I will never forget the past year. As I end my term, I want my last message to build on the theme that governed my year as president of the AANS: Speaking Out. First the good news: This has been an extraordinary year of change for the AANS. Each president wants to leave the organization in better shape than it was when he took office, and I feel I have accomplished this. As I leave office, I can honestly say that the AANS is healthier, more membership-friendly, more efficient, and more streamlined. Our organization has excellent leadership and an extremely professional staff, all of whom are working together to continually effect improvement. I am very proud of our Executive Committee, as well as our professional staff.
Unification talks with the CNS are progressing, and I hope they will lead to an improved environment for both organizations. We will keep you updated. The annual scientific meeting scheduled for April 6-11 in Chicago promises to be brilliant. The science we will present will be innovative and cutting-edge. The social events will include the Ray Charles concert, an event benefitting the Neurosurgical Research and Education Foundation (NREF). I believe it will be our best meeting yet, in one of our greatest cities-don’t miss it!
Now the bad news: As I survey the political and socioeconomic terrain that has developed during my year as president, I am not only disturbed, I am angry. Congress failed to halt an unconscionable 5.4 percent decrease in Medicare physician reimbursement. This may affect neurosurgeons’ bottom-line by as much as eight to nine percent. The Medicare reimbursement formula, based on the sustainable growth rate (SRG), is flawed. The reimbursement formula needs to be changed!
Malpractice insurance continues to haunt our profession. Annual premiums are increasing and major insurance liability carriers are going out of business. Some of us face either practicing without liability insurance, or uprooting our families in search of friendlier environments.
Other disturbing issues affecting all of us include the criminalization of medicine; fraud and abuse charges against doctors; the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA); Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA, which may seriously interfere with our ability to conduct neurosurgical research); forced restrictions on residents’ work hours; compliance; and the uncertain future of evaluation and management coding.
What’s the answer? We all need to “speak out.” We need a viable, credible and respected voice in Washington. A coalition of medical specialties, in aggregate representing more doctors than the AMA, is currently forming in Washington. It promises to be a potent force in the future, politically and economically. Our Washington Office is helping to lead the change and the charge. The AANS will not only support this movement, but it will also help lead it. The time is right; the cause is just. We need to protect our patients and our profession. Enough is enough!
Stan Pelofsky, MD, is the 2001-2002 AANS president.