Issue 03 | January 19, 2024

Each year at AROC, we are gifted with a bevy of talented and impressive presenters that become a large part of what makes our conference stand out. Among that group this year is an respected DO that comes to us by way of the AOA, and will be speaking on an important and unique topic that will be available for MOC credits.

Julieanne P. Sees, DO, MBA, FAOAO, FAOA, FAAOS, is a pediatric/neuroorthopaedic surgeon-scientist with dual fellowship training who has focused expertise in care for neuromuscular conditions since 2012, an osteopathic physician executive leader and educator serving the national medical community since 2003, and a comprehensive scientist performing research since 2001.

Dr. Sees lives her Catholic faith aspiring to the words of Mother Theresa, ‘It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” This truth not only leads to joy in one’s career, but also enhances relationships, promotes collaboration, inspires creativity and ultimately achieves tremendous satisfaction and accomplishment for a team, a company and a patient.

Whether serving as a doctor, a speaker, a teammate, or a friend, it is that quality of love where Dr. Sees is the difference making a positive impact on the world one action and one connection at a time. She partners with scientific, osteopathic, allopathic, engineering and health-care groups to advance best practices within neuroorthopaedics and complex medical conditions, professional development and well-being, and emerging leadership in health-science and medicine.

Dr. Sees’ commitment to scholarly excellence earned her multiple awards in recognition of her unwavering dedication to research and teaching with unbridled energy and passion for education exemplified in tireless service and leadership. Dr. Sees puts her osteopathic principles into practice each day doing what she is called to do with what counts: her genuine servant leadership and much love.

Here is her information for her upcoming AROC 2024 presentation:

Speaker: Julieanne P. Sees, DO, FAAOS, FAOA, FAOAO

Board Certifications: AOA board-certified osteopathic orthopedic surgeon with dual fellowship training in pediatric orthopedic surgery and neuro-orthopedic surgery

Lecture Topic: Neuro Orthopedics (Qualifies for MOC Credits)

Lecture Date and Time: Friday, April 12, 2024

We are looking forward to Dr. Sees vistit to Alantic City in April, as well as learning from her vast expertise in the Neuro Orthopedic field. Stay tuned here for additional faculty spotlights that will highlight our new and upcoming programs at AROC. See below for registration and additional information.

George Scott, DO, DPM

President, 2023-2024, NJAOPS

Tajma Kotoric

Chief Executive Officer, NJAOPS

DEA Requirement

For 2024, AROC is offering 2.0 Category 1-A AOA CME Credits and 2.0 Category 1 PRA CME Credits ™ for the new DEA requirement.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits

In 2024, AROC will be offering MOC credits for the following certifying boards:

American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS)

The main page on our website for Attendees is: https://www.njaops.org/aroc-attendee-information and here is where you will find credit information and registration forms, among other details...

Online Registration

Print Registration Download

Discount Code for Hard Rock Hotel: GARC24z

Phone: Call 609-449-6860

Online: https://book.passkey.com/go/garc24z

Lame Duck Session “Wrap Up” – Outstanding Victories

The Lame Duck Session has officially concluded. I am very happy to report that all of the scope bills we were opposed to did NOT make it to the Governor’s Desk. Those bills as of January 8,-2024 received no further action. All of those have been reintroduced in the new Legislative Session which is ongoing as of January 2024.

January 16 at 5 pm was the last day bills on the Governor’s desk could be signed or face a pocket veto. More good news on that front. Two more of our key Legislative priorities were signed into law.

Many thanks to our leadership, board members, general membership and coalition partners for their support!

A detailed summary on each new law will be sent out next week.

LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS BY INSURERS

A4913/S3133 Requires payers to offer health care providers’ reimbursement by all reasonably available methods of payment.

Current Status: Signed Into Law

TRANSPARENCY IN PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS

A1255/S1794 Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act

Current Status: Signed into law

PAYMENT PARITY FOR TELE-HEALTH (One year extension)

A5757/S4127Revises Reimbursement Payments for provides using telemedicine and telehealth

Current Status: Signed into Law

BILLS THAT DID NOT REACH THE GOVERNOR’S DESK:

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE FOR APNs

S1522 A2296 Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advance practice nurses.

Current Status: No further action in Lame Duck Session

NURSE MIDWIVES NEW SCOPE AND LICENSING BOARD

S4042/A5674 Creates Midwifery Licensing Act

Current Status: No further action in Lame Duck Session

OPTOMETRIST SURGERY BILL

S3841/A5445- Updates scope of practice of optometrists

Current Status: No further action in Lame Duck Session

ATHLETIC TRAINERS - Scope Changes

A560/S135 – Revises the “Athletic Training Licensure Act”

Current Status: No further action in Lame Duck Session

Have you renewed your membership? Have you contributed to JOPAC?

Thank you in advance.

We need your help…

JOPAC Contributions Helping to Make Connections

NJAOPS’ President, George Scott, DO, DPM with Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-6). Your support is needed and appreciated!

Click here to help make a difference for DOs in

New Jersey!

Healthcare Headlines

Career Opportunity: A.T. Still University

KCOM - Residency Program Director, Kirksville Family Medicine

Description

A rural, community-based, fully accredited family medicine program sponsored by the founding school of osteopathic medicine, is seeking a new residency program director.

A.T. Still University—Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, in collaboration with Northeast Regional Medical Center, is seeking a highly compassionate and motivated physician leader for the family medicine residency program to serve as program director and advance the training of physicians seeking to provide care in rural and underserved communities.

The residency program, located at ATSU’s Gutensohn Clinic, provides comprehensive primary care education. We incorporate osteopathic principles and practice into our education and care training for residents and medical students in a welcoming environment that promotes individual and community wellness. This ACGME accredited program, sponsored with an academic community-based setting, has 12 resident positions (4-4-4) and focuses on graduating practice-ready physicians who will thrive in service of their community.

The program director leads a dedicated team of faculty to provide a high quality, state of the art learning and clinical experience. While this site serves as a core clinical training site for KCOM, additional opportunities exist for the program director to contribute to the education of years 1 and 2 osteopathic medical students at KCOM.

Interested applicants should contact:

Richard J. LaBaere, II, DO, MPH, FAODME, FNAOME

Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education

rlabaere@atsu.edu

atsu.edu/employment

For Full Description and Applicaion, Please Click Here!

FDA Approval Makes Florida First State to Import Drugs From Canada

In a pivotal move that could lower drug prices for the American consumer, the FDA has given Florida the okay to begin importing drugs in bulk from Canada.¹ The state estimates that its drug importation program could save taxpayers up to $180 million annually.²

What’s the Issue?

Soaring drug costs have placed financial strain on Americans for decades, leading some to choose between being able to afford prescribed medications and other necessities like rent or groceries. Florida’s plan will help lower drug prices for Americans, an issue championed by key players like President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.²

Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Florida will be allowed to purchase and distribute Canadian wholesale medications to participants of the state’s Medicaid program, government clinics, and prisons.²
The program will be authorized for 2 years from the date of the first shipment of imported drugs.¹
Terms of the FDA approval require that Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration submit quarterly reports to the FDA detailing information about imported drugs, financial data, and any shipment issues, for the duration of the program.¹

Why it Matters

The struggles faced by Americans who cannot afford their prescriptions have been consistently demonstrated by past literature. The FDA’s approval of Florida’s program will help mitigate the financial burden placed on patients and the larger health care system.

In 2021, the CDC reported that 8.2% of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who took prescription medication in the past 12 months stopped their prescribed regimen due to high costs.³
Cost-related nonadherence is linked to adverse patient outcomes, hospitalizations, and billions of dollars spent on unnecessary health care costs.⁴
The financial burden of out-of-pocket prescription prices has weighed disproportionately on low-income communities: Hispanics and Blacks, who have been shown to be more likely to be paid lower wages than Whites, must sacrifice a larger percentage of their earnings to afford necessary medications.⁵

In-Depth Insights

The FDA approval has stirred up a mixed response from the public.

Following suit of Florida, at least 7 states have established laws that would allow them to implement similar state drug importation programs, many of which have already received attention from the FDA.²
On behalf of the approval, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America issued a statement labeling the importation of unapproved medicines as “reckless.”⁶
Some Canadian officials have expressed opposition to the move, echoing a briefing from government officials written in 2019 that said the country “does not support actions that could adversely affect the supply of prescription drugs in Canada and potentially raise costs of prescription drugs for Canadians.”⁷

Expert Commentary

“The FDA is committed to working with states and Indian tribes that seek to develop successful section 804 importation proposals,” said Robert M. Califf, MD, FDA commissioner, referencing the feasibility of similar programs proposed by other states.¹ “These proposals must demonstrate the programs would result in significant cost savings to consumers without adding risk of exposure to unsafe or ineffective drugs.”
“We’re creating a system with importers and vendors that we as a state will import drugs from Canada, relabel them, and get them to Florida and send them out through various state programs that way,” said Jason Weida, secretary of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration.² “That guarantees safety. That guarantees cost savings.”

Extra Reading

For more on this issue, check out these articles.

References

1. FDA authorizes Florida’s drug importation program. News release. FDA. January 5, 2024. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-floridas-drug-importation-program?Fri,%2005%20Jan%202024%2009:15:13%20EST

2. Luhby, T. FDA approves first state request to import drugs from Canada. News release. CNNPolitics. January 5, 2024. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/05/politics/florida-canada-drug-imports-fda/index.html

3. Laryssa, M, Cohen, AR. Characteristics of adults aged 18-64 who did not take medication as prescribed to reduce costs: United States 2021. Data brief. CDC. June 2, 2023. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/127680

4. Rohatgi KW, Humble S, McQueen A, et al. Medication adherence and characteristics of patients who spend less on basic needs to afford medications. J Am Board Fam Med. 2021;34(3):561-570. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2021.03.200361

5. Kogut SJ. Racial disparities in medication use: Imperatives for managed care pharmacy. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2020;26(11):1468-1474. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2020.26.11.1468

6. PhRMA statement on FDA authorizing Florida’s importation plan. News release. PhRMA. January 5, 2024. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.phrma.org/resource-center/Topics/Access-to-Medicines/PhRMA-Statement-on-FDA-Authorizing-Floridas-Importation-Plan

7. Martell, A. Exclusive: Canada warns U.S. against drug import plans, citing shortage concerns. News release. Reuters. July 18, 2019. Accessed January 5, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1UD2LJ/

The Two Health Care Cost Crises

The last Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) report pegged national health spending at $4.5 trillion in 2022, and just over 17% of gross domestic product (GDP). That’s actually lower than in earlier government projections, but now CMS actuaries expect the pace of growth to pick up again. KFF’s 2023 employer survey also showed that premiums rose more sharply last year after several years of modest increases. There have always been peaks and valleys in health care costs despite various efforts to rein them in, and cost growth never stays bottled up for long. My colleague Larry Levitt and I called this “The Sad History of Health Care Cost Containment” in a piece we wrote some time ago.

Click here to read full article...

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