What is Otolaryngology?
Otolaryngology (pronounced oh/toe/lair/in/goll/oh/jee) is one of the oldest medical specialties in the United States. Otolaryngologists are physicians trained in the medical and surgical management and treatment of patients with diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat (ENT), and related structures of the head and neck. They are commonly referred to as ENT physicians. Otolaryngologists diagnose, treat, and manage specialty-specific disorders in both children and adults.
Message to our Members
It has become increasingly clear to MSO leadership that the challenges we face in Massachusetts requires us to take a more active role in representing the interests of our members and our patients with state regulators and third party payers.
The MSO is pleased to announce that we have entered into a professional relationship with seasoned consultants who will give our specialty a stronger voice in legislative, regulatory and policy decisions. We have retained lobbyists Edward Brennan, Esq. and Ronna Wallace to represent MSO on Beacon Hill and advise us on issues relating to health care reimbursement.
Ed Brennan is a health care attorney with over 25 years of experience serving as legal and legislative counsel for medical specialty societies. As a registered lobbyist, Ed has represented medical specialties on Beacon Hill and before various regulatory agencies of the Commonwealth.
Having begun her career as the Research Director of the Joint Committee on Health Care, Ronna Wallace has been a successful, independent Legislative Consultant for over 20 years. She currently represents several physician specialty societies.
The MSO leadership strongly believes that increasing the MSO presence on Beacon Hill will give our society a stronger voice on issues critical to our members and the patients we serve, and it couldn’t come at a more important time.
One of our first actions will be to file legislation to allow otolaryngologists to dispense hearing aids. Patients should have choice. Massachusetts is one of only two states that prohibit us from dispensing. Similar legislation is pending in New York, the other state.
Also, this year, payment reform legislation is widely expected to be passed by the state legislature. How will Accountable Care Organizations and global payments impact otolaryngology? MSO should not just report on the impact of these initiatives, it should have a hand in crafting the most favorable outcome. This will be the focus of the Fall Educational Program to be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, along with an Advocacy 101 session from the Chair of the MMS Committee on Legislation and otolaryngologist, James Keneally, MD. Visit the MSO website www.mso-hns.org for the meeting brochure. Ronna Wallace and Ed Brennan will be attending the meeting and look forward to meeting you.
Other issues of concern to otolaryngologists that will be tracked and monitored include medical liability reform, scope of practice, health insurance contracting and reimbursement, and physician practice issues governed by the Board of Registration in Medicine.
In addition, our consultants will work with the MSO leadership in addressing concerns regarding payment issues with health insurers and other third party payers.
The MSO is confident that the combined expertise of Ed and Ronna, and their longstanding knowledge of Beacon Hill will benefit the MSO, our physician members, their patients and the practice of otolaryngology in Massachusetts. We urge you to join us in welcoming Ed and Ronna to the MSO when they join us at the Fall Education Program on November 9, 2011.
Sincerely,
Scharukh Jalisi, MD
President, MSO