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‘Vascular surgery is leading the way’: Neurodivergence in care
“We are the first major U.S.-based surgical society to present this topic to our membership. Once again, vascular surgery is leading the way,” said Carlos Pineda, MD, a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Cultural Competency Committee (CCC),…
A story foretold: The AMA, Ed Annis, Medicare and the loss of physician autonomy
In 1979, after three years of group practice, I opened an office as a solo vascular surgeon. With a wife, three children and a mortgage to support, the move was gutsy. To survive, no referral was too small, no operation…
Standing on the banks of the Rubicon
“Where have all the doctors gone?” is the headline on the cover article of the January/February 2025 edition of the AARP Bulletin. Perhaps it should include, “or are going?” The article, which is quite extensive, explores why patients have a…
Why should SVS members respond when they receive an invitation to complete an RUC survey?
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is an active participant in the American Medical Association (AMA)/ Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) process. A very important component of the RUC process is the RUC survey. The rules related…
SVS member elected to RUC committee
SVS member David Han, MD, has been re-elected to the American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Values Scale (RVS) Update Committee (RUC). Han’s two-year term runs from March 2023 and ends in February 2025. This is the third time Han will…
Trainees step up to learn coding, reimbursement
The Society for Vascular Surgery’s (SVS) efforts in coding and reimbursement work have taken another step forward, with four new doctors now in training to learn the ins and outs of the entire process. The SVS has a long tradition…
SVS meets AMA membership requirement, retains House of Delegates seat
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has exceeded the necessary compliance threshold required to retain its seat in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates, the Society has announced. Members were informed that the SVS had received an official…
SVS looks to maintain AMA House of Delegates representation
To maintain its seat in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates—and, importantly, be able to provide information that impacts physician reimbursement—a 20% share of Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) members must also maintain active membership at the AMA.…
SVS’ AMA membership push aimed at safeguarding vascular surgery voice on coding issues
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is urging members to join the American Medical Association (AMA) in a bid to maintain a critical voice in the decision-making process for the specialty. The reason is simple: Unless the percentage of dual…
Medical care in time of coronavirus: Handling patients without COVID-19
The patient was thin, pale and clearly frightened, although he tried not to show it. With poor English skills, he patiently sat on the examining table trying to understand what I was saying. His wife and two small children sat…