News

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

St. Joseph Physician Elected Councilor to the Southern Medical Association

Saint Joseph, MO – James F. Conant, M.D., a local family physician was recently elected by the Missouri members of the Southern Medical Association (SMA) to lead them through these trying times in medicine.

SMA is an organization of sixteen southern states and the District of Columbia who is dedicated to excellence in medical education and the practice of medicine. It has honored such distinguished Missouri educators as M. Pinson Neal, Sr., M.D. and Hugh E. Stevenson, Jr., M.D. of the University Of Missouri School Of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri.

Dr. Conant’s accomplished career spans over three decades of service, including serving as a Delegate from Missouri to the American Medical Association, a member of Missouri’s Hospital Utilization Review Committee, and a former member of the Doctor’s Advisory Committee to Missouri’s Division of Aging. He currently practices at the St. Joseph Family Medical Clinic, Inc. and also serves as a board member for MoDocs, a local medical liability insurance company.

Dr. Conant received a Bachelor degree in Natural Science with emphasis in Biology from Missouri Western State University in 1971. His Doctor of Medicine was conferred in 1975 at the University of Missouri – Columbia and his internship at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis was completed in 1976. Dr. Conant was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus from Missouri Western State University. Dr. Conant is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Conant and his wife, Marsha, are natives of St. Joseph, MO where they currently reside. They are the parents of four adult children, James II, Elizabeth, Marjorie (a resident physician at the University of Indianapolis) and Eleanore. Dr. and Mrs. Conant are actively involved in the local community and participate in numerous charitable endeavors.

MoDocs' Board Chairman elected to the Missouri Senate

MoDocs is pleased to announce the election to the Missouri Senate of Rob Schaaf, MD, MoDocs’ Board chairman. He will officially take office January 5, 2011. Dr. Schaaf has been a strong advocate for patients and physicians during the last eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives. As a member of the Senate, he will be better able to continue that effort.

In 2004, Dr. Schaaf helped form MoDocs, which has now grown to over 500 physician members. In 2005, Dr. Schaaf cosponsored the tort reform bill, helping to bring down liability insurance rates for Missouri physicians. In 2007, he was the House handler of the MO HealthNet reform bill, which included effective Medicaid fraud provisions without the onerous elements pushed by Missouri’s trial lawyers. Over the last seven years, he helped achieve incremental increases in Medicaid reimbursements for physicians that in total exceed over one hundred million dollars. He has helped shape numerous bills during his four terms in the legislature, watching out for provisions that could hurt patients and the profession of medicine, while pushing to improve health care.

As a state senator, Dr. Schaaf is committed to making it easier for Missouri physicians to better care for their patients. As a practicing physician himself, he understands the many ways our current health system makes it hard for doctors to do their jobs, and how coming changes might affect medical practice in both good and bad ways. As our board chairman, he understands how legislation might affect the ability of Missouri’s doctors to obtain good quality liability insurance at a reasonable price, and is committed to protecting that ability.

MoDocs congratulates Dr. Schaaf on his recent election and is proud to help make him available as a resource. If you have a legislative comment or concern, contact us, and we will be glad to put you in contact with him.

From the President's Desk - Financial Summary

Dear Doctor,

The purpose of this letter is to keep you up to date on the progress of MoDocs. From May 17 to May 27, 2010 independent auditors have been examining the records of MoDocs. The results of their examination confirm the following financial data.

On December 31, 2004 MoDocs had admitted assets of $730,467. On December 31, 2009 MoDocs admitted assets were $7,339,451. During this 5 year period, MoDocs asset base experienced growth of 1000%. This growth was accomplished without debt and without any loss on investment assets.

I would like to personally thank each and every member as well as the other doctors in Missouri that have made this growth possible. MoDocs has had the opportunity and privelege to work with the finest group of doctors in the state. As a result, our growth has been steady and strong but without compromise.

By now it is known to all that MoDocs' selection process of members is rigorous. However, the latest data confirms that our prudent financial management is equally consistent and without compromise. I have enclosed a chart for your review illustrating our steady progress.

Currently MoDocs is reinvesting in Missouri doctors through its Risk Management Program, support for Missouri Physicians Health Program, and support to numerous state medical societies and associations. In addition we will continue our unprecedented legislative efforts on behalf of the doctors and patients of Missouri.

At MoDocs, our commitment to serve the physicians of Missouri has always been, and will continue to be, our sole objective.

Respectfully yours,

Martin M. Bauman

Gregory Diederich IV Takes Medalist Honors at Missouri Amateur Qualifier

MoDocs Account Manager, Greg Diederich IV, earned medalist honors at local qualifying for the 2011 Missouri State Amateur Golf Tournament. Greg shot an impressive 73 at Creekmore Golf Club in Raymore, MO on May 24th during the qualifying round of Missouri's most prestigious golf amateur event. Mr. Diederich led the local qualifying site by 4 strokes. He gained top honors in the field of 55 of some of the area's top golfers at the amateur level.

Greg will move forward to Twin Oaks Country Club in Springfield, Missouri for the 2011 Missouri Amateur the week of June 22nd. We wish Greg the very best of luck. Grip it and rip it, Greg!

St. Joseph Family Physician, Doctor James F. Conant, Elected MSMA Delegate to the AMA

Saint Joseph, MO - James F. Conant, MD, a local family physician, was recently elected by the Missouri State Medical Association as a Delegate to the American Medical Association at the 152nd Annual Convention held in St. Louis, MO this March.

Dr. Conant's accomplished career spans over three decades of service, including many leadership roles in local and state medical organizations and hospitals. He has served as the Vice-Councilor of Organized Medical Staff Section for the MSMA from 2001-2010.

Dr. Conant has served as President of Health Choice of Northwest Missouri, a local PPO. As a supporter of continuing medical education he has served as Associate Councilor from Missouri to the Southern Medical Association for the past six years. He currently practices at the St. Joseph Family Medical Clinic, Inc. and also serves as a board member for MoDocs, a local medical liability insurance company.

Dr. Conant received a Bachelor degree in Natural Science with emphasis in Biology from Missouri Western State University in 1971. His Doctor of Medicine was conferred in 1975 at the University of Missouri-Columbia and his internship at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis was completed in 1976. Dr. Conant was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus from Missouri Western State University. He has been the recipient of numerous educational and professional awards and honors.

Dr. Conant and his wife, Marsha, are natives of St. Joseph, MO where they currently reside. They are the parents of four adult children, James II, Elizabeth, Marjorie, and Eleanore. Dr. and Mrs. Conant are actively involved in the local community and participate in numerous charitable endeavors.