Membership Benefits and Services

Professional Involvement and Commitment: The IMA offers members the opportunity to join with colleagues to address professional issues and challenges on local, state and national levels.

Legislative Representation: The IMA provides state legislative and governmental liaison and monitors state and federal legislation affecting medicine. The IMA has input with state agencies, including the Department of Health and Welfare, and negotiates for Medicaid program improvements. The IMA closely monitors federal legislation affecting medicine by working with the AMA's Washington, D.C., office. The IMA works directly with the Idaho Congressional Delegation on important issues and maintains a key contact system to facilitate open communication and support from the medical profession. IMPAC is the political action arm of the IMA, governed by a Board of Directors comprised of physicians from throughout the state.

Reimbursement Assistance: The IMA employs three reimbursement specialists who work with physicians and their staffs to enhance reimbursement by providing training and ongoing consultation on billing and coding. The IMA also works with all third party payers on behalf of physicians.

Medicare Audit Consultation: The IMA provides immediate consultative assistance to members involved in audits by the Idaho Medicare carrier, assisting physicians and their legal counsel in preparing appropriate responses to audit findings.

Physician Advocacy: The IMA represents physician interests on many statewide committees as well as various ad hoc committees and task forces organized within government. By action of the House of Delegates, the IMA fosters meaningful physician input regarding healthcare issues at all levels of government.

Access To Care: The IMA takes a lead role on state committees, task forces and coalitions seeking solutions for Idaho's uninsureds and promoting access for the medically indigent. At the same time, the IMA addresses problems that impede access such as low reimbursement and uncompensated care.

Managed Care Contract Review: The IMA in-house legal counsel provides free contract review for members considering participation in managed care networks. This valuable service reveals legal problems for physicians who are considering signing contracts written by insurance companies or managed care organizations.

Public Relations: The IMA's strong public relations program works with statewide and local media to address healthcare issues from the physician's perspective. The program enhances the image of the practicing physician and reinforces a positive perception of the medical profession in the public eye.

Physicians' Recovery Network (PRN): The IMA PRN offers assistance in the identification and treatment of physician impairment due to alcohol/drug abuse and mental illness and acts as an advocate for recovering physicians. Click here for detailed additional information about the Physicians' Recovery Network (IMA members only)

Publications: The IMA publishes a number of timely, informative publications:

• IMAges, a twice-monthly newsletter containing news of general physician interest
• INSight, a monthly newsletter highlighting Idaho physician reimbursement and coding information
• Directory of Idaho Physicians is published twice yearly
• Legislative Report, a newsletter published regularly throughout each Legislative Session
• Special Reports

Scholarships: The IMA Medical Education Scholarship Trust awards annual scholarships to medical students in need of financial assistance who are Idaho residents.

Seminars and Workshops: The IMA offers many seminars and workshops to assist physicians and office staff with coding and practice administration. Current offerings include:

• Basic ICD-9 and CPT Coding
• Intermediate ICD-9 and CPT Coding
• Chart Auditing
• Coding Practicums for the experienced coder
• Specialty Workshops (Orthopedics, Cardiology, Neurosurgery, Surgery, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics)
• Annual IMA Physician Inservice
• IMA Coding Q&A Workshop

Future Topics: The IMA is responsive to physician requests for coding education and regularly adds new seminars and workshops to the Association’s educational program.

Insurance Programs: The IMA sponsors various insurance plans:

• Major Medical
• Disability Income
• Term Life
• Individual Special Disability Income
• Office Overhead Expense
• Dental
• Insurance for Employees
• Medical Savings Accounts

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Committee: The IMA is accredited by the ACCME (a national accrediting organization) and, in turn, accredits nine local CME providers throughout the state. The IMA, through the CME Committee, provides information and advice for organizations seeking to provide AMA/PRA Category I credit programs for physicians. The Committee also functions as an educational resource for organizations wishing to improve the quality and scope of their educational offerings.

Physician Placement Service: One of the special membership benefits the Idaho Medical Association provides is a placement service for physicians who wish to relocate to Idaho. The IMA also maintains a current listing of practice openings, a list of physicians who have expressed a desire to relocate to Idaho from another state, and a list of physicians who wish to relocate within the state.

Debt Collection Services: The IMA suggests the I.C. System for debt collection. In addition to regular collection services, I.C. System offers services in litigation, location of debtors and credit checks. Please call I.C. System at 1-800-279-6620.

Cellular Phone Discount Program: The IMA has contracted with Verizon Wireless for discounted cellular rates for IMA members. (This program is not available in all areas of Idaho.)

Staff Assistance for Medical and Specialty Societies: The IMA provides staff assistance to local societies and specialty societies upon request. Services include administrative support, meeting notices, meeting arrangements, and accounting.
For more information on any IMA member service or benefit, please call the Association at (208) 344-7888 or e-mail IMA Member Services at membership@idmed.org.