Physicians, Residents, and Medical Students Gather in Albany for Advocacy Day
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Thank you to the almost 200 physicians, residents, medical students, and county medical society staff from across New York State who joined the Medical Society of the State of New York in Albany this past Tuesday, March 10, for our annual Physician Advocacy Day.
Participants met in Meeting Room 6 of the Empire State Plaza for a morning program with remarks from the New York State Commissioner of Health, legislative leaders, and the Chairs of the Senate and Assembly Health and Insurance Committees. In the afternoon, physicians met with their local legislators to discuss key priorities affecting patient care, including the litany of challenging State Budget proposals physicians face that, if not addressed properly, will drive countless physicians out of practice in New York State.
Among the issues highlighted were reducing Prior Authorization hassles, protecting physicians’ rights to appeal chronic insurer underpayments to a fair Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process, opposing enormous new costs for physicians to obtain Excess Medical Malpractice Insurance coverage, and preserving physician-led team care. The timing was particularly fortuitous with as the Assembly and Senate were advancing their respective Budget proposals.
Your advocacy really does have an impact. Healthcare is always one of the policy areas that generates the most focus, and legislators really do care about the perspectives of their local physicians on legislation they are considering. MSSNY thanks everyone who took the time to come to Albany and ensure that the voices of physicians and their patients are heard during this critical stage of the State Budget process.
