APMA News - March/April 2024 - 14

President Lawrence
Santi, DPM
Inaugural Speech to the APMA House of Delegates
Dr. Speaker, delegates, alternates, staff, esteemed
guests, colleagues, friends, and family.
As the Phantom of the Opera said to Christine,
" Together we will make sweet music. " Together,
we will continue to advance our profession for
the betterment of our members. Together we will
advocate, educate, support research, and empower
our communities to foster superior care for our
patients. " Together We Can! "
One of the greatest hurdles our profession faces
is student recruitment. Without a strong student
pool, our profession cannot continue to grow.
We need to educate new, young minds about
careers in podiatric medicine and surgery and be
the catalyst for our own growth. APMA is proud to
support the Foundation for Podiatric Education as
that organization works to grow our diminishing
student pool. But this is not an endeavor for one
organization alone. Everyone in the profession
must play a part. Whether you choose to offer
financial support, serve as a mentor for prospective
students, host a suture workshop at a local university,
or share your career with students at your
children's schools, I beseech you to get involved.
Together, we can.
APMA is the profession's staunch and enduring
advocate. mOur mission is to defend member
podiatric physicians and surgeons' ability
to practice to the full extent of their education
and training and to best serve the public
health. This mission depends on a strong and
sustainable membership, united in the effort to
amplify our voices to our legislators and policymakers.
Therefore, membership recruitment
and retention is another important priority as
we seek to advance the profession. How do we
accomplish that goal? Through better communication
among our membership to ensure
their needs are heard and met, and by working
with you, our state leaders, to ensure that the
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member experience is outstanding at every level.
Together, we can.
In speaking about advocacy, let's mention some
of our recent victories:
1. Victory in Alabama to modernize its scope of
practice
2. Victory with Novitas First Coast and CGS regarding
skin substitute policies
3. Victory with Aetna to resolve " at-risk " foot care
with 59 Modifier denials
4. Victory with CMS on the surgical treatment of nails
Two important issues our advocacy team continues
to address are the ongoing MIPS concerns and
MIPS value pathways for podiatric physicians.
When I asked Benjamin Wallner, our director of
Legislative Advocacy and director of the APMAPAC,
for his wish list, he said:
1. Parity, through the passage of our HELLPP
[Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to
Podiatric Physicians] Act and/or (r) 1 status for
DPMs, making them equal to MDs and DOs
2. One million dollars raised for APMAPAC, and a
50-percent participation rate on our eAdvocacy site
Combining #1 and #2 would make us an unstoppable
force in Washington, DC. So, I'll make
my personal pitch: Donate to the PAC today at
www.apma.org/donate. And visit www.apma.
org/eAdvocacy and take a minute (literally a
minute!) to send prepopulated letters to your
legislators. Let's give Mr. Wallner a 100-percent-participation
rate from this House of Delegates. Again,
" Together We Can! "
In order for all of us to work together, we must
have unity in our profession. Fragmentation will never
work. Our specialty boards must work together to
advance our profession both medically and surgically.
This is important, not only for our membership, but
also for the safety and protection of our patients.
http://www.apma.org/donate http://www.apma.org/eAdvocacy http://www.apma.org/eAdvocacy
APMA News - March/April 2024

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