TAHU Update September 2004
Next Meeting
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Brier Creek Country Club
Main Clubhouse
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting
Please RSVP before Friday, September 10, 2004
to David Smith, at
david@beninslaw.com
GUEST SPEAKER
David P. Sousa
Senior Vice President & General Counsel,
The Medical Mutual Group
Medical Mutual is a physician owned, mono-line, medical professional liability insurance company based in Raleigh, N.C. Prior to assuming this position, David was a managing partner in the 35-attorney Raleigh law firm of Young, Moore & Henderson, where he practiced for 14 years. His practice was limited to the defense of civil lawsuits. His clients included more than a hundred physicians and dentists throughout North Carolina. Over the last five years of private practice, he devoted most of his trial work to the defense of North Carolina physicians.
Member of the Defense Research Institute, the North Carolina Defense Attorneys’ Association, the American and North Carolina Bar Associations, and a Permanent Member of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference, having been nominated by Chief Judge Sam Ervin, IV. He serves on the North Carolina Medical Society Task Force on Tort Reform.
On a national level, he has lectured on a variety of issues relating to punitive damages and has written extensively on this issue. Over the past five years, he has provided educational programs on a variety of medical/legal issues to more than 5,000 physicians and healthcare personnel in the southeast. He is a well-known advocate of the rights and protection of North Carolina physicians in all facets of their practices.
SPONSORED BY
Medical Mutual
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President's Message:
Barry Hill |
The Triangle Association enjoyed a very good 2003-2004 year. Many thanks go to our Immediate Past President, Nancy Gibson and the entire Triangle Board.
Congratulations and a big thank you to Michele Gregory for the Triangle Website design. Due to Michele’s tremendous work, the Triangle website won the National award for best website for 2003-2004.
The Triangle Association will begin the 2004-2005 year on September 14. The meeting location will remain at Brier Creek Country Club.
Our remaining meeting schedule is as follows:
October 12
November 9
December 14
January 11
February 8
March 8
April 12
May 10
June 14
The 2004-2005 board is also in place.
| President | Barry Hill |
| President Elect | Mike Alexander |
| Vice President | David Smith |
| Past President | Nancy Gibson |
| Secretary | Teri Gutierrez and Nancy Winter |
| Treasurer | Jay Kennedy |
| Awards Chair | Open |
| Education | Judy Fourie |
| HUPAC | Sam King |
| Legislative | Bill Hendrickson |
Media Relations | Elizabeth Barnard |
| Membership | Beth Donner |
| Public Service | Fran Richardson and Nancy Gibson |
| Website | Michele Gregory |
Barry Hill
MMIC
700 Spring Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27624
919-878-7576
919-878-7590 Fax
barry.hill@mmicnc.com
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Treasurer:
Jay Kennedy |
Nancy Winter just reminded me of something for the newsletter: Special Offer. You can pre-pay for the ten lunches throughout the TAHU program year for just $100. A savings of $20. You can take advantage of this oppportunity at the September 14th meeting.
Jay Kennedy
Four County Health Network, Inc.
511 Ruin Creek Road
Suite B-1
Henderson, NC 27536
252-430-0360
252-430-8980 Fax
jkennedy@vance.net
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Awards:
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HUPAC/NCPAC:
Sam King, CHC |
It's that time of year again! School buses are humming, and the politicians are running. As you already know some politicians get it & others don't. Our contributions will go to those who get it and need it.
As this is an election year now more than ever you help is needed.
We will be continuing the monthly drawing for the scrumptious cakes, pies, or whatever else I find that would be worth gambling ...I mean participating in a raffle for in the coming months. I look forward to seeing all you at the meetings and I guarantee if you participate in either of our PACs you will be a winner!!
Archie Samuel King
1711 Mohegan Drive
Durham, NC 27712
919-815-0433
SamKingTAHU@aol.com
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Law and Legislation:
Bill Hendrickson |
The “newsless” summer is slipping away and soon the Legislature and Congress will be back in action—or, more likely, inaction until the November elections are over and we all know where the power will lie. But there were plenty of articles over the summer which touch on our industry and our lives as health insurance professionals. Here are several of interest:
WALL STREET JOURNAL---John Kerry’s proposed health care plan, if elected and implemented, would cost in excess of $1 trillion over 10 years. The basis of his proposal is to insure about two thirds of the alleged uninsureds. He assumes that for every 10 people who become covered, three people will lose employer sponsored private insurance.
Under his plan millions of middle-income families will be forced to enroll in Medicaid, millions of others will be in a “managed competition” plan similar to the Hillary Clinton plan of the 90’s, and many existing private plans will not be around.
In addition to this gloomy report, the AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE issued a report saying that the new Medicare Modernization Act will likely cost about $100 billion more that the highest previously released government estimate. There are many reasons for this, not the least that Congress is expected to liberalize the plan several times in the years ahead.
WASHINGTON TIMES---Malpractice suits and soaring jury awards are driving doctors away from their profession. John Edwards, a highly visible trail lawyer, was born in South Carolina and doctors in various specialties in that state are stowing their diplomas. Obstetricians, particularly, are leaving their practices. Neurosurgeons in one medical center no longer accept trauma calls because of their fear of being slapped with huge punitive damage jury awards.
A supporting report from the President’s COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS says that the U. S’s. inefficient tort system costs about $180 billion per year with THE VICTIMS SHARING ONLY ABOUT 20 CENTS OF EACH DOLLAR! The cost is even higher considering what individuals and companies do to avoid lawsuits, such as physicians practicing defensive medicine and ordering unneeded tests and the like.
More favorable news from the RAND INSTITUTE FOR CIVIL JUSTICE reports that the 1995 California law limiting jury awards and limiting attorney’s fees has reduced awards by 30% and thus has reduced malpractice insurance premiums paid by hospitals and physicians.
SCIENCE MAGAZINE---HIPAA legislation and ensuing regulations are stifling medical research. Some of the issues causing delays and frustrations are:
- instead of getting a blanket consent from a patient to use tissue and keeping data private, a consent is required every time new data is obtained;
- phone calls must be replaced by written permission for a researcher to obtain medical data;
- researchers at one institution are prohibited from pooling multi-institutional data to advance their research.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS---(one last comment)--- NCPA says that Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) will revolutionize the American medical marketplace. We all know what they are. Are we presenting the idea to our clients and prospects? Perhaps in one of our TAHU meetings later in the year we can hear your results.
William Hendrickson
Hendrickson & Company, Inc.
2219 Lawrence Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919 644-8636
919 644-6433 Fax
bill2219@mindspring.com
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Media Relations:
Elizabeth Barnard |
I am pleased to be the Media Relations chair for the 2004-05 year.
My chief responsibility is communications with the local media.
My general responsibilities include:
- Compile a list of local print and broadcast media contacts.
- Send press releases to media contacts responding to targeted legislative issues.
- Forward NAHU releases on national issues to media contacts with a local spin.
- Send media advisories to reporters announcing chapter events.
- Submit op-eds and other editorials responding to targeted legislative issues
- Send NAHU media relations staff person all chapter press releases, media advisories and other communications with the media
- Present NAHU’s “Working with the Media” PowerPoint presentation at chapter meetings.
This year, I would like to keep a scrapbook of articles from the local newspapers that mention our chapter members. More eyes are better than my two alone, so if you happen to spot one of our chapter member’s names in print in a local newspaper, please forward to me at the following address.
Thank you for your participation in TAHU!
Elizabeth Barnard
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Eastowne 600 3d Floor
5901 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27702
919-765-4686
919-765-3819 Fax
elizabeth.barnard@bcbsnc.com
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Membership:
Beth Donner |
According to National, our last TAHU membership count, from 7-31-04 is 177 members strong. Our net loss over the summer break was 5 members, however. Not bad considering we didn't have any meetings or social events during the summer, but everyone needs to take it upon themselves to make up for this loss! Our headcount from one year ago was 158 so this represents a 12% increase. Thanks your everyone helping us to meet this goal last year. We need exceed that membership percentage for this year!
New members that took the imitative to join over the summer were: Jeffrey Bontekoe with Pacific Life, Michele Goss with Group Benefit Consultants, Ida Johnson with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Mary Jones with Progressive Benefit Solutions, Vernelle Jones with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Jim McEntee with Ebenconcepts, Doug Sutton with Doug Sutton and Associates, Ann Swinson with AXA Advisors and Juliana Nouriel. If you see these members welcome them to our great association and if know them and don't see them, call them before meetings and encourage them to take advantage of all their membership benefits. Our new members are our greatest resource. We know they are interested in what we represent and the education and activities we offer, we just have to make sure it stays that way!
Remember, it's every members job to be involved and to recruit one new member this year!
Elizabeth C. Donner
Diversified Planning
2000 CentreGreen Way
Suite 150
Cary, NC 27513
919-460-6076
919-380-0908 Fax
bdonner@investment-works.com
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Newsletter:
Elizabeth Barnard |
I am pleased to be your Newsletter Chair for the 2004-05 year.
My chief responsibility is publishing the Newsletter.
This is the first fiscal year we won’t print and mail a single paper issue of the newsletter. Our newsletter in online at http://www.nctahu.org/ This is an economical move for our chapter. We’re saving TAHU's time and money by disseminating the newsletter via the web.
Even though the articles typically come from members of the Board, we welcome and publish questions, concerns, letters, and articles from any member of TAHU.
Elizabeth Barnard
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Eastowne 600 3d Floor
5901 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27702
919-765-4686
919-765-3819 Fax
elizabeth.barnard@bcbsnc.com
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Public Service:
Fran Richardson |
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Public Service:
Nancy Gibson |
Fran Richardson and I are pleased to be your Public Service Co-Chairs for the coming year. Having taken this responsibility by myself in the past, I am looking forward to having a “partner” in our service to the community.
One of the resources that is invaluable to us is using the Public Service Award criteria as a guideline for our efforts. With that in mind I would like to invite your input for the selection of our projects this year. You may send your suggestions to either Fran or myself via email, snail mail or by chatting with us at a meeting.
Past projects have included: donations of food to Raleigh Rescue Mission and The Salvation Army; toiletry articles to the men’s and women’s shelters; Red Cross blood drive and donations to disaster relief; Durham Share Your Christmas; cell phone donations to Durham Crisis Response Center; vitamins for children in Russia through Operation Smile; Adopt-A-Highway; Wake County Human Services Holiday Cheer, and others.
I mention these to inspire some thinking on your part. Are any of these near and dear to your heart? Are there other projects that you would like to have us consider? Points are awarded for getting input from membership so it is important that we hear from you.
We also are able to achieve greater points by having more members participate. So, here we go again. We would welcome your support through your participation in one or all of our projects. Let us know of your willingness to be part of the team.
Nancy Gibson, HIA, MHP
Principal Financial Group
1616 East Millbrook Road, Suite 210
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-783-7790 x 3007
919-801-3330 Cell
919-783-9748 Fax
gibson.nancy@principal.com
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Website:
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC |
Go for the Gold, 2004
In case you haven’t heard, we won the national award again – at the June convention in Baltimore, TAHU received the award for the best local website in the country.
While the little purple banner might not be quite as prestigious as the Olympic gold medals we are hearing about right now, we are very proud to receive it. And, like the Olympic athletes, we have been putting our best foot forward, bending over backwards, twisting and turning, straining our muscles, jumping through hoops, and going the extra mile, while keeping our eye on the goal of providing a website that will be useful to our members.
So, since you are currently on the website reading this newsletter, take an extra minute to look around at the resources that are available to you here. If you think of another feature that would be useful to add, please let me know, and we will be pleased to consider it.
And, while you are at the meeting in September, be sure to look at our new purple banner – it might not be a gold medal, but it does have gold lettering, and it does say that our website is the best in the nation!
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
2501 Aerial Center Drive, Suite 200
Morrisville, North Carolina 27560
919-765-4671; 800-228-6216
919-467-2823 Fax
Michele.Gregory@bcbsnc.com
Special Announcements:
Please remember that the cost of lunch for TAHU members is $12. Guest and non-member lunches are $16.
There will be a $3 charge for lost or misplaced name badges. Please remember to turn in your badge at the conclusion of each meeting.
As the success of the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters largely depends upon the benevolence of corporate contributors, we are proud to honor the following organizations for their continued support of our many programs and activities:
Diamond Sponsors
2004-2005
Pfizer Managed Care
Please extend your appreciation to the Triangle members representing these organizations and remember their generosity when placing coverages.
Triangle Association of Health Underwriters
P.O. Box 19177
Raleigh, NC 27619-9177
