 Nassau Health Alert: Countywide Increase in Viral GI Illness |
Presidents Message - Gerald Ente, MD |
On November 13, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Nassau Academy of Medicine. When preparing for this jubilant event, I came across some old issues of the Nassau Medical News. You know . . . we work, we try, we plod and yet we complain about the same problems as our predecessors.
In 1972, President Leo Fischel wrote: “the gradual encroachment of the legislature on the practice of medicine has been increasing for some time. The hand of government is reaching into all aspects of medical care.” He further states, “once the floodgates are open and they most certainly are, no one can tell where the rules will end. The mad rush of the lawmakers to propose a bill, any bill that deals with health, defies reason.” He continues, “one politician recently told me that one of the best ways to get publicity and votes recognition is to sponsor a bill dealing with some aspect of health. This is certainly a questionable way to resolve problems of major consequence.
Medicine is being manipulated and maneuvered not to solve problems but to promote political futures and preserve bureaucratic monsters. It is being used in the same fashion that the “bread and circuses’ were used by the declining rulers of Rome.”
In that same February 1972 issue was an article by Sheldon Rudansky about his dismay at the 128 percent rise in malpractice rates. Back then the Nassau County Medical Society has published a booklet and sponsored meetings about how to lower one’s exposure to liability suits. He ends his article with “I urge you to think seriously about some of the items that can reduce malpractice litigation and rising premiums. There is no easy panacea, however, if we will look to ourselves I think that much can be accomplished.”
Does any of this sound familiar. The wheel goes round and round. The diameter gets smaller. Dr. Rudansky is correct – we must find our own solutions instead of complaining, let us aim our energy into solving the problems.
And remember - - - Tuesday, March 10, 2009, we must take over Albany. We must fill the steps of our Capital. We must overflow. We must show our legislators that we care.
The time is now !
The place is Albany !
The fight is for survival !
We need all of you.
Governor Vetoes No-Fault DWI Bill |
Governor Paterson has vetoed legislation (S.8294-A, Bonacic/A.10000, Dinowitz) that would have required No-Fault carriers to cover the costs for physicians and other health care providers when they provide care to drunk drivers.
Current insurance law permits No-Fault carriers to deny coverage, even in emergency situations where health care providers are legally required by federal and state laws to provide this often life-saving care. The legislation would have not only required coverage for emergency care provided to drunk drivers, but for all necessary medical care up to $50,000. While the veto message stated that ?it is fundamental that health service providers should be compensated for the life-saving care they provide to their patients, the legislation was disapproved because the bill is extremely expansive in scope and requires no-fault insurers to provide coverage for far more than emergency care?.The costs of providing such care would result in higher automobile insurance rates for the public.? Certainly, the tremendous turbulence in the financial and insurance markets, including AIG (which underwrites a significant share of the New YorkState auto insurance market) was a factor leading to this veto.
The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) thanks the countless number of physicians who sent letters to the governor urging that this measure be signed into law. While we are greatly disappointed that this legislation was not enacted, we are optimistic that this strong display of support from the physician community will ultimately result in the enactment of legislation that addresses this long-standing inequity in the law. To that end, the veto message noted that Governor Paterson has instructed his staff ?to work with the legislature, the health services provider groups, and the insurance industry to investigate this issue further and to help enact a new bill that accomplishes the intended purpose of this bill in a manner that will protect the interests of the health services providers, injured patients and the public.? MSSNY, working with the involved specialty societies, will continue this vital effort.
Senate Passes SGR Fix Last Night and Now It Goes to the White House |
We are happy to report that the Senate passed H.R. 6331, the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008," by a veto-proof majority of 69-30. Both Senator Clinton and Senator Schumer voted for the bill. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) entered the chamber midway through the roll call to cast his vote in favor of the bill—his first appearance in the Senate since his operation in early June. Eighteen Republican Senators joined the Senate Democrats to make this a truly bipartisan process. Senator John McCain was the only Senator not voting but is reported in the New York Times as saying he would have voted against the bill.
As you know, the legislation replaces the 10.6% payment cut that went into effect on July 1 with a 0.5% update extension through December 31, 2008. For calendar year 2009, the update will be 1.1%. Other important provisions such as extending the GPCI floor on physician work were also included.
The bill must now be signed into law by President Bush, who has signaled on more than one occasion that he intends to veto it. However, given the fact that the payment cuts have already occurred and that the bill passed both chambers with the two-third majority needed to override a veto, there is some reason to question next steps by the White House. Of course, we will keep you apprised as we learn more.
The AMA has issued a note of thanks to the state and specialty societies who worked long and hard over the Independence Day congressional recess to keep up the pressure and persuade so many Senators to do the right thing for patients and physicians. The grassroots response was truly tremendous.
MSSNY President Michael Rosenberg MD added a personal note of thanks to all MSSNY members who took the time to reach out to our federal legislators to urge passage of the bill.
Radio Healthline |
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