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April 2012 Newsletter Article

Jaffe March Madness: It's Not All About Basketball

Warning: Personal opinions may be expressed!

This has been an eventful month. It is hard to miss the b-ball buzz. No matter what your team (Go Stanford women!) the high quality of play is riveting and exemplifies one domain of youth achievement.

Another topic that has been riveting in this last week in March is the Supreme Court hearings on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We have all had to learn the meaning of The Tax Anti-Injunction Act of 1867, the individual mandate, severability and the constitutionality of Medicaid Expansion. Ten percent of all children and 17% below 133% of the Federal Poverty Line remain uninsured, even after Medicaid. My view is that all children and their families need health services which should not be denied or unavailable because of inability to pay for them. There are many ways that this could be accomplished, but in our current political climate and at this moment in time, the ACA is our best opportunity. I believe that this view is very consistent with the very recently revised mission and vision statements of the APA.

Mission: The APA is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all children and adolescents by promoting research, advancing a scholarly approach to education, developing innovations in health care delivery, advocating for an equitable child health agenda and fostering leadership and career development of child health professionals.

Vision: To create a better world for children and families by advancing child health and well-being through the work of our members and collaborators.

One of the things I have enjoyed most in my own emergency medicine practice is the ability to take care of patients without regard to their financial status. I do not think the ACA will put me out of business, but perhaps it will reduce the need for emergency departments to serve as safety nets for those who cannot find care anywhere else. While I am hardly a Constitutional scholar, and I certainly understand that there are serious Constitutional issues to be deliberated, it seems to me that if it is unconstitutional to ensure basic healthcare for all of our children (and residents), then perhaps we will look back on this as March madness.

As we move from March to April, I look forward with eager anticipation to the PAS meeting in Boston. In addition to sharing science in platform and poster sessions, there will be many APA activities to inform, and sometimes entertain us.

The membership meeting (Sunday, April 29^th 3:45 pm to 5:45 pm) will be a terrific opportunity to learn about the new 5-Year Strategic Plan, including the updated mission, vision and core values. (These do come in handy!) The annual APA debate will follow the meeting immediately. This year the APA debaters will tackle the question:

Resolved: The Medical Home model of care is NOT the optimal model for health care for children in the United States.

The Moderator will be Jane Knapp, our Director for Health Care Delivery.

Speaking Pro: Chuck Norlin, University of Utah and Chris Stille (APA Director for Membership and Regions), Children's Hospital Colorado.

Speaking Con: Rich Antonelli, Harvard Medical School and David Keller (APA President Elect), University of Massachusetts.

A new APA event will follow the debate immediately. This will be a reception to welcome our new members, but all APA members are invited!

Another new APA activity that 120 members will experience is Speed Mentoring, Saturday, April 28^th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. This exciting event was designed and organized by Janet Serwint.

Then there will be four committee meetings on Sunday, April 29^th 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (research, education, health care delivery and advocacy), which are open to all members. There will be more than 30 Special Interest Group meetings (SIGs) and workshops sprinkled throughout the meeting.

I also encourage you to attend your regional breakfast early on Monday, April 30^th at 7:00 am.

And, of course, there is the APA Presidential Plenary Session on Monday, April 30^th 1:30 pm to 5:15 pm, which will feature Benard Dreyer's Presidential Address, and the Armstrong Lecture by Judy Palfrey….not to be missed!!

As usual, many of us will have to choose between desired activities during many portions of the meeting, but I know it promises to be one of the best meetings yet!

I look forward to seeing you in Boston!