CVMS Board Minutes
May 20, 2024

CVMS BOARD MEETING BY ZOOM

MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024, 7:00 P.M.

PRESENT:

Gregory Warth, MD

David Archer, MD

Alex Berger, PhD

Jim Beckner

ABSENT: 

Jerome Blackman, MD

Keith Berger, MD

Lisa Barr, MD

GUESTS:

Susan Herring, Tricounty Executive Director

Dr. Sheila Turbides, Centerwell Medical Director

CALL TO ORDER:  The meeting was called to order by Dr. Warth, President, at 7:07 p.m.

INTRODUCTIONS (CORPORATE PARTNERS):

--Centerwell:  Dr. Turbides gave a presentation on this service being offered in several areas across Virginia.   This concept was started in Florida and operates in other states as well.  Centerwell operates clinics in areas of underserved and minority Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients.  It employs primary care providers but can bridge the gap to specialists for patients as well.  The providers do not work in hospitals.  Participating plans in Virginia include Cigna, United Healthcare, Sentara, Aetna, Medicare, Tricare for Life, Anthem and Humana.  There are 3 clinics locally in Hampton, Norfolk and Chesapeake with other sites opening soon. 

--Northwestern/Alex Lee:  No representative was available for tonight’s meeting.  The company offers deep discounts on disability, dental, health, life, as well as other types of insurance, exclusively for CVMS and MSNVA.

EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT WITH MSVIA:  It was decided to get opinions from the CVMS membership before proceeding.  Some of Virginia’s medical societies have already signed on.

FINANCE REPORT:  There is a balance of approximately $14,000 in the bank account at this time.  Dues are currently $240 per year.  A discussion will be held at a later date concerning prorating of dues. 

ADVERTISING:  It was suggested that a fee schedule be set up for those interested in advertising on the CVMS website, either as “Paid Advertising” or “Endorsed by CVMS.”  The fee schedule would be based on ¼, ½ or full page advertising.   For sponsored events, depending on the number of potential attendees, fees could range from $1,500 - $3,000 per event to offset costs.  Those potentially interested would be drug companies. 

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE:

-- October Annual MSV Meeting and House of Delegates in Norfolk:  Five delegates and 5 alternates are needed for the meeting.  The dates are October 17-20, 2024. 

--Advocacy Summit Proposals: Three proposals were submitted.  Dr. Blackman will present on Psychiatry and Dr. Berger on COPN.  A person is needed to present on Women’s Right.  If we cannot find a local person to do this, an MSV member could be recruited from another area.  All must join as a member of the Advocacy Summit at MSV before 5/31/24.  This is the committee that pushes proposals to the legislators.  The summit will be held in Portsmouth, VA and as many Board members as possible need to attend. 

--Advocacy Caucus in August:  To be held 8/8/24, locally.  More information to follow. To discuss our proposals along with those to be entered by MSV and other Virginia Medical Societies.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT:

--Quarterly Membership Meeting:  The meeting will be tentatively held on Wednesday, 6/19/24, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Westin depending on availability of the large meeting room.  Dr. Alex Berger will spearhead getting the menu together.  Items such as speakers and entertainment were discussed.  It was felt that emails should go out to providers in the area about this event.  At the meeting, a sign-up sheet will be available for anyone interested in joining.  A QR code can be made available for payment on the spot.  The sign-up sheet from the March meeting will be located and those individuals will be included in the email concerning the quarterly meeting. 

--Monthly Happy Hour:  Not discussed at this meeting. 

NEW BUSINESS:

--CVMF Structure:  A Board consisting of 1-2 members from each city would be necessary.  They can form their own “Board”, but it would be a subsidiary to this Board.  Everyone was encouraged to read the web page at https://www.cvmedicalsociety.org/Foundation.html which has not yet been published.  The Mission, Plans and Fee Structure need to be reviewed and approved by this Board.  The Foundation is up and running and can now accept donations. 

--Saturday Morning CME:  A projected date for this is early November, presumably at the Westin.  A budget and sponsors are needed.  Various topics to be presentation were discussed such as new diabetes medications and refractory hypertension.  Four speakers would be needed.  Two have already been chosen.

--Associate Membership:  This topic was discussed briefly and will need membership input.  The various groups include PAs, NPs and RNs; dentists and allied medical professionals;  Filipino, Indian and Greater Norfolk Medical Societies; medical students and residents; and Foundation members. 

OTHER:  Dr. Archer will be submitting an article on physician unionization for the newsletter. 

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting was adjourned at 9:11 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Diane Warth

Executive Director

Your Comments

Please add your comments or suggestions on any past or future events in the box below.  

Newsletter

Stay up to date on issues and news you need to know. The CVMS Bulletin is published monthly and will list concerns that local physicians have expressed about healthcare in Coastal Virginia and how we can make it better. We will provide potential solutions and let you know what is happening behind the scenes to help solve these problems. Membership is not currently required to receive the newsletter.