·	Organizational Chart
·	Roster of State Delegates and Alternates
·	Past Meeting Archives
	April 2004 Meeting
·	Plenary Session Minutes
·	Resolutions Submitted
·	Resolutions Results
·	Communications and Education Committee
·	Medical Practices Committee Meeting
·	Neurotrauma Committee Meeting
·	Reimbursement Committee
·	Workforce Committee
·	Young Physicians Committee
	Quadrant Reports:
·	Northwest
·	Northeast
·	Southwest
·	Southeast

Resolutions Submitted

RESOLUTION I

Title: Proposed Change to CSNS Rules & Regulations: Allowing Appointees to be Officers

Author: William E. Bingaman, M.D.

Submitted by: CNS and AANS Caucuses

WHEREAS, the CSNS exists as a group of delegates and appointees serving as a socioeconomic “grassroots” body under the purview of the AANS and CNS; and

WHEREAS, both the elected and appointed delegates do the work of this body, both of which have voting rights within the body (except for quadrant caucuses); and

WHEREAS, many appointees become involved in the workings of both the CSNS and the parent body which appointed them so that forfeiture of one’s appointee status prior to becoming an officer in the CSNS may interfere with the individual’s status within the parent organization; and

WHEREAS, current rules and regulations excludes appointees from holding officer positions within the CSNS; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the current rules and regulations be amended to allow CNS and/or AANS appointees to be elected to officer positions with the CSNS; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that once elected, those appointees will forfeit their appointee status until the term of office has ended.

Fiscal Note : None

RESOLUTION II

Title: Hospital Coverage of Neurosurgical Malpractice Insurance in Exchange for Emergency Room Services

Submitted by: Workforce Committee

WHEREAS, the cost of medical liability coverage for neurosurgical care has skyrocketed in recent years due to the current medical liability crisis, excess in frivolous medical law suits, and medical judgments against neurosurgeons; and

WHEREAS, this has resulted in many neurosurgeons relinquishing vital neurosurgical care services such as cranial privileges and therefore the ability to provide emergency room coverage including trauma care; and

WHEREAS, many neurosurgeons have unwillingly retired early to avoid excessive risk burden, or have left those states with excessive malpractice premiums further limiting neurosurgical manpower availability; and

WHEREAS, hospitals are left without adequate neurosurgical ER coverage and as a result place patients and hospitals at risk; and

WHEREAS, hospitals have the infrastructure to provide better risk management, are in a position to provide better defense against frivolous claims, and can negotiate from a stronger position when contracting for liability coverage as compared to individual and group neurosurgical practices; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the AANS, CNS, and CSNS present a position statement to hospitals encouraging them to provide medical malpractice insurance coverage in exchange for neurosurgical ER coverage services.

Fiscal Note: $1,500.00

RESOLUTION III

Title: Survey to Assess the Effects of the Current Medical Liability Crisis on Providing Neurosurgical Care

Submitted by: Workforce Committee

WHEREAS, a number of individual state surveys have recently been conducted to gauge the impact that the current medical liability crisis has on neurosurgical practices; and

WHEREAS, accurate data from across the country is needed to adequately assess the impact that the current crisis has on providing neurosurgical care so as to present a defense for effective tort reform; and

WHEREAS, this survey can be conducted via e-mail, fax or letter to neurosurgeons through our national organizations; and

WHEREAS, an adequate data collection system and statistical analysis of survey results needs to be established; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that a national survey be conducted and facilitated through our parent organizations to gauge the impact that the current malpractice crisis has on providing neurosurgical care.

Fiscal Note: $2000.00

RESOLUTION IV

Title: Supporting Increased Organ Donation

Authors: Jeffrey Oppenheim, M.D. Daniel Spitzer, M.D.

Submitted by: New York State Neurosurgical Society

WHEREAS, approximately 6,000 Americans died last year while on the waiting list for a lifesaving transplant – one every 90 minutes – and over 83,000 people are presently on the waiting list; and

WHEREAS, over 40,000 additional people will join the waiting list this year – one every 13 minutes – and the waiting list is growing 5 times faster than the rate of organ donation; and

WHEREAS, over 50% of the people who need an organ will die before they receive one; and

WHEREAS, LifeSharers ( www.lifesharers.com) is a non-profit voluntary network of organ/tissue donors. Members of the LifeSharers network agree to donate their organs and tissues upon their death, and give fellow members first access to these organs and tissues; and

WHEREAS, by directing their donations first to others who have also agreed to donate, LifeSharers members create an incentive for others to join the network, and therefore help increase the global supply of potential organ donors; and

WHEREAS, LifeSharers has received favorable reviews from a range of medical and ethics experts, including Glenn McGee, Editor in Chief, American Journal of Bioethics, who writes, “LifeSharers is the most imaginative healthcare solution in decades and it goes to the very roots of our transplantation system”; and

WHEREAS, the support of organized medicine will enhance the ability of LifeSharers to promote their services, recruit more voluntary members and thereby increase the size of the potential donor pool; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the CSNS endorses the goals and methodology of LifeSharers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CSNS requests that the AANS and CNS include a summary of the LifeSharers in their newsletters in order to facilitate dissemination of this program amongst their memberships.

Fiscal Note: no direct cost - relative cost of editorial space in AANS/CNS publications

RESOLUTION V

Title: Motorcycle Helmets

Authors: Jeffrey Oppenheim, M.D. Daniel Spitzer, M.D.

Submitted by: New York Neurosurgical Society

WHEREAS, motorcycle helmets have been shown to save lives of motorcyclists and prevent serious brain injuries, reducing the risk of death by 29% and are 67% effective in preventing brain injuries (NHTSA, 2001); and

WHEREAS, motorcycle helmets saved the lives of an estimated 674 motorcyclists in 2001, and if all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 444 lives would have been saved (NHTSA, 2001); and

WHEREAS, helmet use is the single most important factor in preventing death and head injury to motorcyclists, and by an overwhelming majority (81%), Americans favor state laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the CSNS affirms the importance of the use of motorcycle helmets by all riders; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CSNS supports mandatory helmet laws throughout the United States.

Fiscal Note: None

RESOLUTION VI

Title: Statement on the Ethics of Non-Participation in Medicare

Submitted by: Ezriel E. Kornel, M.D.

WHEREAS, Medicare physician reimbursement for the majority of neurosurgical procedures is inadequate to cover the costs of doing business; and

WHEREAS, neurosurgeons may (and some do) continue to care for Medicare age patients without participating in Medicare; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the CSNS issue a statement that it is ethical for individual neurosurgeons to refuse participation in Medicare.

Fiscal Note: None

RESOLUTION VII

Title: State Society Listings in the E-Bulletin Calendar

Submitted by: New York State Neurosurgical Society