Legislative Update
Submitted by Harald Lausen, DO, MA, FAAFP
District 3 Trustee and Legislative Chair
Greetings and Happy New Year! There are
some exciting events planned for the next few months and some key
legislative issues that we will be following.
Betsy Mitchell, our dedicated lobbyist
in Springfield, continues to keep us informed about key legislative
issues in Illinois that may have an impact on health care. We have
partnered with the Illinois Chapter of the American College of
Osteopathic Family Physicians to share the costs of this valuable
service and ensure Betsy continues to protect our practice rights in
Illinois.
IOMS will host its fourth annual
Osteopathic Physician’s Day on Wednesday, March 5th in Springfield. This
event has become larger and more successful each year. We were pleased
to host more than 40 legislators and government officials during last
year’s reception at the Sangamo Club. Please join us this year and meet
with your local legislators about important health care issues.
The AOA will hold its annual DO Day on
the Hill on April 24th in Washington, D.C. In the past few years, over
75 representatives from Illinois have made the trip. Please consider
joining your osteopathic peers and rally at our nation’s capitol to
support issues such as PLI reform, medical education funding, and
Medicare SGR reform.
The AOA House of Delegates will meet in
Chicago from July 18th-20th. Under the leadership of our delegation
co-chairs, Drs. Teresa Hubka and Earle Pescatore, we expect to again
send a full delegation to represent osteopathic physicians in Illinois.
Please submit your name to IOMS (IOMS@IOMS.org)
if you are interested in serving as a delegate.
As many of you know, medical liability
reform is being challenged in Illinois. The current caps on non-economic
damages in medical litigation cases were termed unconstitutional by a
Cook county judge. The case will likely be heard by the Illinois Supreme
Court in the fall of 2008. Your voice is needed more than ever.
The extension on the Illinois Medical
Practice Act will run out at the end of 2008. We expect to see many
scope of practice issues arise during this year. A bill for lay midwives
will be introduced again. Expansion of nurse practitioner and physician
assistant scope of practice will also most surely arise. It is expected
that physical therapists will again lobby for independent practice
rights. We are also closely monitoring the expansion of retail clinics
and the potential impact on patient safety.
The Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR)
cut was once again delayed. However, a 10% cut in Medicare reimbursement
will occur in June of 2008 unless action is taken. Join your fellow
Osteopathic colleagues and contact your Congressmen to push for change
in the current flawed Medicare reimbursement calculation.
Important Legislative Issues for
your Consideration
- The 2 year extension on the
Illinois Medical Practice Act is running out. We are closely
monitoring potential changes to scope of practice and threats to
patient safety.
- PLI reform has been challenged in
Illinois. The constitutionality of non-economic damages in medical
litigation cases will be considered by the Illinois Supreme Court
later this year.
- Contact your Senators and
Representatives to push for a change in the Medicare SGR. The 10%
cut in Medicare reimbursement has only been delayed until June of
2008.
- Attend Osteopathic Physician’s Day
on March 5th in Springfield. Be present, be heard, and affect
change.
- DO Day on Capitol Hill will take
place on April 24th in Washington, DC. Registration is open at
DO-online.
- The AOA House of Delegates will
meet in Chicago from July 18th-20th. Contact IOMS if you are
interested in serving as a delegate.
- Remember to submit a donation to
SCOPE. The Special Committee on Osteopathic Political Education is
our state’s Political Action Committee. The address is SCOPE, 225 E.
Cook, Springfield, IL, 62704.
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