adminMany Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) members have told us how important state advocacy is to them —on behalf of physicians, their profession, and their patients.
What are our top advocacy priorities in Harrisburg in the New Year? PAMED’s robust legislative and regulatory agenda includes:
- Opposing legislation authorizing independent practice for non-physician practitioners, while supporting initiatives that promote physician-led, team-based care.
- Assuring patient safety in regulations being issued per state law allowing pharmacists to manage patient medication levels with a physician collaborative agreement.
- Supporting legislation requiring prompt physician credentialing by payers.
- Protecting employed physicians’ ability to exercise clinical judgment and prohibit non-compete clauses in employment contracts.
- Supporting increased medical student loan forgiveness in underserved areas. An additional $1 million was allocated in the 2014-2015 state budget that will increase loan forgiveness programs and provide more residency slots.
- Opposing legislation authorizing tax on physician/patient encounters.
- Remove barriers to the expansion of telemedicine, improving access to care while ensuring patient safety.
- Requiring providers to be straightforward and fully transparent about licensing and board certification in advertisements through truth in advertising legislation.
The 2013-2014 state legislative session also saw many wins for medicine.
We also advocate in Washington D.C. on important federal issues such as the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Medicare physician payment formula, which will result in devastating cuts in reimbursement to physicians and negatively affect access to care across the nation.
But, we can’t do it alone. We need your support. Watch the Daily Dose (PAMED’s daily all-member email) and other communications for updates. More importantly, watch for calls to action, when legislators need to hear physicians’ voices on important issues, and let your voice be heard.
“Our voices have power, not only as constituents, but also as Pennsylvania physicians,” said PAMED President Karen Rizzo, MD. “Let your voice be heard on issues that may affect us, our profession, and/or our patients. After all, who better understands the issues facing physicians today than physicians.”
To find out how else you can get involved in advocacy, contact Larry Light, senior vice president of physician advocacy and political affairs at PAMED.