Board Briefs

The Board:
Approved the Second Quarter Financial Statements, the Smith Barney Investment Reports and accompanying recommendations.

Accepted the report from the ad hoc Committee on SSV Medicine to approve a $3,000 increase in the magazine's budget. The ad hoc was established following recommendations from a Board retreat held this spring and assigned the task to find ways to improve the publication. A readership survey is to be conducted.

The Board received a report regarding non-contracted physicians balance billing patients of HMOs and PPOs for emergency services. The Governor, through the Department of Managed Health Care, has issued proposed regulations to ban balance billing. Following discussion, the Board unanimously approved the following steps for the executive director to take regarding the issue: (1) The Society will respond as an organization to the proposed regulations based on the CMA's policy and reaction to the regulations; (2) The Society will assist the CMA in finding members willing to testify in opposition to the regulations at a hearing scheduled in Sacramento on October 4; (3) The Society will take steps to communicate to our membership the mutual concerns of the CMA and SSVMS regarding this issue.

Approved the recommendation from the Scholarship and Awards Committee to provide grants from the William E. Dochterman Medical Student Scholarship Fund to the following individuals for 2006: (1) Erin Jones, a second year medical student at USC/Keck School of Medicine; (2) Peter Samuel, a first year medical student at Harvard Medical School; (3) Lindsey Sheffler, a first year medical student at UC Davis School of Medicine.

Approved re-nominating Paul Phinney, MD, for a second term on the CALPAC Board of Directors representing Senate District 1 and nominated Lee Snook, MD, for a first term on the CALPAC Board of Directors representing Senate District 6.

Approved a request from Edward Bradley, MD, from Santa Barbara for the Society to support his non-controversial CMA Resolution, "Medicare Physician Locality Revision," which states that the CMA continue to work to find a solution to the Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) problem.

Approved the Membership Report:
For Active Membership — Imran Aurangzeb, MD; Amit Banerjee, MD; James J. Buchanan, DO; Laura L. Bultman, MD; James P. Dickens, MD; Nicholas J. Kenyon, MD.
For Multiple Membership — Nicholas B. Lee, MD (Active with Placer-Nevada Medical Society).
For Reinstatement to Active Membership — Bruce Bob, MD; Robert P. Madrigal, MD.
For a Change in Membership From Active to Active 65/20 — Michael R. Klein, MD.
For Retired Membership — Alexander Kelter, MD
For Termination of Membership for Non-Payment of 2006 Dues — Stephanie M. Eden, MD; Jordan Fein, MD; Ann-Jerry Peters, MD.