The Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati General Membership Meeting, previously scheduled for March 28, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 30. Guest speaker Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor will address Ohio's Health Care Environment with time for questions from the audience.

The Academy is pleased to offer this program to its Active members at no charge. Cost for members in other categories and all guests of Academy members is $55.00 each, and the non-member charge is $75.00. Make plans now to attend. Reservations are required. Return your reservation form by May 22.

Lt. Gov. Taylor is also Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance and leads CSI – the Common Sense Initiative – which was instituted to reform Ohio's regulatory policies. She has written several guest columns on the Affordable Care Act and the impact she believes it will have on Ohio. 

The meeting will be held at the Moerlein Lager House, which was recently dubbed "a new jewel for the riverfront." Take this opportunity to check out one of Cincinnati's newest destinations.

Thanks to the following for sponsoring the program: Platinum Level — PBSI (Positive Business Solutions, Inc.) and Cardiac, Vascular, & Thoracic Surgeons, Inc.; Gold Level — Diversified Brokerage Specialists and Windstream; Silver Level — North Side Bank & Trust Company, Academy Foundation, and ELECT Dr. Pete KAMBELOS CORONER; Bronze Level — Stock Yards Bank & Trust.

The Academy of Medicine Council voted to support a grassroots initiative, launched by the American Medical Association, aimed at generating public support for HR 1700 and S 1042, also known as the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act. If passed, this legislation would create a new Medicare option to allow patients and physicians to enter into private contract arrangements without penalties for either party.
Click the links below for more information:
• Patient Flyer: Seniors deserve the freedom to choose their doctor
• Medicare Patient Empowerment Act – Patient FAQs
• Medicare Patient Empowerment Act – Physician FAQs
Physicians and patients may also go to www.MyMedicare-MyChoice.org to sign a web-based petition.

Congress has passed a 10-month patch to avert the 27% cut to physicians' Medicare reimbursement that was scheduled for March 1. The legislation extends current rates until the end of 2012. The federation of medicine had pushed for a permanent fix to the flawed sustainable growth formula (SGR) and is disappointed that Congress has chosen once again to apply a short-term patch rather than finding a permanent solution to the problem. The Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati, along with the Ohio State Medical Association and the American Medical Association, will continue to advocate for a repeal of the SGR.

Tell your senators and representatives that it's time to fix the SGR funding formula and protect access to care and the long-term viability of the Medicare program.

Contacting your Ohio legislators is easy:
• Senator Sherrod Brown
• Senator Rob Portman
• Representative Steve Chabot (District 1)
• Representative Jean Schmidt (District 2)
• Representative John Boehner (District 8)
• AMA’s Physicians’ Grassroots Network
• OSMA’s Legislative Contact Page

For Patients — AMA’s Patients’ Action Network