Welcome to the American Academy of Dermatology’s electronic member newsletter.

Top news

1. Utah legislature passes tanning and truth-in-advertising bills
2. Idaho delays vote on indoor tanning legislation
3. AADA president responds to delay in establishing permanent sustainable growth rate (SGR) fix

Government, legislative and regulatory affairs

4. ACO participation and myths and fables debunked
5. Looking forward, looking back on Massachusetts’ health system reform

Practice issues

6. Surviving a Medicare audit
7. Is ustekinumab an effective treatment for pyoderma gangrenosum?
8. Note perfect: Dermatologist boosts her skills through music
9. Targeted therapies take aim at skin cancer
10. EHR appeals portal slated to open

Meetings

11. Welcome to the 2012 Annual Meeting
12. Save the date for Summer Academy Meeting 2012
13. AHIMA ICD-10 Summit offers strategies for transition

Academy news and member services

14. Academy seeks session directors for 2013 Annual Meeting
15. Nominate members who make a difference
16. Funding available for international volunteer and humanitarian projects
17. 2012 Derm CareerLink provides employment outlook

1. Utah legislature passes tanning and truth-in-advertising bills

The Utah State Senate and State House of Representatives in late February passed SB 41, legislation that requires in-person parental consent and parental accompaniment for all visits by minors to tanning salons. The legislation awaits action by Gov. Gary Herbert. In addition, the legislature passed HB 126, which requires disclosure of board certification and specialty in all advertisements for health care services in which a physician notes board certification. For a physician to advertise certification, his or her certifying board must meet specific requirements. Gov. Herbert must sign or veto the bills within 20 days of their passage or they will become law without his signature.

2. AADA disappointed in delayed vote on Idaho indoor tanning legislation

A scheduled vote on HB 486, which would ban the use of indoor tanning beds by minors, was postponed due to the objections of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, which claimed that passage of the bill would financially benefit dermatologists who, the group said, would prescribe tanning sessions for certain skin conditions, rather than allowing teens to tan on their own. The American Academy of Dermatology Association strongly countered these claims. Ronald L. Moy, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology Association, stated that “dermatologists are disappointed that the Idaho House of Representatives would give more credit to these ludicrous concerns than the health and well-being of young adults in the state.”

3. AADA president responds to delay in establishing permanent sustainable growth rate (SGR) fix

The passage on Feb. 17 of the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012” delayed for 10 months the scheduled 27 percent cut to Medicare physician payments that was set to begin March 1. In response, AADA President Ronald L. Moy, MD, FAAD, said in a statement that the Academy will continue to pursue permanent SGR repeal to ensure this is the last temporary patch before Congress addresses the issue again.

4. ACO participation and myths and fables debunked

Learn the facts about accountable care organizations (ACOs) and how they will affect the specialty of dermatology. Should you join an ACO? Learn more about how to make this important decision and find an ACO that is the right fit for your practice.

5. Looking forward, looking back on Massachusetts’ health system reform

   Almost six years into a system overhaul, physicians share their views about Massachusetts' health system reform and consider what it means for American physicians.

6. Surviving a Medicare audit

The best way to survive an audit is to ensure your documentation is well-organized and to have an effective compliance plan in place.

7. Is ustekinumab an effective treatment for pyoderma gangrenosum?

   Emmanuella Guenova, MD, provides insight into her Archives of Dermatology article, “Interleukin 23 expression in pyoderma gangrenosum and targeted therapy with ustekinumab.”
    

8. Note perfect: Dermatologist boosts her skills through music

Naomi Lawrence, MD, makes time in her schedule for singing. In this “Balance in practice” article, she illustrates how it makes her a better doctor.

9. Targeted therapies take aim at skin cancer

Dermatologists who specialize in treating skin cancer are heralding events of the past year as breakthroughs in battling deadly and disfiguring forms of the disease.

10. EHR appeals portal slated to open

Learn more about the EHR incentive program administrative appeals portal that is scheduled to open in spring 2012.

11. Welcome to the 2012 Annual Meeting

The Academy’s 70^th Annual Meeting, March 16-20 in San Diego, is open. Visit AADMeetingNews.org to learn more about what’s happening at the meeting, and follow the AAD's Meeting News Twitter feed @AADMtgs.

12. Save the date for Summer Academy Meeting

Summer Academy Meeting 2012 will be held Aug. 15-19 in Boston.

13. AHIMA ICD-10 Summit offers strategies for transition

Join the American Academy of Dermatology at the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) 2012 ICD-10 Summit: "Strategies for a Successful ICD-10-CM/PCS Transition," on April 16-17 in Baltimore.

14. Academy seeks session directors for 2013 Annual Meeting

    Opportunities to participate in the scientific program of the American Academy of Dermatology’s 71^st Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., March 1-5, 2013, are available on the Academy’s website. Members who have previously directed a session may apply to direct any type of session; members who would be first-time session directors may apply to direct a focus session.

15. Nominate members who make a difference

    Give Academy members the opportunity to be inspired by compassionate volunteer work by nominating yourself or a colleague for the Members Making a Difference award, which honors the volunteerism of members of the Academy. Winners are profiled monthly in Dermatology World.

16. Funding available for international volunteer and humanitarian projects

The Academy has made funding available for small international volunteer and humanitarian projects. Submit requests to the Education and Volunteers Abroad Committee. The committee will review requests in March, July and December. For more information, email Coura Badiane, international affairs specialist, at cbadiane@aad.org.

17. 2012 Derm CareerLink provides employment outlook

The Derm CareerLink Occupational Outlook 2012 provides members with information about the employment outlook for dermatology, including how technology can enhance your career, insights into sub-specialization, tips for resumes and CVs, a listing of the 2012 AAD Career Development Fair exhibitors/potential employers and more. Printed copies will be available on site at the AAD Career Development Fair on Friday, March 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the San Diego Marriott Marquis during the Academy’s 2012 Annual Meeting.