U.S. Rep Joseph D. Morelle Honored with Inaugural MSSNY Legislative Champion Award
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Representative Joseph D. Morelle of Rochester was honored with the 2026 MSSNY Legislative Champion Award in recognition of his longstanding commitment to working alongside physician leaders to strengthen healthcare policy. Over several decades, Representative Morelle has partnered with physicians across New York to advance legislation that supports patient access and protects the integrity of medical practice. His work has been particularly impactful in safeguarding physician appeal rights during the enactment and implementation of the federal No Surprises Act—an essential protection that helps maintain access to emergency department care across the state.
Representative Morelle has also been a consistent advocate for policies that support seniors and the physicians who care for them. His leadership in supporting legislation tied to annual Medicare physician payment adjustments linked to the Medicare Economic Index reflects an understanding of the financial pressures physicians face and the importance of maintaining sustainable reimbursement systems. Prior to his service in Congress, his leadership in the New York State Assembly helped shape the state’s landmark surprise medical billing law, which became a model for numerous other states and federal legislation. His work has also strengthened physician protections by improving credentialing timelines, limiting mid-contract fee schedule changes, and promoting timely payment for services.
