Page 4 - MPMA Profiles Summer 2023

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
MPMA Members and Friends,
Summer in Michigan! It seems we are always waiting for this time of the year so that we can fully enjoy the weather and beauty of our state. Some of you have kids graduating from different levels of school and we have a turnover in residents with residency training. The one constant is that we have a dedicated staff at the MPMA who are constantly working for our membership year-round.
I would like to give you an update on the recent meeting with BCBS in May. The Insurance Committee met with the BCBS leadership and liaison in May to review the issues so many of us have had over the past few years. We took your issues and were able to get their approval for podiatrists to remove benign lesions from the legs, utilize ultrasound for injection guidance and tissue evaluation, and perform non-invasive arterial evaluation of the lower extremities. The at-risk foot care codes have been partially cleared and we are working with them to seek full approval. The meeting was highly productive and we have established a good line of communication for further dialogue. BCBS has also refined their Provider Engagement Transformation process through which providers can submit information for appeals. They have directed resources to improve this process. Similarly, the MPMA Insurance Committee is willing to review rejection notices, but you will need to submit copies of your progress notes, billing records, and correspondence from the insurance company. You will continue to receive updates on insurance matters once they become official.
Another area of emphasis has been to reach out to our fellow non-members in the state. I am personally reaching out to them and trying to recruit them to our association. The association is only as strong as its members are actively engaged. Through the MPMA’s actions, we hope to demonstrate value in joining and maintaining membership. If you are interested in getting involved, then please reach out to our office and we can find areas to which you are interested and can contribute.
Please visit the MPMA website for the latest updates on what is happening through community relations, patient education resources, and other member resources. The MPMA leadership and staff are constantly looking at different ways in which to promote the profession and its members. Have a wonderful summer and get those batteries charged for the rest of the year!
Fraternally,
Zeeshan S. Husain, DPM MPMA President
MPMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Zeeshan Husain, DPM
PRESIDENT ELECT
Andrew Mastay, DPM
TREASURER
Bruce Jacobs, DPM
SECRETARY
Hemant Patel, DPM
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Ahmad Farah, DPM
Dr. Zeeshan S. Husain
MPMA DIVISION REPRESENTATIVES
UPPER PENINSULA
Daniel Reminga, DPM
MACOMB/OAKLAND
Marc Weiner, DPM
NORTHEAST
Joyce Patouhas, DPM WESTERN - Vacant
SOUTHEAST
Michele Bartelle-Semma, DPM Hemant Patel, DPM
Crystal Holmes, DPM, CWSP
SOUTHERN
Angela Robin, DPM Mark Hosking, DPM
4 MICHIGAN PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION