By Hugh Bryan, MD
MSV Past President
The Medical Society of Virginia is the oldest state medical society. It has thrived for almost 200 years by being the most effective voice for physicians in multiple specialties and practice settings.
During the past year, many new staff members, including a new executive vice president, joined MSV. The result is new energy and new ideas. One example is the MSV Marketplace which evaluates vendors for office equipment and business solutions for practices. In addition, there is improved help with coding questions and insurance company negotiations.
A key goal of MSV actions is to demonstrate the value of physicians as the leaders in the health care debate. It is important that legislators, patients and other stakeholders understand that physicians are the most important source of wisdom about health care laws and regulations. This year that value was demonstrated by the search for solutions to the prescription drug abuse problem and the lack of residency positions for graduating Virginia medical students. In addition, MSV partnered with the Virginia Hospital and Health Care Association (VHHA) and the Virginia Nurses Foundation to create SYNC – a program focused on interprofessional leadership development.
Multiple member surveys have demonstrated that the major thing members want from MSV is effective influence in the General Assembly and with regulatory bodies. 2016 saw MSV find compromise language dealing with prescription drug misuse. The Board of Medicine was given some latitude in deciding which physicians would be required to take opiod prescribing CME, and the law requiring the use of the Prescription Monitoring Program was modified to make it more reasonable. MSV defeated a bill that would have licensed graduated medical students who were unable to match into a residency.
In addition, MSV was an invaluable partner with VOS during the debates about Workers Compensation and Certificate of Public Need reforms. VOS was present in Richmond for one White Coats on Call (WCOC) day. However, our colleagues from other specialties and local societies were there on multiple days and they continued that discussion on our behalf with legislators.
To be effective, VOS members must continue to increase their influence. If you want to achieve meaningful reform of COPN, you must donate to the MSV PAC and the ORTHOPAC. During a recent election cycle, the MSV PAC was able to donate $117,000 to legislators. VOS had a good showing at WCOC, but 15 people will not be enough. The legislators need to hear your individual stories about patients with no insurance or high deductibles who had to pay over $3,000 for an MRI at a hospital based facility.
Finally, attend the MSV Annual Meeting in Roanoke (October 13-16, 2016). Every year at the annual meeting, MSV examines its policies on many issues. These policies guide the staff and the executive committee during the legislative session. For instance, last year, the MSV membership changed a long standing policy that physicians should determine the subjects they needed for CME. The new policy allowed a subject specific required CME on opiod prescribing. This allowed MSV to work on the compromise legislation that eventually passed the General Assembly in 2016.
You can attend the MSV Annual Meeting as a delegate from VOS or as a delegate from your local medical society. If you are not there, you don’t have a voice.
