Welcome to the IOMA Website
The Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association is a voice for osteopathic physicians in Iowa. There are over 1,000 osteopathic physicians licensed in Iowa. There are approximately 61,000 D.O.s in the United States practicing in all areas of medicine from neurology to sports medicine to dermatology to emergency medicine.
As complete physicians, D.O.s are able to prescribe medication and perform surgery. In addition, D.O.s have added training in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), a hands-on treatment tool that they can use to diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. OMT can be used in conjunction with and sometimes in place of medication or surgery to restore mobility and function.
The Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association is located at 950 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa. The phone number is 515-283-0002 and fax is 515-283-0355.
| The Future of the SGR will be Decided in Five Days! On January 24th, House and Senate conferees will meet to begin negotiations on the fate of the SGR. Take a few minutes and contact Congress once again before January 24th when the conferees meet – urge them to support permanent SGR repeal offset with OCO funds. Read the full AOA talking points here or visit the AOA's SGR issue page. As you well know, Congress once again waited until the 11th hour to pass a temporary, 60-day fix to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and offset a scheduled 27.4% cut to Medicare physician payments. The AOA has reached out to the GOAL network many, many times over the past decade asking you to write and call your Members of Congress to ask them to stop the impending cuts and to replace the systemically flawed SGR and we must ask you to do so again. It can be a frustrating process, but if Congress does not hear from you and your patients on this issue, we make it far too easy for them to say 'the public just isn't interested.' |
| Important Update on 2012 Medicare Physician Payment Rates The payroll tax extension legislation that was passed by Congress and signed by the President on Dec. 23, 2011 (Public Law 112-078) delayed the 27.4% Medicare pay cut due to the SGR formula for two months. It also extended the floor on the work geographic practice cost index (GPCI) and certain other policies. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has confirmed, however, that all of the other changes that were included in the Medicare physician payment final rule for 2012 will still take effect. Physicians should not expect that payment rates will remain unchanged. As detailed in a memo sent to the Federation on Nov. 4, 2011 following release of the final rule, numerous changes are being made in the relative value units, GPCIs, electronic prescribing and quality reporting programs, and multiple procedure payment rules for 2012. All of these changes will take effect as scheduled for dates of service beginning Jan. 1, 2012. |
