MAG Journal January 2021

Vol. 109, Issue 4, 2020

2020 HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Lisa Perry-Gilkes, M.D., F.A.C.S. President Full HOD wrap-up MAG awards winners MAG’s 2020 state legislative priorities

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 1

12/31/20 10:15 AM

S:7"

See what PNC can do for your practice. _ Get banking solutions that help you make each moment matter.

At PNC, our dedicated team of Healthcare Business Bankers understands your business challenges. That’s why we offer a range of solutions to help your practice run more efficiently. Whether you’re looking to expand, optimize cash flow, or simplify your patient payment process, we are here to help make banking easier.

Visit pnc.com/hcprofessionals or call 877-566-1355 to learn more.

©2020 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 2

12/31/20 10:15 AM

T:10.5"

S:9.625"

As a healthcare provider and practice owner, you know how important it is to make each moment matter.

MAG + MEDPRO: THE BEST MALPRACTICE SOLUTION FOR PHYSICIANS IN GEORGIA Med-mal coverage that provides stability and long-term pricing security Given a turbulent malpractice marketplace and the growing potential for “jackpot” verdicts, the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) is collaborating with MedPro Group (MedPro) — the nation’s largest and highest-rated health care liability insurance carrier — to provide industry-leading medical malpractice solutions for physicians in Georgia through the new Medical Association of Georgia Insurance Agency (MAG Insurance Agency).

T:10.5"

B:11.25"

S:9.625"

MAG selected MedPro as its exclusive carrier because your med-mal coverage should offer the industry’s strongest claims defense and long-term stable pricing. MAG Insurance Agency plans feature free tail coverage for eligible physicians who retire after being insured for just one year (if mature Claims-made), and MAG members qualify for a 2.5% credit on their premiums. Plus, you’ll experience the benefits of MedPro’s premier coverage, including: •

Unsurpassed financial strength: A++ (A.M. Best) and AA+ (Standard & Poor’s)

•

Industry-leading claims expertise: 400,000+ claims since 1899, a 90% national trial win rate, and 80% of claims closed without payment

•

Pure consent to settle gives physicians control to refuse to settle a claim Occurrence, Claims-made and Convert to Occurrence® coverage options Cyber liability ($50,000) and data breach coverage Free tail coverage for eligible physicians upon retirement after just one year

• • •

FREE TAIL COVERAGE ELIGIBLE PHYSICIANS RECEIVE FREE TAIL COVERAGE AT RETIREMENT AFTER BEING INSURED FOR ONE YEAR

GET A QUOTE TODAY! Visit MAGInsuranceAgency.com or contact Ryan Larosa at 678-303-9251 or rlarosa@maginsuranceagency.com

Insurance Agency, LLC A.M. Best rating as of 6/16/2020. Standard & Poor’s rating as of 9/28/2020. All data is MedPro Group data; claims data range is 2009-2018 unless otherwise indicated. In order to qualify for a free tail, you must have a retroactive date at least 48 months prior to the date of retirement and be insured by the company for 12 months on a mature Claims-made policy. MedPro Group is the marketing name used to refer to the insurance operations of The Medical Protective Company, Princeton Insurance Company, PLICO, Inc. and MedPro RRG Risk Retention Group. All insurance products are administered by MedPro Group and underwritten by these and other Berkshire Hathaway affiliates, including National Fire & Marine Insurance Company. Product availability is based upon business and/or regulatory approval and may differ among companies. © 2020 MedPro Group Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 1

12/31/20 10:15 AM

TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME 109, ISSUE 4

8

20

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 President’s Message 4 Editor’s Message 6 Executive Director’s Message

FEATURES 8 Highlights from MAG’s recent BOD & HOD meetings 12 MAG 2020 awards recipients

23 GCMB Update

14 MAG Life members

24 Medical Ethics

16 2020 HOD attendees

26 County, Member & Specialty News

18 Key 2019 HOD actions updates

28 Perspective

20 MAG’s priorities for the 2021 General Assembly

Please note: While our Director of Communications Tom Kornegay assumes the position of interim CEO, the publication of the Journal will be suspended. We hope to resume publication at a future date.

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 2

12/31/20 10:15 AM

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

We can do this together Lisa Perry-Gilkes, M.D., F.A.C.S.

drlisamaa@gmail.com

U

nfortunately, I did not get a chance to deliver a traditional speech when I was installed as the president of the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) during last year’s House of Delegates meeting because it took place on an abbreviated, virtual basis. But if I did, the first words that you would have heard would have been thank you. Thank you for believing in me, and thank you for trusting me to lead the most prestigious and respected physicians’ organization in the state. It is a great honor and privilege to serve you.

– have emerged as non-negotiable imperatives for the American people.

For me, job one will be ensuring that MAG continues to take a leadership role for the duration of the pandemic. This will include promoting the actions and safeguards that will protect our patients and prevent the spread of this disease (e.g., encouraging Georgians to wear face coverings and adhering to the social distancing guidelines). It will include using MAG’s clout to help ensure that our tireless health care workforce has the resources and support it needs. And it will include disseminating credible and evidence-based information to our members, patients, and state lawmakers to they can make good decisions.

My predecessor, Dr. Andrew Reisman, deserves a lot of credit for having the vision to get this process started – but we still have a lot of work to do. Dr. Reisman formed a MAG Task Force on Diversity that I am heading up that is looking for ways to effect meaningful and sustainable change in the medical profession and the health care system.

I would like to thank and applaud every physician and allied health care professional and worker in the state for their selfless efforts, including some 300 members of the MAG Medical Reserves Corps. These frontline heroes have risked their own wellbeing to care for their patients – saving countless lives. The way our profession stepped up in the face of great adversity in 2020 makes me beam with pride.

Finally, I would like to remind MAG members to take advantage of several innovative programs that can help them run more successful practices. This includes the MAG Association Healthcare Solutions Plan, the MAG 401(k) Plan, and the new MAG Insurance Agency – which offers medical malpractice coverage by the MedPro Group, the nation’s largest and highestrated health care liability insurance carrier. I encourage you to contact Ryan Larosa at rlarosa@mag.org or 6787.303.9250 for more information on these exclusive MAG member programs.

I am acutely aware that the pandemic has placed physicians under great stress, so the MAG Physician Resilience Task Force – www.mag.org/resources/resilience – will continue to address the needs of our members and the rest of the state’s health care workforce.

In addition to COVID-19, I will address social justice, racism, equality, and health equity, as we simply cannot let what transpired in 2020 morph into another moment of placation.

No, we must have some honest and uncomfortable conversations, and we must take steps to effect real change within our profession and the health care system. We must acknowledge that the social determinants of health – the economic and social conditions that influence individual and group differences in health status

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 3

MAG will continue to condemn violence and systemic oppression at every turn, and we will not tolerate inequality, injustice, or racism. There are clear and demonstrable links between violence and racism and poverty and patient health, so MAG will continue to advocate for health equity for every Georgian – and we will take steps to mitigate any disparities in the accessibility of medical care, especially when it comes to our most vulnerable or historically oppressed populations.

Some of the other key issues that I will address during my oneyear term as MAG’s president include health insurance reform, surprise medical bills, liability protections, Medicaid pay, scope of practice, and patient safety.

We face another busy and challenging year. But I am confident that we can do this together.

As Dr. Martin Luther King said, “It is time to step up!”

Dr. Perry-Gilkes is MAG’s first African American woman president. She is a board-certified ENT-otolaryngologist and the chief medical officer of the Ear, Nose & Throat Institute. Dr. PerryGilkes graduated from the MAG Foundation’s Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy in 2010. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and medical school classmate, Ulric Gilkes, M.D. They have two adult sons, Ivan and James. www.mag.org 3

12/31/20 10:15 AM

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

The Medical Association of Georgia 1849 The Exchange, Suite 200 Atlanta, Georgia 30339 800.282.0224 www.mag.org MAG’s Mission To enhance patient care and the health of the public by advancing the art and science of medicine and by representing physicians and patients in the policy-making process.

Editor Stanley W. Sherman, M.D. Executive Director Donald J. Palmisano Jr. Publisher PubMan, Inc. Richard Goldman, rgoldman@pubman.net 770.855.3608 Editorial Board John S. Antalis, M.D. Mark G. Hanly, M.D. John S. Harvey, M.D. Joy Maxey, M.D. Frank McDonald, M.D. Mark E. Murphy, M.D. Barry D. Silverman, M.D. Michael Zoller, M.D. MAG Executive Committee Lisa Perry-Gilkes, M.D., President Frederick C. Flandry, M.D., President-elect Andrew B. Reisman, M.D., Immediate Past President James L. Smith, M.D., First Vice President Fonda A. Mitchell, Second Vice President Steven M. Huffman, M.D., Chair, Board of Directors Rob Schreiner, M.D., Vice Chair, Board of Directors Edmund R. Donoghue Jr., M.D., Speaker James W. Barber, M.D., Vice Speaker Debi D. Dalton, M.D., Secretary Thomas Emerson, M.D., Treasurer S. William Clark III, M.D., Chair, AMA Delegation W. Scott Bohlke, M.D., Chair, Council on Legislation Advertising PubMan, Inc. Brian Botkin, bbotkin@pubman.net 678.643.7250 Subscriptions Members $40 per year or non-members $60 per year.

Foreign $200 per year (U.S. currency only).

The Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia (ISSN 0025-7028) is the quarterly journal of the Medical Association of Georgia, 1849 The Exchange, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30339.

Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, Georgia, and additional mailing offices. The articles published in the Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Medical Association of Georgia. Publication of an advertisement is not to be considered an endorsement or approval by MAG of the product or service involved.

Postmaster Send address changes to the Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia,1849 The Exchange, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30339.

Established in 1911, the Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia is owned and published by the Medical Association of Georgia. © 2017.

Reflections on the election Stanley W. Sherman, M.D.

A

s I wrote this editorial, President Donald Trump had just visited Georgia to support the Republican candidates for the Senate run-off election. It prompted me to review some of the medical legislation that President Trump passed during his four years in office. This included signing CBD and hemp legalization and signing a bill to fight online sex trafficking. He allowed drug imports from Canada to decrease prescription prices, and drug prices then declined. By law now, health care providers need to disclose their cost of services. A VA hotline was established to help veterans – giving them access to mental health therapy. Federal workers now get 12 weeks paid parental leave, and there are designated areas in airports for women to breastfeed. He signed the ‘Preventing Maternal Death Act.’ Terminally ill patients are now allowed to try experimental therapy. He secured funding to address the opioid epidemic. He signed childhood cancer legislation, as well as the Autism CARES Act, and he found new funding for lupus.

He started the COVID-19 fight with weekly updates from a respected health team, and he worked hard with industry to provide the needed ventilators and PPE. He also supported Operation Warp Speed, which has now successfully developed vaccines. Then, after all these positive accomplishments, he suddenly seemed to turn against his own health advisory team. He became infected with COVID-19 and had a positive response to experimental care, yet he still seemed to push for not more, but less of an economic shutdown after this. He led rallies where masks and social distancing were optional. Did he start listening to the wrong advisors? Did he think an open economy could not wait for defeating the pandemic? The media and the Biden campaign had a field day with this, and it has been said that this led many people to not vote for Vice President Joe Biden, but simply to vote against President Trump. It has also often been said “it’s the economy” that wins elections, but President Trump’s many prior economic wins were defeated by the pandemic. Perhaps history will say that President Trump survived COVID-19 but his presidency did not.

MAG CEO Donald J. Palmisano Jr. bids us goodbye in this issue. Over the past 10 years as CEO, Don has been tireless in his efforts to defend our profession, our practices, our legal rights, and our legislative goals. He also made sure that we kept an enviable surplus in our finances. When we first chose him for this position, we all wondered how long we could keep such a talented individual with us at our state level. His involvement in national lawsuits, national requirements for our re-certifications, and timely video interviews all made his being chosen to lead a national organization inevitable. I know our members join me in thanking him for everything he has done for us. We wish him and his wife, Ana, and their four sons only the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.

This Journal issue summarizes the accomplishments of the October Board of Directors and House of Delegates meetings, as well as our future legislative and legal efforts and MAG’s new MedPro medical malpractice insurance option. We also welcome our new president, Dr. Lisa Perry-Gilkes, who we wish much success in her outlined plans for our organization this year. Congratulations

4 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 4

12/31/20 10:15 AM

to all of our MAG award winners whose wonderful accomplishments you can read about on page 12. Dr. John Antalis details the Georgia Composite Medical Board’s actions on implementing telemedicine in our state. The ethics article from Mercer University student Aliya Nurani outlines Islamic cultural differences to help us provide better care for our Muslim patients.

Dr. Mark Murphy closes this issue of the Journal with a touching love story that is certainly so pertinent for these

times. Hope you had a wonderful and safe holiday season.

Join me in thanking our members, our fellow health care workers, and the researchers and industry partners who are helping to fight this pandemic so that we can all hopefully look forward to a better and healthier 2021.

Please note: While our Director of Communications Tom Kornegay assumes the position of interim CEO, the publication of the Journal will be suspended. We hope to resume publication at a future date.

Eligible MAG members qualify for free tail coverage & premium credits when they get a MAG Insurance Agency med-mal policy Eligible MAG members qualify for free tail coverage & premium credits when they get a MAG Insurance Agency med-mal policy. MAG Insurance Agency’s carrier is MedPro Group, the nation’s largest and highest-rated health care liability insurance carrier.

MedPro offers…

• Full and immediate coverage for all prior acts

• A 90 percent national trial win rate, with 80 percent of claims closed without payment • Pure consent to settle, which gives providers the freedom to refuse to settle a claim • Occurrence, Claims-made and Convert to Occurrence® coverage options

• Unsurpassed financial strength: A++ (A.M. Best) and AA+ (Standard & Poor’s)

• $50,000 cyber liability and data breach coverage included

• Industry-leading claims expertise: 400,000+ claims since 1899

Go to MAGInsuranceAgency.com to get a MedPro quote.

EXCLUSIVELY SERVING THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY Creative | Branding | Websites | SEO | Content Email | Social | Reputation | Strategy 818.861.7092 | goldman-marketing.com

1

ATTRACT new patients

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 5

2

INCREASE patient revenue

3

RETAIN patients for life

www.mag.org 5

12/31/20 10:15 AM

CEO’S MESSAGE

Forever grateful Donald J. Palmisano Jr.

W

hen I graduated from law school in 1999, my only ambition was to try as many cases as possible. The issue did not matter…I just wanted to be in court. I simply could not fathom why anyone would go to law school and not want to be a trial attorney, so I spent the next six years in a courtroom defending physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and others.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit my hometown of New Orleans like a ton of bricks and altered the trajectory of my life and my family’s life in dramatic ways. The third of my four sons had just been born, and we ended up at Super 8 motel in Mississippi, waiting to see if we would be able to return to Louisiana. The short answer to that question was no, and we eventually sought refuge in Atlanta with the help of some good friends – and we have called Georgia home ever since.

In the process of rebuilding my law practice, I had the good fortune of meeting some of the members of Georgia’s delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) and my predecessor, David Cook. Luck have it, MAG was looking for a general counsel, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The first few years with MAG were challenging, as we faced budget cuts and staff reductions. But a good crisis can force an organization to focus and decide what’s really important, and MAG’s physician leaders and staff came together and developed a plan that set us on a course that has resulted in a truly remarkable 10-year run.

We have accomplished the following…

• A bigger (the most in 25 years) and more diverse member base • A sound financial position, including an operating surplus for 10 straight years, increasing cash reserves, paying off the mortgage for MAG’s building 14 years early, and erasing subsidiary debt • Passing at least one priority bill during the state legislative session every year • Successfully challenging health insurers in the regulatory and legal arenas on a regular basis • Elevating MAG’s influence and brand and reputation at the national level (e.g., AMA and the American Board of Medical Specialties)

dpalmisano@mag.org

It makes me proud to know that MAG’s recent success is unmatched anywhere in the U.S. because of our efforts. And I believe that this can be attributed to a few important factors, including…

• Physician leaders who supported and trusted and empowered MAG’s staff • We have been agile and evolved as an organization as circumstances have changed • We have been fiscally conservative – but we have also taken a “measured risk” when it has been necessary • We have focused on two key metrics, including membership and finances • We have never shied away from a good fight (just ask Anthem) • We have had very little staff turnover When I was considering the offer to become the executive director and CEO of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, I can assure you that it was no easy decision. But just like that young lawyer who wanted to be in a courtroom every day, I had grown increasingly interested in taking on the challenge of running a physicians’ advocacy organization at the national level. Plus, I am one who believes that change can be good and healthy, and I believe the time was right – for both me and MAG. When people ask me to describe MAG, I think about an organization that thinks outside of the box and one that takes responsible and calculated risks – as evidenced by the chance you took on me. You embraced me, you trusted me, and you gave me an opportunity when I was at a low point. I will never forget that, and I will always be indebted to you.

Georgia and MAG have been my home – our home – for 15 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and my coworkers. It has been an incredibly fulfilling professional and life experience.

So, to every MAG member and every MAG employee who I have had the privilege of working with over the last 15 years, thank you for being part of my incredible journey. Ana and I and our four boys might be living in Illinois, but our hearts will always be in Georgia. And never forget that I will always be just a phone call away.

6 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 6

12/31/20 10:15 AM

HUFF, POWELL & BAILEY, LLC

We treat our clients as partners working toward a common goal.

HUFF, POWELL & BAILEY, LLC

TREATING CLIENTS AS PARTNERS

concentrates its practice in civil tort litigation, focusing on the defense of persons and corporations accused of professional and products liability negligence.

“We insist that each client relationship be productive, mutually beneficial, professional and collegial,” says Scott Bailey, Managing Partner. “We treat our clients as partners. The firm continues to evolve and provide expert legal services at an exceptional value to meet the growing demands of those we serve.”

We are committed to the successful and costeffective defense of:

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 7

•

Medical Malpractice Litigation

•

Physician Related Litigation

•

Hospital Liability Litigation

•

Premises & Products Liability

•

Pharmaceutical Litigation

•

Medical Device Litigation

999 Peachtree St., Suite 950 Atlanta, GA 30309 PH: (404) 892-4022 • FX: (404) 892-4033 www.huffpowellbailey.com

www.mag.org 7

12/31/20 10:15 AM

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MAG’S RECENT BOD & HOD MEETINGS The Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) recently held two key leadership meetings on a virtual basis, including the Board of Directors (BOD) on September 29 and October 16 and the House of Delegates (HOD) on October 17. The following is a summary of some of the important developments that took place during those meetings.

MAG’s BOD...

• Approved MAG’s priorities for the 2021 state legislative session (see the article on page 18 for details).

• Approved the formation of a “for profit” subsidiary called MAG Insurance Solutions, LLC., approved the formation of an insurance agency with Data Trace called Medical Association of Georgia Insurance Agency, LLC., approved an endorsement agreement with the MedPro Group, and approved a motion to end its marketing agreement with MagMutual.

• Approved the formation of a MAG task force to explore legislative solutions for non-compete clauses in insurer contracts.

• Approved MAG’s FY 2021 operating budget.

• Elected Mark Huffman, M.D., and Rob Schreiner, M.D., to serve as its chair and vice chair.

• Appointed the Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia’s Editorial Board for 2020-2021, including Editor Stanley Sherman, M.D. President’s Report In a special edition of the MAG ‘Top Docs’ Facebook videocast that he recorded for delegates, MAG President Andrew Reisman, M.D., reported that some of MAG’s key accomplishments during his one-year term included…

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the MAG Medical Reserve Corps was deployed and credited by Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency with saving lives, MAG worked with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s office and the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Composite Medical Board to support physicians, and MAG disseminated crucial information on telemedicine, PPE, testing, loans/financial relief, etc.

• MAG 1) issued a strong statement on race and equality and 2) hosted town hall on race and equality and 3) formed a diversity task force to “enhance patient care and the health of the public by bringing awareness to and providing resources on health disparities, cultural competency, and social determinants of health.”

• MAG was 1) a leading advocate for Georgia’s new “surprise billing” law and 2) pushed for executive order and legislation creating liability protections during pandemic.

• MAG’s Association Healthcare Solutions health insurance plan had already saved one MAG member practice 25 percent, while the MAG 401(k) Plan had grown to $80 million in assets and 500 participants.

• MAG’s Resiliency Task Force had created a ‘Physician Resilience Resources Center’ on MAG’s website and hosted a special series of ‘Top Docs’ shows addressing health care workforce wellness and resiliency.

8 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 8

12/31/20 10:15 AM

• MAG’s ‘Top Docs’ show was being viewed by nearly 20,000 people per episode and had reached nearly two million viewers since it was established in 2015.

• MAG transitioned to a new member database that is more secure and easier to use.

• MAG accredits 36 CME providers and the health care programs at more than 50 correctional facilities.

• MAG is working with the American Medical Association (AMA) on a program to prevent type 2 diabetes.

• The MAG Foundation’s Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy now has more than 160 graduates.

Key HOD Resolutions The following are some of the key resolutions that were considered during this year’s HOD. Resolution 103A.20. MAG will submit a resolution to AMA’s HOD calling for AMA to 1) rescind its statement calling for physicians to stop prescribing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine until sufficient evidence becomes available to conclusively illustrate that the harm associated with use outweighs benefit early in the disease course and 2) rescind its joint statement with the American Pharmacists Association (APA) and the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHSP) and update it with a joint statement notifying patients that further studies are ongoing to clarify any potential benefit of hydroxychloroquine and combination therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 and 3) reassure patients whose physicians prescribe hydroxychloroquine and combination therapies for early-stage COVID-19 diagnosis by issuing an updated statement clarifying AMA’s support for a physician’s ability to prescribe FDA-approved medications for off label use if it is in their best clinical judgement and which specifically references the use of hydroxychloroquine and combination therapies for the treatment of the earliest stage of COVID-19 and 4) take the necessary actions to require local pharmacies to fill valid prescriptions that are issued by physicians and consistent with AMA principles in AMA Policy H-120.988, including working with APA and ASHSP. The MAG HOD also voted to have AMA Policy H-120-988 become MAG policy.

Adopted.

Resolution 304C.20. MAG will support legislation permitting pharmacists who are under a protocol agreement with a physician who is licensed in Georgia to administer of all immunizations in a manner that is consistent with the most recent edition of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) adult immunization schedule for patients who are 18 or older without the need for a prescription 1) if they check the Georgia Immunization Registry (GRITS) prior to administration of the vaccine and 2) the pharmacist or designee records the vaccination in GRITS within 72 hours. Adopted.

Resolution 305C.20. MAG will 1) work with government agencies and private insurers to maintain and expand reimbursement for telehealth services in Georgia and 2) make the continuation and expansion of telehealth services for Georgians after the CMS 1135 waiver expires a legislative priority and 3) MAG’s Board of Directors should determine whether MAG should advocate that reimbursement for telemedicine visits should be a minimum of 100 percent of the reimbursement for an in-person visit. Adopted.

Resolution 501CB.20. MAG should create membership levels for independent physician associations, specialty societies, component medical societies, and state physician societies so the

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 9

members of these organizations have access to MAG’s 401(k), health insurance, and medical malpractice insurance plans.

Adopted.

Resolution 502CB.20. Promote diversity by granting the Georgia State Medical Association, the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage, the Georgia Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America, and the Georgia Chapter of the Association Of Physicians of Pakistani Descent MAG HOD representation using MAG’s existing sliding-scale formula that is based on the number of MAG members they have. Adopted.

Resolution 102A.20. MAG will participate in AMA’s #MaskUp COVID-19 public health initiative. Adopted.

Resolution 101A.20. MAG should adopt the latest version of AMA’s ‘Principles for Advancing Gender Equity in Medicine.’

Adopted.

Resolution 104A.20. Called for the MAG Task Force on Diversity and Racial Injustice to develop communications strategies to underscore the need for physicians to participate in clinical trials – including those involving vaccines and convalescent plasma – to create therapies designed to help those at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to help decrease health disparities. Adopted.

Resolution 301C.20. MAG will 1) advocate for legislation to eliminate the sale of all nicotine-containing products with menthol and advocate that enforcement be directed exclusively at the retail sale of such products and not at possession of the same and 2) submit a resolution to the AMA HOD to reaffirm its policy on tobacco sales and flavoring to make the sale of nicotinecontaining products with menthol illegal in every state. Adopted.

Contact Bethany Sherrer at bsherrer@mag.org with any questions related to 2020 HOD resolutions.

MAG Election Results The following MAG officers were elected for 2020-2021...

President-elect Frederick C. Flandry, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Columbus Speaker Edmund R. Donoghue Jr., M.D., Forensic Pathology, Savannah Vice Speaker James Barber, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Douglas First Vice President James “J.” Smith, M.D., Emergency Medicine, Lawrenceville Second Vice President Fonda Mitchell, M.D., OB-GYN, Duluth AMA Delegate John S. Antalis, M.D., Family Medicine, Dalton AMA Delegate Jack M. Chapman Jr., M.D., Ophthalmology, Gainesville AMA Alternate Delegate Charles I. Wilmer, M.D., Interventional Cardiology, Atlanta AMA Alternate Delegate Zach Lopater, M.D., Radiation Oncology, Macon AMA Alternate Delegate Shamie Das, M.D., Emergency Medicine, Atlanta MAG Judicial Council member Willie F. Rainey Jr., M.D., Internal Medicine, Atlanta The physicians who were elected to the BOD at the district and county levels included...

District John S. Antalis, M.D. (Director, 7) David C. Bosshardt, M.D. (Alternate, 7) www.mag.org 9

12/31/20 10:15 AM

Travis Bailey, D.O. (Director, 8) Uma Jonnalagadda, M.D. (Alternate, 8) Stephen Jarrard, M.D. (Director 9) Donnie Fordham, M.D. (Alternate, 9) County Robert C. Jones, M.D. (Director, Bibb) William P. Brooks, M.D. (Alternate, Bibb) Mark Huffman, M.D. (Director, Cobb) Nydia Bladuell, M.D. (Alternate, Cobb) Royden Daniels, M.D. (Alternate, Cobb) Brett Cannon, M.D. (Alternate, Cobb)

Resident Section Chair Jessica O’Sullivan, M.D. Vice Chair Sherwin Chiu, M.D. Young Physician Section Chair Tracey Henry, M.D. Vice Chair Zach Lopater, M.D. Medical Student Section Chair Jay Landow, Mercer School of Medicine (Macon) Vice Chair Michael Sandak, Mercer School of Medicine (Macon) Rob Schreiner, M.D., will serve as the Organized Medical Staff Section chair in 2020-2021.

Stanley Dysart, M.D. (Alternate, Cobb)

GAMPAC

Karl D. Schultz Jr., M.D. (Director, Hall)

GAMPAC raised $110,000 to elect pro-physician candidates during a virtual event on October 1. It featured U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D., from North Carolina discussing what action Congress had taken to support the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and giving an update on federal health care legislation.

The event also featured all four of Georgia’s physician lawmakers – including Sens. Dean Burke, M.D., Kay Kirkpatrick, M.D., Ben Watson, M.D., and Rep. Mark Newton, M.D. – discussing health care issues and their forecasts for the 2021 state legislative session. Contact Christiana Craddock at ccraddock@mag.org or 678.303.9271 or go to www.mag.org/gampac to join GAMPAC.

Abhishek Gaur, M.D. (Director, Hall) Daniel Ashley Mullis, M.D. (Alternate, Hall) Thomas E. Bat, M.D. (Director, Atlanta) Charles I. Wilmer, M.D. (Director, Atlanta) Carmen Kavali, M.D. (Alternate, Atlanta) Jonathan Gibson, M.D. (Alternate, Atlanta) Deborah Ann Martin, M.D. (Alternate, Atlanta) Albert F. Johary, M.D. (Alternate, Atlanta) The MAG section officers that were elected for the year include…

International Medical Graduate Section Chair Dilipkumar Patel, M.D. Vice Chair Masoumeh Ghaffari, M.D.

2020-2021 MAG Executive Committee Lisa Perry-Gilkes, M.D. Atlanta / ENT President

Steven M. Huffman, M.D. Marietta / Anesthesiology Chair, Board of Directors

Frederick C. Flandry, M.D. Columbus / Orthopedic Surgery President-elect

Rob Schreiner, M.D. Marietta / Internal Medicine Vice Chair, Board of Directors

Andrew B. Reisman, M.D. Oakwood / Family Medicine Immediate Past President

Edmund R. Donoghue Jr., M.D. Savannah / Pathology Speaker, House of Delegates

Thomas Emerson, M.D. Marietta / Urology Treasurer

James W. Barber, M.D. Douglas / Orthopedic Surgery Vice Speaker, House of Delegates

Debi D. Dalton, M.D. Atlanta / Pediatric Emergency Medicine Secretary James L. Smith, M.D. Lawrenceville / Emergency Medicine First Vice President Fonda A. Mitchell Atlanta / OB-GYN Second Vice President

S. William Clark III, M.D. Waycross / Ophthalmology Chair, Georgia AMA Delegation W. Scott Bohlke, M.D. Statesboro / Family Medicine Chair, Council on Legislation

Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy The members of this year’s MAG Foundation Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy include…

Susana Alfonso, M.D. Melhim Bou Alwan, M.D. Joy Baker, M.D. Bret Crumpton, D.O. Tom Fausett, M.D. Patrick Hall, M.D. Renee Haynes, M.D. Andrea Juliao, M.D. James Malcolm, M.D.

2020 HOD Sponsors Angel Flight Soars www.angelflightsoars.org

MAG Alliance www.mag.org/alliance

ACG Wealth / MAG 401(k) Plan www.acgwealth.com

MAG Foundation www.mag.org/magf

GAMPAC www.mag.org/gampac

MAG Medical Reserve Corps www.magmrc.org

Georgia Drug Card www.georgiadrugcard.com

10 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 10

12/31/20 10:15 AM

Chris McAdams, M.D. Joshua Murphy, M.D. Kalpana Prasad, M.D. Carmen Sulton, M.D. The GPLA develops physician leaders who “enhance the medical profession and the health care system and the quality of life in the state.” Go to www.mag.org/gpla or contact Lori Cassity Murphy at lmurphy@mag.org for more information on GPLA. International Medical Graduate Section The MAG International Medical Student Graduate (IMG) Section officers for the year include Chair Dilipkumar Patel, M.D., Vice Chair Masoumeh Ghaffari, M.D., Secretary Magdi Hanafi, M.D., Treasurer Leiv Takle Jr., M.D., and members at-large Arvind Gupta, M.D., and Sudha Tata, M.D. Dr. Patel will serve as the section’s MAG HOD delegate, while Thekkepat Sekhar, M.D., will serve as its alternate.

The section suspended the activities it had planned for the year because of the pandemic.

Go to the ‘Membership’ page on mag.org for additional information or contact Dayna Jackson at djackson@mag.org or 678.303.9262 to join the IMG. Resident Physician & Fellows Section The MAG Resident Physician & Fellows Section (RPFS) officers for the year include Chair Jessica O’Sullivan, M.D., Vice Chair Sherwin Chiu, M.D., Secretary Brandon Kirshner, M.D., and Treasurer Benjamin Bush, M.D. Dr. O’Sullivan reports that, “The RPFS goals for 2021 include partnering with state subspecialty groups to establish an organized medicine awareness week to expand involvement of residents, fellows, and medical students.”

Go to the ‘Membership’ page on mag.org for additional information or contact Eboni Cross at ecross@mag.org or 678.303.9263 to join the RPFS. Young Physician Section The MAG Young Physician Section (YPS) – which includes physicians who are in their first eight years of practice or less than 40 years old – elected its officers for the year, including Chair Tracey Henry, M.D., Vice Chair and HOD Alternate Delegate Zachary Lopater, M.D., HOD Delegate Takeka Byrd, M.D., and AMA Delegate Shamie Das, M.D. The YPS is encouraging its members to attend the HOD meeting every year, as that’s when it elects its governing council.

The YPS hopes to resume hosting social events in the middle of the year.

Go to the ‘Membership’ page on mag.org for additional information or contact Eboni Cross at ecross@mag.org or 678.303.9263 to join the YPS.

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 11

Medical Student Section The MAG Medical Student Section (MSS) officers for the year include Chair and Officer-At-Large Jackson Landow (Mercer/ Macon), Vice Chair Michael Sandak (Mercer/Macon), Secretary Alex Barnhill (Mercer/Savannah), Treasurer Josh Fricker (Mercer/Savannah), MAG Delegate Kristin Sheaffer (Mercer/ Savannah), and MAG Alternate Delegate Meet Patel (Mercer/ Macon).

Landow says that, “The MSS Governing Council will continue to provide ample support and resources to develop campus chapters, with the goal of establishing leadership at Emory University, Morehouse University, and MCG by the end of 2021. We also hope to increase student involvement and leadership within local societies, MAG, and AMA.” This year’s MAG MSS L.E.A.D.S. program graduates include Andrew Hearn (Mercer/Macon), Brad Poole (Mercer/Macon), and Julia Stephens (MCG/Augusta). The L.E.A.D.S. program is designed to “get medical students more involved in organized medicine and advocacy.”

Go to the ‘Membership’ page on mag.org for additional information or contact Eboni Cross at ecross@mag.org or 678.303.9263 to join the MSS. HOD Meetings Survey In a survey of HOD delegates that was conducted after this year’s virtual meetings…

• 16 percent rated the HOD meetings as excellent, while 47 percent said they were good.

• 21 percent said that the HOD reference meetings were excellent, 28 percent said the HOD reference meetings were good, and 26 percent said the HOD reference meetings were average.

• 51 percent felt the HOD meetings were “just right” when it came to duration, while 37 percent said they were too long, and 12 percent said they were too short.

• 74 percent said that they believe “everyone had an opportunity to express their opinion.”

• 81 percent said that they had enough information and staff support.

Go to www.mag.org/HOD for additional information on the 2020 HOD meetings, including the final reports and resolutions.

www.mag.org 11

12/31/20 10:15 AM

MAG AWARDS

Lamartine Hardman Cup JOHN S. HARVEY, M.D., F.A.C.S.

N

orth Atlanta surgeon John S. Harvey, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the recipient of the Medical Association of Georgia’s Lamartine Hardman Cup for 2020. The award was created to honor physicians who solve a problem in public health or make a discovery in surgery or medicine or a contribution to the science of medicine.

“One only has to read the first few lines of his extensive resume to understand why Dr. Harvey is a worthy candidate for this award,” says Charles B. Gillespie, M.D., the “father” of Georgia’s EMS system who worked with the Medical Association of Atlanta (MAA) to nominate Dr. Harvey for the award. “In addition to being a leading advocate for the state’s trauma care system, Dr. Harvey was instrumental in founding the MAG Medical Reserve Corps – which has been credited with saving

lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Dr. Gillespie adds that, “I knew that Dr. Harvey was a gifted general, trauma and burn therapy surgeon, but it also did not take long for me to recognize John’s leadership capabilities and countless contributions to the state’s health care system and medical profession. We collectively owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”

Dr. Harvey has served as MAG’s president, MAG’s speaker, and MAA’s president. He is the MAG MRC’s medical director, and he has been a volunteer in the Georgia State Defense Force – where he has served both as a colonel and command surgeon – since 2000.

Dr. Harvey has been a surgeon in the Atlanta area for more than 35 years – and for the last five years has been the program director in the Northside Hospital Gwinnett Transitional Year Residency program at Northside

John S. Harvey, M.D.

Hospital Gwinnett. He has a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, and he completed his residency in surgery at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Dr. Harvey lives in Roswell with his wife, Saundra Harvey. He has a son, Matthew, and a grandson, Jackson.

The award was named for Lamartine Hardman, M.D. – who was Georgia’s governor from 1927 to 1931 and was a successful physician, entrepreneur, and farmer from Jackson County.

Jack A. Raines Humanitarian Award LOY “CHIP” COWART, M.D.

L

oy “Chip” Cowart, M.D. – a family physician who is the medical director of the Candler Medical Group in Metter and the chief medical officer at the Candler County Hospital – is the recipient of the Medical Association of Georgia’s Jack A. Raines Humanitarian Award for 2020. The award honors a physician for their outstanding humanitarian contributions beyond the normal practice of medicine.

In nominating him for the award, Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) President Jeff Stone, M.D., emphasized that, “Dr. Cowart has been instrumental in the success of the Hearts and Hands Clinic, which provides free care for patients in Statesboro. At Hearts and Hands, he has been a volunteer physician for eight years and the

medical director for five years. He has also mentored college students who are pursuing careers in the medical field.”

Dr. Stone also stressed that, “Dr. Cowart has proven himself a true leader in the medical community and a humanitarian who strives to bridge the gap between clinical care and community outreach.”

In addition to being a member of GAFP’s Board of Directors and Congress of Delegates, Dr. Cowart serves on the board of the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance and was on the Evans County Board of Health from 1997-2015.

Dr. Cowart has a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, and he completed his residency at the Anmed Family Medicine Residency Program in

Loy Cowart, M.D.

Anderson, South Carolina.

Dr. Cowart and his wife, Elizabeth Cowart, live in Statesboro. They have four children, including Lacy (Kyle) Kamppi, Chase (Taylor) Cowart, Chad Cowart, and Heath Waters.

12 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 12

12/31/20 10:15 AM

Joseph P. Bailey Jr., M.D., Physician Distinguished Service Award W. HAYES WILSON, M.D.

A

tlanta rheumatologist W. Hayes Wilson, M.D., is the recipient of the Medical Association of Georgia’s Joseph P. Bailey Jr., M.D., Physician Distinguished Service Award for 2020. The award is given to a physician for distinguished and meritorious service that reflects credit and honor on MAG. In nominating him for the award, Medical Association of Atlanta Executive Director David Waldrep emphasized that, “Dr. Wilson has been a key member of the MAG Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) leadership team since its inception, including the coordination of strategic planning, training exercises, and mission execution – keeping in mind that the MAG MRC has been credited with savings lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Waldrep also noted that, “Dr. Wilson was one of the first MAG MRC members to be deployed during this year’s pandemic, as he provided medical supervision at food banks in the Valdosta and Thomasville area. He also participated in the MAG MRC’s daily COVID-19 coordination meetings.”

Dr. Wilson is the founder and president of Piedmont Rheumatology Consultants, P.C. in Atlanta. He has also been the chief of rheumatology at Piedmont Hospital and an adjunct clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Dr. Wilson graduated from the Emory University School of Medicine. And in addition to being the deputy of operations for the MAG MRC, Dr. Wilson is a member of MAG’s Board of Directors.

W. Hayes Wilson, M.D.

Dr. Wilson lives in Atlanta with his wife and fellow Piedmont Rheumatology owner/physician, Kimberley Elliott Wilson, M.D. They have two children, including Taylor Wilson, who is an EMT who was also deployed to the Valdosta area during the pandemic, and Mallory Wilson.

Physician’s Award for Community Service BEVERLEY ANN TOWNSEND, M.D., M.S., MBA, FAAFP

B

everley Ann Townsend, M.D., M.S., MBA, FAAFP – the district public health director for the West Central Health District in Columbus – is the recipient of the Medical Association of Georgia’s Physician’s Award for Community Service for 2020. The award recognizes physicians who demonstrate a love for the community outside of the regular scope of practice.

In nominating her for the award, Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) President Jeff Stone, M.D., emphasized that, “Dr. Townsend is a leader who has always put her community first. She is an asset to her local community, her GAFP community, and our medical profession.”

He pointed out that, “In her role at the West Central Health District, Dr. Townsend has the opportunity to effect change by implementing community programming, overseeing health objectives, and maintaining

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 13

a cooperative relationship with the Georgia Department of Public Health and other state agencies.”

And Dr. Stone explained that, “Dr. Townsend has organized community health fairs, created clinical protocols, established community liaisons, served on local health boards, provided volunteer medical services, conducted workshops on healthy living and HIV prevention, and performed house calls for elderly and debilitated patients.”

Dr. Townsend has received numerous honors, including the Rosa Parks Women of Courage Award in Medicine, the Milton & Ruth Roemer Prize for Creative Local Public Health Work, the Mt. Mariah Baptist Church History Maker Award, and the Georgia State University School of Nursing Clinical Preceptor Appreciation Award.

It is also worth noting that she received a grant from the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance – which is GAFP’s

Beverley Ann Townsend, M.D.

philanthropic arm – for a Clay County diabetes management project in 2019 and a grant to provide food and transportation to HIV patients during this year’s pandemic.

She is a charter member of the Columbus-Ft. Benning Medical Association, and she has a degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine.

Dr. Townsend lives in Midland. She has two adult sons, Fondrae’ and Isaiah, and two granddaughters, Nia and T’ia. www.mag.org 13

12/31/20 10:15 AM

LIFE MEMBERS

“Life members” are physicians who are 70 years or older who have been an active, dues-paying member of a state medical society or in a branch of the armed services for at least 25 consecutive years – including at least two years with MAG. Life members are not required to pay MAG dues or assessments.

They will continue to receive the MAG ‘Journal’ on a complimentary basis.

Oscar E. Aguero Sr., M.D.

Jay S. Coffsky, M.D.

Ronald A. Freeman, M.D.

Douglas Crawford Huber, M.D.

Alfredo Alarcon, M.D.

Richard William Cohen, M.D.

Richard Archie Freeman, M.D.

John L. Hughes, M.D.

Barbara J. Allen-Dalrymple, M.D.

Paul Gary Cohen, M.D.

William H. Galloway, M.D.

Wayne Gary Hulsey, M.D.

Joseph M. Almand Jr., M.D.

Terrence J. Cook, M.D.

Cyler D. Garner, M.D.

Arthur Lee Humphries Jr., M.D.

Murray C. Arkin, M.D.

Rawser Paul Crank Jr., M.D.

Glen Earl Garrison, M.D.

Dirk Erik Huttenbach, M.D.

Harold Asher, M.D.

Laurence Tarver Crimmins, M.D.

Brinton Bizzelle Gay Jr., M.D.

Steve Kyousick Hwang, M.D.

George Jeff Austin Jr., M.D.

John M. Crymes, M.D.

Joe I. Gillespie, M.D.

Menard C. Ihnen, M.D.

Philip Bates Bailey, M.D.

Alfred L. Davis Jr., M.D.

Bruce M. Gillett, M.D.

John S. Inman Jr., M.D.

Henry Faver Ball, M.D.

Henry Gordon Davis Jr., M.D.

Kenneth S. Gimbel, M.D.

Anthony Frank Isele, M.D.

Crawford F. Barnett Jr., M.D.

Jose Arturo Delgado, M.D.

Henry Fred Gober Jr., M.D.

Sidney Isenberg, M.D.

William Lawrence Barnwell, M.D.

James Edward Dempsey, M.D.

Martin Irving Goldstein, M.D.

Bethanne Foley Jenks, M.D.

Albert Barrocas, M.D.

Keith A. Dimond, M.D.

George Robert Gottlieb, M.D.

Jimpsey Burke Johnson, M.D.

John Gilbert Bates, M.D.

Robert S. Donner, M.D.

William J. Gower, M.D.

C. Emory Johnson Jr., M.D.

William Ward Baxley Jr., M.D.

Douglas Persons Dozier, M.D.

David Howard Greenwald, M.D.

Thomas Devann Johnson, M.D.

James Louis Becton, M.D.

Roy Gordon Duncan, M.D.

Herbert S. Greenwald Jr., M.D.

Charles Garden Johnson, M.D.

James A. Bedingfield, M.D.

William Robert Dunn, M.D.

Joseph W. Griffin Jr., M.D.

George Richard Jones, M.D.

William Henry Biggers, M.D.

Louis Dupont, M.D.

Arvind Gupta, M.D.

William Ellis Josey, M.D.

William F. Bloom, M.D.

Thomas Earl Dupree, M.D.

Jerold Alan Haber, M.D.

Julio Jove, M.D.

Jerry Arvin Boatwright, M.D.

Lawrence L. Durisch Jr., M.D.

James Raleigh Hagler Sr., M.D.

Zeynep Karasu, M.D.

Joseph Waldman Boecker, D.O.

Harmer Oran Eason Jr., M.D.

Maxwell F. Hall Jr., M.D.

Ferdinand Vogt Kay, M.D.

James Larry Boss, M.D.

Anthony Ekwenchi, M.D.

Newell M. Hamilton, M.D.

Francis Burns Kelly, M.D.

Robert L. Brand III, M.D.

Lois Taylor Ellison, M.D.

James Frederic Hammesfahr, M.D.

Craig Todd Kerins, M.D.

Farrell Hobbs Braziel, M.D.

Bruce A. Elrod, M.D.

John H. Harbour, M.D.

James Lon King Jr., M.D.

Harry Harris Brill Jr., M.D.

Harold S. Engler, M.D.

William Alton Hays Jr., M.D.

William R. King Jr., M.D.

William P. Brooks, M.D.

David Allan Epstein, M.D.

Edgar Randolph Hensley, M.D.

James Leroy Kirkpatrick, M.D.

Juanita Annette Brooks-Warren, M.D.

Walter Louis Erhardt Jr., M.D.

Pascual Herrera, M.D.

Luella V. Klein, M.D.

Leonard Brown, M.D.

Richard C. Estes, M.D.

Eugene Van Landingham Herrin, M.D.

William Jay Klopstock, M.D.

Nelson H. Brown, M.D.

John G. Etheridge, M.D.

Theodore Hersh, M.D.

Robert Anthony Kral, M.D.

Gwynne T. Brunt Jr., M.D.

James Patrick Evans, M.D.

John Bunn Hill, Jr., M.D.

Jonathan Seth Krauss, M.D.

Harold Paul Brusman, M.D.

Ellis Wayne Evans Sr., M.D.

Joseph H. Hilsman, M.D.

Constantine Peter Lampros, M.D.

Charles George Burton, M.D.

Alva Humphrey Faulkner, M.D.

Edward David Himot, M.D.

Charles A. Lanford Sr., M.D.

Leon Hays Bush, M.D.

David Earl Field, M.D.

Jack Walter Hirsch, M.D.

James Franklin Langford, M.D.

Dwana Marie Bush, M.D.

Elliott Ronald Finger, M.D.

Frank Hoffman, M.D.

Walter Edward Lee Jr., M.D.

Louis G. Cacchioli, M.D.

Waldo Emerson Floyd Jr., M.D.

Bernard C. Holland, M.D.

Ted Flournoy Leigh, M.D.

Gerald E. Caplan, M.D.

Julia Graydon Wood Foster, M.D.

Noel Holtz, M.D.

Bernard Lerman, M.D.

Daniel Bennett Caplan, M.D.

Milton Frank III, M.D.

Thomas D. Hope, M.D.

Michael K. Levine, M.D.

M. Gary Carter, M.D.

Milton H. Freedman, M.D.

Charles Thomas Hopkins Jr., M.D.

Richard Allen Levitt, M.D.

George Michael Cibik, M.D.

Charles Freeman Jr., M.D.

Henry Lee Howard Jr., M.D.

Craig Stoddard Lichtenwalner, M.D.

14 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 14

12/31/20 10:15 AM

Paul Harvey Liebman, M.D.

James Lawton O’Quinn, M.D.

Narendra K. Shah, M.D.

Karl Henry Ullman, M.D.

Donald Hulbert Loebl Sr., M.D.

Benjamin Boyd Okel, M.D.

Kailash B. Sharma, M.D.

Charles R. Underwood, M.D.

William D. Logan Jr., M.D.

William W. Orr Sr., M.D.

Edwin C Shepherd, M.D.

Charles Bell Upshaw Jr., M.D.

William Trent Lucas, M.D.

John Anthony Page, M.D.

Eloise Baim Sherman, M.D.

Roy W. Vandiver, M.D.

Douglas Ross MacLeod, M.D.

Joseph L. Parker, M.D.

Barry David Silverman, M.D.

Edgar Allen Vaughan, M.D.

Robert Mainor, M.D.

Jesse Lyle Parrott, M.D.

William Crawford Simmons, M.D.

Abraham S. Velkoff, M.D.

Frank Rambo Mann Jr., M.D.

Thomas Corley Paschal, M.D.

Robert Webb Simmons, M.D.

Minor Charles Vernon, M.D.

David S. Mann, M.D.

Robert Marion Patton, M.D.

Howel William Slaughter Jr., M.D.

Irving Victor, M.D.

Thomas Windrow Marks, M.D.

Peter Michael Payne, M.D.

Hugh F. Smisson Jr., M.D.

John Seth Wade, M.D.

Steven I. Marlowe, M.D.

Jesse R. Peel, M.D.

Patton Paul Smith, M.D.

Edward Jones Waits, M.D.

Louie F. Woodward Marshall, M.D.

William J. Pendergrast Sr., M.D.

Chester M. Smith Jr., M.D.

Charles Osborne Walker Jr., M.D.

Alberto Carlos Martinez, M.D.

Geoffrey M. Posner, M.D.

Luther J. Smith II, M.D.

Richard Storer Ward, M.D.

Charles Bush May, M.D.

Stuart Holmes Prather Jr., M.D.

Samuel Raymond Smith, M.D.

Paul Daniel Webster III, M.D.

Alva L. Mayes Jr., M.D.

Carol Graham Pryor, M.D.

Charles Walter Smith, M.D.

Richard A. Wherry, M.D.

Ray Harold McCard, M.D.

Dent W. Purcell, M.D.

James Leon Smith, M.D.

Paul Austin Whitlock Jr., M.D.

John Marshall McCoy, M.D.

Norman B. Pursley, M.D.

William Hill Somers, M.D.

Stewart Earle Wiegand, M.D.

Fayette M. McElhannon Jr., M.D.

Harold Smith Ramos, M.D.

John Aziz Souma, M.D.

Christopher James Wilke, M.D.

Joe Lewis McLendon, M.D.

Alfred Henry Randall Jr., M.D.

Stephen Danny Spain, M.D.

Howard J. Williams Jr., M.D.

John W. McLeod, M.D.

Albert A. Rayle Jr., M.D.

Jacob Aaron Spanier, M.D.

William T. Williams, M.D.

William Hugh Meeks Sr., M.D.

Charles Joseph Rey Jr., M.D.

Raymond F. Spanjer, M.D.

Joseph Sealy Wilson Sr., M.D.

Jack F. Menendez, M.D.

Donald Wallace Rhame, M.D.

Irving Teague Staley, M.D.

Roy Witherington, M.D.

Harvey Ernest Merlin, M.D.

Sterling H. Richardson, M.D.

Michael Stebler, M.D.

Homer Patrick Wood, M.D.

Charles Aloysius Meyer Jr., M.D.

Henry C. Ricks Jr., M.D.

Thomas Steinberg, M.D.

Robert Warner Wood, M.D.

Roger Albert Meyer, M.D.

Wells Riley, M.D.

Dan Bryan Stephens, M.D.

Thomas Earl Wyatt, M.D.

Carey A. Mickel Jr., M.D.

Robert Arthur Robbins, M.D.

Elma Mera Steves, M.D.

Owen K. Youles Jr., M.D.

Jacqueline White Miller, M.D.

Michael Frederick Roberts Jr., M.D.

Robert L. Stump Jr., M.D.

Frank Yu, M.D.

Victor Augustus Moore Jr., M.D.

Ralph Donald Roberts, M.D.

Yung-Fong Sung, M.D.

Alex Z. Klopman, M.D.

Russell Ray Moores, M.D.

Phillip Lee Roberts, M.D.

Panagiotis N. Symbas, M.D.

Henry John Zielinski, M.D.

Hugo A. Sanchez Moreno, M.D.

Harvey B. Roddenberry, M.D.

David E. Tanner, M.D.

Michael Zoller, M.D.

Harvey Vaughan Morgan, M.D.

Howard Stephen Rosing, M.D.

Robert Pierpont Taylor, M.D.

Arnold Zweig, M.D.

Jacob Moshev, M.D.

Julius Thornton Rucker Jr., M.D.

David C. Thibodeaux, M.D.

Benjamin F. Moss Jr., M.D.

Edward Kinzel Russell, M.D.

Donald Ray Thomas, M.D.

Steven A. Muller, M.D.

Ferrol Aubrey Sams Jr., M.D.

William Robert Thompson, M.D.

Hamil Murray, M.D.

Gerald E. Sanders, M.D.

John Nicholas Tiliacos, M.D.

Darrell W. Murray, M.D.

John Keith Schellack, M.D.

Ralph A. Tillman, M.D.

Dearing A. Nash, M.D.

Philip Thomas Schley, M.D.

William Clyde Tippins Jr., M.D.

Puthugramam Krishnansarma Natrajan, M.D.

Elbert William Schmitt Jr., M.D.

Robert P. Tucker, M.D.

John Bruce Neeld Jr., M.D.

Carl C. Schuessler, M.D.

William Darrell Tumlin, M.D.

Maury C. Newton Jr., M.D.

Robert Ira Schwartz, M.D.

David Allen Turner, M.D.

William Lanier Nicholson, M.D.

George P. Sessions, M.D.

Carroll S. Tuten, M.D.

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 15

www.mag.org 15

12/31/20 10:15 AM

2019 ATTENDEES HOD HOD ATTENDEES

NAME

REPRESENTING

NAME

REPRESENTING

John S. Antalis, M.D.

Whitfield-Murray CMS

Thomas Edward Emerson, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Michelle Au, M.D.

MAA

Jeffrey Brennan English, M.D.

MAA

Zachary Ryan Balest, M.D.

Georgia Society of Ophthalmology

John C. Ervin, M.D.

Bibb CMS

James William Barber, M.D.

Georgia Orthopaedic Society

Thomas D. Fausett Jr., M.D.

GAFP

Maria Hernandez Bartlett, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Jacqueline Winfield Fincher, M.D.

Georgia Chapter of American College of Physicians

Thomas Edward Bat, M.D.

MAA

Frederick Charles Flandry, M.D.

Muscogee CMS

Robert Adair Blackwood, M.D.

Richmond CMS

Donald Lowell Fordham, M.D.

GAFP

Nydia Maria Bladuell, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Rutledge Forney, M.D.

MAA

Patrick Leroy Blohm, M.D.

Georgia MS

Marla Jane Franks, M.D.

Cobb CMS

David Charles Bosshardt, M.D.

Walker-Catoosa-Dade CMS

Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, M.D.

MAA

Gary Robert Botstein, M.D.

DeKalb CMS

Allen Gene Garrison, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Tameka D. Byrd, D.O.

Young Physicians Section

G. Waldon Garriss, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Keisha Callins, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Abhishek Gaur, M.D.

Hall CMS

Brett H. Cannon, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Jonathan Gibson, M.D.

MAA

Dimitri C. Cassimatis, M.D.

MAA

Patrick Thomas Gleason, M.D.

MAA

Jack M. Chapman Jr., M.D.

Hall CMS

Henry Fred Gober Jr., M.D.

MAA

Anthony Bernard Chappell, M.D.

Ogeechee River CMS

John Abner Goldman, M.D.

MAA

Benjamin Hugh Cheek, M.D.

Muscogee CMS

Andrew Emmons Green, M.D.

Hall CMS

Sherwin Chiu, M.D.

Richmond CMS

Michael E. Greene, M.D.

Georgia MS

Hersh Chopra, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Joseph W. Griffin Jr., M.D.

Richmond CMS

Jaemi Chu, M.D.

MAA

Patrick Raschiotto Hall, M.D.

MAA

S. William Clark III, M.D.

Okefenokee CMS

Thomas Lamb Haltom, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Michael J. Cohen, M.D.

Richmond CMS

Matthey Talbot Harris, M.D.

Hall CMS

Steven Leonard Cohen, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Wesley Head, M.D.

Hall CMS

Steven Justin Cowart, M.D.

South Georgia MS

Luz Heaton, M.D.

MAA

Brandy Noelle Cross, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Tracey Lynn Henry, M.D.

MAA

Bret Cameron Crumpton, D.O.

Muscogee CMS

Michael C. Hilton, M.D.

MAA

Carl J. W. Czuboka, M.D.

MAA

Ira Robert Horowitz, M.D.

MAA

Despina Demestihas Dalton, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Steven Mark Huffman, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Fred Lester Daniel, M.D.

Georgia MS

Billie Luke Jackson, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Shamie Das, M.D.

MAA

Albert Farah Johary, M.D.

MAA

Aaron H. Davidson, M.D.

Ogeechee River CMS

John Alexander Johnson, M.D.

MAA

Kelly Michelle DeGraffenreid Organ, M.D.

MAA

Robert C. Jones, M.D.

Bibb CMS

E. Daniel DeLoach, M.D.

Georgia MS

Andrea Palmer Juliao, M.D.

DeKalb CMS

Michael Francis Doherty, M.D.

MAA

Mark Kats, M.D.

Hall CMS

Edmund Roche Donoghue Jr., M.D.

Georgia MS

Carmen Michelle Kavali, M.D.

MAA

Heather J. Dozier, M.D.

Georgia Society of Anesthesiologists

Mark Eric Leimbach, M.D.

Georgia Chapter of American College of Cardiology

Donnie P. Dunagan, M.D.

Richmond CMS

Ronald Cartee Lewis, M.D.

Hall CMS

Rod Michael Duraski, M.D.

Troup CMS

Jay Leonard Lichtenfeld, M.D.

Georgia Chapter of American College of Physicians

16 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 16

12/31/20 10:15 AM

NAME

REPRESENTING

NAME

REPRESENTING

Donald Hulbert Loebl Sr., M.D.

Richmond CMS

Benjamin David Spitalnick, M.D.

Georgia Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics

Zachary David Lopater, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Jane Turley St.Clair, M.D.

MAA

Karen E. Lovett, M.D.

Georgia Radiological Society

Jeffrey Craig Stone, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Eniki Ayana Mack, M.D.

Hall CMS

Barry Neil Straus, M.D.

Cherokee-Pickens CMS

Deborah Ann Martin, M.D.

MAA

Elizabeth Ann Street, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Joy A. Maxey, M.D.

DeKalb CMS

Karen Adrienne Stuart, M.D.

Muscogee CMS

Howard Michael Maziar, M.D.

Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association

Roland S. Summers, M.D.

Georgia MS

Christopher McAdams, M.D.

Georgia Radiologicial Society

Johnny Liu Sy, D.O.

Georgia College of Emergency Physicians

Welborn Cody McClatchey, M.D.

MAA

Deborah Ann Taylor, M.D.

Cobb CMS

E. Frank McDonald Jr., M.D.

Hall CMS

Jeffrey L. Tharp, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Lina Millan, M.D.

Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society

Earl Harold Thurmond Jr., M.D.

MAA

William Charles Miller Jr., M.D.

Coffee CMS

Leah Casey Tobin, M.D.

MAA

Fonda Ann Mitchell, M.D.

MAA

Karen Elaine Turner, D.O.

Georgia MS

Gerald Edward Moody, M.D.

Georgia Society of Anesthesiologists

Alexandra Marie Waits, M.D.

MAA

Malcolm Sid Moore Jr., M.D.

Bibb CMS

Jessica Walsh O'Sullivan, M.D.

Resident Physician & Fellow Section

Terence Lee Moraczewski, M.D.

MAA

Christopher Joseph Walsh, M.D.

Georgia Orthopaedic Society

Daniel Ashley Mullis, M.D.

Hall CMS

Steven Michael Walsh, M.D.

MAA

Rana Kay Munna, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Clyde Watkins Jr., M.D.

Georgia Chapter of American College of Physicians

Jonathan Richard Murrow, M.D.

Georgia Chapter of American College of Cardiology

Joseph Eugene West, M.D.

Hall CMS

Robert Blackerby Neuman, M.D.

MAA

Martha Mary Wilber, M.D.

MAA

Lajune Benja Oliver, M.D.

MAA

Joseph Sheppard Wilkes, M.D.

MAA

Dilip C. Patel, M.D.

IMG Section

Michael James Wilkowski, M.D.

Georgia MS

Derek Paul Pendarvis, M.D.

Hall CMS

William Frank Willett III, M.D.

Muscogee CMS

Cary Anne Cunningham Perry, M.D.

Georgia Obstetrical & Gynecological Society

Charles Inman Wilmer, M.D.

MAA

Lisa Christanne Perry-Gilkes, M.D.

MAA

Kimberley Gail Elliott Wilson, M.D.

MAA

Quentin Roosevelt Pirkle Jr., M.D.

MAA

Natalee Kay Wilson, MD

Cobb CMS

George Clark Pursley, M.D.

Richmond CMS

William Hayes Wilson, M.D.

MAA

Ali Rahimi, M.D.

MAA

Bridget McCord Wright, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Willie Frank Rainey Jr., M.D.

MAA

Michael McBrearty Wright, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Darl Wayne Rantz, M.D.

Bibb CMS

Joanne Zhiwen Zhu, M.D.

Cobb CMS

Sandra B. Reed, M.D.

MAA

Andrew B. Reisman, M.D.

Hall CMS

Gary C. Richter, M.D.

MAA

Antonio Rios, M.D.

Hall CMS

Randy Frank Rizor, M.D.

MAA

John Frederick Salazar, M.D.

Richmond CMS

Robert David Schreiner, M.D.

MAA

Anna Skold, M.D.

MAA

James Lofton Smith Jr., M.D.

Georgia College of Emergency Physicians

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 17

www.mag.org 17

12/31/20 10:15 AM

KEY 2019 HOD ACTIONS UPDATES

The following is an abbreviated update of key resolutions from MAG’s 2019 House of Delegates meeting…

Action

Status

MAG will urge the Georgia General Assembly to pass an increase in the state excise tax on tobacco products to the national average or above and implement a commensurate excise tax on tobacco vaping cartridges. Adopted.

MAG and a coalition of allied stakeholders supported legislation that called for an increase in the state’s tobacco tax, but the Georgia General Assembly did not pass the increase.

MAG will 1) advocate for legislation that will raise the age to legally purchase all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21 and 2) work with legislators to craft state policy to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products and ban all flavored tobacco products and 3) call for the Georgia delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) to present a resolution to the AMA HOD to reaffirm AMA policy on tobacco sales and flavoring and make the above stated policies universal in all states. Adopted.

MAG testified on this issue during the 2020 legislative session. MAG also supported a ban on flavored cigarettes and e-cigarettes at the federal level in 2019 and 2020.

MAG supported S.B. 375, a bill that passed the Georgia General Assembly in 2020 which placed a tax on vaping products and established a regulatory framework for vaping products.

During AMA’s 2020 Interim Meeting, AMA Resolution 931, Vaping Ban for Under 21 and Additional Regulations, was placed on the reaffirmation docket and AMA reaffirmed AMA Policy H-495.986.

MAG will 1) support the concept of certification of youth sports coaches in and outside school athletic programs with a focus on practices to minimize participation injuries, prevention of heat illness, and appropriate management of concussion and 2) work through its Council on Legislation and grassroots efforts in the state to introduce legislation in the next General Assembly that will support and mandate such certifications in the state. Adopted.

Policy statement: MAG supports the concept of certification of youth sports coaches in and outside of school athletic programs with a focus on practices to minimize participation injuries, prevention of heat illness, and appropriate management of concussion.

MAG obtained a sponsor for a bill during the 2020 General Assembly. The bill did not pass due to the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., the session was adjourned).

MAG will develop legislation in 2020 to require that physicians who are contracted by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) or health insurance companies possess a Georgia medical license, practice in the same area of expertise, actively see patients, be subject to Georgia’s peer review process, be subject to the Georgia Composite Medical Board for complaints by patients or physicians, and be subject to Georgia’s rules and laws when making prior authorization determinations and the Georgia AMA delegation will present a resolution to AMA’s HOD calling for AMA to advocate for legislation to require physicians who are contracted by health insurers or PBMs to possess an active license in the states where they review prior authorizations and be subject to the rules, statutes, medical board, and peer review of the state in which the prior authorization request is made and 3) the Georgia AMA delegation present a resolution to AMA’s HOD calling for AMA to advocate for the repeal of the ‘Employee Retirement Income Security Act’ (ERISA) as it pertains to prior authorization decisions. Adopted.

The Georgia Delegation introduced a resolution during AMA’s Special HOD Meeting in 2020. The AMA HOD adopted language calling for AMA to continue to advocate for all health plans to be subject to state prior authorization reforms, including selfinsured plans.

18 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 18

12/31/20 10:15 AM

Action

Status

MAG will develop legislation to require PBMs who operate in Georgia, whether they have merged with a health insurance company or remain independent, to be licensed and regulated by the Georgia Department of Insurance as a medical entity with rules promulgated to hold PBMs accountable and liable for their health care decisions. Adopted.

MAG worked with Georgia legislators in both chambers to address these issues in 2020. While no legislation requiring licensure passed, several key bills to regulate PBMs did – including S.B. 313, H.B. 946, and H.B. 918.

MAG will explore legislation to resolve the issues that are presented by non-compete clauses. Referred MAG’s Board of Directors to study and develop recommendations for the HOD in 2020.

MAG’s Board of Directors will form a task force to study this issue.

MAG will 1) endorse lung cancer screening by lowdose CT as the primary means to detect early stage lung cancer to reduce the mortality of lung cancer in Georgia and 2) call for all centers that offer LDCT lung cancer screening programs to utilize the ‘Quality Triad of Safe Lung Screening’ framework, including navigation with prompt communication and recognition by a CMSapproved accrediting organization and the provision of a virtual and/or on-site multi-disciplinary team to manage findings and 3) encourage all commercial payers to encourage their provider networks to only refer their patients to those screening programs that practice the ‘Quality Triad of Lung Screening’ framework and avoid the practice of steering patients to CT scan facilities that are not CMS-accredited and which do not provide patient navigation and 4) MAG will recommend that all relevant medical societies in primary care, family medicine, internal medicine, thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine, radiology, and oncology encourage their members to participate in continuous education on lung screening and to provide tools on shared decision-making, patient identification, and criteria for quality in LDCT lung cancer screening.

Adopted.

Policy statement: MAG endorses, and encourages its component county medical societies to endorse, lung cancer screening by low-dose CT as the primary means by which to detect early state lung cancer to reduce the mortality of lung cancer in Georgia.

Policy statement: MAG supports centers offering LDCT lung cancer screening programs that utilize the Quality Triad of Safe Lung Screening, including 1) navigation with prompt communication and 2) recognition by the CMS-approved accrediting organization and 3) providing a virtual and/or on site multi-disciplinary team to manage findings.

Policy statement: MAG shall encourage all commercial payers to 1) encourage their provider networks to refer to only those screening programs that practice the Quality Triad of Lung Screening and 2) avoid the practice of steering patients to CT scan facilities that are not CMSaccredited and which do not provide patient navigation.

Notification of this action was forwarded to primary care, family medicine, internal medicine, thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine, radiology, and oncology state specialty societies to encourage their members to participate in continuous education on lung screening and to provide tools on shared decision-making, patient identification, and criteria for quality in LDCT lung cancer screening.

MAG’s Organized Medical Staff Section will be allocated up to eight voting directors on the MAG Board of Directors and the groups from which the directors are chosen must be 1) group members of MAG and 2) group members of the county medical society in their geographic area if it is functioning and 3) represent diversity in size and geography. Adopted.

MAG’s bylaws shall be amended as follows: CHAPTER VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS SECTION 2. COMPOSITION. (b) Directors and Alternate Directors are selected as follows: (xi) The Organized Medical Staff Section of the Association shall be entitled to eight (8) Directors and eight (8) Alternate Directors on the Board of Directors, said officers to be elected annually by the members of the Organized Medical Staff Section. Those groups from which said directors are chosen must be (a) group members of MAG and (b) group members of the county medical society (CMS), if a CMS is functioning in their geographic area of the state, and (c) represent diversity in size and geography.

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 19

www.mag.org 19

12/31/20 10:15 AM

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Key 2020 bills The following is a summary of the results of key bills that Georgia lawmakers considered in 2020 that were related to the Medical Association of Georgia’s legislative priorities…

Tort Reform S.B. 359 by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) creates liability protections for physicians, other health care providers, health care entities, businesses, and sports venues for claims related to COVID-19. Physicians, health care providers, and health care entities would be protected from liability for the injury or death of a patient for COVID-19 or where the response to COVID-19 reasonably interfered with the arranging for or the providing of the health care services or medical care at issue and for the transmission, infection, exposure, or potential exposure of COVID-19 to an individual. These protections would not apply in cases of gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, reckless infliction of harm, or intentional infliction of harm.

Signed into law.

S.B. 415 by Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) would have 1) eliminated “phantom damages” (i.e., the difference between what a patient is billed and what they pay for their care, which can translate into much higher medical malpractice awards) and 2) changed the state’s ‘Civil Practice Act’ to improve and streamline the process for physicians and small businesses that are involved in lawsuits and 3) established guidelines for what a judge needs to consider when they decide whether to bifurcate a trial. Did not pass.

Medicaid H.B. 1114 by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to six months and require Medicaid to cover lactation care and services. Signed into law.

Scope of Practice S.B. 321 by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) 1) increases the physician PA supervision ratio from 4-to-1 in a group practice and 2-to-1 in a solo practice to 4-to-1 for all and 2) allows APRNs to order radiographic imaging in non-life-threatening situations if it is included in their protocol agreement. Signed into law.

H.B. 791 by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) allows pharmacists to convert a maintenance medication prescription from a 30-day supply to a 90-day supply up to the quantities that have been authorized through refills by the physician – although this is not permitted on the initial prescription or whenever the physician specifies that the refills should not be combined. Signed into law.

H.B. 910 by Rep. Karen Mathiak (R-Griffin) would have established a license for certified professional midwives. Did not pass.

Health Insurance S.B. 303 by Sen. Ben Watson, M.D. (R-Savannah) requires health

insurers to make certain patient cost comparison information available on an interactive and publicly accessible website. Doing so allows patients to 1) see how much in-network physicians are paid by insurers and 2) see the average amount that in-network physicians actually agree to be paid by insurers and 3) get an estimate for how much out-of-pocket money they will owe their physicians/providers and 4) compare quality metrics for the physicians/providers that are in their network in major diagnostic categories, adjusted for risk and severity. Signed into law.

S.B. 313 by Sen. Dean Burke, M.D. (R-Bainbridge) and H.B. 946 by Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin) addressed pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) practices – such as “steering” (i.e., forcing patients to use PBM-owned pharmacies) and pharmaceutical manufacturers’ rebates. This measure includes language establishing requirements for physicians who are involved with prior authorization and step therapy determinations, formulary development, and formulary management (i.e., they have to be seeing or having seen patients in the last five years and be practicing or having practiced in the last five years in the same specialty for which they are providing advice). The Georgia Department of Community Health will be encouraged to require the use of Georgia-licensed physicians for prior authorization or step therapy appeals or determinations in its future contracts with PBMs. Signed into law and went into effect on January 1, 2021.

S.B. 352 by Sen. Dean Burke, M.D. (R-Bainbridge) would have required insurers to cover physician/other health care provider charges at in-network rates for the duration of the patient’s contract year if a physician/provider departs the network during the contract year and were advertised as in-network in the insurer’s provider directory when the patient selected their plan. Did not pass.

S.B. 482 by Sen. Dean Burke, M.D. (R-Bainbridge) creates a ‘Georgia All Payer Claims Database’ (GAPCD) to collect claims data from insurance companies, the Georgia Department of Community Health, Medicaid care management organizations, Medicare plans, entities that contract with institutions of the Georgia Department of Corrections to provide medical, dental, or pharmaceutical care to inmates, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, and the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission. This measure also establishes a GAPCD Advisory Committee to make recommendations about the GAPCD framework and develop a plan to facilitate the “reporting of health care and health quality data resulting in transparent and public reporting of safety, quality, cost, and efficiency information at all levels of health care.” Signed into law.

H.B. 947 by Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin) called for the state to conduct a study to determine how much money it could save if it carved the pharmacy benefits out of the state’s care management

20 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 20

12/31/20 10:15 AM

organizations – action that would kick in if the savings were placed at more than $20 million. Did not pass, although the study will be conducted without the need for legislation.

H.B. 952 by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) would have prohibited corporations that own and operate multiple pharmacies from implementing policies and procedures that restrict the quantity of controlled substances that are dispensed or places a restriction on filling a prescription for a controlled substance that is issued by a specific prescriber. It would have allowed a pharmacist to decline to fill a prescription if they “reasonably believe” that it’s not for a legitimate medical purpose or it’s not in the patient’s best interest or it was written by a prescriber who has been the subject of an enforcement action resulting from controlled substance prescribing by any state or federal agency or entity. Did not pass H.B. 789 by Rep. Mark Newton, M.D. (R-Augusta) 1) addresses “surprise bills” by creating a “star” rating system to highlight which health insurance plans include both certain medical specialties (i.e., emergency medicine, radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology) and hospitals in the same networks and 2) requires health insurers to make this information available on their websites and in their printed directories. Signed into law.

H.B. 888 by Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) will set the price that should be paid for out-of-network emergency care and unanticipated out-of-network non-emergency care at 1) the previously contracted rate between the provider and the insurer or 2) the 2017 median contracted rate, adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – whichever is greater – and paid without the need for prior authorization and without any retrospective payment denials and allow a patient to choose outof-network elective care by consenting in writing and orally at least 48 hours in advance with an estimate of the charges and require an insurer to use the most recent in-network contract rates as the initial payment for a physician/provider when a contract is terminated without cause by the insurer or with cause by a physician/provider within one year of the effective date of the legislation and establish a “baseball-style” arbitration system (i.e., the insurer and physician/provider will each submit a payment amount and an arbitrator will choose one of the numbers and the “loser” will pay the arbitration costs and the bundling or batching of claims will be allowed, with no thresholds). Signed into law and went into effect on January 1, 2021.

their affiliate subcontractors, and their subcontractor pharmacy benefits managers. Vetoed.

Other S.B. 101 by Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) would have required volunteer coaches with youth athletic associations to undergo training to reduce the likelihood of injuries to youth athletes engaged in high risk athletics. Did not pass.

S.B. 375 by Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) 1) makes the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, tobacco related objects, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products to individuals under the age of 21 illegal and 2) creates a regulatory structure and licensure fee for businesses that sell alternative nicotine products and consumable vapor products and 3) sets a rate for the taxation of consumable vapor products. Signed into law.

H.B. 752 by Rep. Dave Belton (R-Buckhead) addresses inadequate language that is in state law that is related to the background checks that are conducted before Georgia can operate as a “home state” for physicians wishing to gain licensure under the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and physical therapists can gain licensure under the Physical Therapy Compact. Signed into law.

Go to www.mag.org/advocacy for a detailed summary of these bills including MAG’s positions.

ROMETEK is your IT department!

Specializing in medical office technology solutions, including HIPPA & MIPS compliance best practices.

ROMETEK, LLC | (404) 698-1998 Sales and Support

contact@rometek.com

H.B. 918 by Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) changes PBMs licensure requirements and prohibit “steering” (i.e., when PBMs force patients to use the pharmacies they own) and reform the process for auditing pharmacies – which are currently conducted

by PBMs, insurers, etc. Signed into law and went into effect on January 1, 2021.

H.B. 991 by Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin) would have created a ‘Healthcare Transparency and Accountability Oversight Committee’ that would have had the authority to review the performance and conduct of all state health care plan contractors,

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 21

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU TODAY? www.mag.org 21

12/31/20 10:15 AM

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

MAG’s 2021 legislative priorities The Medical Association of Georgia’s (MAG) Board of Directors recently approved MAG’s legislative priorities for the 2021 Georgia General Assembly, which include…

COVID-19 Relief

Public Health

– Providing relief and assistance for Georgia’s physicians and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

– Increasing Georgia’s tobacco tax to improve public health

Health Insurance

– Continuing to support the process to ensure coverage of the uninsured

– Streamlining and improving the prior authorization process – Promoting insurance coverage of non-narcotic alternative therapies – Ensuring that patients have access to every physician who is advertised as “in network” for the duration of a contract year to ensure continuity of care Tax Credits for Uncompensated Care – Creating tax credits for physicians who provide uncompensated care

Medicaid

Scope of Practice – Addressing scope of practice issues that undermine patient safety Tort Reform – Addressing Georgia’s tort environment, including exploring CANDOR (Communication and Optimal Resolution) Contact MAG Government Relations Director Derek Norton at dnorton@ mag.org or 678.303.9280 with questions related to MAG’s legislative priorities for 2021.

Save February 17 for virtual ‘Day at the Capitol’

Make a difference as a ‘MAG Doctor of the Day’ volunteer

The 2021 Physicians’ Day at the Capitol event is expected to take place on a virtual basis on Wednesday, February 17. It will feature state lawmakers addressing key health care issues and fielding questions. Monitor www.mag.org for additional details.

MAG is calling on physicians in every specialty to serve as a ‘MAG Doctor of the Day’ volunteer during the 2021 legislative session, which will run from the middle of January to the end of March. MAG Doctor of the Day volunteers provide free minor medical care for legislators and their staff in the Medical Aid Station at the state Capitol in Atlanta. The ‘MAG Doctor of the Day’ is introduced in the House and Senate chambers at the beginning of each legislative day. They also get their picture taken with Gov. Brian Kemp – depending on his availability.

Contact Christiana Craddock at ccraddock@mag.org or 678.303.9271 to sign up to be a MAG Doctor of the Day.

z

Support the candidates who support your profession GAMPAC is MAG’s non-partisan political action committee.

It supports state-level candidates who support the medical profession in Georgia. Go to www.mag.org/affiliates/gampac or contact Bethany Sherrer at bsherrer@mag.org or 678.303.9273 with questions or to join GAMPAC.

z

Save May 14-16 for MAG’s 2021 ‘Legislative Education Seminar” MAG is encouraging its members to save May 14-16 for MAG’s 2021 ‘Legislative Education Seminar,’ which is scheduled to take place at the Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris. More than 80 physicians and 40 state leaders attended the meeting in 2019. Monitor www.mag.org for details – and contact Derek Norton at dnorton@mag.org or 678.303.9280 with questions.

z

Follow MAG 24/7 Whether you’re using a laptop computer or a tablet or a handheld device, you can always get the latest legislative news in Georgia by following MAG on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ MAG1849 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MAG1849.

z

MAG’s Government Relations team Derek Norton, Director dnorton@mag.org or 678.303.9280 Bethany Sherrer, Legal Counsel, GAMPAC Manager & Government Relations Associate bsherrer@mag.org or 678.303.9273 Christiana Craddock, Legislative Assistant ccraddock@mag.org or 678.303.9271

22 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 22

12/31/20 10:15 AM

GCMB UPDATE

Post-COVID telemedicine and medical board complaints

By John S. Antalis, M.D., past chair, Georgia Composite Medical Board

T

he Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) held its annual House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in October virtually. The debate was lively and addressed a wide range of issues, including the use of telemedicine after the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the HOD, I was asked to comment on the Georgia Composite Medical Board’s (GCMB) policy on telemedicine and to address the kinds of medical complaints that GCMB has received since the beginning on the COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 14, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order for emergency provisions to safeguard Georgians during the pandemic. The order has been extended many times.

To ensure the accessibility of care for a growing number of patients who had illnesses that were related to or complicated by the COVID virus, GCMB held a hearing on March 5 – during which it issued emergency practice permits to physicians, PAs, APRNs, and respiratory care professionals who did not possess an active Georgia license. Prior to issuing these temporary emergency practice permits, GCMB staff had conducted background reviews to ensure that these physicians and allied health care professionals did not have a board action against them in other states.

Since that meeting took place, many physicians with the emergency permits have applied for a permanent Georgia license, including retired physicians who have not seen a patient in more than three years. The rules for acquiring a permanent Georgia license have not changed during this pandemic. Every applicant – including those who have retired – is evaluated accordingly. Although not every applicant has received a permanent license, a lot who have no infractions have received a license without a delay.

One of the most frequent complaints by the public that GCMB has received during the COVID outbreak has been related to a few Georgia physicians who fail to wear a facemask while they are treating their patients. GCMB has received 10 to 15 of these complaints. However, the Board has not conducted any formal investigations nor cited any penalties to physicians at this time.

Once Gov. Kemp declared an initial state of emergency on March 14, GCMB issued temporary rules for telemedicine under GCMB Rule 360-3-0.10-.8, “Practice through Electronic Means During a State of Emergency.” Clinicians who have a DEA license who practice under an emergency permit can prescribe a controlled substance for a legitimate medical

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 23

John S. Antalis, M.D. purpose to a Georgia patient without conducting an in-person examination. The patient evaluation must be conducted in real time, using a two-way interactive communication system, on an audio-visual or audio only basis, and adhering to federal and state laws and GCMB Rule 360-3-.07. It is also worth noting that physicians who employ clinical extenders are not required to notify GCMB of changes in a physician assistant’s additional duties or changes in an APRN protocol agreement.

GCMB recently made a significant modification to GCMB Rule 360-3-.07, which was initially enacted in 2012. The modification allows clinicians to examine a patient using technology or peripherals that are equal or superior to an examination that is personally conducted by a provider within their standard of care. The rule has previously stated that technology and peripherals had to be used.

Once the COVID-19 state of emergency is rescinded, the telemedicine rules are scheduled to revert to the 2012 version – although the 360-3-.07 modification will become permanent.

But with the exponential growth in telemedicine in 2020, GCMB believes reverting back to pre-COVID rules on telemedicine does not make sense in today’s climate. Therefore, GCMB, through its Telemedicine Committee, is committed to work with the Georgia General Assembly and key health care stakeholders to establish rules that reflect the changing prevalence of telemedicine.

Two key telemedicine laws that went into effect in Georgia in 2019 include…

• S.B. 115, which enables physicians in other states to treat Georgians if they receive a telemedicine-only license from the GCMB • S.B. 118, which expanded the accessibility of telemedicine in Georgia, banned reimbursement caps, and required insurers to pay physicians/providers the same amount for telemedicine as they do for in-person visits.

I urge you to work with MAG and your state legislators to continue to create laws that will increase the accessibility of care for underserved Georgians by eliminating barriers of insurance contracting, decreasing health care fragmentation that inhibits continuous patient care, and implementing the highest quality of telehealth technology access for all Georgia citizens.

GCMB is committed to adjusting the state’s telemedicine rules as appropriate to enhance the quality and safety of Georgians in this expanded era of telemedicine. www.mag.org 23

12/31/20 10:15 AM

MEDICAL ETHICS

Concerns of Muslim patients in the OB-GYN setting

By Aliya Nurani, MS-4, with input from J. David Baxter, M.D., FACP, interim associate dean Savannah Campus and associate professor of medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine As I read this article, I thought about my childhood – a secluded and somewhat cloistered life. I did not interact with people from other cultures in any meaningful way until I began college in Atlanta. Physicians care for all kinds of people, which means that we must continually learn, respect, and appreciate people who come from other backgrounds or who have different perspectives.

This article is focused on recognizing and respecting the patient’s wishes. We must always be compassionate, and we can never allow our disagreements to affect the care we deliver. As physicians, we must remember that our personal culture is not the only culture that is worthy of respect.

– J. David Baxter, M.D., FACP

U

nderstanding the role of cultural sensitivity in treating Muslim Obstetric & Gynecologic (OBGYN) patients is integral to providing highquality care that results in patient satisfaction and optimum patient outcomes. For clinicians to provide the best care, it is important to recognize the cultural and linguistic diversity of Muslim women and the influence of Islamic values and ethics that directly impact their health care.

This article delves into the major cultural issues that are faced

by Muslim OB-GYN patients.

Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, including six to eight million residing in the U.S.1 It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that most clinicians will care for a Muslim patient at some point. American Muslims are ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse with heritages that include Arabs, African Americans, South Asians, Chinese, Japanese, Europeans, Hispanics, and others. With so much diversity, it can be difficult for providers to know exactly what their patients need. Stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslims can pose a challenge for clinicians – potentially hindering their ability to provide optimal patient care. A closer look into the common practices and beliefs of Muslims in the OB-GYN setting will help facilitate more culturally competent care.

Patient-physician relationships hinge on effective communication, trust, and a sense of understanding. Islam is a way of life where the spiritual and material aspects of life are intertwined. Islamic ethics place a strong emphasis on a sound mind and good physical health. This enables human beings to fulfill their responsibility of service to humanity.3 Taking care

Aliya Nurani, MS-4

of one’s body is seen as a religious duty.

There are certain steps that clinicians can take to improve their relationships with their Muslim patients. First and foremost, many Muslim women prefer female OB-GYNs, and they may not accept care from a male physician.4 In dire situations, a patient may agree to a cross-gender examination if they are accompanied by a same-gender third party.2 While it is customary to shake hands and make eye contact in America, these gestures may inadvertently offend your patient. Many Muslim women will not shake hands or make eye contact with a man which can be misinterpreted as odd or rude.2 Another cultural difference is the emphasis on family involvement in the health care decision-making process.



For clinicians to provide the best care, it is important to recognize the cultural and linguistic diversity of Muslim women and the influence of Islamic values and ethics that directly impact their health care.  Modesty is a core value in Islam, but the degree of modesty is up to interpretation and can vary widely. About a third of the Muslim women in the U.S. wear a hijab (a headscarf that covers the hair). Some wear a burqa, which covers their body, or a niqab, which also covers the face. Others may choose no covering at all. Most Muslim women believe that their bodies are their own and should not be objectified by others.1 Physicians can take certain steps to address this, including allowing the patient to remain fully clothed until they are being actively examined. Practice staff should also ask the patient who they want to be present during the exam, as some may want a same-gender chaperone. It is important for every member of the health care team to knock before they enter the exam room. It is also important to ask team members (e.g., nurses and medical students) to stand at the head of the bed while the physician is conducting a cervical check or pap smear. If possible, the exam table should be oriented away from

24 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 24

12/31/20 10:15 AM

the door (i.e., so the pelvis is not exposed to others). Perhaps the most important consideration is to get the patient’s consent before performing any aspect of the exam, which allows the patient to feel comfortable and in control.

Modesty during childbirth can often be overlooked by those providing the care. Some women who wear a hijab or other forms of covering may wish to have the same level of modesty while delivering either vaginally or by Cesarean section. Patients who need surgery can be taken to the operating room in a gown and with their hijab or covering on. Patients need to be informed that the covering and gown will be removed for surgery but that they will be replaced after surgery is complete. Patients may also request that the entire health care team consists of women, including nurses, surgical technicians, anesthesiologists, and surgeons. If this cannot be accommodated, try to preserve modesty to the extent possible.

The Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, so the month of Ramadan changes from year to year based on the moon. During Ramadan, many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This includes abstaining from all food and drinks, including water, nutritional supplements, and oral medications – although women who are pregnant, breast feeding, menstruating, or ill, are exempt. Many women may still choose to fast while they are pregnant or breast feeding, and this decision should be respected. Patients can be counseled to hydrate and take their medicines well before sunrise and to take naps during the day.

Patients should also be counseled on warning signs that warrant breaking their fast, such as decreased fetal movement. Physician awareness of when Ramadan falls each year will result in better care for their patients since fasting can affect blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.

A Muslim’s dietary restrictions may not seem pertinent to health care, but many medications are made with unacceptable ingredients. For example, gelatin is derived from pork products, which can cause a serious dilemma when Muslim women are prescribed capsulized medications or prenatal gummies – although there are vegetarian and kosher options for prenatal gummies and capsulized medications. Also, some preparations of intramuscular and oral Vitamin K are prepared from animal derivatives, which some Muslim families may decline for the prevention of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. It is important to explain the risks and benefits of these medications and leave the decision up to the family.



Given the large number of Muslim patients in the U.S., it is becoming more important for clinicians, especially OB-GYNs, to be well-versed in the unique needs of their Muslim patients.  Given the large number of Muslim patients in the U.S., it is becoming more important for clinicians, especially OBGYNs, to be well-versed in the unique needs of their Muslim patients. Caring for Muslim patients may require making small adjustments to routine care, but it can make all the difference for the patient.5 If a Muslim woman feels uncomfortable because her care does not align with her beliefs, it can lead to cessation of routine care and screenings leading to worse health outcomes in the future. Many Muslim women will feel anxious or embarrassed expressing their concerns to their physician.

Having physicians acknowledge that the patient is Muslim and asking the patient about their preferences can help alleviate confusion for the patient and lead to better health outcomes.¨

References Shahawy, S., et al. (2015). Cross-Cultural Obstetric and Gynecologic Care of Muslim Patients. Obstetrics and Gynecology (New York. 1953), vol. 126, no. 5, by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved, pp. 969–73, doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001112.

2 https://www.ispu.org 3 Hammoud, M., et al. (2005). Opening Cultural Doors: Providing Culturally Sensitive Healthcare to Arab American and American Muslim Patients. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 193, no. 4, Elsevier BV, pp. 1307–11, doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2005.06.065.

4 McLean, M., et al. (2012). Muslim Women’s Physician Preference: Beyond Obstetrics and Gynecology. Health Care for Women International, vol. 33, no. 9, Informa UK Limited, pp.

849–76, doi:10.1080/07399332.2011.645963.

5 Hasnain, M., et al. (2011). Patient-Centered Care for Muslim Women: Provider and Patient Perspectives. Journal of Women’s Health (Larchmont, N.Y. 2002), vol. 20, no. 1, Mary Ann Liebert Inc,, pp. 73–83, doi:10.1089/jwh.2010.2197.

1

Routine gynecologic care may need to be slightly amended for Muslim patients. For example, unmarried female patients may not agree to pelvic exams or pap smears because they may feel it compromises their virginal status. In addition, Muslim women may be offended when asked about sexually transmitted infections because it implies that they have deviated from monogamy. Muslim patients may also be uncomfortable discussing their sexual orientation and sexual history. Also note that temporary birth control is accepted by most Muslim women, but more permanent options like salpingectomy are generally frowned upon.1

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 25

www.mag.org 25

12/31/20 10:15 AM

CMS & SPECIALTY NEWS

COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY NEWS Bibb County Medical Society

by Dale Mathews, Executive Director The Bibb County Medical Society (BCMS) has not held any recent in-person meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The BCMS delegation that participated in MAG’s virtual House of Delegates meeting in October included Chair Zach Lopater, M.D., Maria H. Bartlett, M.D., William P. Brooks, M.D., William W. Brooks, M.D., Keisha R. Callins, M.D., John C. Ervin, M.D., Allen G. Garrison, M.D., Billie L. Jackson, M.D., Robert C. Jones, M.D., Malcolm S. Moore Jr., M.D., Rana K. Munna, M.D., John A. Page, M.D., Darl W. Rantz, M.D., Cameka N. Scarborough, M.D., I. J. Shaker, M.D., John L. Wood, M.D., Bridget M. Wright, M.D., and Michael M. Wright, M.D. Ryan Schnetzer, M.D., was the Medical Association of Georgia Organized Medicine Staff Section delegate. Go to www.bibbphysicians.org or contact Dale Mathews at bibbphysicians@gmail.com to join BCMS or for more information.

DeKalb County Medical Society

By Melissa Connor, Assistant Executive Director Due to COVID-19, the DeKalb Medical Society has suspended its activities and is expected to resume

its business in the Spring.

Contact Melissa Connor at mconnor@pami.org with questions or to join DMS. Hall County Medical Society

By Melissa Connor, Assistant Executive Director Due to COVID-19, the Hall County Medical Society has suspended its activities and is expected to resume its business in the Spring.

Contact Melissa Connor at mconnor@pami.org with questions or to join HCMS.

SPECIALTY MEDICAL SOCIETY NEWS Georgia Academy of Family Physicians

by Fay Fulton, Executive Vice President The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP) inaugurated its president, Thomas D. Fausett Jr., M.D., FAAFP, for 2020-2021 at a socially distant event that took place at Southwell Medical Center in Adel in November. Dr. Fausett is GAFP’s 73rd president. “I am deeply thankful for the honor and responsibility entrusted to me by my colleagues,” said Dr. Fausett, “and I am ready to advance the Georgia Academy and its causes this year in this new capacity.” Dr. Fausett has a private practice in Adel, which is about 25 miles south of Tifton and 25 miles north of Valdosta. He is on staff at Southwell Medical and Southwell Health and Rehabilitation Center. The research poster competition during GAFP’s Annual

CME Meeting in 2020 featured 24 submissions, which have been posted at https://epostersonline. com/gafp2020. Visit www. gafp.org or call Fay Fulton at 800.392.3841 for information on GAFP. Georgia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology

By Melissa Connor, Assistant Executive Director The Georgia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology’s (GA-ACC) Scientific Meeting was cancelled because of the pandemic, but its leadership team met in November.

Arthur Reitman, M.D., FACC, was elected to be GA-ACC’s governor and president-elect in 2022, while Pascha Schafer, M.D., FACC, was elected to be its secretary/treasurer in 2021. GA-ACC’s councilors for 2021 include Cyrus Samai, M.D. (Atlanta NE), Matt Crim, M.D. (Atlanta NW), Barry Mangel, M.D., and Kipp Slicker, M.D. (Atlanta SE), Mark Watkins, M.D., and Abraham Lin, M.D. and Joseph Poku, M.D. (Atlanta SW). Fellow in training councilors for 2021 include John Lisko, M.D. (Emory), Ripa Patel, M.D. (Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University), and Bishoy Hanna, M.D. (Morehouse).

Contact Melissa Connor at mconnor@pami.org with questions or to join GA-ACC.

Georgia College of Emergency Physicians

The Georgia College of Emergency Physicians will host the ‘Rural Emergency Practice Virtual Conference’ on Kiawah Island, South Carolina on February 20-21, 2021, the ‘Coastal Emergency Medicine Conference’ on Kiawah Island on June 9-14, and the ‘Georgia Emergency Medicine Leadership & Advocacy Conference’ at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro on December 2-5. Go to www.gcep.org or contact Karrie Kirwan at karrie@ theassociationcompany.com for details.

Georgia Gastroenterologic and Endoscopic Society

by Dan Walton, Executive Director Go to www.ggesonline. org to join or renew your membership in the Georgia Gastroenterologic and Endoscopic Society.

Georgia Neurosurgical Society

The Georgia Neurosurgical Society’s (GNS) ‘Spring Meeting’ is scheduled to take place on Sea Island on May 26-31. Go to www.ganeurosurgical. org or contact Karrie Kirwan at karrie@ theassociationcompany.com with questions or to join GNS.

26 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 26

12/31/20 10:15 AM

Georgia Society of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery

The Georgia Society of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery’s ‘Spring Meeting’ will take place at The Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, Florida on July 21-25, while its ‘Fall Meeting’ will take place at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro on December 3-5. Go to www.gsohns.org or contact Karrie Kirwan at karrie@ theassociationcompany.com with questions.

Georgia Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery

The Georgia Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery’s

‘Spring Meeting’ will take place at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa in Hilton Head, South Carolina on June 1-6. Contact Karrie Kirwan at karrie@ theassociationcompany.com with questions.

Georgia Society of Interventional Pain Physicians

The Georgia Society of Interventional Pain Physicians’ ‘Spring Meeting’ will take place on Sea Island on July 7-11. Contact Karrie Kirwan at karrie@ theassociationcompany.com with questions.

Georgia Society of Rheumatology

The Georgia Society of Rheumatology’s ‘Spring

Meeting’ will take place at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Oconee in Greensboro on June 9-13. Contact Karrie Kirwan at karrie@ theassociationcompany.com with questions.

Southern States Rhinology Foundation

The Southern States Rhinology Foundation’s ‘Spring Meeting’ will take place on Kiawah Island, South Carolina April 21-24. Contact Karrie Kirwan at karrie@ theassociationcompany.com with questions.

Submit your county medical society, member or specialty society news to Tom Kornegay at tkornegay@mag.org. Also

contact Kornegay with any corrections, which will run in the next edition of the Journal. The Journal reserves the right to edit submissions for length and clarity. Bolding recognizes the physicians who are active MAG members at the time the Journal was prepared. Go to www.mag. org/membership to renew your MAG membership.

Please note: While our Director of Communications Tom Kornegay assumes the position of interim CEO, the publication of the Journal will be suspended. We hope to resume publication at a future date.

Your Home For Affordable, Quality MRIs. No hidden fees. $399 all in price per body part, which includes a final report that has been reviewed by a board-certified physician from Georgia Select insurances accepted. Give us a call to see if we are in network with your insurance.

1.5 Tesla magnet Next day report turnaround time

P: (470) 255-2190 F: (404) 541-4777 6050 Peachtree Parkway • Suite 400 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092

www.expressmri.com

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 27

www.mag.org 27

12/31/20 10:15 AM

PERSPECTIVE

Election year blues Mark Murphy, M.D.

T

he two of them came into my office together, as always.

For the purposes of this story, I’ll call them Dick and Jane, although those are not their real names.

Jane was rail-thin but athletic. Some might call her “wiry.” She had a swirl of snow-white hair atop her head like an ice cream cone and sparkling eyes the color of the sea. In summer, she wore brightly colored Fila tennis dresses. In winter, she would dress for her doctor visits like she was going to a cocktail party, her wrists and neckline draped with expensive jewelry. Dick was portly and balding, with crooked wire-rimmed glasses and a droopy gray Wilford Brimley mustache. A retired executive for a Fortune 500 company, he was always dressed like he’d never even glimpsed the inside of a boardroom – no ties, no coat, just jeans, t-shirts and a pair of beat-up Docksiders, without socks.

Dick and Jane seemed like the consummate mismatch, but they clearly loved each other. It always made me happy to see them.

They were joined at the hip, their casual ribbing of one another the product of a half-century-long relationship. Dick joked about Jane’s poor sense of direction, or about her tendency to talk to the point of distraction while driving. Jane would rib Dick for being sloppy and unkempt, and she teased him for striking innocent bystanders on the golf course (“When he said ‘fore,’ I thought he was counting the number of people he’d hit.”).

This time, something was wrong. I knew it the minute I walked into the exam room.

Jane was scowling, arms akimbo and eyes ablaze. Dick was so worked up that his glasses were fogged.

“How are things going with you two?” I asked, bracing for the inevitable firestorm.

“Ask her. She’ll tell you,” Dick harrumphed.

I looked at Jane.

“He’s voting for Trump,” she said, stabbing a bony index finger at her husband’s expansive midsection like a stiletto.

“She’s voting for Biden. He’s a senile old man,” he replied.

“You’re a senile old man!” she snapped.

“At least I’m not a socialist!” Dick barked back.

“Guys, really. What happened to my favorite married couple?”

I asked.

“Mr. MAGA here put a huge Trump sign in our front yard without even asking me if I thought it was OK. And it’s not OK. It’s embarrassing. Trump’s crazy,” Jane said.

“Well, Biden’s no saint. Look at all that business with Burisma.”

I looked at the two of them and shook my head.

“You remember that trip to Northern Ireland y’all took a couple of years ago? When you visited the Devil’s Causeway?”

Dick grinned. “That was a great trip,” he admitted.

“Daphne and I thought it would be, too. We were supposed to go there this fall, but it got cancelled. Pandemic and all. We haven’t really gone anywhere in months.”

“We haven’t either,” Jane said.

“It’s been one hell of a bad year,” I said.

They both agreed.

“So try giving each other a break every once in a while. Go on a walk together. Leave the TV off and sit on the screen porch with a bottle of wine. Life’s too short, you know?” I said.

As it turned out, that statement was prophetic. I saw Jane’s obituary in the paper a few short weeks later. Dick was heartbroken.

“They said it was a heart attack,” he said. “I woke up one morning and she was lying there next to me, like always, but she was stone cold, doc. All the life had gone out of her. There was nothing I could do.”

His voice was thick, clotted, and as rough as sandpaper.

“We wasted six months fighting over that damned election, and now she’s gone,” he said. “How am I going to live without her?”

“Look, you two built a life together,” I replied. “You raised two fine kids and traveled the world. At the end of the day, that’s what really matters.”

“I miss her so much, doc,” he said.

“I know you do,” I replied.

“You loved each other,” I told Dick.

“We did,” he said.

That conversation made me appreciate one vital fact: Life is such a precious, fragile thing. We only get so much of it – and it’s never enough.

When I got home that night, I took Daphne in my arms and kissed her a bit longer than usual.

“What’s that all about?” she asked.

“Just you,” I replied, profoundly grateful for everything.

Dr. Murphy is a Savannah gastroenterologist, a longtime MAG member, and a former president of the Georgia Medical Society.

28 MAG Journal

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 28

12/31/20 10:15 AM

Your team is working hard.

Show them they’re appreciated.

Exclusive rates on health insurance for MAG physicians and staff.

MAG_Dec_2020.indd 29

www.MAGBenefitsCenter.com www.mag.org

29

12/31/20 10:15 AM

JMAG ad December.indd 1 MAG_Dec_2020.indd 30

10/29/19 9:01 AM 12/31/20 10:15 AM