMSS developed two PowerPoint presentations—one for medical staffs and another for hospital boards—to provide information on the section and its mission, duties and past actions.

AMA members can visit the AMA-OMSS Web site to view and download these presentations free of charge.

3) AMA Annual Meeting webcasts added to archives
The AMA-OMSS is offering four 90-minute educational webcasts: "Transitioning to an improved hospital discharge," "Keys to the successful implementation of the revised Joint Commission Medical Staff Bylaws Standard MS.1.20," "Creating a new future for a new day with a revamped organized medical staff structure" and "Physician hospitals of America: Reclaiming quality patient care through physician leadership."

Three of these programs provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Visit the AMA-OMSS Web site to access these programs and learn more about each one.

Accreditation statement
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation statement
The American Medical Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

4) Align your bylaws with Joint Commission standards
Because medical staff bylaws are considered a contract and are legally binding in most states, it is extremely important that they are well-designed and well-written. The fourth edition of the "Physician's guide to medical staff organization bylaws" contains practical guidance on bylaws development, model bylaw language, information on emerging issues and recent trends in medical staff re-engineering. The guide will be especially helpful to medical staffs as they update their bylaws to align with Joint Commission standards.

AMA members can download the guide (PDF) at no charge.

5) Resource helps strengthen physician-hospital relationship
A printable version of the "Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship," developed by the AMA-OMSS and adopted by the AMA House of Delegates, is available online (PDF). These principles are designed to improve the working relationship between physicians and hospitals and ultimately foster better patient care and improve patient safety.

Send an e-mail to order a poster of the principles for your medical staff lounge.

1) Apply legislative awareness internship in Washington, D.C.
The AMA-RFS, in conjunction with the AMA's Washington, D.C., office, is sponsoring a two-week legislative internship program this spring. The program provides residents and fellows the opportunity to participate in the political process of organized medicine at the national level. Applications are due Feb. 27.

Visit the AMA-RFS Web site for more information and to apply.

2) Participate in exciting media rotation with Discovery Health
Medical students are encouraged to apply for the AMA/Discovery Health internship, a four-week program during which one AMA medical student member will help develop a medical education program that will air on the Discovery Health Channel.

Available only to AMA medical student and resident and fellow members, this exciting opportunity provides hands-on experience in translating scientific data into an entertaining and informational program. The selected student will work primarily at Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., and travel to relevant on-site and studio shoots for the program. A stipend of $3,000 will be provided to cover living expenses. Dates and length of the rotation are flexible. Applications are due April 17.

Visit the Web site for more information and to apply.

3) February's Virtual Mentor explores professional responsibility in preventing violence, abuse
The February issue of Virtual Mentor looks at abuse and violence in their many forms. The article surmises that while violence and abuse represent a significant public health problem, "we are less likely to know about the mistreatment of doctors-in-training and its possible consequence, or to consider how physicians can aid in identifying and treating school children who may pose a threat to their teachers and peers."

4) Study: Interpreter services underused by residents
A new study published in the February issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine examines how resident physicians decide whether or not to use an interpreter.

The study found that residents recognize that they do not take full advantage of interpreter services. Instead, many tend to depend on the patient's family members, gestures or their own limited second-language skills when communicating with patients. The researchers emphasized that hospitals must offer clear guidelines for interpreter use and frame it as an issue of patient safety and quality improvement.

1) Early retirees opt for viable option
Retired physicians have found an excellent alternative to full-time practice. For physicians who are not ready to retire but who want to scale down their work hours, locum tenens allows physicians to enjoy more reasonable hours while combining work and travel time in a new location.

Visit the AMA-SPG Web site to find volunteer opportunities online as well as a link to the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations.

2) AMA-SPG developing national network of senior physician groups
The AMA-SPG Governing Council is working to actively engage senior physicians in the policy-making process to give them a more significant voice in the AMA. As part of that effort, the governing council is developing a national network of senior physician groups. The network's Web site includes more than 40 groups representing about 3,000 senior physicians.

Visit the AMA-SPG Web site to view the represented groups.

Contact Alice Reed with your contact information or call (312) 464-5523 if your senior physicians group is not listed.

Brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress

1) Women in medicine reading list expanded
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated its women in medicine reading list to include literature on women in pediatrics as well as women physicians in other specialties.

2) Participate in National Wear Red Day
Of all U.S. women who die each year, one in four die of heart disease. With that statistic in mind, women are encouraged to wear red Feb. 6 as part of National Wear Red Day to help recognize heart disease and its risks.

Older women are more likely to develop heart disease—therefore, the campaign encourages women of all ages to learn more about the affliction and take steps to prevent it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer tips online on how to lower your risk for heart disease.

1) AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee applications due tomorrow
AMA-YPS positions on both the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC) Governing Council and the AMA Advisory Committee on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Issues will be available this spring. The AMA-YPS has slotted seats in these AMA special group governing councils: the AMA-GLBT Advisory Committee, the AMA-MAC and the AMA Women Physicians Congress.

Complete the application materials and forward them to the AMA-YPS Governing Council no later than Feb. 6 to be considered for these positions.

Visit the AMA-GLBT Web site to apply for the AMA-GLBT Governing Council position.

Visit the AMA-MAC Web site to apply for the AMA-MAC Governing Council position.

Send an e-mail with your application materials as well as any related questions.

2) Apply by Feb. 15 for Joan F. Giambalvo Memorial Scholarship
Researchers interested in exploring issues concerning women physicians are encouraged to apply for a 2009 Joan F. Giambalvo Memorial Scholarship by Feb. 15. Established by the AMA Foundation in conjunction with the AMA Women Physicians Congress, the scholarship provides funding to help researchers advance the progress of women in the medical profession and identify and address the needs of women physicians and medical students.

Visit the AMA-WPC Web site to learn more and apply for up to $10,000 in funding.

3) New adolescent vaccination toolkit available online
The AMA recently participated in a National Foundation for Infectious Diseases initiative that produced a new online toolkit called Adolescent vaccination: Bridging to a healthy adulthood.

The toolkit offers health care professionals resources to highlight to patients and parents the important role vaccination plays in disease control and to encourage increased vaccination rates among this age group.