Vol. 4 No. 9  Winter, 2006
Vol. 3 No. 8 Fall, 2005
Vol. 3 No. 7 Summer, 2005

Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology
N E W S
VOL. 3 NO. 7 SUMMER, 2005

President’s Message
Steven P. Smith M.D.
Our Spring Business Meeting in May was a great success with more than 70 dermatologists and 15 physician assistants/nurse practitioners attending. The diverse speaking program was well received with presenters receiving uniformly high evaluations.
 
At the business session for our state Academy held during lunch we heard presentations from Paul Wetzel, our Executive Director, on a number of legislative issues facing us in the State House. One involved a bill submitted individually by Dr. Jeffery Dover of Chestnut Hill is aimed at eliminating the practice of dermatology procedures being performed in spas and clinics without a dermatologist being present. There was strong support for our Academy to become involved in support of this idea with the recognition that the measure as written would need to be revised.
 
When we decided to hire a professional staff and raised our dues becoming more active in the legislative arena was one of the goals. To that end the Board voted to hire Marty Cohn, our Associate Executive Director, as our lobbyist and devote some of our resources to legislative activity. Marty’s first legislative report is found in this Newsletter.

Dr. Steven Ugent reported we are in good financial condition. This is primarily a result of our dues increase and the fact that our staff people have more than doubled the amount of support from vendors for our meetings. Steve indicated that the Board would review our forthcoming financial requirements over the summer and determine if a dues reduction could be recommended at the Annual Meeting.
 
Another factor in considering our dues revenues will be a comprehensive census of the practicing dermatologists in Massachusetts that Paul and Marty will conduct over the summer. We have resolved a problem that existed with the American Academy of Dermatology regarding use of their mailing list and believe this will help us identify practicing dermatologists who are not members of MAD. The goal is to increase our membership from the present level of about 200 doctors. We believe there are about 350 practicing dermatologists in the state.
 
We turn our attention now to the Annual meeting to be held September 23 -25 at Woodstock, Vermont. Details and the registration form is enclosed with this Newsletter. Again we have a diverse list of speakers presenting on subjects that should have broad appeal. It is a beautiful location and with good weather will provide an outstanding weekend of professional, clinical and social activities for everyone.

So clear your schedule and make plans to attend the Annual Meeting.


REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2005 ANNUAL MEETING IN WOODSTOCK, VT

The agenda and registration materials for the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology have been mailed and are included in this Newsletter. The meeting on September 23-25th at the Woodstock Inn provides an opportunity to earn 12 CME credits and socialize with colleagues in a beautiful setting.

It is important that people planning to attend the meeting make their plans soon in order to guarantee a room at the hotel at our special rate of $279 per night. We have set aside 55 rooms for use by physicians and they will be held until August 12th, after which they will made available to the general public.

Room reservations should be made directly with the hotel by calling the reservation desk at 1-800-448-7900. The village of Woodstock also has quite a few excellent bed and breakfast inns, some within walking distance of the Inn. A good website to check is: bnbfinder.com and click on “Vermont” and then “Woodstock”.

As in the past, we have a special children’s party for Saturday evening which will allow those bringing children to enjoy the reception, dinner and music on their own. We also have a contact with a local babysitting service you may use at other times on the weekend.

In addition to room reservations, it is also important that those planning to play golf on Saturday afternoon let us know early. We have reserved tee times at the Woodstock Country Club for 20 golfers and will fill them on a first come first served basis.

Legislative Matters
Martin Cohn, MAD Associate Director

On May 11, 2005, the Joint Committee on Public Health held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1255, An Act Relative to Certain Skin Care Procedures.

At that time, Paul Wetzel, Executive Director of Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology, Robert Bohannon, Manager, State Government Affairs, American Academy of Dermatology Association, Dr. Melissa Bogle and Dr. Steven Ugent gave testimony in support of the legislation.

Senate Bill 1255 was filed by State Senator Joan Menard at the request of Dr. Jeffrey Dover.

The bill is important and timely legislation for several reasons. First and foremost, it protects the patients of Massachusetts by providing them a safe, supervised environment in which to receive medical skin care. Secondly, it brings attention and regulation to an alarming trend that we have witnessed all over the country – the proliferation of the medical spa industry where often untrained and unsupervised technicians are providing skin care. Senate Bill 1255 recognizes the dangers of non-physicians performing dermatologic services and provides sound regulation for the practice of medicine by physicians and non-physicians. It calls for skin care procedures to be performed by, or under the direction of “a licensed, trained, on-site physician”. All too often medical spas and retail clinics do not have proper on-site supervision for the services they offer. A licensed physician may serve as a medical director, but he or she may not be on-site to provide supervision and consultation while all procedures are performed.

Current Massachusetts law (243 CMR 2.08) does not require supervising physicians to be on-site while a physician assistant renders medical services. Senate Bill 1255 would strengthen the current laws, providing for on-site supervision of physician assistants, or any other non-physician personnel such as nurse practitioners or technicians, that are providing dermatologic care. Also, it would ensure that only licensed and trained personnel are providing dermatologic care.

There was opposition to Senate Bill 1255 including from plastic surgeons and it is expected to remain in committee until the fall. A committee of the Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology has been formed to review this legislation. We intend to meet with the plastic surgeons and see if we can iron out our differences. We also will suggest language changes to ensure the bill affects only spas and clinics and not physician offices.
 
Another bill, that we will be watching is House Bill 2635, An Act Providing for Direct Billing for Certain Pathology Tests. A public hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Health is scheduled for November. This bill would cut the attending physician out of the loop of the billing process for pathological services. The AAD is opposed to the bill and a committee of the Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology has been formed to review this legislation.

Finally, we will be looking at regulations governing sun tan salons. While there are laws on the books regarding the operation of these tanning beds, enforcement has been minimal. Many organizations in Massachusetts are interested in strengthening the regulations.

If you have any questions about these government relations issues or would like us to look into other concerns, please contact Martin Cohn, MAD Associate Director at 617-962-3136.

BCBSMA Changes policy on PUVA Treatment

Following a meeting with MAD representatives Blue Cross Blue Shield announced in April a change in its policy on PUVA light treatment for CPT Codes 96910 or 96912. The E&M service should be billed when services over and above those required with the PUVA treatment are provided.

SAVE THE DATES!

2006 Business Meeting
May 17, 2006
Mass Medical Society
Waltham, MA
2006 Annual Meeting
September 15-17, 2006
Sheraton Hotel
Newport, Rhode Island

2005 Annual Meeting • September 23-25, 2003
Woodstock Inn • Woodstock, Vermont

Schedule
Friday – September 23
Noon – 1 PM Registration
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Program Series I
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Wine & Cheese Reception

Saturday – September 24
7:30 am – 9:30 am Breakfast – Open to all attendees and families
8:00 am – 12:15 PM Program Series II
12:30 PM Golf Tournament
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM Reception/Dinner/ Gerry Grimo & the East Bay Jazz Ensemble
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM Children’s Dinner/Entertainment

Sunday – September 25
7:00 am – 9:30 am Breakfast – Open to all attendees and families
7:00 am – 8:30 am Breakfast/Business Meeting
8:30 am – 12:30 PM Program Series III

Confirmed Speakers

Paul Ngheim MD                    Boston, MA
Merkle Cell Carcinoma
Graft vs. Host Disease

Alexandra Boer Kimball MD    Stanford, CA
Acne Myths - Fact vs. Fiction

Marie France Demierre MD     Boston, MA
Three Case Presentations

Vincent Li MD                       Boston, MA
Wound Healing with Angiogenesis

Virginia Sybert MD                Seattle, WA
Blisters in newborns
Molecular Diagnostics for Inherited Diseases

Howard Koh MD                    Boston, MA
Emergency Preparedness

Abra Qureshi MD / Elinor Mody MD     Boston, MA
Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis --A Need for
Multi-disciplinary Approach

Catherine Zug MD                 Hanover, NH
Allergic contact dermatitis

Glenn Goldman MD                 Burlington, VT
Imiquimod: The Good, The Very Good And The Ugly.


ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION

Name ____________________________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip ______________________________________________________________________
Phone _________________________________ Fax ____________________
Email _________________________________

$ Amount
∆ Members and Residents No charge
∆ Nurse Practitioners / Physican Assistants $ 150
∆ Non-member s $ 350
∆ Vendor $ 500

Additional Registration Fees:
Saturday reception and dinner (spouses + guests) $ 75 / person
Saturday children’s entertainment $ 20 / person
Saturday golf tournament ∆ yes I will play ∆ no I will not play
(green fees, cart, lunch, prizes) $ 100 / person

TOTAL DUE _________
# Adults attending (spouses + guests welcome) ____________
Name: __________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________
# Children attending ____________
Name: __________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________

Make checks payable to: Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology
Return Registration Form by September 15, 2005 to: Academy of Dermatology.
45 Broad Street. Boston, MA 02109

NOTES A confirmation will be sent to you. Room reservations are made directly with Woodstock Inn 1-800-448-7900