T he year’s end brings the occasion to reflect on many things. I want to take this opportunity to thank an organization that has been a real friend to dermatologists and a tremendous resource for our patients. The organization of which I speak lobbied the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) on our behalf so that the skin exam isn’t just one bullet (which would have limited dermatology to Level 1 E&M codes) and successfully lobbied Medicare to double our reimbursement for phototherapy. They also publish a wide variety of pamphlets that we can (and should) use to educate patients about the risks and benefits of many of the systemic treatments we prescribe, and they make those pamphlets available to us in digital form for FREE. Who Is This Organization? Well, the National Psoriasis Foundation, of course. Started in 1968 in Portland, OR, as a local support group, the Foundation has grown into the largest grass-roots organization that understands the importance of dermatology. Members of the Foundation work relentlessly for the benefit of psoriasis patients, and this organization benefits us and our patients far more broadly. From humble beginnings, the National Psoriasis Foundation has continued to grow, largely through charitable support from the psoriasis patient community along with some corporate support. Dermatologists have contributed as well, partly through voluntary service to the organization and partly through physician membership in the organization. Charitable support from dermatologists, however, has not been a major contributor to the Foundation’s finances. I hope that will change. The National Psoriasis Foundation has made major contributions to the success of our specialty and the health of our patients; it is worthy of inclusion in our charitable giving plans. This year, the Foundation will, for the first time, ask dermatologists for a charitable gift. The campaign is being led by Mark Lebwohl, who gives generously of his time and effort to the Foundation, recognizing all that it does for our specialty. Please join Mark and I in making a multi-year pledge to the National Psoriasis Foundation this year. It will be a great investment in the Foundation and will benefit our specialty and our patients for years to come. Steven R. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D.
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Chief Medical Editor`s Message:Making a Difference in Dermatology
T he year’s end brings the occasion to reflect on many things. I want to take this opportunity to thank an organization that has been a real friend to dermatologists and a tremendous resource for our patients. The organization of which I speak lobbied the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) on our behalf so that the skin exam isn’t just one bullet (which would have limited dermatology to Level 1 E&M codes) and successfully lobbied Medicare to double our reimbursement for phototherapy. They also publish a wide variety of pamphlets that we can (and should) use to educate patients about the risks and benefits of many of the systemic treatments we prescribe, and they make those pamphlets available to us in digital form for FREE. Who Is This Organization? Well, the National Psoriasis Foundation, of course. Started in 1968 in Portland, OR, as a local support group, the Foundation has grown into the largest grass-roots organization that understands the importance of dermatology. Members of the Foundation work relentlessly for the benefit of psoriasis patients, and this organization benefits us and our patients far more broadly. From humble beginnings, the National Psoriasis Foundation has continued to grow, largely through charitable support from the psoriasis patient community along with some corporate support. Dermatologists have contributed as well, partly through voluntary service to the organization and partly through physician membership in the organization. Charitable support from dermatologists, however, has not been a major contributor to the Foundation’s finances. I hope that will change. The National Psoriasis Foundation has made major contributions to the success of our specialty and the health of our patients; it is worthy of inclusion in our charitable giving plans. This year, the Foundation will, for the first time, ask dermatologists for a charitable gift. The campaign is being led by Mark Lebwohl, who gives generously of his time and effort to the Foundation, recognizing all that it does for our specialty. Please join Mark and I in making a multi-year pledge to the National Psoriasis Foundation this year. It will be a great investment in the Foundation and will benefit our specialty and our patients for years to come. Steven R. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D.
T he year’s end brings the occasion to reflect on many things. I want to take this opportunity to thank an organization that has been a real friend to dermatologists and a tremendous resource for our patients. The organization of which I speak lobbied the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) on our behalf so that the skin exam isn’t just one bullet (which would have limited dermatology to Level 1 E&M codes) and successfully lobbied Medicare to double our reimbursement for phototherapy. They also publish a wide variety of pamphlets that we can (and should) use to educate patients about the risks and benefits of many of the systemic treatments we prescribe, and they make those pamphlets available to us in digital form for FREE. Who Is This Organization? Well, the National Psoriasis Foundation, of course. Started in 1968 in Portland, OR, as a local support group, the Foundation has grown into the largest grass-roots organization that understands the importance of dermatology. Members of the Foundation work relentlessly for the benefit of psoriasis patients, and this organization benefits us and our patients far more broadly. From humble beginnings, the National Psoriasis Foundation has continued to grow, largely through charitable support from the psoriasis patient community along with some corporate support. Dermatologists have contributed as well, partly through voluntary service to the organization and partly through physician membership in the organization. Charitable support from dermatologists, however, has not been a major contributor to the Foundation’s finances. I hope that will change. The National Psoriasis Foundation has made major contributions to the success of our specialty and the health of our patients; it is worthy of inclusion in our charitable giving plans. This year, the Foundation will, for the first time, ask dermatologists for a charitable gift. The campaign is being led by Mark Lebwohl, who gives generously of his time and effort to the Foundation, recognizing all that it does for our specialty. Please join Mark and I in making a multi-year pledge to the National Psoriasis Foundation this year. It will be a great investment in the Foundation and will benefit our specialty and our patients for years to come. Steven R. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D.
