Dr. Greenman was the second speaker, and the legislators listened intently. She was asked numerous questions by the legislators, and Dr. Greenman responded appropriately. She submitted lengthy testimony, but condensed her remarks for the hearing. Approximately 15 legislators attended the meeting. She was interviewed by WHYY radio, and the TV cameras were rolling. You can listen to the entire hearing by going to: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/archive_audio.asp?SESSION=2010

And scroll all the way down to “Women’s Legislative Caucus.” Dr. Greenman is the second speaker.

Thanks to Dr. Greenman for spending the day in Trenton, representing NJ-ACEP so wonderfully and increasing the visibility of the profession and the College. She spent an enormous amount of time crafting her remarks and talking with her colleagues about the issue.

On May 28, 2004, the Department of Health and Senior Services issued a memorandum to Hospital Chief Executive Officers, in response to emergency department overcrowding. In case you haven’t seen the memo, click on this link to view it.

The Department is expressly permitting placement of stabilized patients awaiting a bed and admitted from the ED on inpatient floors, as long as the hospital maintains compliance with the hospital licensing standards and has developed specific hospital board-approved policies and procedures outlined in the memorandum.

This is a significant decision -- and comes after many NJ-ACEP members discussed the problem and this solution with Commissioner Lacy and DHSS staff. If you attended the January emergency department directors meeting, you recall that the Commissioner agreed to review the problem and issue a recommendation. Thanks to the NJ-ACEP leadership -- and Commissioner Lacy and DHSS -- for moving forward with this important decision.

Beverly Lynch, NJ-ACEP

From the President....Victor Almeida, DO, FACEP  

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE

Emergency Department Directors Dinner

an informal dinner meeting featuring senior New Jersey policymakers & dialogue among the State's ED Directors

Tuesday, January 24, 2012
6:00 pm

GUEST SPEAKERS
The Honorable Jon M. Bramnick (R-21)
Assemblyman Republican Conference Leader

The Honorable Loretta Weinberg (D-37)
Newly Elected Senate Minority Leader

being held at

The Heldrich Hotel
New Brunswick, NJ

RSVP to Lauren at lauren@amg101.com

From the Statehouse...Beverly Lynch & AJ Sabath, Advocacy & Management Group

IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATION STAFF CHANGES ANNOUNCED
Governor Chris Christie announced changes in his senior staff leadership, moving familiar faces to critical leadership roles to best carry out his reform agenda for New Jersey. The movement represents a smooth transition to the new year and second half of his term, in which Governor Christie will rely upon trusted and tested advisors in key front-office posts.

Among those moves by Governor Christie is the elevation of Deputy Chief Counsel Kevin O'Dowd to Chief of Staff, replacing Rich Bagger, who is returning to the biopharmaceutical sector as Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Strategic Market Access for Celgene Corporation. Charles McKenna, currently director of Homeland Security and Preparedness and a former top advisor to the Governor at the U.S. Attorney's Office, will become Governor Christie's Chief Counsel.

All of the changes go into effect on January 31, upon Mr. Bagger's departure from the administration.

     * KEVIN O'DOWD, CHIEF OF STAFF

Kevin O'Dowd has served as the Deputy Chief Counsel to Governor Chris Christie since January of 2010. As Deputy Chief Counsel, O'Dowd was Governor Christie's lead negotiator with the New Jersey State Legislature and supervised the day-to-day operations of the Office of Counsel to the Governor.

Prior to joining the Christie Administration, O'Dowd served as the Chief of the Securities and Healthcare Fraud Unit in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey. During the seven years he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office, O'Dowd prosecuted various crimes ranging from complex healthcare, securities and financial fraud matters to international child pornography distribution, cyber and narcotics prosecutions.

During his time at the United States Department of Justice, O'Dowd received numerous awards and honors from a host of federal law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Secret Service. O'Dowd was twice awarded the prestigious Integrity Award from the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Award for Excellence from the United States President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2003, O'Dowd spent the previous five years serving as a Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Law & Public Safety and an Assistant Counsel in the Office of Counsel to the Governor. O'Dowd received his B.A. from The Catholic University of America and his J.D. from St. John's University School of Law.

A New Jersey native, O'Dowd currently resides in Princeton with his wife - the current Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, Mary O'Dowd and son.    

EMS Overhaul Legislation Sent to Christie
After years of negotiating, lobbying, rewriting and significant discussion, the New Jersey Legislature has passed important legislation that would overhaul the State's EMS system and will improve the quality and delivery of emergency medical services in New Jersey.   The bill now awaits action by the Governor.

According to a 2007 report that was issued after a comprehensive analysis was conducted at the behest of the Legislature, New Jersey's two-tiered EMS system is in a "state of near crisis" due to the system's financial structure, decline in volunteer membership, lack of comprehensive legislation and a weakened Advanced Life Support (ALS) system. The bill incorporates many of the recommendations from the report.

Under the direction of the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, the Office of Emergency Medical Services in the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) would serve as the lead state agency in overseeing emergency medical services to ensure the continuous and timely availability and dispatch of basic and advanced life support through ground and air, adult and pediatric triage, treatment and transport and emergency response capabilities.

The bill would consolidate numerous groups, task forces and advisory boards, into one governing body - the Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board (EMCAB) - to advise DHSS on pre-hospital issues, medical care and the establishment of provider standards.

Furthermore, the bill would create a number of subcommittees under EMCAB, including one charged with exploring shared services and consolidation in order to make recommendations for municipalities and counties to consolidate EMS services.

The bill would also require a minimum of one emergency medical technician (EMT) as the standard of care for every ambulance in the state.  DHSS would also be responsible for arranging advanced life support services in response to 9-1-1 calls statewide.  The bill would also require paramedics, EMTs, and emergency medical responders to obtain a license from DHSS and undergo a criminal history background check as a condition of licensure or other authorization to practice.

The commissioner would also have the authority to revoke the license for violation of certain laws and regulations.

"Next of Kin" legislation approved
Legislation that would ensure that family members are notified in a timely manner when a relative has been seriously injured in an accident was passed by the Assembly on December 15, and is now on the Governor's desk for action. 

The bill would require an officer investigating a motor vehicle accident to notify the next of kin of the whereabouts of an accident victim who has been transported to an emergency room when that victim is unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate this information.

The officer is required to make this notification as soon as possible.  Currently, notifying the next of kin when a person has been admitted to an emergency room as a result of a motor vehicle accident is usually done by hospital staff.    

BILL ALLOWING PATIENTS TO DETAIL END-OF-LIFE TREATMENT PREFERENCES SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
Gov. Chris Christie has signed legislation establishing a "Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment" (POLST) registry in New Jersey.  The bipartisan measure, S-2197, was sponsored by Senators Ruiz and Weinberg and Assembly members Quijano and Munoz.

The law establishes the framework for a program that will allow individuals the use of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms in New Jersey. The POLST form is a statewide, standardized document that essentially converts a person's wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment into a medical order. These forms are currently being used, or are in the process of being established, in more than 30 states.

The bill would require the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services to establish the POLST Paradigm Program to enable patients to indicate their healthcare preferences through a POLST form. The state health commissioner would be required to designate a patient safety organization (PSO) to develop a form and promote awareness of the program among healthcare professionals, emergency responders and the public. The patient safety organization would also be responsible for providing ongoing training of healthcare professionals and emergency responders.

Whereas, advance directives, such as living wills, in many cases are designed simply to name an individual to make healthcare decisions for the patient if he or she becomes incapacitated, a POLST form provides a specific and detailed set of instructions for a healthcare professional as to the patient's preference for the use of various medical interventions.

Under the legislation, a POLST form would only be valid if signed by the patient, or by the patient's representative, as well as the attending physician or the advanced practice nurse, along with the date of signature. A patient at any time would be permitted to amend or revoke a POLST form, or otherwise request treatment other than what was ordered on the form. In completing a POLST form, a patient would also determine whether their representative would have the authority to revoke or modify the POLST in the event the patient loses decision-making capacity. 

SAVE THE DATE

MAY 8, 2012
NJ-ACEP Scientific Assembly
being held at
The National Conference Center, Holiday Inn
East Windsor, NJ 

Have you "liked" us on Facebook yet?  It's so easy!

From the President       Victor Almeida, DO, FACEP

I had the opportunity to visit New York City this holiday weekend. I had not been to Ground Zero in years. I was stunned by the progress of the Freedom Towers. Fall has arrived and almost half of my presidential term has flown by and just wanted to discuss our organization's progress. Our leadership team has been diligently working for you. Here are a few of the ongoing updates.

The best news has been the launch of the New Jersey specific drug database which will allow you, as a clinical practitioner, to query any scheduled prescription(s) by patient. The registration period opened in the last two weeks. Take advantage of it. You should have received a letter from the State with the instructions.

The Triage Away Bill is still alive but likely morphing. We have been asked to participate in a taskforce to review this measure. Dr. Russ Harris is representing NJ-ACEP, by request!  He attended the first meeting recently and will be briefing our group this week. Our focus will be increasing access to primary care for our patients, while not impugning one's ability to be seen in the ED. As many know, Washing State had a reprieve on its mandate to stop payment to the ED and hospital for three or more visits by a Medicaid patient in a year. It was deemed unconstitutional for a number of reasons, but one was because the ED physicians were not at the table as a critical player in this legislation. In New Jersey, we are at the table!

It looks pretty certain that our Chapter will receive a grant from ACEP this year!  NJ-ACEP will create a marketing package of the 2% ACEP campaign; then deliver this message to our target audience of policy makers and the public at large.

The NJ-ACEP reception in San Francisco was a huge success. There were several hundred people in attendance in a spectacular venue atop "City Scape". The panoramic view of the city was magnificent.  The mingling and networking of the best and brightest ACEP members occurred on our turf!  The parting favor, a breathalyzer, was the talk of the conference.  Our own Dr. Gerardi was re elected as a Councilor to ACEP.  I predict Dr. Gerardi as a future President of ACEP!

Bev, AJ, and the NJ-ACEP leadership spent much of September and October meeting and greeting key legislative members. I must say it is a simple and effective way to get our message from an organizational perspective. It's hard to get on one on one time with some of the key players in state government, like Loretta Weinberg, Herb Conaway or Gary Schaer. More members need to participate and discuss their issues. All were reelected, so hopefully they will consider our issues.

I have been working with the ACOEP in an effort to have a dually certified CME activity in the spring. It would be a first nationally. NJ-ACEP / ACOEP meeting occurring simultaneously!!  We have an outstanding slate of speakers from the region thanks Dr. Hinfey. The afternoon would be a dual track of the LLSA and COLA. Keep your fingers crossed, as more to come.

Remember to save the date for January 24 for the ED Director Dinner.  Remember to participate. I challenge you to engage the process!  

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE

Emergency Department Directors Dinner

an informal dinner meeting featuring senior New Jersey policymakers & dialogue among the State's ED Directors

Tuesday, January 24, 2012
6:00 pm

GUEST SPEAKERS
The Honorable Jon M. Bramnick (R-21)
(confirmed)
Assemblyman Republican Conference Leader

The Honorable Loretta Weinberg (D-37)
(invited)
Newly Elected Senate Minority Leader

being held at

The Heldrich Hotel
New Brunswick, NJ

registration to follow by email shortly

From the Statehouse...Beverly Lynch & AJ Sabath, Advocacy & Management Group

Leadership Shuffle in Trenton as New Jersey Democrats Pick Two New Legislative Leaders

The entire New Jersey Legislature is on the ballot next week - Tuesday, November 8 - and there remain some hotly contested races that may determine which party will hold the majority for the next legislative session.    We encourage you to take the time to vote.    AMG has hosted several "physician only" fundraiser events over the past few weeks, and we thank the physicians for attending these important opportunities to speak firsthand with the candidates.  

On November 10, 2011 both houses of the legislature met to provide unanimous support from fellow Democrats to reelect Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver as caucus leaders.   An earlier threat of a coup against Oliver was averted.  However, the No. 2 post in each house, that of majority leader, changed hands.  The new party leadership has Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, as Senate majority leader and Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, D-Camden, moving up to majority leader in the lower house.  Democrats retained their majorities in the Senate and Assembly, picking up one seat in the lower house.  Their majorities are not vetoproof.

Cosmetic Surgery Tax Roll Back

In June 2004, New Jersey became the first state to pass a law that explicitly taxes cosmetic surgical procedures with high hopes of using the new tax revenue to close a budget deficit.   But the anticipated revenue was never generated.  In an effort reverse the negative impact of this bad tax, New Jersey is now  poised to become the first state to repeal such a tax.  A measure currently making its way through the lame duck session of the legislature will roll back the 6-percent sales tax on elective procedures, phasing out the tax 2-percent a year over a three year period.  The measure has passed the Senate already and is moving rapidly through the Assembly.  The roll-back bill is likely to appear on the desk of Governor Christie by the end of year, where he is expected to sign the measure into law.

PRESCRIPTION MONITORING PROGRAM (PMP) LAUNCHED 

After years of waiting to implement a law signed back on January 4, 2008, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs is launching the New Jersey's Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) to assist physicians in treating patients with issues related to addiction, and to halt the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs.

Letters from DCA were sent to all prescribers on November 7, 2011.  But in case you did not receive your letter, we reiterate what the program is all about:

The PMP is an active database that collects prescription data on Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) and Human Growth Hormone (HGH) dispensed in outpatient settings in New Jersey, and by out-of-state pharmacies into New Jersey.   Since September 1, 2011, it has collected detailed data on more than 1.5 million prescriptions; by the end of the year, it is expected to include more than 3 million prescriptions.

As a qualified prescriber, you must register for secure, online access to the PMP.

Access to the PMP will be granted to qualified prescribers - those who are licensed by the State of New Jersey and in good standing with their respective licensing boards (the State Board of Medical Examiners).   To obtain access, prescribers must first register with Optimum Technology, the vendor contracted by the State to manage the PMP.

Registration is free.   To register for access to the PMP, take the following steps:

1. Go to www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/pmp and click on the "Practitioners: New Registration" link.  It will take you to a secure website managed by Optimum Technology.

2. Enter the required information on the "New Registration" page.  This will include your name, State license number, and other identifying information.

3. Once the site has verified that you are a qualified prescriber, the site will direct you to a link for the "Request for Access" form.

4. You must print out and complete the "Request for Access" form.  Sign the printed version, have it notarized, and mail the notarized original to Optimum Technology at the address provided on the form.

5. After the form has been submitted and information processed, you will receive an email from Optimum Technology containing your user name, password, and instructions for accessing the PMP.

Before issuing a prescription, registered prescribers will be able to access the PMP and request the CDS and HGH prescription history of the patient.  The registered practitioners will be required to certify that they are seeking information for a specific, current patient. 

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© 2003 NJACEP