Left : Rep . Steve Magie , MD , will serve on the House Public Health Committee in the 2023 Legislative Session . Middle : AMS Director of Governmental Affairs Scott Smith and Rep . Lee Johnson , MD , preparing to testify at a House Public Health Committee meeting in 2019 . Right : Rep . Deborah Ferguson , DDS , speaks to fellow representatives from the well in 2019 .
PATIENT RIGHT TO KNOW ACT
AMS is working to clarify the original Patient Right to Know Act , which was designed to make it easier for the patients to find a physician if their physician changed practice locations . It included language that said an employer in violation had to pay liquidated damages the greater of actual damages or $ 1,000 a day . “ That ’ s powerful , and the bill has been used by physicians to accomplish its purpose . However , in a certain lawsuit that ’ s happening now , the damages to the hospital in question would be $ 500 million ,” said Wroten .
While it was never the intent of the original bill to bankrupt any hospital , AMS ’ s new bill will put a $ 500,000 cap on damages to discourage class-action lawsuits . The new bill will also require the physician to notify the hospital / employer of their new location in a certified letter , and it will also require the hospital / employer to give the physician an option of either receiving a list of their patients or choosing to notify patients themselves and put it on the hospital / employer ’ s website for 12 months .
DOING YOUR PART TO BE POLITICALLY ACTIVE
The Society is counting on your support to help them stand strong on issues that will affect the practice of medicine in Arkansas . “ Our team – David , myself , Mike Mitchell , Marvin Parks – does an excellent job of talking to legislators ,” Smith said .
“ However , no matter what we do , we must have the local physician ’ s voice backing up what we ’ re saying .
Because of the hectic nature of lawmaking , legislators have a lot coming at them from all directions . A terrific way to break through is for a physician to call , text , email , or visit . “ Because legislators understand how busy physicians are , when you take the time to reach out to them , it has the potential to move the needle ,” said Smith .
Dr . Magie compared having a relationship with your legislator to the relationship doctors have with consultants in their own practice . “ Every one of us has a short list of consultants that we use when we need someone with a little more expertise ,” he explained . “ Legislators are no different . They have a handful of people from different backgrounds that help with decisions . Doctors need to be a consultant to legislators , but to do that , you must develop that relationship ,” said Magie .
Dr . Magie knows how much legislators want to hear from their constituents , and recommends a short , respectful text or email when reaching out to your representatives . “ Legislators are peopleloving types . The best way to contact them is through a brief note like this : ‘ Dear Rep . Magie – Hey , I ’ ve looked at this bill , and I have some issues with it . I sure would like to discuss it with you . Here ’ s my number … what time would be convenient for me to call you ?’
Financial support of physician-friendly legislators is another critical step , and Smith emphasized the importance of ArkMed-PAC . “ There is nothing more helpful to sustaining continued legislative success than to help physician-friendly candidates win their elections . An effective and efficient way is to contribute to ArkMed-PAC , led by a board of AMS members from around the state whose guides contributions to physician-friendly candidates .
Whether it ’ s contributing financially to ArkMed-PAC , contributing directly to a close race , or making phone calls during the session , the goal of advocacy is all about physicians making themselves heard and voicing their positions to legislators they know . “ I can ’ t reiterate enough the importance of doctor involvement ,” Magie said . Being ready and “ on call ” as a physician can have a positive impact for the patient . When you ’ re “ on call ” for AMS , you can have a profound influence on legislation that protects the practice of medicine in Arkansas now and in the future .
Smith , Wroten , and the Society staff are here to help you get involved during this legislative session . Watch your inbox for weekly legislative news and be ready to answer calls to action . AMS also wants to hear from you . Contact AMS at ( 501 ) 224-8967 or email Scott Smith at
ssmith @ arkmed . org to let us know about the issues that are affecting your practice . ■
WINTER 2023 | VOLUME 119 | NUMBER 3 77