Sunday, July 3, 2005

letters of advocacy for patients and psychiatrists

Cartas del Presidente


Funcion: “Advocacy for patients and psychiatrists”

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Amigos psiquiatras

El proyecto de ley de la Cámara de Representantes Federal HR 2356, radicados por los representantes Cardin y Shaw tiene como objetivo remediar la intención de disminuir la paga de Medicare a los médicos.

Esta es la carta que envié al señor Comisionado Residente, quien no tiene voto pero tiene voz en la Cámara Federal, para que hable a favor del proyecto HR 2356.


-----Original Message-----
From: American Psychiatric Association [mailto:nesile@caribe.net]
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005
Subject: Medicare Payment Update


Res. Com. Fortuno
Message text follows:

Nestor J Galarza
President
Puerto Rico Psychiatric Society
POB 33113
San Juan, PR 00933


July 2, 2005



Dear Resident Commissioner

I am writing to you as a psychiatric physician and as your constituent to
urge you to support HR 2356, legislation sponsored by Representatives
Cardin and Shaw to remedy problems with Medicare’s physician payment
update.

As you know, because of flaws in the way Medicare calculates its update
through the “Sustainable Growth Rate”(SGR), physician payments face steep
reductions in 2006 and beyond. The projected update reduction will have a
direct impact on delivery of care to Medicare beneficiaries. Congress has
postponed previously scheduled reductions, which I deeply appreciate, but
unless problems with the underlying formula are addressed, physicians and
other health professionals will continue to face major reductions every
year.

HR 2356 would resolve the problem by making permanent changes in the SGR,
and by replacing the projected 2006 payment cut with a positive update of
+ 2.7 percent. I strongly support the efforts of Representatives Cardin
and Shaw to resolve the underlying formula problem so that Medicare
beneficiaries may continue to have access to health care of the highest
quality. I hope you will cosponsor HR/S.

Thank you for your support. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,


Nestor J Galarza, MD
787 502-3953
President
Puerto Rico Psychiatric Society

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ON BANNING BENZODIAZEPINES FROM PATIENTS ON MEDICARE PART D


Amigos psiquiatras

Hay una intención de impedir que pacientes que usen Medicare parte D puedan tener acceso a benzodiazepinas recetadas, las cuales pueden ser todavía útiles en esa población para condiciones como epilepsia, por ejemplo. Además hay personas que las usan adecuadamente para otras condiciones.
El proyecto de Ley en la Cámara de Representantes FEDERAL H.R. 3151 quiere sacar eso del proyecto de Medicare D, de manera que todavía puedan estos pacientes recibir esos medicamentos.


Esta es la carta que envié al señor Comisionado Residente, quien no tiene voto pero tiene voz en la Cámara Federal.


-----Original Message-----
From: American Psychiatric Association [mailto:nesile@caribe.net]
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005
To: American Psychiatric Association
Subject: H.R. 3151 to remove the statutory ban on Medicare Part D coverage of benzodiazepines

Thank you for using American Psychiatric Association Mail System

Message sent to the following recipients:
Res. Com. Fortuno
Message text follows:

Nestor J Galarza Diaz
POB 33113
San Juan, PR 00933


July 2, 2005

[recipient address was inserted here]


Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

As a psychiatric physician and your constituent, I want to urge you to
cosponsor and speak for H.R. 3151 to remove the statutory ban on Medicare Part D coverage of benzodiazepines. These medications are commonly and safely used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including anxiety, panic attacks, and seizures. There is no valid clinical reason that these drugs were excluded from the new drug benefit. Please cosponsor this important bill.

Sincerely,


Nestor J Galarza, MD
787 502-3953
President
Puerto Rico Psychiatric Society
Chapter of the American Psychiatric Association

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Carta a Directores de Residencia en Psiquiatria de Puerto Rico.


Estas son algunas de las ventajas para los residentes y estudiantes de medicina cuando se unen a la Asociación Psiquiatrica Americana.
• New Members-in-Training (and MS members advancing to MIT status) who join or advance between January and June will receive a waiver for the calendar dues year in which they join or advance.

• MITs joining or advancing between July and December will receive a waiver for the remainder of the calendar dues year, plus the following calendar dues year.
________________________________________
From: Nestor J Galarza [mailto:nesile@caribe.net]
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 3:46 PM
To: 'Lelis Nazario (lelis@prdigital.com)'; Ana I Torres Martin (ANAI1715@HOTMAIL.COM)
Subject: Emailing: 21-a

Cuanto de nuestros residentes pertenecen a un organizacion profesional como la APA?
A los que se apunten les envian el Focus: The Journal of Lifelong Learning, electronicamente.

Nancy Delanoche puede ayudar a suscribir los residentes:

More information about the 100% Club is available from Nancy Delanoche of APA's Division of Education and Career Development at (703) 907-8635. Programs that are interested in signing up all their residents should also contact Delanoche.


Nestor J Galarza


Referencia:

Psychiatric News July 1, 2005
Volume 40 Number 13
© 2005 American Psychiatric Association
p. 21
Association News
Another Residency Program Joins APA's 100% Club