News
APRIL 2015 · VOLUME 25 & ISSUE 4
A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER LOUISVILLE MEDICAL SOCIETY
WHAT’S INSIDE
Page 1 - 2015 Legislative
Session
Page 2 - cott for AMA
S
Vice Speaker
Page 2 - oy in Your
J
Practice
Workshop
Page 3 - equired Credit
R
Card Machine
Update
Page 5 - ission Trip
M
in Need of
Physician
Page 5 - atch Day 2015
M
MULTIPLE PIECES OF PHYSICIAN
SUPPORTED LEGISLATION
PASSED IN FRANKFORT
Though faced with a short legislative session in
2015, Kentucky representatives have passed numerous laws that shape the landscape of health
care in Kentucky.
Representatives from the GLMS Policy and Advocacy Team were more committed than ever to
helping their fellow physicians by sitting down
with Kentucky senators and house members to
explain passionately the bills which were most
important to them.
Leading the P&A Team was Chair Mary Helen
Davis, MD, and Vice Chair Frank Burns, MD.
However, it was very much a group effort with
numerous physicians traveling to Frankfort to
talk directly with their representatives or calling
legislator offices to have their voices heard.
“I’ve been absolutely startled looking at how
much we’ve gotten done in a short session,” Dr.
Davis said.
While some issues such as fair contracting, maintenance of certification changes and smoke free
Kentucky did not see legislation passed in the 2015
session, 11 issues directly or indirectly related to
Kentucky health care were more fortunate.
The bill that drew the most attention was the
“Good Samaritan” bill which protects drug addicts who report an overdose to the authorities,
provides stiffer sentences for drug traffickers, offers greater access to the drug Naloxone by first
responders, and provides a state coffer for addiction treatment programs.
“At the 11th hour, or really the 12th hour, Congress
voted and passed the bill. And, to their credit, it
was a good bill,” said Cory Meadows, KMA Direc-
Mary Helen Davis, MD, Bruce Scott, MD, and Frank Burns,
MD, at the 2015 Legislative Reception.
tor of Advocacy and Legal Affairs. Meadows, along
with KMA Exec. Vice President Patrick Padgett and
their team, were instrumental in the bills which
passed as well as those which made progress for
future years. Senator Ralph Alvaredo, MD, also
supported the work done by KMA and the GLMS
P&A Team.
Although there is more work to be done, members
of the P&A Team and KMA unanimously expressed
optimism at the progress made during this legislative session.
“It was a very good session because we didn’t play
defense. We were on offense. We were proactive,
not reactive, and that makes all the difference in
the world,” said Meadows. “By visiting and talking with your representatives, that perception
of doctors in ivory towers is starting to change.”
For a complete list of health care legislation which
passed, see page 3.