On July 1, 2008, Medicare physician payments will be cut by more than 10 percent.

Connect with your representative and senators in Congress NOW and express your concern about what this cut means for our patients and the consequences this will have on the health care delivery system.

The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) has added a link to their website to make contacting your legislators an easy task.  Simply go to the MSMS homepage at www.msms.org, on the right-hand side click on "E-mail Lawmakers Now>>", under the ACTION ALERT section find your cause and click the "TAKE ACTION" button which will take you to an editable text message that can be sent to your legislator in just a few strokes.  It doesn't get any easier than this.

We are pleased to announce the College has recently completed a software upgrade that will allow you to now register over the internet for our educational offerings.

MCEP members were mailed their access information in December. Non-members are also able to create a new account and take advantage of on-line registration as well. Once logged in, registrations for programs completed on-line are done in real time without waiting. MCEP will continue to take registrations by mail, fax and phone.

To register for an upcoming event, simply follow the link below and register for the program of interest:

 https://members.mcep.org/Source/Events/ByDate.cfm?Section=unknown

This enhancement to our system will allow members access to their own profile information via the Members Only section on our website. Keeping this information, including a current e-mail address, up to date is extremely important to ensure pertinent information from the College is received on a timely basis.

We are happy to be able to offer this tool to you as a member benefit and hope to see you at an upcoming program.

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTOR POSITIONS

All active members of the Michigan College of Emergency Physicians interested in serving on the Board of Directors are encouraged to submit their names to the 2008 Board Nominating Committee for consideration as the Committee develops the slate of candidates. New Board members will be selected at the 35^th Emergency Medicine Assembly at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, Michigan. Four 3-year posts on the Board are open for election this year.

Those interested in Board service should e-mail or fax their notice of intention to the Chapter office no later than February 20, 2008. Please include with your notice a brief biographical sketch and a copy of your curriculum vitae. Thank you.§

Beginning with the March, 2007 issue of News & Views, MCEP will be offering 1 hour of ACEP Category I credit per issue in conjunction with the Case of the Month feature.  (Please note there may be issues/months in which we do not have a Case of the Month article - therefore no CME will be offered in that particular newsletter.)There will be a CME Post-Test and Evaluation Form following the article that will have to be completed and returned to the MCEP office to receive credit.  All tests must be received within two years of the release date and all questions must be answered to receive credit.  Please note this is a free benefit for MCEP members.  The cost is $10 for other ACEP physicians and $15 for Non-members.  We encourage you take advantage of this new offering.