News from ACOI

One of the things I have begun to do more of over the past few years is to take the extra few seconds to show gratitude. Whether it be with friends or colleagues, it costs almost nothing, and science suggests there are many very real and measurable benefits both to the one expressing gratitude as well as the recipient.

Start accumulating credits when lectures launch on April 8-12, and enjoy access to the on-demand content through July 31, 2024, well before the current AOA CME cycle ends on December 31, 2024. Check out some of the highlights from each meeting.

On February 21, Change Healthcare, which is owned by UnitedHealth Group (UHG), experienced a cyberattack that has taken its systems offline. Change’s IT platform connects health care providers and pharmacies with payers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced physician practices impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack can request advanced Medicare payments to help with cash flow disruptions.

Peter G. Gulick, DO, MACOI, and Jeffrey A. Gulick, DO, FACOI, and Robert L. DiGiovanni, DO, MACOI, and Ernest L. DiGiovanni, DO, FACOI, are the first father/son pairs in recent history to be inducted as ACOI Fellows and Master Fellows simultaneously. While the Fellows Convocation featured 35 individuals receiving their FACOI designation and 15 DOs receiving their MACOI designation, rarely has an event featured family duos.

Since early 2023, ACOI, alongside the entire physician community, has been calling on Congress to stop the entire cut. Over the past six months, ACOI members sent more than 750 messages to Congress asking for payment cut relief.

I had the honor of giving the “first lecture” in the brand new OCOM (Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine) building recently as part of our faculty development series. My presentation was focused on how to give effective presentations.

Telemedicine was in use before the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) with specific rules and regulations published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

For over three decades, when you think about the American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI), you think about Susan Stacy, FACOI. Her retirement signals the end to a remarkable journey marking over 30 years of service to the ACOI.

February is Black History Month. Environmental justice will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making process to live, learn, and work in a healthy environment.

As we embark on another year of celebrating excellence in osteopathic internal medicine, the American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI) is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2024 Awards.

On January 17, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a long-awaited final rule that makes improvements to prior authorization practices used by health insurers. Under the rule, Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Fee-for-Service (FFS) programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers on the Federally Facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) will be required to streamline prior authorization processes.

As a physician, you've dedicated years to honing your skills, earning the trust of your peers and patients alike. Now, it's time to showcase your commitment to excellence by becoming a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI). Nominations for the prestigious Fellow designation are now open, with the application deadline set for May 31, 2024.