California Medical Association Trustee Dev GnanaDev, MD, encouraged San Bernardino County Medical Society board members to join him Nov. 29, 2005, when he meets with Congressman Joe Baca to encourage him to speak directly to Speaker Dennis Hastert and the Budget Reconciliation Conference Committee about stopping the Medicare payment cuts.

In addition, Dr. GnanaDev said the CMA is working with sponsoring organizations--the California Hospital Association, the American Cancer Society and others--to bring two competing tobacco tax ballot initiatives for 2006 back to the table to file a new broadly supported ballot initiative. He also said the CMA and other states oppose the merger of UnitedHealth Group and PacifiCare, which will most likely be approved by the Federal Trade Commission.

Public Health Officer Eric Frykman, MD, requested the assistance of the board, the San Bernardino County Medical Reserve Corps and other health providers in administering Flu Mist vaccinations in all county school districts. The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health (DPH) has entered into an agreement with Med Immune to provide Flu Mist vaccinations at no cost. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has agreed to accept liability to administer the vaccine to as many as 430,000 children in 400 schools in San Bernardino County during December and January. SBCMS will notify DPH about physicians interested in staffing a nasal vaccine clinic.

DPH is collaborating with the Cities of Chino and Fontana on initiatives called "Healthy Chino" and "Healthy Fontana," promoting a healthier city through education on diet and exercise. Dr. Frykman would like more physicians to participate in the initiatives. He also made a presentation to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on the avian flu. DPH is bolstering its current plan to prevent avian flu occurrences.

American Medical Association Delegate Ron Bangasser, MD, reported on the key actions taken at the November 2005 AMA Interim meeting. AMA Alternate Delegate Victor Ching, MD, also attended. Dr. Bangasser discussed the significant problems of the National Resident Matching Program and the adoption of a resolution calling for each state and local public health jurisdiction to develop and periodically update a comprehensive public health disaster plan specific to their location.

Several access to care issues were addressed, including the AMA's use of Social Security numbers, health savings accounts for the Medicaid population, incentive programs to improve healthcare access in underserved areas and insurance coverage of specialty pharmaceuticals. The AMA also adopted a resolution opposing Medicare pay-for-performance initiatives that do not meet the AMA's "Principles and Guidelines for Pay-for-Performance Programs."

In addition, the AMA adopted the recommendations of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs Report 3 that offers guidance to physicians striving to practice ethically in the face of performance-based arrangements, such as P4P programs.

CALPAC Board Member Thelma Korpman, MD, reported that more than 40 percent of the 80 Assembly and 20 even-numbered State Senate seats that will be contested in 2006 will be open seats. CALPAC members are strongly encouraged to participate in the upcoming SBCMS candidate interviews to help educate candidates on the many important issues facing medicine today. This helps CALPAC identify medicine-friendly candidates in the 2006 election cycle.

The board approved the four-month financial report as submitted by SBCMS Treasurer Rodney Borger, MD, for the period July 1, 2005, through Oct. 31, 2005. Total revenue is $169,476. Total expenses are $163,832. Excess revenue over expenses is $5,644 after depreciation.

An Inland Empire Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) is being formed. A RHIO is a collaborative initiative whose mission is to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of healthcare through the use of information technology and the secure exchange of health information. There are 17 RHIOs in California, all at different stages of development. Gary Levin, MD, the coordinator for the Inland Empire RHIO Task Force, has invited SBCMS and the Riverside County Medical Association to participate in the steering committee.

Two large challenges for the RHIO are funding and bringing to the table all the stakeholders who will gain from its implementation. There was concern that SBCMS and RCMA do not have the resources to pilot this project and more organizations and hospitals should be involved in the process. Several SBCMS leaders are interested, but feel it is essential that local hospitals participate. Staff will coordinate a "meet and greet" with Dr. Levin, local hospitals and interested members, and report back to the board.

In other action, SBCMS President Dennis Flynn, MD, presented Gebre Gobezie, MD, a special recognition for his 22 years of dedicated service as a member of the board (1983-2005), and board members expressed their gratitude and appreciation. Board members also nominated Vellore G. Muraligopal, MD, for The Unforgettables Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Top Doctor Award.

Finally, SBCMS provided a letter of support for the Telehealth Educational Center Loma Linda University Telehealth Initiative. SBCMS is interested in joining this joint effort to engage in telemedicine and telehealth provider education through LLU's Learning Center. Rodney Willard, MD, will serve as the SBCMS advisor to LLU.