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Legislative Update  |  2024 FRS & FRBMA Annual Meeting

Martin Northup Resident Leadership Award  |  FACR Application

Job Posting Opportunities  |  Become a PAC Member

Laura Vallow, MD

Juan Batlle, MD

Andrew Bowman, MD, PhD

Edem Chen, MD

Chintan Desai, MD, FACR

Jennifer Peterson, M.D.

Dr. Emily Thompson’s journey through the corridors of medical school was marked by a genuine curiosity about the inner workings of the human body. Her fascination with diagnostic imaging, fueled by a desire to uncover the subtleties of health and illness, led her to specialize in radiology.

Her dedication did not go unnoticed, earning her the admiration of both colleagues and mentors. Dr. Thompson’s journey was not without challenges, but each obstacle became an opportunity for growth. She embraced the technological advancements that transformed the field, transitioning seamlessly from analog films to the era of digital radiology.

As a seasoned radiologist, Dr. Thompson’s expertise became a cornerstone of her department. Her diagnostic acumen, coupled with a compassionate approach to patient care, set her apart. Beyond the confines of the darkened reading rooms, she engaged in multidisciplinary collaborations, contributing to comprehensive patient care.

In the latter part of her career, Dr. Thompson assumed a mentoring role, shaping the next generation of radiologists. She emphasized the importance of not only mastering the technical aspects of the field but also cultivating strong communication skills and empathy. Her influence extended beyond the confines of textbooks, instilling in her mentees a holistic approach to patient well-being.

Upon retirement, Dr. Thompson reflected on a career rich with experiences. The countless lives she touched through accurate diagnoses and compassionate care became the measure of her success. Her legacy lived on in the minds of those she mentored and the patients who benefited from her expertise, leaving an indelible mark on the ever-evolving landscape of medical imaging.

ChatGPT series#5

Secretary, FRS

It was an amazing visit to the Capitol last week. The FRS lobbyist, Alison Dudley, was a wonderful host and navigated our packed itinerary with ease. For those not aware, the Legislative and Government Relations Fellowship Program sponsored by the FRS, provides Florida radiology related residents the opportunity to visit the Capitol, meeting with multiple Florida Senators and Representatives. This is an invaluable experience

The 2024 Legislative Government Program Awardees were Cyrus Washington from University of Miami, Adam Shir from Mount Sinai, and Vikash Sinha from University of Florida. The 3-day event began with dinner with Leader Mike Grant. The following 2 days were a whirlwind of introductions, discussion of critical issues, and photos…lots and lots of photos. It was a pleasure spending time with Alison and these amazing residents. Trainees are the future of our society and participating in advocacy efforts will help shape policies in the future to support our profession and serve our patients.

President, Florida Radiological Society

Quality Payment Program (QPP) updates are also a part of the Final Rule and common themes include there are minimal changes to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), there continues to be an emphasis on health equity and reducing disparities, CMS is focusing on electronic and digital data capture, the goal is to transition all clinicians from “Traditional MIPS” to MPS Value Pathway (MVP) reporting, and the ultimate goal is to have all providers in Advanced Payment Models with both upside and downside risk.

Jon Houghton, Chief Information Officer with Radiology Imaging Associates, LLC was next on the agenda with a discussion about information technology, cyber security, and the importance of being proactive in protecting your data.  Healthcare is a high-risk industry, given the vast amount of protected health information (PHI) that is housed and handled daily and the advent of a remote workforce has only increased that risk.

An informative session about employing Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) in the inpatient setting was presented by Janene Markuske, MBA, Executive Director, IntelliRad Imaging, where seven mid-levels currently support 12 interventional and neurointerventional radiologists. Interestingly, there is a significant return on investment and the critical role these individuals play by maintaining positive relationships with the medical staff cannot be overemphasized. 

Another highlight of the meeting was learning about leadership and emotional intelligence from Carl Oxholm, FCPA, FCA. COC, Founder and Chief Executive Office, Virtue Compass, Inc. who traveled from Toronto, Canada to be with the group.  While many a familiar with leadership in the traditional sense, Carl explained how emotional intelligence is a critical leadership quality.  He defines emotional intelligence as “being aware that emotions drive our behavior and impact people (positively and negatively), and learning how to manage these emotions – both our own and others – especially when we are under pressure.”  An insightful takeaway was be mindful that the most important person in your life is the one with whom you are engaging at any given moment and he encouraged attendees to always live in the moment. 

Business analytics and data-driven practice management was presented by Jeff Maize, CEO, Quinsite and important metrics for groups to track were discussed.  Also know as business intelligence, data that is gleaned is driving many practice decisions, for example appropriate staffing, and this data is also very useful in demonstrating radiology’s value to the hospital “C-suite.”  

A very entertaining discussion about “Weathering the Workforce Storm” was presented by Katie Howard with James Mooe HR Solutions.  No longer can employers rely on employees who want to remain loyal to a company for the duration of their careers and are willing to work on-site, Monday through Friday from “9 to 5” with two weeks of annual vacation.  Flexibility and creativity are now key in recruiting and keeping employees, a concept that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.  

And speaking of the hospital “C-suite,” Jeff Younger. MHA. FACHE, FRBMA opened participants’ eyes to the fact that effectively negotiating a hospital contract is a process that starts months and years in advance.  Radiologists must avoid any temptation to visit hospital administration, perhaps once a year, but instead must nurture this relationship on an ongoing basis. The four relationship myths Jeff reviewed are: a) “the hospital doesn’t like us and is holding special meetings to discuss getting rid of us,” b) “The hospital will NEVER get rid of us because there is a shortage of Radiologists,” c) “even if the hospital terminates us, I can still work in the community,” and d) the medical staff would never stand for our contract being terminated.”

Billy Rowlee, Chief revenue Officer, RadiologyBill concluded the day by sharing initiatives that are impacting collection agencies, most recently a prohibition on collecting medical debt that is less than $500 for a period of one year. As of 2021 there was $88 billion in medical debt on consumer credit reports and 62 percent was under $500.  It is important to talk with your collection agencies – ask if they are following the rules – how many complaints do you receive about them – how is their customer service.  And make your voice heard – send letters to Congressional Representatives about your thoughts on credit reporting in the medical field.

The FRBMA board also met prior to the meeting and has approved three new committees– sponsorships, education, and marketing/social media. We are actively looking for volunteers to help us develop each committee and further enhance our program in Florida!  Volunteers can reach out to Janene Markuske  for more info, jmarkuske@intelliradimaging.com. 

I would like to thank Barbara Rubel for contributing the content summary of our meeting for this e-brief. A reminder the 2024 FRS FRBMA Annual Meeting is July 19th – 21st at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Lakes, Orlando – see you there!

President, FRBMA

Senate President Passidomo’s “Live Healthy“ legislation, sponsored by Chairman Colleen Burton, has passed the Senate and is in message to the House – SB 7016. The House will be taking the companion measure up, sponsored by Leader Mike Grant, in House Health Care Appropriations this week, HB 1549. The bills are not identical, and I anticipate some amendments on the bills. The biggest difference is in the price tag on what will be spent on the initiative.

Senator Berman’s, SB 932, and Representative Woodson’s, HB 773, were both up this week. These bills seek to prohibit health insurance plans from charging out of pocket costs for medically necessary diagnostic supplements exams. The bills now apply only to state insurance plans. This legislation has been brought to Florida by the Koman organization. Dr. Maimone and the FRS Breast Imaging committee have been working very hard on this and have been tremendously helpful.

The horribly titled “Free kill” bill has been moving through the process-SB 248, by Sen Yarborough. It repeals state statute that prohibits adult children and parents of adult children from collecting medical negligence “non-economic damages”. It also places $500,000 caps on non-economic damages for doctors and $750,000 for hospitals and ER’s. It is still too early to determine how this issue will end.

FRS President, Dr. Laura Vallow and FRS residents – Dr. Cyrus Washington and Dr. Adam Shir will be visiting the Capitol this week.

It has been a very busy session.  Unfortunately, a lot of people getting ill with Covid, Flu, RSV, and other assorted ills. Covid is in the House and has spread through the entire House Healthcare staff and several members and has added to the challenge of working in the building.

Please all stay healthy and be well.

Best,

AlisonDudley@dudleyandassociates.com

FRS & FRBMA

Martin Northup was very committed to radiology resident education and advancement. To eternally honor and remember him, the board of the FRS Foundation has established a special award bearing his name, the “H Martin Northup Resident Leadership Award.” During the FRS annual meeting, a $1,000 award will be given to a 2nd year Florida radiology resident who will be a 3rd year at the time of the fellowship. During the FRS Annual Meeting, the resident will have an officer mentor and will attend all functions including the board meeting. The goal is to develop future leaders in Radiology and develop promising residents to assume greater roles in the society, such as President of the Resident and Fellow’s Section. The award recipient will be chosen for the 2024 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, July 19-21, 2024 by the Scholarships and Grants committee based on a competitive application process.

Please check with your Program Director to be considered for this opportunity and to complete the application. Return your completed application to lroger@edusymp.com before end of business on May 14, 2024 in order to be considered for this award.

If you think you meet these criteria and wish to apply to become an ACR fellow with Florida chapter nomination please contact the FRS at lroger@edusymp.com. Years in training do not count as member years. 

If you are applying for Fellowship, the Chapter Deadline is May 31st.

Alan H. Porter, MD, FACR

Chairs, Fellowship Committee

Attend a sample of the Learning to Lead Bootcamp
at the 2024 FRS Chapter Meeting. Check out the spring RLI Learning to

Lead Bootcamp at www.acr.org/LearningToLead for additional training

and tools to address early leadership challenges.

ARTICLE

Advertisement pricing is as follows:

Ebrief Job Posting Pricing:

3 months ($100 monthly)

6 months ($90 monthly)

12 months ($80 monthly)

Please contact Lorraine Roger, our Society Administrator for further information on how to advertise in our monthly publication.

Phone: (813) 806-1070

Fax: (813) 806-1071

Email: lroger@flrad.org

We feel that this will provide a valuable service to both our members and our Florida community of Radiology.

It is critical that we support both our Florida PAC and RADPAC in order to bolster our voice in Tallahassee and Washington, respectively. Please join FRS lobbyist Alison Dudley in her special appeal for all Florida radiologists to become Florida PAC members. If you would like to help FRS defend radiology against untoward legislation and introduce bills that have a positive impact on our practices, we need your financial support to re-elect our friends in the state House and Senate. The FRS can also show you simplified ways on how to sign up your radiology group. Contact Lorraine Roger or contact Alison Dudley at for more information.

5620 W. Sligh Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33634