Upcoming Events
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April 24, 2025 12:00 PMTournament Players Club, Tampa Bay 5300 W. Lutz Lake Fern Dr., Lutz, Florida 33558
November 2024 E News
Pertinent Information
Women in Medicine Reception
The Centre Club
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 6:00pm
Female physicians are invited to mix and mingle with your female colleagues. This event is complimentary for HCMA's female members, and $50 for female physicians who are not current HCMA members. RSVPs are required.
HCMA Holiday Social
The Centre Club
Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 6:30pm
Join us for a festive member celebration with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and live music. Live entertainment by Lemay O James, a talented contemporary violinist, playing a mix of Jazz, R&B, Pop Rock, and holiday tunes. HCMA Past Presidents will be recognized and toasted! Complimentary for HCMA members & their guests. Thank you sponsors: Spencer Gauta with Clarity Wealth and SGP Advisors! RSVPs required.
Doctors, facing another pay cut in 2025, call for permanent Medicare payment reform
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving forward with a 2.9% cut to physician payments in 2025 despite protest from major industry groups. CMS announced Friday it finalized the calendar year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule that sets payment rates for next year and also outlines new policies focused on primary care, preserved telehealth flexibilities and a strengthened Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). A CMS fact sheet on the rule outlines the key provisions. "There needs to be a systematic reform that makes Medicare payment rational, predictable and sustainable," AMA president Bruce Scott, M.D. said.
You may also be interested in: Why Medicare pay reform is the AMA’s top advocacy priority.Deaths from 'Flesh-Eating' Bacteria rise after Hurricanes Helene & Milton
Fifteen people have died so far this year of a "flesh-eating" bacteria after Florida was slammed by back-to-back hurricanes, which pushed floodwaters onto land, public health department data shows. According to data from Florida Health, there have been 79 cases of Vibrio vulnificus — a salt-required bacteria that dwells in warm seawater. That ties a record number of cases set in 2022 after Hurricane Ian.
Following wave of cyberattacks on hospitals and other health infrastructure, Senators offer legislation to strengthen enforcement and set standards
Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Mark Warner, D-Va. recently announced legislation to improve cybersecurity in the American health care system amid a wave of increased cyberattacks that are breaching Americans’ privacy and causing major disruptions to care across the country. Read more. View a one-page summary of the bill. View a section-by-section summary. View the legislative text.
TB reclaims title of deadliest infectious disease.
“The fact that TB still kills and sickens so many people is an outrage, when we have the tools to prevent it, detect it and treat it,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, in a statement issued on October 29. Read more.
Could Amendment 3's failure boost medical marijuana in Florida?
The ballot measure's defeat could strengthen the industry as it struggles to compete with hemp-based products sold at gas stations, CBD shops and online at a fraction of the cost. Read more.
HCMA Contingency will visit legislators in Tallahassee
The HCMA Government Affairs Committee, led by Chairman and HCMA President Elect, Dr. Nam Tran, is planning a visit to Tallahassee before the Legislative Session begins. The group will visit Hillsborough Legislators as they prepare for the Session on February 19th during a "Committee Week." If you are interested in joining our leaders, contact Elke Lubin for details. If you decide to travel to Tallahassee the day before, a list of hotels will be provided. Travel and lodging expenses are the participants' responsibility.
Donations needed for Tampa Bay Tech students
Several students in Tampa Bay Technical High School’s health academy program lost their scrubs in Hurricanes Helene & Milton. Funds are being collected to help the students offset the cost of purchasing new ones. Donations, in any amount, would be greatly appreciated. Checks should be made out to: Tampa Bay Technical High School, Attention: Community School - Jennifer Johnson-Williams, 6410 Orient Road, Tampa, FL 33610. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Johnson-Williams 813-744-8360 ext. 277. Thank you for your consideration.
2025 HCMA Dues Statement
HCMA dues statements have been emailed and sent via US Postal Service. 2025 dues are due January 1st. Call 813.253.0471 or email Asta at the HCMA to confirm your contact information and membership status.
Another benefit of membership
HCMA Executive Director, Debbie Zorian, is a Florida notary and offers HCMA members and their families complimentary notary services. To schedule an appointment, please contact Ms. Zorian at 813.253.0471 or CLICK THIS LINK.
Work on 2025 Directory begins
For the eleventh year, the HCMA is partnering with E&M Consulting, Inc. to produce our Annual Membership Directory. The publication will be available in the Summer of 2025 in both print and digital formats. E&M will be managing the project, including advertising sales and layout/graphic design. They are highly professional and produce a high-quality publication. E&M will be contacting all members about the advertising opportunities available and we ask that you review their advertising offerings. The publication will be mailed to every member – a great opportunity to promote and give your practice additional exposure. To view the ad rates/options and sign-up online, please CLICK HERE. If you have any questions or want to advertise, please contact an E&M sales associate at 800-572-0011 ext. 0104 or email the ad team at: advertising@eandmsales.com. As always, your support is greatly appreciated!Connect with us!
Follow and connect with the HCMA on social media. Tap the icons on the left and also connect with HCMA administrative staff on LinkedIn:
Debbie Zorian, Executive Director and
Elke Lubin, Executive AssistantInterested in sponsoring an HCMA event?
Sponsorship opportunities to consider:
- Women in Medicine Reception
- Membership Dinners
- Holiday Social
- Resident Mixer
- Foundation Charity Golf Classic
From the Board of Medicine
E-Licensing now available!
The Division of Medical Quality Assurance is now issuing electronic licenses, which enable you to download a PDF copy of your license within two business days. The license can be retrieved in the License Documents menu of your MQA Online Services Portal account. To learn more, visit the electronic licensing webpage.
License renewal time will be here before you know it!
Medical doctors: Licenses from Group 2 will expire January 31, 2025 - less than five months away! Visit CEBroker.com for CME opportunities and to log the CME courses you have taken. HCMA members receive a discount, email Elke to receive the discount code.
Physician Wellness
(PWP) provides a safe harbor for members to address difficulties, challenges, and work/family/life balance through counseling and coaching services, up to six sessions in twelve months. This complimentary and completely confidential benefit is available for all members, regardless of membership category.
The PWP relies on donations and the generosity of members in order to provide counseling and coaching services, at no cost. We want to be able to continue providing this valuable benefit to all HCMA members! Please consider donating to the HCMA Foundation PWP.
Personal News
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Neil Manimala, MD Urology HCMA Vice President |
Meet the class of 2025
The FMA is pleased to introduce the 2025 class of the Karl M. Altenburger, MD Physician Leadership Academy – 25 outstanding physicians representing more than 20 specialties. Seven members, 28%, of the 2025 class are HCMA members! Congratulations and we look forward to seeing your new leadership skills in action!
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New Members
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Spotlight on Savings
Wealth Advisor 239.285.5479 The HCMA Board of Trustees and your Executive Director strive to add tangible benefits that will assist members in the daily needs of a busy medical practice. We are happy to announce a new Benefit Provider partnership with Spencer Gauta and Clarity Wealth. Clarity Wealth is an over 50-person multi-generational team of financial professionals backed by deep industry experience. They have eleven CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, three Certified Investment Management Analysts™ (CIMA), one Certified Financial Analyst (CFA), and two Certified Retirement Planning Consultants™ (CRPC). Over the last year, Clarity Wealth has been recognized as one of the 2024 Forbes America’s Top Wealth Management Teams High Net Worth as #7 in the country and the top-ranked team in Florida. They have also been ranked as one of the 2024 Barron’s Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams. Their accolades are a reflection of the trust their clients have placed in them and confirms Clarity Wealth's team's distinguished service career. The Clarity Wealth team has worked with physicians and the medical community for over four decades. They understand your focus is on taking care of your patients; they focus on you. They emphasize the importance of investment planning and the importance of preserving your income and your assets. |
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Classified Ads
For information on how to place a classified ad in Enews, contact Elke Lubin at the HCMA or complete and return this form.
FOR RENT
Up to 1,800 square feet of office space on Platt Street with parking available to rent on Tuesdays PM and all day Wednesdays and Fridays. Contact Robin at 813/977-1361.
The Bulletin
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Click here to review the most recent issue of The Bulletin along with previous issues. If you or anyone you know is interested in advertising in The Bulletin, or marketing their services to HCMA members, more information can be found in the HCMA Marketing packet. New Bulletin feature - featuring YOU! "Is there a doctor in the house?" is a new feature in which HCMA members will relive an incident when they were in the right place at the right time, and assisted in the emergent care of a stranger. If you are willing to share your story, please contact Elke Lubin to receive the article guidelines to submit your experience.
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Benefit Providers |
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The HCMA’s Benefit Provider Program provides value to physicians with members-only products, programs, and services that far exceed the cost of annual dues. Click the logos below for more information about each of our valued partners. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Zorian, HCMA Executive Director, at 813.253.0471 or DZorian@hcma.net. |