Hawaii Medical Association

HMA 2009 Physician Directory 50% OFF!

New Discount Prescription Program

A new statewide discount prescription assistance program, called Hawaii Rx Card, is now available. Administered by United Networks of America, the Hawaii Rx Card is free to all residents and will provide savings of up to 75% on both brand and generic medications (average savings are estimated to be roughly 30%). Hawaii Rx Card is accepted at most pharmacies across the state.

HMA

News
Alert
3/10/10

The Hawaii Rx Card was launched to help the uninsured residents of Hawaii afford their prescription medications. However, people that have prescription coverage can use this program for medications not covered by their health plan. Additionally, the program can also be used by those people that have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits.

Anyone interested in obtaining a free card can visit www.hawaiirxcard.com.

2009 "Diamond" Sponsors




	Serving Physicians & Patients Hawaii physicians all have the same priority – the health of their patients. It is HMA’s mission to help physicians help patients. Mahalo to Hawaii physicians for providing care to our community, and mahalo to all Hawaii citizens for supporting HMA’s goal of access to quality health care in our state. Physicians – interested in joining the cause to help your patients? Contact HMA for details on becoming a member: 536-7702, toll-free (888) 536-2792, or visit our member page. Health Care Advocacy: HMA leads the way on many important issues that impact the practice of medicine in Hawaii. In these trying times, physicians need to actively defend their patients and their practices. Thank you to HMA members, whose dues support our efforts.




	Support Medicare Payment Reform On March 2, President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010. Among other things, this law delays the 21% Medicare physician payment cut through March 31. On March 10, the Senate passed H.R. 4213, which would further delay the cut until October 1. The legislation will now be sent to the House, where amendments are possible. It is not certain if this extension can be signed into law before the current payment freeze expires on April 1. Short-term patches have only made the Medicare payment problem worse. Fixing the system once and for all would preserve access to care and provide physician practices with the stability they need to care for seniors and military families. For more details, and for contacting your U.S. representatives and Senators to ask for their support of a permanent fix, click here.




	Save the Date! Mark your calendars for the 2010 Ola Pono Ike Medical Gala, presented by HMA and Honolulu County Medical Society: Oct. 2, 2010 at the Sheraton Waikiki. Mahalo to our guests, supporters, sponsors, and participants of the 2009 Ola Pono Ike. who helped support our mission to represent physicians, patients, and the community through representation, advocacy, and public service. A special mahalo to guest speaker J. James Rohack, MD, AMA President, and congratulations to our award winners and honorees. Mahalo to our 2009 Ola Pono Ike Sponsors: MIEC Physicians Exchange of Honolulu Allscripts Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii Hale Pawa‘a: A Professional Services Building University Health Alliance (UHA)




	BCBS Settlement Term Update The Compliance Dispute Program of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Settlement Agreement is underway. Physicians (who did not opt out of the settlement) who believe that any of the settling Blues plans (including HMSA) have violated the Agreement may file Compliance Disputes. HMA will report systemic issues and settlement term violations to the Compliance Facilitator on behalf of its members. For more information, go to HMA's BCBS Settlement Info Page or visit hmosettlements.com for dispute forms. HMA Members may report violations to HMA: April Donahue, Executive Director, Phone: (808) 536-7702