February 8, 2018 Issue 50
5 Questions With Sen. Ralph Alvarado, M.D.
With the 2018 Kentucky General Assembly off and running, KMA spoke to Sen. Ralph Alvarado, M.D., a physician and advocate for the medical community, about the session and his thoughts on several KMA priority bills.

2018 KMA Annual Meeting Theme Announced
KMA's 2018 Annual Meeting theme will be "Forward Focus: The Path to Physical and Fiscal Health." The theme will reflect on the five year anniversary of KMA's strategic planning session, Focus Forward, which brought some of the most significant change to the organization in its 150 year history. Forward Focus will also look to the future of the Association, as well as celebrate the advancement of the medical community.

Several notable speakers are scheduled for the event, including Frank Abagnale, Jr., who rose to fame in the 1960s as one of the biggest imposters of all time. Before the age of 21, he had successfully posed as an airline pilot, lawyer, FBI agent, and even a physician, all while stealing millions through check fraud and forgery. His life became the subject of the 2002 Steven Spielberg film Catch Me If You Can , starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio. Abagnale will detail his time as a trickster and share advice on how members can protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.

The KMA 2018 Annual Meeting will be held Aug. 24-26 at the Louisville Marriott East. Registration and hotel information is now available, and members are encouraged to secure their spots early.

Anthem—Update Modifier 25
KMA Helps Reduce Initial Reimbursement Cut from 50 to 25 Percent
In October, Anthem announced that evaluation and management (E/M) services, historically eligible for separate reimbursement when reported by the same provider on the same day as a minor surgery, would be reduced by 50%.

After discussions between Anthem and medical associations at the national, state and local levels, including KMA, Anthem has announced that the reduction will now be 25%, effective with dates of service on or after March 1, 2018.  

Family Fulfills Nate's Wish to Help Children Battling Cancer
Jeff and Stacie Richard started an organization to supply backpacks filled with books and toys for children with cancer to fullfill Nate’s wish. Their son, Nate, was just 7 when he died of leukemia.

Shawn Jones, M.D., of Paducah, president of the Kentucky Foundation for Medical Care, sponsored a grant request to expand the program to Louisville. See page 8.

MEMBER NEWS
KMA Mourns the Passing of Former VP Charles Spalding, M.D.

Charles Spalding, M.D., KMA Vice President from 1980-81, passed away Jan. 21.

Dr. Spalding established The Family Medical Center in Bardstown, where he practiced family medicine with his brother Harry for 40 years. He delivered over 2,000 babies, made house calls and served as the Nelson County Coroner for more than 30 years.
Jessup Joins Baptist Health Medical Group Calvert City

KMA member and Marshall County native Ashley Jessup, M.D., has joined Baptist Health Medical Group Family Medicine in Calvert City.

Dr. Jessup is a member of the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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