Important Legislative Information & Resources
Control Your Destiny! Check out the links below to find out what's new in medical legislation.
Questions or comments? Please contact:
Legislation
Valerie Doane
7196 Sanctuary Dr.
Jackson, MI 49201
P: (517) 748-9194
E: valrob1@comcast.net
Be a Part of the MSMS/MSMSA/MMGMA Political Action Strike Force!
Guidelines for Talking with your Legislator - "Talking Points"
The 148 Club
Leg Pol Legislative Activity Summary - December 2007
Tort Reform - Why?
Michigan State Medical Society Action Center
Michigan Doctors Political Action Committee - MDPAC
AMA Grassroots Action
AMA Political Action Committee
Summary & Status of Bills
Advocacy is Everyone's BusinessChildren have a lot of dreams growing up. I know my husband's was to become a doctor some day and I am sure there are many more men and women like him. They spend a lot of money and endless hours studying to become a doctor. It does not end there. For most physicians, continuing medical education is required to keep abreast of latest developments in their practice. It takes a very special person to become a doctor as their practice involves stress due to long hours, fear of malpractice suits and make do with considerable cuts in reimbursements. There are several issues that concerned physicians and their spouses are fighting for like Smoke-free Work Place Bill, Help Push for More Physical Education in Schools, Preserve Tort Reforms, Protect Health Care, Chiropractic Bill and Tanning Facility Regulations to name a few.
How often did you feel that something needs to be done to fix this? Well, something can be done. Doctors need to be involved in organized medicine and play an active role in political advocacy. It is important for physicians to unite together to lobby legislators because it takes strength in numbers to fight the system. But how many do? It was found that only sixty two percent of all Michigan physicians belong to the Michigan State Medical Society and a small percentage of their spouses belong to the Alliance. We need more people to actively participate in the cause for effective national medical liability legal reforms. Helen Keller once said, "Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings." This seems especially true for most of us. You probably believe that politicians don't care about what you think, feel that you do not have the time to contact elected officials, not sure what to say to them or don't understand the legislative system. On the contrary to what you may think, it is easy to influence politicians without spending money. With this being the election year, your involvement is very crucial.
We all heard that action is the best antidote to despair. Take every opportunity to spread the word through the media and your patients, friends and professional colleagues. As physicians and physician spouses, we have the opportunity to play an important role in supporting medical liability reform, including helping to reduce malpractice lawsuit abuse. Advocacy is simple and easy. It is everyone's business. We can lend our voice to the fight for effective medical liability reform by contacting our state and federal representatives and asking them to preserve and support it. All we need to do is get to know our legislators. One of the most effective ways to participate is to make our views known by writing to our elected government officials. In this age of technology, it is easy to take action on our medical society website or use the telephone, it is our best tool. Use it to call our congressmen and ask to speak to legislative aides for health care. Obtain their e-mail addresses and communicate with them as issues arise. Inform them that with primary care, we can get higher quality at a lower cost. It was found in recent years that the number of primary care physicians has decreased considerably. This is mainly due to disparities in physician reimbursement. Therefore, we need payment reform. And finally, contribute to MDPAC to help fight to protect the practice of good medicine.
"There is a time to let things happen, and a time to make things happen." This is that time!
Lakshmi K. Tummala