Legislative Update: Week of June 4th

This week saw the Senate concentrating on finishing up the budget, making this two years in a row that the budget for the state has been finished before the annual summer recess. The House concentrated on its income tax relief package at the beginning of the week and passing more education reforms by the end of the week. Lets take a closer look though at items that have an impact on medicine:

House:

The House Health Policy committee met this week to consider House Bill 5711, 5712, and 5713 which amend the public health code to cover several changes concerning abortion. As with abortion, testimony was very emotional, with the Michigan chapter of Right to Life starting out the testimony. 5711 is an omnibus bill that took four pieces of legislation and smashed them together creating a bill that dealt with fetal remain disposal, liability coverage for those preforming a abortion, and two with coercion and being forced into an abortion. Dr.Matthew Allswede, a obstetrician and President of the Michigan chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists testified summing up that with the passage of these bills they face threatening further growing the need for obstetricians in the state. Some members of the committee from both sides of the aisle had issues with the legislation but at the end of the day were forced to vote the legislation out of committee. The bills now await action on the House floor which will happen next week.

The House Judiciary committee was scheduled to meet but was canceled due to the impending problems with Detroit lighting. Hopefully the committee will meet this coming Thursday, pending any other reasons to postpone the hearing.

Senate:

The Senate Health Policy committee met this week, although very briefly, considered and took testimony on Senate Bill 481 which would increase the scope of practice for advance practice nurses. MSMS stands adamantly opposed to the expansion and expressed those concerns with the committee. Since the committee was short on time no action was taken on the legislation and it rumored to be reworked in a way that physicians could consider. Once we have more information, we will be sure to share it, as for now we stand ready to work with the committee and fight irresponsible expansion of scope.

The Senate Insurance committee was also short on time this week but continued taking testimony on the Senate version of the Patients First Reform package (SB 1115-1118). It is also rumored that the committee could consider taking a vote next week on the legislation. Stay tuned for updates.

Elections:

The race for congress in Michigan's 11th district just got dicier as the Secretary of State finds that the signatures to get on the primary ballot may have been forged by someone in Rep. McCotter's campaign therefore not making him eligible for the ballot, leaving a virtual unknown running as the Republican front runner. Former Michigan Senator Nancy Cassis as committed to running a write-in campaign to hopefully win the primary ballot. If this happens, it will be the first time that this has been successful in Michigan for that particular office. Things will now heat up in Michigan's 11th.

On a personal note we at MSMS want to offer our condolences to Senator Goeff Hansen and his family with the loss of their son. All of us at MSMS offer our thoughts and prayers through this difficult time.

Continue to stay with MSMS Legislative Update to gain all the information happening at the capitol and more go to http://www.msms.org/advocacy.

MDPAC needs your help to keep Michigan's tort reform intact! Support MDPAC today at http://www.mdpac.org.

Legislative Update: Week of May 21st

This week has been a busy one for MSMS as the tort reform package supported by MSMS has seen some activity in the Senate with activity upcoming in the House. Budgets were the story of the week as the Governor, Speaker, and Majority Leader came to an agreement on the target numbers for the different budgets. Let's review this week's activity:

Senate:

(From midweek)


Michael Chafty, MD, JD

The Senate Insurance committee took testimony on Senate Bill 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, affectionately known as the "The Patients First Reform" package. This effort, spearheaded by MSMS and the physician community, is the first significant tort reform package since the early 1990's.

Elmassian and Chafty testify for
the Senate Insurance Committee

MSMS offered testimony from two different avenues during the hearing, first coming from MSMS Preident-Elect Kenneth Elmassian, DO and Michael Chafty, MD, JD, who chairs the MSMS Board Legislative Policy Committee. Both of the physicians commented on how the having these reforms for Michigan's physicians puts Michigan in a category that it has never been accustomed to: a destination for physicians to practice. "Like many other states, prior to the adoption of meaningful tort reform in 1993 Michigan was a state in crisis," said Dr. Elmassian. Elmassian went on to say, "Those of us who live through this crisis are obligated to be vigilant to maintain the intent of the reforms passed in 1993. Senate Bills 1115-1118 seek to do just that."


Kenneth Elmassian, DO

Opponents against the legislation said that it would hinder the patent's or the patent's family's ability to gain recourse for a mistake of a physician. They also say it would take away the ability to provide for the services that a person needs to counter the pain and suffering sustained by the injury. Another argument against the bills was that the tort reforms would not help an impending physician shortage in Michigan because we simply don't have one. Referring to a study from the AMA from 1995, as was pointed out by Dr. Chafty in his testimony, the amount of physicians Michigan has is the right number to serve the population that needs health care. Dr. Chafty noted that with the increasing amount of physicians getting closer to retirement and the growth in the amount of people that are going to need care, the need for physicians will grow to an amount of 4,500 by 2020.

The committee continued taking testimony until 4:30pm that day. It will reconvene again in a week to continue taking the testimony from all of those wishing to testify. MSMS will continue to offer coverage of the proceedings.

The Senate Health Policy committee did not meet this week but there are rumblings that the committee will be posting for the coming week taking up expanding scope of practice for nurses.

House:

The House Health Policy committee did meet this week and had a presentation on drug adherence from CVS pharmacies. MSMS was not able to attend the meeting but understands it was very informative.

The House Insurance committee met this week working on their continued effort to reform Michigan's auto no fault insurance system. This week they considered a series of bills that would exempt certain persons from being protected by the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) sections of the policy. MSMS was concerned with three bills in the package House Bill 5587, 5588, and 5589. These bills would exempt those committing a crime or in the process of committing a crime and their accomplice from PIP coverage and also those who are operating under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to be covered under PIP as well. The MSMS Legislation and Regulations committee will be considering these bills at their next meeting. We will continue to monitor their progress.

The House Judiciary committee will be scheduling a hearing for the House versions of the MSMS supported tort reform package this coming Thursday, May 31st at 10:30 am in the Anderson House Office Building. The House versions of the bills are 5669, 5670, 5671, and 5672. Once the committee meets, MSMS will have coverage of the events as they unfold on Twitter, Facebook and our blog.

Budget:

The House, Senate, and Governor have come to an agreement on the target numbers for the coming year's budget. This is positive news for the Department of Community Health budget where more money was allotted for the department which leave the possibility that GME could receive even more funding. MSMS is working with the legislative leaders to ensure just that. The House Republicans are looking to build into their budget an income tax relief package for Michigan that would reduce the income tax rate. Its uncertain the amount of savings that tax payers would see. MSMS will continue to stay with the budget until its signed into law.

For more information on Michigan politics and legislative activities stay connected with MSMS at http://www.msms.org/advocacy. With the upcoming elections, you need to know who support you and your profession, go to http://www.mdpac.org to find out that information and more!

Legislative Update: Week of May 21st (Midweek Update)

Kenneth Elmassian, DO

Today the Senate Insurance committee took testimony on Senate Bill 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, affectionately known as the "The Patients First Reform" package. This effort, spearheaded by MSMS and the physician community, is the first significant tort reform package since the early 1990's.

Elmassian and Chafty testify for
the Senate Insurance Committee

MSMS offered testimony from two different avenues during the hearing, first coming from MSMS Preident-Elect Kenneth Elmassian, DO and Michael Chafty, MD, JD, who chairs the MSMS Board Legislative Policy Committee. Both of the physicians commented on how the having these reforms for Michigan's physicians puts Michigan in a category that it has never been accustomed to: a destination for physicians to practice. "Like many other states, prior to the adoption of meaningful tort reform in 1993 Michigan was a state in crisis," said Dr. Elmassian. Elmassian went on to say, "Those of us who live through this crisis are obligated to be vigilant to maintain the intent of the reforms passed in 1993. Senate Bills 1115-1118 seek to do just that."


Michael Chafty, MD, JD

Opponents against the legislation said that it would hinder the patent's or the patent's family's ability to gain recourse for a mistake of a physician. They also say it would take away the ability to provide for the services that a person needs to counter the pain and suffering sustained by the injury. Another argument against the bills was that the tort reforms would not help an impending physician shortage in Michigan because we simply don't have one. Referring to a study from the AMA from 1995, as was pointed out by Dr. Chafty in his testimony, the amount of physicians Michigan has is the right number to serve the population that needs health care. Dr. Chafty noted that with the increasing amount of physicians getting closer to retirement and the growth in the amount of people that are going to need care, the need for physicians will grow to an amount of 4,500 by 2020.

The committee continued taking testimony until 4:30pm today, and it will reconvene again in a week to continue taking the testimony from all of those wishing to testify. MSMS will continue to offer coverage of the proceedings.