Ohio DO Nominated to MedPAC

Prestigious Panel Advises Congress

American Osteopathic Association President Peter Ajluni,DO, has nominated Paul A. Martin, DO, of Dayton, to serve on the prestigious Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Appointments are announced in late April or early May 2008.

The AOA and OOA will be working with other physician and health care organizations to secure support for Dr. Martin's nomination.

Martin, who served a term as OOA President, was in Washington, DC, in late February to meet with Members of Congress and others regarding his nomination. Scheduled meetings included members of Ohio's Congressional delegation, committee leadership, party leadership, physicians serving in Congress, and the Government Accountability Office.

MedPAC is an independent Congressional agency established to advise the US Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. The Commission's statutory mandate is quite broad: In addition to advising the Congress on payments to private health plans participating in Medicare and providers in Medicare's traditional fee-for-service program, MedPAC is also tasked with analyzing access to care, quality of care, and other issues affecting Medicare.

The Commission's 17 members bring diverse expertise in the financing and delivery of health care services. Commissioners are appointed to three-year terms (subject to renewal) by the Comptroller General and serve part time. Appointments are staggered; the terms of five or six Commissioners expire each year.