GLMS and KMA have continued to take an active role in improving the future of medicine. That means making the bipartisan voices of our physicians heard at the local, state and national levels. The GLMS Policy and Advocacy Team worked tenaciously this year to build relationships and have a greater voice in the decisions affecting practices.
The P & A Team reached out to state representatives on several health care issues including Fair Contracting with insurers, Maintenance of Certification regulation, Board of Medical Licensure appointees and Smoke-Free Kentucky. Many physicians visited Frankfort in person to talk with their legislators directly during the KMA’ s Physicians ' Day at the Capitol. GLMS physicians could be seen on every floor of the Capitol Annex Building, meeting with as many legislators as possible to discuss the health care issues which mattered most.
Following the meetings, GLMS hosted a“ Taste of Louisville” Legislative Reception at Berry Hill Mansion. Physicians and lawmakers met over Louisville-centric food and drinks including hot browns and bourbon. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the highly energized GLMS P & A Team, the 2016 legislative session was one of the most productive of all time with several priority bills passing in both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly. See the GLMS website for a full rundown of the highlights from the 2016 session. This year will go down in history as a major victory for organized medicine.
At the national level, Drs. Robert Couch, Bruce Scott and John Roberts visited Washington DC with Exec. Vice President Bert Guinn to participate in the AMA National Advocacy Conference. While there, the group met with Kentucky Legislators to discuss the nationwide issues of burdensome and problematic Meaningful Use requirements and opioid abuse including: Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Brett Guthrie, Rep. John Yarmuth, Rep. Thomas Massie, Rep. Ed Whitfield, Rep. Andy Barr, and Rep. Hal Rogers.
Our physicians continue to lead Kentucky medicine in new and exciting directions thanks to their unwavering commitment to better health care for all patients. Through education, outreach and advocacy, we intend to uphold our standards and improve ourselves and those around us.
To learn more about the work GLMS is doing, please join us for the year’ s final event, the annual Presidents’ Celebration, taking place at The Healing Place Women’ s Campus on May 22. We’ ll welcome our incoming president Dr. John Roberts and learn more about addiction and recovery in Louisville through the art of Keith Auerbach, MD and interaction with recovering adults in THP program.
Thank you so much to the physicians who make our work possible. GLMS will continue to serve you to the best of our abilities, but it is you who make us the best we can be. Being your staff is a great honor and privilege. We can’ t wait to see what the future holds.
Aaron Burch is the communications specialist for the Greater Louisville Medical Society.
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