Fleur-De-Lis Connection Volume 26, Issue 12 | Page 6

GLMS AND KMA PREPARE FOR POLITICS IN 2016 The GLMS Policy & Advocacy Team along with medical residents and KMA representatives, met in mid-December to plan for the 2016 Kentucky legislative session. Despite last year’s legislative session being only 30 days, major health care legislation was passed thanks to the persistent efforts of physicians in Louisville and throughout the state. GLMS and KMA hope to build on that success in 2016 by extending relationships with legislators and lobbying for the issues most affecting physicians today. KMA Director of Advocacy and Legal Affairs Cory Meadows led the P&A Team through the four priorities KMA hopes to focus on in the 2016 session. They consist of: yy Fair Contracting – More consistent notifications and proper disclosures in the event of a contract change between physicians and insurers. yy Smoke-Free Kentucky – A statewide indoor smoke-free law which would protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke. yy Maintenance of Certification – Legislation would prohibit the state from mandating Maintenance of Certification or similar processes as a condition of medical licensure to create a more consistent environment for attracting and maintaining Kentucky physicians. yy Medical Liability Reform – Improving medical and business climates by passing common sense reform to prevent frivolous lawsuits against caregivers. More information about each of these issues can be found at https:// www.kyma.org/content.asp?q_areaprimaryid=8&q_areasecondaryid=27. GLMS encourages its members to reach out to legislators and speak up for issues on which you feel passionately. The most simple and effective way to enact change is to join your fellow physicians as a voice of chang e. As the beginning of the 2016 session looms, GLMS is reaching out to the community in several ways. It will partner with the Louisville Bar Association to co-host a lobbying training lunch for physician residents on January 12. The event will be recorded to educate other groups about the basics of talking with legislators. GLMS will host a legislative reception for physicians and Jefferson County legislators in the late afternoon on Feburary 10 at the Berry Hill Mansion. Look for more information about the 2016 session in the coming issues of GLMS News. VISIT https://www.kyma.org/content.asp?q_areaprimaryid=8&q_areasecondaryid=27 FOR A FULL KMA 2016 ISSUE FOCUS 6 GLMS NEWS DECEMBER 2015