We also embarked on using a new virtual process to more quickly and efficiently address membership needs and suggestions during the interim periods between our annual meetings. This came in the form of the Membership Virtual Engagement Portal. MVEP is an electronic mechanism that allows LSMS members to remain engaged throughout the year and serves as a complementary bridge between our traditional House of Delegates meetings. This allows the Board to proactively effect issues that cannot and should not have to wait a year to be resolved. Members can simply submit their issue through the portal to have LSMS staff vet the issue and report it to the Board of Governors who then has authority to implement interim policies when deemed appropriate. We received and addressed 11 MVEP Submissions between the December and April Board meetings. I strongly encourage you all to utilize this tool. Since the launch of the Advantage Physicians Healthcare Trust in February 2023, the plan has grown to over $2 million in annual premium income and is covering over 350 lives. Average premium savings for enrolled groups is between 15% and 20% compared to comparable BCBS of Louisiana plans. APHT utilizes the BCBS of Louisiana network of providers. The plan’s target audience is groups of under 20 full-time employees, but APHT’s plans are also competitively priced for groups of all sizes. It’s free to get a quote and APHT will work with your existing insurance brokers throughout the application process. Please encourage your office managers to reach out and get a quote. As we look to the remainder of the 2024 and 2025 the Board is focusing on working within the regulatory community to 1) address corporate practice of medicine issues, 2) tighten rules and penalties for the unauthorized practice of medicine and truth in advertising, and 3) create a review board to monitor and manage scope/ consistency issues. We anticipate these efforts leading to requests for supporting legislation in the coming years. And finally, I would like to personally thank the LSMS staff for their phenomenal support and direction during my year as president and I wish a productive and successful year for our incoming president, Dr. Clark. He has a terrific team to work with.
And I would like to thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve as your president for this past year. God bless and keep our doctors and the noble practice of medicine in his hands.
ELECTIONS: THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE ELECTED TO SERVE: BOARD OF GOVERNORS Position Name Term President-Elect Thomas Trawick, Jr., MD 2024 Speaker, House of Delegates Robert Newsome, MD 2024 Vice Speaker, House of Delegates Katherine Williams, MD 2024 Secretary- Treasurer Amberly Nunez, MD 2024 Chair, Council on Legislation Matthew Giglia, MD 2024 Medical Student Member Gregory Laborde 2024 Resident Member Omar Leonards, MD 2024 Young Physician Member Ken Ehrhardt, MD 2024 Employed Physician Member Clay Runfalo, MD 2024 Private Practice Physician Section Lance Templeton, MD 2024
Thank you.” POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
Immediately following Dr. Paddock’s speech, Dr. Michael Ellis approached the microphone and asked for a point of personal privilege. He then proceeded to read the script on the Worst Job in Medicine certificate for Dr. Richard Paddock, which is a
traditional award for outgoing presidents. APPROVAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 HOUSE OF DELEGATES
The Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the 2023 House of Delegates were approved as published in the Delegates handbook. APPROVAL OF THE ACTIONS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS The minutes of the Board of Governors and Executive Committee from June 2023 – March 2024 were presented. The following motion was extracted and discussed. MOTION (APPROVED) THE LSMS BOARD OF GOVERNORS MOVES TO REVISE THE CURRENT AMA DISCLAIMER STATEMENT AS FOLLOWS: “THE LSMS HAS NO FORMAL RELATIONSHIP WITH, NOR ARE THEY A PART OF, AND THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (AMA) WHICH IS A ARE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT ORGANIZATION. AS SUCH, THE POLICIES, OPINIONS, AND VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AMA, THE AMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, AMA OFFICERS, OR OTHER AMA REPRESENTATIVES ARE THEIRS AND THEIRS ALONE AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE POLICIES, VIEWS, BELIEFS, OR VALUES OF THE LOUISIANA STATE MEDIAL SOCIETY.”
AMA DELEGATION Position
Name
Term
Delegate Delegate
George Ellis, MD Clay Runfalo, MD Donnie Batie, MD Kristin Grimes, DO Smita Prasad, MD
2024-2026 2024-2026 2024-2026 2024-2026 2024-2026
Alternate Delegate Alternate Delegate Alternate Delegate
COUNCIL ON LEGISLATION Position
Name
Term 2024 2024 2024 2024 2024
Medical Student Member
Resident Member
Omar Leonards, MD Ken Ehrhardt, MD Clay Runfalo, MD Lance Templeton, MD
Young Physician Member Employed Physician Member Private Practice Physician Section
This amended motion and all the minutes were approved by the House of Delegates.
LOUISIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY 143RD ANNUAL MEETING INSTALLATION OF THE PRESIDENT August 2, 2024
Dr. Richard Paddock welcomed the attendees to the installation of the 144th LSMS President. He announced that the ceremony would begin after lunch was served. During the ceremony, the Presidential Oath of Office was administered to President-Elect Roderick Clark, MD by Richard Paddock, MD, President. Dr. Paddock presented the Presidential Medallion and President’s Lapel Pin to Dr. Clark. Dr. Clark also signed the official presidential ledger. Afterwards, Dr. Clark gave an inaugural address, included below, which outlines the focus for his term. REFER TO PAGE 5 FOR DR. CLARK’S FULL SPEECH ⊲
To read the approved resolutions in their entirety and to view the attendee list, visit https://lsms.org/page/HODGeneral ■
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J LA MED SOC | VOL 176 | FALL 2024
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