MDNews - Central New York

onondaga County Medical Society 2013 ��� Another Year of uncertainty for Physicians By Gerald N. ���Jerry��� Hoffman AT tHe StaRt of another year, uncertainty coupled with anxiety is very much on the minds of most physicians. Their eyes will be focused on Albany and Washington to see what is done or not done in the coming months. Both New York state and the federal government face tremendous financial challenges that could significantly impact physicians and patient care. Once again physicians are threatened with a significant reduction in their reimbursement for treating Medicare patients. Unless Congress acts again to head off that reduction, physicians will see a 27% cut in Medicare reimbursement. With ongoing discussions about how to avoid the much talked about ���fiscal cliff,��� the Medicare and Medicaid programs are also at risk, which would negatively impact hospitals as well as physicians. A number of hospitals in Central New York anticipating substantial Medicare and Medicaid decreases have announced layoffs at their facilities. Hospital associations and physician organizations have been gearing up their lobbying efforts and asking their members to make their voices heard to state legislators, Gov. Cuomo, members of Congress and President Obama. Another issue looming on the horizon in New York state is the health insurance exchange, which the state is in the process of creating as opposed to having the federal government assume that role as a number of states��� governors have decided to do. Gov. Cuomo established five regional advisory boards to assist him and other state government officials in forming the health insurance exchange. Physician leaders, including those of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) were appointed to each of the five advisory boards. Dr. Joseph R. Maldonado Jr. of Rome, an MSSNY officer, is on the Finger Lakes/Central New York board. On November 29, MSSNY���s governing board, the Council, approved the organization���s 2013 State and Federal Legislative Program. The priority items are: i. Preserving Patients��� ability to See the Physician of their choice A. The Need to Reform New York���s Liability System B. Preventing Untenable Expansions of Liability C. Assuring Fair Payment for Patient Care ��� Permitting Physicians to Collectively Negotiate ��� Tra nspa renc y a nd Fa ir Pay ment for O ut of-Network Care ��� Preventing Overboard Audits ��� Creating Administrative Simplification ��� Fair Workers Compensation/No-Fault Reform D. Federal Issues Affecting Access to Care ��� Urgent Need for Reform of the Flawed Medicare Payment Formula ��� Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board ii. enhancing quality of care A. Physician-Led, Team-Based Care Is Best for Patients B. Enhancing Quality of Care Through Peer Review C. Enhancing Care Through E-Prescribing D. Elimination of Health Care Disparities E. Attracting And Retaining Physicians in New York State F. Continue Statutory Recognition and Funding for The Committee for Physician Health iii. Public Health A. Preserving New York���s Public Health B. Prevention of Chronic Diseases C. Immunizations and Infectious Diseases D. Public Health Preparedness, Environmental and Global Health E. Reproductive Health, Healthy Women And Children F. Mental Health and Substance Abuse These important priorities have no chance of being addressed in a meaningful way without the strong support of physicians, their family members and staff. Physicians just sitting on the sidelines and complaining accomplishes nothing. Get involved. If more physicians get involved, more of their goals and priorities will become reality. Gerald N. ���Jerry��� Hoffman is Executive Vice President of the Onondaga County Medical Society and is co-author of two books: Medical Malpractice Insurance: A Legislator���s View and The History of Local Medical Care, 1806-2006. ��� mdNewS.com ��� MD News Central New York | 25

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