Summer 2013

 
PLAN NOW!

66th Annual Mtg

VOS 67th Annual Meeting
May 2-4, 2014
Hotel Roanoke
Roanoke, VA




VOS

VIRGINIA ORTHOPAEDIC
SOCIETY



Orthopac

ORTHO-PAC solicits contributions from Virginia Orthopaedists to fund General Assembly and statewide office candidates who share our goal to foster a better environment for orthopaedic medical care delivery. Political contributions help offset the expenses of campaigns and allow orthopaedists to target our message to important decision-makers. With your support of ORTHO-PAC, we can achieve our mission of educating policymakers about our professional concerns.

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To contact your legislator, visit
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Virginia Orthopaedic Society
2209 Dickens Road
Richmond, VA 23230-2005
(804) 282-0063
Fax (804) 282-0090


Legislative News

Workers' Compensation Price Fixing Bill and Reform Bills Tabled: System and Cost Reforms to be Reviewed

By Cal Whitehead
Legislative Lobbyist
Whitehead Consulting, LLC

In a massive effort led by the Virginia Orthopaedic Society, the Medical Society of Virginia, and the Virginia Hospital & Health Care Association (VHHA), legislation that would have implemented a statutory fee schedule for workers' compensation care was tabled by a House Commerce & Labor special subcommittee. Citing a lack of consensus on a number of reform measures, Chairman Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City) ordered stakeholders to convene during the spring to develop consensus on workers' compensation system improvements. The special subcommittee will consider the stakeholder ideas during two meetings in late spring and early summer.

VOS coordinated a diverse group of providers, patient advocates, claimant attorneys, business organizations, and other stakeholders who were opposed to HB 1612 (Hugo, R-Fairfax). That legislation, supported by insurers, self-insured corporations, and other industry interest groups would have tied workers' compensation reimbursement to Medicare rates. This drastic change to a system that has the fourth lowest premiums in the country would threaten access to quality care by driving away providers.

VOS, MSV, and VHHA supported legislation offered by Delegate Lee Ware, which would have offered market-based reforms. HB 2206 would have encouraged private contracting, capped charge inflation by the medical Consumer Price Index, and required prompt payment for clean claim submissions. Industry representatives repeatedly rejected reform measures intended to slow growth but retain Virginia’s free market features.

The VOS Board is pleased that we have an extended opportunity to work on reforms.  The Board is particularly thankful to the grassroots activity from VOS members leading up to and during the General Assembly session. The Medical Society of Virginia has been an invaluable partner and resource to VOS. Please support our ongoing efforts with your membership in both VOS and MSV as well as support of the organizations’ political action committees – ORTHO-PAC and MSV PAC.

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June 14, 2013 Primary Update

By Ralston King
Whitehead Consulting, LLC

On Tuesday, the Commonwealth of Virginia held the primary election for the November statewide and House of Delegate elections.  Up for election were the Democratic Lt. Governor and Attorney General as well as many highly contested House Democratic and Republican primaries.

State Senator Ralph Northam, a pediatric neurologist from the Eastern Shore, routed Aneesh Chopra by 8.5% for the candidate of Lt. Governor.  A Northern Virginia native, Aneesh  was the former Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer under President Obama.  

Justin Fairfax, a federal prosecutor was narrowly defeated by state Senator Mark Herring for the candidate of Attorney General.  Northam and Herring join gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on the Democratic ticket in November. 

Other important House Republican primary elections were in the 33rd and 29th districts.  Two committee chairs – Joe May (Transportation) and Bev Sherwood (Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources) were defeated on Tuesday.  They join three House Republican retirees; Lacey Putney (Appropriations), Bob Tata (Education) and Bob Purkey (Finance) who were also committee chairs.  With five committee chairs open there could be a significant shift.  Other ranking Republicans who currently chair other committees might pursue “trading up” to lead one of the newly vacant committees.   

Incumbent Challenge

District 15 — Republican

29 of 29 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Todd Gilbert*

3,661

92.10%

Mark Prince

314

7.90%


District 28 — Republican

23 of 23 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Craig Ennis

128

8.60%

Bill Howell*

1,361

91.40%


District 29 — Republican

27 of 25 precincts reporting (108.0%)

Beverly Sherwood*

1,492

48.68%

Mark J Berg

1,573

51.32%

 
District 33 — Republican

32 of 32 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Joe May*

2,201

42.66%

Dave LaRock

2,958

57.34%


District 54 — Republican

20 of 20 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Dustin Curtis

1,045

43.34%

Bobby Orrock*

1,366

56.66%


District 63 — Democrat

30 of 30 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Rosalyn Dance*

2,485

52.87%

Evandra Thompson

2,215

47.13%


District 90 — Democrat

20 of 20 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Rick James

851

31.90%

Algie Howell*

1,817

68.10%

Other Primary Contests

District 6 — Republican

41 of 41 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Jeff Campbell

684

70.66%

Jack Weaver

284

29.34%


District 16 — Republican

42 of 44 precincts reporting (95.5%)

Les Adams

2,421

80.54%

Kenneth Bowman

585

19.46%


D
istrict 85 — Republican

18 of 18 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Gary Byler

1,024

35.25%

Scott Taylor

1,340

46.13%

Jeremy Waters

541

18.62%

 

District 86 — Democrat

17 of 17 precincts reporting (100.0%)

Jennifer Boysko

1,255

77.33%

Herb Kemp

368

22.67%

*Incumbent

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Please Support ORTHO-PAC!
YOUR Political Voice

Please make your annual investment in professional advocacy with a contribution to ORTHO-PAC.  Donations to our political action committee allow us to support candidates and incumbents who share our ideas for to foster a better environment for orthopaedic medical care delivery.  Make a contribution here today:  https://secure.societyhq.com/vos/OrthoPAC.iphtml

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