West Virginia Podiatric Medical Association

 for comments, additions and embellishments to this site contact: SGlassburn@att.net

July 16, 2000 meeting

Members present:

 

Rusty Cain, DPM                                            Len Simmons, DPM

Nick Bicak, DPM                                           Jerry Hadrych, DPM

Scott Glassburn, DPM                                                John White, DPM

Chas C Paxton, DPM ( APMA lifer )                  R. Curtis Arnold, DPM

( 8 / 28 members present à a quorum )

 

 

• Previous minutes were discussed and accepted into the record.                                                                                                        .

Ø      WVPMA Updates:

• Dr. Miller (Footwise Podiatry in Morgantown) has thankfully accepted the auspicious position of The WVPMA Guild Representative. Appropriate contacts have been made – and membership rosters have been provided. Contact with Dr. Miller is appropriate concerning possible guild issues. The state society would appreciate being informed of matters in which individuals are seeking guild intervention (to coordinate efforts among members in a united front).
• Dr. Simmons as PPAC Representative for WVPMA reminds our members to keep those donations coming. Additionally, it has been shared by Dr. Markham via Nelson Robinson that a group donation to the Wise campaign by our state society would be illegal. However, a recommended tactic to gain some PAC recognition by our group is to make individual donations to a campaign, and have a representative (perhaps Dr. Simmons would volunteer) present the checks on behalf of our group. This should be seriously considered at our next meeting.
• Dr. Rauch has done a nice job of obtaining information about the use of MD TV web conferencing for a future meeting. This is being seriously considered for one of our winter meetings. The costs (if I understand correctly) would be approximately $80.00 per location for a 90-minute conference. We currently pay approx. $150.00 per meeting (conference room cost for Days Inn for day – less time restricted). Locations would be Charleston and Morgantown – a third location could be considered). Dr. Glassburn could coordinate meeting in Chas. – Dr. Hadrych in Morgantown. Dr. Rauch’s help will also be needed.                                                                                                                                  .

Ø      New Business:

• Dr. White has been nominated and elected to be our state member to the Carrier Advisor Committee to Nationwide Medicare. This position will commence in the New Year.
• CAC news: New Routine Foot care policies were implemented in March that have been described in previous minutes. Comment: these new policies are generally more specific about what qualifies for coverage – no changes in coverage or billing practices should be required. Covered services comprise specific systemic illnesses that are now listed – most common covered criteria include Diabetes AND Vascular disease. Hot topics in other regions continue to revolve around the scope of podiatry and whether podiatrists can primarily diagnose PVD and ASO (duh!).
• The WV Board of medicine sent a proposal to physician society presidents that outline Licensing, Disciplinary and Complaint Procedures – amendments have been proposed – a period of comment has past – but no comments seemed necessary.
• A roster of current members and phone numbers will be circulated with these minutes – this roster will also be posted to the WVPMA website – I will post an applet to allow members to send me up to date address information and e-mail addresses.
• Coventry Health Plans (major issue):            In June, Carelink (and Prime One) sent letters to Podiatry and Chiropractor providers stating that they will implement a change in the RVRBS conversion factors for surgical and E&M codes. When researched it was discovered that the E&M codes are 50% less for surgical codes and 35% less for E&M codes vs. the same codes for MD, DO’s. This is a true (and unfair) discrimination. The matter was discussed and appropriate outrage was expressed. It was understood that it would be a mistake for individuals to drop out of their plans due to the need to accrue damages – which may be necessary if this issue needs to be challenged legally. All members who are providers need to send a letter (in order to be on record) objecting to the policy changes that are proposed.
• Phil Stowers , Nelson Robinson , Dr. Midkiff (Chiropractic Society president) and myself met with Hanley Clark (Insurance commissioner) in August to discuss why the anti-discrimination clauses that were enacted in 1991 are not being enforced. The insurance commissioner (30days hence) has yet to respond and render a decision on his interpretation of the law.
• Aside: it is my belief that he will not act until after the election – when, frankly, he may be replaced. (In general the honorable Mr. Clark has traditionally been an advocate of the insurance companies)

 

Ø      Agenda for next meeting:

• Next meeting is scheduled on October 15^th, 2000 at the Days Inn in Flatwoods – 9:00 AM
• APMA has recommended that we endeavor to have podiatry defined as a Physician or Podiatric Physician in our state bylaws (working with legislators).
• Develop better networking among members – via call lists; fax lists and e-mail exchange to share information and concerns.
• Develop antdiscriminatory plans of action to employ as a group (Group involvement in Guild).
• Discuss legal issues and potential litigation that may be looming over the Coventry Health Plan issues

 

Late News:  (9/26/00) I had a very favorable meeting with Jim Bowen, President WV AFL-CIO and his staff. I was impressed with their reception to our problems and issues that face us.

Nelson has informed me that Hanley Clark should release a formal statement on his interpretation of the State Laws that apply to Coventry Health plans this week (unofficially, Nelson was told that we should be satisfied with his official interpretation).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ø     Current Roster:

 

Member	Fax	Office
R. CURTIS ARNOLD	744-0165
NIKOLA BICAK	372-1513
GREGORY D BOROWSKI	736-0556
SHEILA BROOKS	327-0614
ANTHONY CATANIA	623-2638
RUSTYU CAIN	363-3359
ASHTON C. CURTIS	637-0069
KIMBERLY S. DYKENS	768-6243
DAVID R. FRANKE	623-2638
SCOTT GLASSBURN	345-3665
DAVID GLEITZMAN	599-4091
JERRY I. HADRYCH	599-2633
ROY C. HARMON	NO FAX , MAIL TO 55 15TH ST WHEELING, W.V 26003-3549
GLENN ANTHONY HENNING	529-7320
RUTH GLASSBURN JONES	345-3665
PHILLIP MALLORY	525-4455
CHARLES R. MARKHAM	529-0197
BILLY PAUL MAY	529-0197
GORDON MILLER	599-4091
RICHARD M. MOOREHEAD	233-0501
MARTIN M. MROZEK	469-3798
KEITH M. NOWMAN	624-6840
CHARLES C. PAXTON	737-7800
RICHARD L. RAUCH	267-5545
LUCIANO L. SORDOZ	253-6685
JEFFREY E. SHOOK	529-7320
LEONARD SIMMONS	363-3359
RUTH SUGONIS	NO FAX, MAIL TO 910 4TH AVE. HUNTINGTON, WV 25701-1433
CHARLES TAYLOR	253-6685
JOHN BOWMAN WHITE	776-7974
JEFFREY WILP	797-1187

 

Ø     Some e-mail addresses:

 

 

Ø     Addresses:

 

George Arnold, D.P.M. 507 Country Club Blvd. South Charleston, WV 26309	R. Curtis Arnold, D.P.M. 417 D Street South Charleston, WV 25303	Mohammad Imani, D.P.M. 4407 MacCorkle Ave., SE Charleston, WV 25304
Ruth Jones, D.P.M. 114 Washington St., W#200 Charleston, WV 25302	William Baber, D.P.M. 119 Hartland Ave. Clarksburg, WV 26301	Jeffrey Wilps, D.P.M. 3747 Main Street Weirton, WV 26062
Scott Glassburn, D.P.M. 114 Washington St., #200 Charleston, WV 25302	Sheila Brooks, D.P.M. 1808 Vineyard Street Bluefield, WV 24701	Nikola Bicak, D.P.M. P.O. Box 796 Ripley, WV 25271
Greg Borowski, D.P.M. 6351 Route 60, E. #1A Barboursville, WV 25504	H. Darrel Darby, D.P.M. 655 Whitaker Blvd, #W502 Huntington, WV 25701	Anthony Catania, D.P.M. 600 Davisson Run Rd., #200 Clarksburg, WV 26301
Ashton Curtis, D.P.M. 1500 Harrison Avenue Elkins, WV 26241	Gordon Miller, D.P.M. R. R. 5 Box 137 Morgantown, WV 26905	David Franke, D.P.M. 600 Davisson Run Rd., #200 Clarksburg, WV 26301
David Gleitzman, D.P.M. 2000 Hampton Ctr., #B Morgantown, WV 26505	Roy Harmon, D.P.M. 55 15th Street Wheeling, WV 26003	E.L. Grandison, D.P.M. 100 Main Street #307 Beckley, WV 25801
Jerry Hadriych, D.P.M. 3280 University Avenue, #3 Morgantown, WV 26505	Charles Markham, D.P.M. 4 Woodridge Court Huntington, WV 25705	Glenn Henning, D.P.M. 5800 Mahood Dr., #3 Huntington, WV 25705
Mary Lunter, D.P.M. 100 Parkway Drive Clarksburg, WV 26301	Martin Mrozek, D.P.M. 1 Main Street Lochgelly, WV 25866	Bill May, D.P.M. P.O. Box 485 Huntington, WV 25709
Richard Moorehead, D.P.M. 1061 Main Street Wheeling, WV 26003	James Phipps, D.P.M. 328 Bradley Foster Drive Huntington, WV 25701	Keith Newman, D.P.M. 206 South 2nd Street Clarksburg, WV 26301
Charles Paxton, D.P.M. 509 4th Avenue St. Albans, WV 25177	Charles Taylor, D.P.M. 100 N. Heights Drive Beckley, WV 25801	Richard Ranch, D.P.M. 2000 Professional Court #B Martinsburg, WV 25407
Luciano Serdoz, D.P.M. 100 N. Heights Drive Beckley, WV 25801	Ruth Sugonis, D.P.M. 910 4th Avenue, #1302 Huntington, WV 25701	Jeffrey Shook, D.P.M. 32 Scenic Lane Huntington, WV 25702
	L.L. Wilson, D.P.M. 512 Evergreen Place Ct. Louisville, KY 40223	Per Vaas, D.P.M. 1200 Quarrier Street #5 Charleston, WV 25301
Leonard Simmons, D.P.M. 1228 Country Club Road Fairmont, WV 26554	John White, D.P.M. 101 Knollwood Drive Cross Lanes, WV 25313	Jack Thomas, D.P.M. 3325 Bridgefield Drive Lakeland, FL 33803