Spring has sprung! However, up here in Pike County, you would never know it by the weather. At the time of this writing, we have a prediction for snow in the very near future. At least the ice is finally off the lake. 

There has been a major change regarding the staff of POMA this month. One of the most senior staff, Brenda Dill, has resigned her position and has moved on to be the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians. Mrs. Dill was exemplary in her role with POMA and was one of the most loyal and dedicated staff members that I have had the honor of working with throughout my career of almost 45 years. I know that she will most likely have the opportunity of reading this article; so, I would like to send her best wishes for continued success and outstanding achievements.   

Hopefully, by this time you will be registered for the Annual Clinical Assembly at Kalahari, May 7-10. Most everything is ready to be put into action and only some fine tuning remains to be addressed. PLEASE, consider serving as a delegate to the House of Delegates of POMA and the House of Delegates of the AOA for this year. POMA is the third largest delegation of the AOA, and it is necessary that we demonstrate that position to the rest of the AOA House membership. 

If you haven't already done so, be sure to read the February issue of JPOMA. The next issue will be released in June. Many thanks to Doc Joe Zawisa and the Publications Committee for their unending dedication to this publication. Also, POMA has produced well over 70 podcasts to date. Thanks again, Joe. 

In closing, please continue your support of the POMA Foundation and to POMPAC. This year is especially important to support these critical aspects of POMA. 

What does POMA do with the precious resources our members provide for us?  One way is to provide representation in Harrisburg on governmental matters and policy decisions.  A sizeable portion of your dues goes directly into government affairs advocacy. The charge is that if something healthcare-related is being considered in Pennsylvania and will impact Osteopathic physicians, POMA is there!      

Like spring flowers that bloom perennially each year, POMA legislative efforts have unfortunately needed to focus on scope of practice.  This time, like many other times over the past 25 years, physician shortage is being used as the reason to expand scopes of practice to alleviate some of the stress on an overburdened physician workforce.  Physician shortage issues are not new, and neither are the shortsighted policies to make non-physician providers scope of practice on par with physicians.  The underlying reasons for the physician shortage are many, but here are just a few that POMA works to get heard in the halls of Harrisburg: 

• Paperwork and bureaucratic requirements that physicians must deal with to get their patients the treatment they need! 
• Constant threat of medical liability actions and being forced into Philadelphia to defend the case because the venue rule has been eviscerated! 
• $200k of debt and a million dollars of liability insurance before a physician can treat their first patient in PA! 

But instead of working on polices to help physicians practice, the easy route of making non-physician providers be physicians, has been touted as a low-hanging fruit policy to adopt.  But as many other states have realized, this is no solution. Non-physician providers will practice and remain in populous and urban areas instead of going to rural and underserved areas that they like to tout.  Please read Tyler Burke’s article on how you can get involved to tell the physician and patient side of this story lawmakers need to hear! 

This is just one of the many issues on which Osteopathic physicians are well represented every day in Harrisburg! Your membership dues are what sustains these efforts, and just like there is no end in sight in decisions that impact you, there is no effort to let POMA’s guard down. POMA is your night watchman and your daylight watchdog! Your membership dues are inextricable to these efforts, and on behalf of all my staff here at POMA, we thank you! 

The Pennsylvania House Returns to Harrisburg 

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives reconvened in Harrisburg this week for the first time since concluding budget hearings earlier this month. The chamber remains evenly split at 101-101 as a special election is underway to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Rep. Matthew Gergley. 

This week, POMA was actively engaged at the Capitol, advocating for Osteopathic Physicians by meeting with legislative leadership and key lawmakers. 

Next week, both the House and Senate will be in session, marking the official countdown to June 30th (Constitutionally set deadline for the budget). As we approach this critical period, POMA anticipates the need for grassroots advocacy to help educate legislators on key issues. We encourage our members to stay alert for email updates and to participate when called upon. Your engagement is essential in ensuring that the voice of osteopathic medicine is heard. 

The POMA House of Delegates approved a resolution calling for an increase in dues for the Active membership categories. The 2025-2026 fiscal year will be the first of three incremental dues increases for Active members through FY2027-2028. The recommended increases will be a second read at the May 2025 POMA House of Delegates meeting. Per the POMA Bylaws, any dues increase must be posted for a minimum of 30 days in advance of the next meeting of the House.  

Proposed dues for Active membership are $425 annually. The current rate is $375. Membership for Active members includes the ability to serve in leadership positions within POMA and to participate on POMA committees, workgroups, and task forces. POMA Active members can participate in all educational programs at the member rate. POMA tracks CME for Pennsylvania State Licensure. Further, Active members receive The Journal of POMA, receive electronic copies of the monthly POMA Newsletter, Under the DOme; and access to the Members-Only portion of the POMA website. 

To comment on the Active member dues increase, click here.

Melissa S. Auer, DO 
LVHN 
2649 Schoenersville Road, Ste 201 
Bethlehem, PA 18017 
Active Member – District 3 

Kathleen Bridges, DO 
3735 Nazareth Road, Suite 301 
Easton, PA 18045 
Active Member – District 3   

Mihir D. Buch, DO 
6329 Berry Trail 
Fairview, PA 16415 
Active Member – District 7 

Mary C. Lare, DO 
St. Luke’s Physician Group 
3101 Emrick Boulevard, Suite 112 
Bethlehem, PA 18020 
Active Member – District 3